Choosing the best DJ software is not just a simple case of
knowing what OS you’re running and how much you’re looking to spend. You
must consider what the software does. Do you need the ability to play
four or more tracks at once, or will two decks suffice? What about
playing samples or loops? The top end of the digital DJ market is
dominated by Native Instruments and Serato.
So checkout 10 Best DJ software to help you make a decision as to which is the best for you.
Pioneer is a free Rekordbox application doesn’t actually handle any mixing for Mac and PC. It is a tool for prepping and managing audio files ahead of DJ sets. The software can be used to analyse tracks to discover their BPM, view waveforms, set cue points and edit track information, all of which can be read by Pioneer’s CDJs.
Download
VirtualDJ supports both PC and Mac and comes up to about US$299. For years VirtualDJ had a bad reputation. Recent versions, however, have become very impressive and have been able to compete with and sometimes better than most famous ones. Notably, version 7 can support up to 99 decks (not that anyone would do it) and can live-sample incoming audio.
Download
The djay app was originally launched as an entry-level Mac application, but it’s in its iPad incarnation that algoriddim’s software really shines and comes up to about US$19.99. Although these days Traktor DJ is probably the most effectively implemented tool on the App Store, djay held that title until very recently, and it still has a few tricks up its sleeve.
The app requires iOS 4.3 or later.
Download
CrossDJ, from French developer Mixvibes, costs US$49.99 and is for both PC and Mac. Despite being cheaper than some of its closest rivals, the software is surprisingly well equipped, reliable and nicely designed.
It also has one of the best beat mapping systems of any DJ app on the market. It does, have a handful of minor limitations, such as featuring a maximum of just two decks and having a fairly weak collection of effects.
Download
The US$19.99 iOS app Traktor DJ is almost certainly the best of the ever-growing list of DJ tools on the App Store. It’s a stripped back version of its PC/Mac counterpart, offering two-channel mixing, basic effects and the best beat detection capabilities of any iPad app. The app makes excellent use of the device’s touchscreen for intuitive track navigation and mixing. The app requires iOS 6.0 or later.
Download
Digital DJ 2 is a PC/Mac software that’s relatively basic and light on advanced features, but it certainly gets the job done even if it’s US$49.99. What’s more, the features it does pack are all of a high quality; its auto beat matching is excellent, the effects sound good and it includes a neat little sample player. It also supports a wide range of hardware controllers, which is a big plus.
Download
Two of the biggest selling points of Deckadance are its open nature – meaning it supports a huge range of DJ controllers and digital vinyl system – and the fact it can run as a VST within a host DAW. The downside is that it only features two decks, as opposed to four like Traktor and Serato. However, US$99 for a DJ software that supports PC and Mac can be slightly hard on your wallet.
Download
Ableton Live wasn’t initially designed as a DJ application; when the software first launched in 2001 it was pitched purely as a Digital audio workstation and marketed as a piece of music production software.
It became popular with DJs due to its unique Session View (a window dedicated to launching synchronised loops), support for PC and Mac, and the intuitive way it handles the retiming of audio files. For US$449 its definitely unbeatable!
Download
Scratch Live is probably the most popular digital vinyl system out there for PC and Mac, but it’s only available when bought in conjunction with an official Rane audio interface. Serato DJ is the latest version of the company’s controller-orientated software, and it’s the first version of Serato that can be used with any MIDI controller. A free version, Serato DJ Intro, is also available. Otherwise it would cost US$129.
Download
NI’s Traktor beats Serato due to its endlessly flexible performance features and its all-round intuitiveness and reliability. Traktor comes in two forms: Traktor Pro, which can be controlled using a traditional mouse and keyboard or one of an endless list of hardware DJ controllers, and Traktor Scratch, which is designed to be used in conjunction with one of Native Instruments’ digital vinyl setups. Roughly costs about US$89 and supports both Mac and PC
Download
So checkout 10 Best DJ software to help you make a decision as to which is the best for you.
Pioneer Rekordbox
Pioneer is a free Rekordbox application doesn’t actually handle any mixing for Mac and PC. It is a tool for prepping and managing audio files ahead of DJ sets. The software can be used to analyse tracks to discover their BPM, view waveforms, set cue points and edit track information, all of which can be read by Pioneer’s CDJs.
Download
Atomix VirtualDJ Pro 7
VirtualDJ supports both PC and Mac and comes up to about US$299. For years VirtualDJ had a bad reputation. Recent versions, however, have become very impressive and have been able to compete with and sometimes better than most famous ones. Notably, version 7 can support up to 99 decks (not that anyone would do it) and can live-sample incoming audio.
Download
Algoriddim djay for iPad
The djay app was originally launched as an entry-level Mac application, but it’s in its iPad incarnation that algoriddim’s software really shines and comes up to about US$19.99. Although these days Traktor DJ is probably the most effectively implemented tool on the App Store, djay held that title until very recently, and it still has a few tricks up its sleeve.
The app requires iOS 4.3 or later.
Download
Mixvibes CrossDJ
CrossDJ, from French developer Mixvibes, costs US$49.99 and is for both PC and Mac. Despite being cheaper than some of its closest rivals, the software is surprisingly well equipped, reliable and nicely designed.
It also has one of the best beat mapping systems of any DJ app on the market. It does, have a handful of minor limitations, such as featuring a maximum of just two decks and having a fairly weak collection of effects.
Download
Native Instruments Traktor DJ for iPad
The US$19.99 iOS app Traktor DJ is almost certainly the best of the ever-growing list of DJ tools on the App Store. It’s a stripped back version of its PC/Mac counterpart, offering two-channel mixing, basic effects and the best beat detection capabilities of any iPad app. The app makes excellent use of the device’s touchscreen for intuitive track navigation and mixing. The app requires iOS 6.0 or later.
Download
Magix Digital DJ 2
Digital DJ 2 is a PC/Mac software that’s relatively basic and light on advanced features, but it certainly gets the job done even if it’s US$49.99. What’s more, the features it does pack are all of a high quality; its auto beat matching is excellent, the effects sound good and it includes a neat little sample player. It also supports a wide range of hardware controllers, which is a big plus.
Download
Image-Line Deckadance
Two of the biggest selling points of Deckadance are its open nature – meaning it supports a huge range of DJ controllers and digital vinyl system – and the fact it can run as a VST within a host DAW. The downside is that it only features two decks, as opposed to four like Traktor and Serato. However, US$99 for a DJ software that supports PC and Mac can be slightly hard on your wallet.
Download
Ableton Live
Ableton Live wasn’t initially designed as a DJ application; when the software first launched in 2001 it was pitched purely as a Digital audio workstation and marketed as a piece of music production software.
It became popular with DJs due to its unique Session View (a window dedicated to launching synchronised loops), support for PC and Mac, and the intuitive way it handles the retiming of audio files. For US$449 its definitely unbeatable!
Download
Serato Scratch Live/DJ
Scratch Live is probably the most popular digital vinyl system out there for PC and Mac, but it’s only available when bought in conjunction with an official Rane audio interface. Serato DJ is the latest version of the company’s controller-orientated software, and it’s the first version of Serato that can be used with any MIDI controller. A free version, Serato DJ Intro, is also available. Otherwise it would cost US$129.
Download
Native Instruments Traktor Pro 2
NI’s Traktor beats Serato due to its endlessly flexible performance features and its all-round intuitiveness and reliability. Traktor comes in two forms: Traktor Pro, which can be controlled using a traditional mouse and keyboard or one of an endless list of hardware DJ controllers, and Traktor Scratch, which is designed to be used in conjunction with one of Native Instruments’ digital vinyl setups. Roughly costs about US$89 and supports both Mac and PC
Download
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