If you buy a Serato-designed controller, chances are you will have Serato DJ Lite licence with it. If and when you are ready to use it with your controller, simply upgrade to the full version, currently priced at US$99, or start a monthly subscription. You can go and download Serato DJ Pro for free straight away to have a play with the software. The full list is available on their website. Serato is compatible with a whole range of hardware from controllers, mixers, interfaces and CDJs. It features a sleek, high-definition interface, following a 64-bit upgrade, making it a much smoother user experience. Used by many professional, club DJs, Serato DJ Pro is apparently “the most popular DJ software globally”. You should also be aware that the free trial versions are usually restricted, either by fewer features and/or time limit – so don’t go and play at a live event as the software will close after 15-30 minutes or so.Īll software is available on both Windows and Mac computers, for use with midi controllers, some are also available on tablets and smartphones. The software, on the other hand, can be tested from the comfort of your own home, assuming you already have a laptop or computer.Īll the software programs we will look at today are available with a free trial and should be useable without a controller just to get the overall look and feel of it, but to get the true test it would obviously be better to try with a controller. Make sure you check if the controller requires a separate audio interface. That being said, you can often try controllers in your local DJ store before committing to buy, and you shouldn’t be pushed into buying there and then. Now we’re in a bit of a chicken or egg situation – by that I mean, should you look for the controller or the software first? There isn’t really a correct answer, but in my opinion, I would probably test the software first and then check which controller/s it works with afterwards. Although most are similar in their layout, there are some subtle differences between them. Learn the features as you go along, practice in your bedroom and then when you are ready to play at a live gig you will know your equipment inside-out, without having to switch to new software and learn that.

While there are many different options available, we will look at my top 5 Īnother reason I have chosen just the top 5, rather than some cheaper alternatives, which may suit beginners better is because I believe it is more beneficial to learn what you are likely to use long-term.

In this article, we will look at the 5 best DJ software available for beginners. The controller is basically a midi device that controls what is playing on the laptop, using a specific type of software. These days, most DJs – mobile, club, and everyone in between – use a DJ controller and a laptop.

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