DJ in real-time with just your PC

VirtualDJ is an audio and video-editing program that enables you to creatively mix music in real-time. Developed by Atomix Productions, this multimedia software is a highly versatile digital turntable for artists, musicians, and producers. It offers various audio mixer features that you’d commonly find on digital audio workstations (DAWs) but it also includes special functions that let you perform music live.

What is VirtualDJ?

VirtualDJ is a program that lets you mix audio without requiring any DJ hardware other than your PC. It aims to be a multi-deck standalone program that’s easy to use for both beginners and advanced users. Its highly-versatile virtual mixers allow for on-the-fly mashups. Some of its main features include ModernEQs that can be accurately separated to create seamless transitions and Stem pads that you can use for easy real-time remixing.

Aside from that, you can instantly retrieve acapella parts and instrumentals on audio files. This DJ software offers an audio library management system that’s easy to organize. Plus, there are various built-in professional audio effects, as well as an unlimited sampler, to diverse your creativity. The program includes features for video-editing, too. You can create stunning visuals with video mixes and use cool video effects to go with your music.

Is VirtualDJ free?

One cool thing about VirtualDJ is that while it doesn’t require any controllers or hardware to operate, it still supports a variety of equipment. You can plug and play with over 300 controllers—from the entry-level grade to the most advanced of club mixers. They’re easy to manage with the software’s built-in mapper that quickly detects and customizes your setup. However, the lack of dedicated hardware for this program won’t be able to bring out its best features.

Other than the library manager function, you’ll also have access to a wide catalog of songs using the software’s audio stream feature. Not only does allow for real-time music-mixing but it broadens your choices, too, as it can retrieve high-quality songs from sources such as SoundCloud and Deezer. Additionally, this software has been proven to be less prone to crashing and has been optimized for smooth and faster rendering.

This program is free for home and personal use. You can create an account to access its official website’s forums and some software add-ons but it’s not necessary to use the application. This free version will only let you test out the advanced features for 10 minutes at a time, though. Meanwhile, the Home Plus version lets you add one controller for a price, and the Pro and Business versions are for professional use. 

Still has some limits

All in all, VirtualDJ is a great choice for those looking for a highly-customizable DJ software that’s easy to use. It’s especially handy for beginners thanks to its classic turntable interface and the myriad of supportive features available. Plus, its basic functions are completely free for home use. The lack of native hardware can be a drawback, however, as this program’s features won’t fully shine with just a piece of equipment it’s not optimized for.