Today it’s even possible to get a DJ controller for under $300. This is in addition to several USB sticks that you use to load the songs onto your decks.Ĭontrast that with only having to buy a controller and a laptop, and you find that the DJ controller setup is much cheaper. Also, given how we access music files in the modern age, you would still need a computer as a repository for the tunes and sounds that you mix on the daily. If you were to try and use an older/more traditional setup, you’d have to buy at least two decks and a mixer. In the modern era, the software takes up that responsibility, therefore, allowing the controllers to be smaller than ever.Īs improvements for the old Deejaying setups, DJ controllers have some benefits, as highlighted below. Additionally, traditional machines took up the duty of processing the sounds mixed. However, with the modern DJ controller, you typically get the same things built into one machine. The Traditional “deejaying” setup involved having a mixing console sandwiched between two decks. This is further supplemented by outputs making it easy to preview audio and remixed tracks before routing it to the main output for the audience. However, they do give directions to the computer on how to go about it.Īlso, a common feature in modern DJ controllers is that they come with built-in soundcards. This is the job of your computer and the DJ software. Since that isn’t the main function of the keyboard and mouse, it makes controlling the software more difficult, which is where the DJ controller comes in.ĭJ controllers have dedicated controls that can sometimes be mapped out according to your preferences to make the DJ software easier to use. Notably, this kind of software allows you to combine different tracks to make remixed alternatives using your keyboard and mouse pad as your controls. Examples of DJ software include Ableton Live, Serato DJ pro, Atomix VirtualDJ Pro, and more. To understand a DJ controller and what it does, you must first understand DJ software. If you’re one of these determined few, this write-up should give you insight into what the machine is capable of and how to use it to your advantage. Otherwise, they would get one as soon as possible and put it to good use. However, for the determined few, the only thing stopping them is they don’t know how to use a DJ controller on their PCs. It comes with multiple buttons, knobs, and controllers, which is enough to put people off from using the machine.

However, if you’ve ever seen one of these controllers, then you know it’s a fairly intimidating device.

Learn more about our process hereĭJs make their work look so graceful, and it’s all thanks to their equipment, namely the controllers. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page.

Serato dj software tutorial