Software a DJ needs

It is all about choosing which software/workflow works best for you.

This means that you should try out the different options out there, find which one just sort of “clicks” and then stick with it..

In terms of software you need, you need your DJ software. Nothing else. However, iTunes can be useful for managing your library and many people swear by Mixed In Key/Platinum Notes for sorting out their songs for them..

The full (ish) list of software out there is:

Live DJ Software
– Serato
– Traktor
– Virtual DJ
– Mixvibes Cross DJ
– Mixx (Not as common but open source and therefore free)
– Ableton Live (More for live-remixing type sets/production sets than what Serato/Traktor etc. offer)

Production Software:
– Apple Logic Pro
– Avid Pro Tools
– Cockos Reaper
– FL Studio
– Reason
– Audacity (Not nearly as good as any of the other options imo)

Track Management Software:
– Apple iTunes (Nearly everyone uses this on a regular basis – some people don’t like it though. It can be clunky)
– Platinum Notes (Cleans up your tracks, improves the sound – most of the time anyway, sets all your tracks to one volume level)
– Mixed in Key (Adds lots of data to the metadata of your tracks. Useful for harmonic mixing sets as it is much more accurate than your DJ software)
– Recordbox (This is made by Pioneer for transferring your music collection with cue points and bpm data in a format that CDJ’s can read)

You DO NOT need all of these, as I said earlier you actually only need 1 bit of software. After that the software you use should just make your life easier.. 🙂

I would own, personally, your DJ software, iTunes, Platinum Notes and a decent DAW (I chose Logic). Between all of them I can do whatever I like. 🙂

bob6397

Above posts are true, however I recommend for you:
Stay with Serato DJ for now and work out your way in there.
If you need recording software your MacBook will come with GarageBand for FREE and it already is very powerful. So no need to invest more. You can easily use GarageBand for both sound editing and production to get your feet wet and before you invest more money. So this way you will already know what you want, when you upgrade.
As for track preparation I do recommend MixedInKey.

This is all you need to start out and think about other stuff later on.

If you drop them a note when you want to change from your original choice to another platform, so you can start on your windows machine and switch to a mac later. But you can’t run the same license on two machines (unfortunately).

Kewl! Thanks. I own all three (and Flow and Metabliss), so I’ll drop them a note as well.