Which software

And Mixvibes Cross is one to consider (my opinion).

The nasty thing is that you need to know a bit more about your workflow and the kind of DJ-ing you will be doing. The proper order, I believe, is to figure out your workflow, then the software to match and finally the hardware.

There are a few articles over on the blog about the proces of picking software.

You’ll find fans for all three or four major platforms here. So it really comes down to your way of working and if you don’t have one yet, then it’s going to be hard.

Still I’d suggest not to go try all software, because you might end up liking something that – ultimately – doesn’t align with the workflow that would be best for you.

I started with Traktor as I knew it before I got my first controller and my first controller was “Traktor-ready”. I had a workflow, being a DJ of many years. But there wasn’t much choice at the time. Traktor seemed to have the widest support, Mixvibes Cross wasn’t in (my) sight yet and Virtual DJ was not an option (due to earlier experiences I had with it). Serato worked only with a limited amount of controllers/soundcards and was a pretty expensive solution.

After a year and a half with Traktor I decided I really didn’t like it for my way of working. Serato was still out (no support for my controller), VDJ obviously too and with Traktor not being “it!” for me I thought I was out of options. Did some research, tried Mixvibes Cross and have been using it for a while now.

But the market has changed. Traktor is now like Serato was before, only really interested in working well on their own (Native Instruments) gear. Mapping support from Traktor itself is at an all time low. New controllers from other manufacturers don’t seem to come with Traktor (LE) anymore. VDJ doesn’t seem to come bundled with much hardware either, nor does Cross. Serato took over the number one spot in bundled software. They have opened up tremendously the last year or so, with almost all brands now having one or more serato supported controllers.

Chances are good that you will end up with a (intro) version of Serato for starters, unless you go the Traktor controller route. And that is a decision you can do some research on. They cater to different types of DJ, they have some very significant differences.

The big thing about switching software is potentially losing all the beatgridding, cue/loop and playlist info. The latter not being a real big issue if you manage all your music in iTunes. So, if you take a few months to get used to software, hardware and figuring out what your workflow is, you might have to make one more switch, but without losing many, many hours of work.

Hope that helps some.

I didn’t really know what people meant when they said “choose based on your workflow”, I do now know what it means and basically it means go with what works for you. This isn’t just the interface of the software, even though that is one of the main things, it’s the quality of the effects/EQ/filters, the compatability with hardware you like, and how they price the product. You are obviously new, so I’ll give you my pros and cons of (almost) everything on the market:

NI Traktor
+ Really in depth effects, EQ and filters, highest quality of all
+ Some advanced features such as remix decks (basically a really big sample pad)
+ Really tight integration with NI’s own Kontrol range of controllers,

– As long as you can afford the Kontrol controllers, that is (a Traktor F1 is considerably more than a Launchpad Mini)
– If you want to stray away from NI Kontrollers, there are only a handfull of controllers that tightly integrate with the software, others have a bit of latency
– Although it is $99USD, you have to pay for every new release of Traktor

* I see Traktor as the Apple of DJ software; that is it works really well as long as you have everything Traktor, and once a product (usually the software) is outdated, they leave you in the dark until you buy the latest thing

Serato DJ

+ Serato is arguably the most widespread and diverse software, compatible with most controllers on the market, the Android of software
+ Good FX/EQ (although not as good as Traktor)
+ It just works, flawless at what it does

– Some people argue it looks too Windows 95 with it’s high contrast chunky interface
– You don’t buy everythinbg for your $129USD, there are additional FX expansion packs and a Video plugin, all at extra cost
– Doesn’t work without hardware, so if you don’t have your controller plugged in, you an’t use it

* As mentioned before, if Traktor is Apple, Serato is Android, although it has it’s flaws and simply isn’t as refined as Traktor, it is compatible with arguably most hardware

VirtualDJ

+ The old crappy FXs are now fixed with the recent launch of VDJ8, putting them almost on par with Serato
+ Highly customisable interface, with themes
+ Home version (the free one) is actuallythe full VDJ without controller capability, so you do get to try THE REAL THING, not a half disabled limp program

– Seen as unprofessional by many, mainly because that fully featured home version is free
– Has little bugs such as the virtual decks being oval instead of round on some screens
– And, well, it costs $249USD. Although you do get free upgrades for life, is it really worth it when Cross DJ is $49USD?

* VirtualDJ is expensive, incompatible with a lot of controllers, and buggy. Kinda like a Blackberry.

Cross

+ Amazing interface (in my opinion)
+ Cheap! $49USD for CrossDJ
+ Good effects

– But bad EQs and filters
– Only a humble list of compatible controllers
– 99% of people have never heard of it

* Well, is there really a third phone company I can compare this to? Cross is underrated, cheap and my software of choice (I know Vintage likes it as well).

Ultimately, however it is your choice so try some free versions and watch some YouTube, and take a pick!

That is true, Cross does have a wide range, especially if you get maps that aren’t official. Also something I forgot is that Traktor is made by Native Instruments, who have come from production software not DJ software, so the interface is confusing for some people.

But, yet again, DJ software is like T Shirts, people like different designs, and you can’t judge someone on their style.

While I agree that mapping isn’t for everyone, I didn’t find it nearly as difficult as you described it to be. You make it sound like it’s this really hard thing, while all you need is an understanding of the way the workflow is set up. Get some videos or articles and you´ll be mapping in a day or two, easily. I bet I could teach anybody in a few hours using text and a couple of screenshots.
Also, it’s not something I did once or twice and never touched again. It’s an ongoing process. You have an idea of a new feature or you want to change something. Then you look at where you’ll map it and which commands you need. This happens to me on average once a month.
I find it really handy that I can make the controller do exactly what I want. I’ll give you two neat examples. My headphone cue buttons don’t work like you see them in any standard software. If I have let’s say deck A cued up and it is now playing and you want to switch your heaphones to deck B, all you need to do is press the headphone cue of B and A will switch off. If you want both on, you press and hold B and then press A. And I have a button combination that triggers the search bar, so I don´t need to use the keypad or mouse to get there. These two are really handy and save up a lot of time over the course of a single gig. My whole mapping is filled with these little tricks that make working with Traktor a breeze for me and I really miss these features if I go over to Serato.
Even if you did only use it once or twice, you´ll have the benefit of your work every single time you start up your software.

But even if you don´t want to map anything there´s no need to stop there.
Most hardware manufacturers provide a full functional mapping for other packages. And not just for Traktor, also for Virtual DJ for instance. But even when they don´t, there are dozens of websites out there where you can get really solid mappings. Most of them better than the ones made by the manufacturer. Combine this with any mapping skills you may have learned and you´ll have a controller that does exactly what you want it to do before you know it.

About the major upgrades. While they don´t happen that often, it´s not like you have to start all over. Mappings of old versions generally work with newer versions, just not the other way around.

Don´t just say mapping is hard/boring/not for beginners/whatever because you don’t like it, let the readers find it out for themselves. Don’t underestimate them, there are capable people here. And if you try to create your own mapping and you don’t like to, at least you tried it. And now you have a good reason why you don’t do it instead of “meh, it looks difficult”.

My software journey as follow:

2 winamp (with pitch plug-in, forgot what ish called been too long)
—> Virtual DJ (earlier version you need like 2 soundcards or sumthing, its blurry in my old brain)
—> Traktor (eh skipped this one, the interface is just bleh for me)
—> Serato ITCH (the controller came with this one), it fits my taste
—> Serato DJ (ITCH is no longer supported)

Look on the site of mixvibes, I believe the have a list of controllers where they provide a mapping for. If you tell us what controller(s) you wish to use I can look wether my copy of Cross has a mapping for it. But simply searching online for mixvibes mapping will probably get you some unofficial ones easily.

I’ve looked on the mixvibes website and they don’t have the Gemini g2v on there (although the do have a couple lower end Gemini controllers on there).

I like using Virtual DJ if I do not have access to my mixer, like on a plane. I use Serato with a recommended Serato-centric mixer. I liked going that route because it was my first mixer and the idea of working with mappings seemed a little daunting to me out of the gate. I’m usually not a plug and play kind of person, but in this case it worked out well.

All you can do is try them out and see what works for you. Everyone will have their opinions on what is best, because that is what works best for them. Talking to other DJs I know, they say they do not see tremendous differences between Traktor and Serato. Also, see what other DJs play and what works for them. Find the software that works best with your style of playing.