Best DJ Software 2024 - Serato, Rekordbox, Traktor, Djay Pro, VirtualDJ, Engine DJ? 

⚡ TIMESTAMPS ⚡ 0:00 Intro 2:11 Why this choice matters 4:17 What DJ software actually does 7:37 Serato DJ Pro 11:06 Rekordbox 14:15 Traktor Pro 16:46 VirtualDJ 18:26 djay Pro 20:27 Engine DJ 24:52 Summary 26:02 DJ community chat 33:37 Our advice for DJs

I have been using Engine DJ for a year now and I don't understand why people hate on it so much. Most people I see bellyaching about Engine, when diving deeper, is usually user error. It's not perfect, but it works as it should. I have had a great experience with Engine.

VDJ is the best. Best browsing experience, best stem function, best compatibility with any gear, most modification options, no crashes. Only the time stretching algorhythm sounds better on rekordbox.

Great Tuesday Phil. Can't wait for your 2nd book to come out soon. I been using Virtual DJ since 2009 - presents with the free version just a key bored and a mouse and few music I rip from CD and more. Since then, it was so much I learn from getting my music order back then and what I pick up after was mind blowing. Buy the full version since then I am very happy with-it big time. Keep up the great work. Stay blessed Phil.

i agree, it's not the equipment that makes you a great dj, it's the ability to fill a dancefloor and have fun doing it

Thank you, Phil. I'm team djay pro solely because of the fluid beat grid. I love mixing old, handmade disco tracks with new, modern electronic music. With djay's beat grid, compensating for tempo fluctuations is not a problem at all. For me stems work fine.

I started as 13 years beginner with Virtual, now I’m happy with Djay pro 🙂🙂

Awesome and informative, thanks Phil!

Thank you I need to hear this more often.

I started with VDJ 20 years ago. I’m with Serato since I change my controller in 2020 and Serato Pro comes with. I have also Djay Pro 5 on my Mac and my iPad for the auto mix. It’s the best auto mix for cocktail and dinner playlist. Serato has the worst auto mix. I switch with Serato for the dance night. Great video!

Thank you! Been out of the loop with the software/hardware and this helps me get back on track!

Glad you pointed out the issues with slow Traktor development. It's painful, frustrating and a growing concern. The roadmap is really underwhelming.

Only with the combination of Engine + SoundSwitch I could bring my whole LED mask project to live. Also, very kind team/staff I‘m constantly exchanging with. Anyway, great video, Phil!

watching from south africa i really go for virtual dj it never let me down

I moved from Pioneer to Denon (Engine DJ) and I must say, it was the right move

Another excellent show!

They all have their advantages, that's why I love Lexicon! Yes it's another step but it opens up the possibility to play on any piece of gear

Thank you for the breakdown. I'm still with Traktor, and it's great for what I do. I know that life overall is uncertain, but Traktor has us on uncertainty level 9. Native Instruments overall is great.

YOU GUY'S ARE THE BEST ......HANDS DOWN !!!!!! Cheers 🔥

Great to see you talk positively about Engine Dj and its features...I've been through, Traktor, Serato, Rekordbox and am now on SC6000's and 1850's Engine Dj and loving it... One thing I find interesting is all the issues are always discussed about other software, but things like the effects issues with Rekordbox are never discussed... the pioneer label seems to allow consumers to sweep all its problems under the carpet. I'm not dissing Rekordbox it's great, but it's amazing how it seems to be flawless in all conversations. Great show again Phil. Thanks.

Nice watch as always Phil.

Good video... Keep it up!

All i've been using for the last 4 years is DJ ENGINE from Denon DJ and its always getting Better and Better by the time

I have been with Traktor for many years. The sound quality is by far better. The effects although not built in are i feel much better and precise. I feel if Traktor can eventually get stems on the fly and better beat grid for those funk tracks it will be back on top.

I come from a technics SL background so when Denon dropped the SC-5000/6000's I was very interested and I loved the big touch screens, real time track analyzation directly on the player (no laptop/software) and lots more amazing features but the sound quality on the Denon SC's is metallic and harsh sounding

I have try Serato and Rekor but i feel more comfortable with VDJ

Good analysis 👍

I use DJay with my DDJ Rev 1N….and it is fantastic!

Record box and virtual dj pro are my favorite software for djing since day one I used serato dj in the past its good .

I love Virtual DJ it literally allows me to use Deezer, Beatport, and tidal all at once. It’s also really easy of the cpu. I’d switch to algoriddim if I could do the same .

i used Serato and Rekordbox but With Vdj flexibility , karoake , Video stems 2.0 stems feature makes it standout.

Djay pro for me. Had it sins they started.

I’ve been a DJ Pro fan since it was first released. Just upgraded to the Pioneer DJ FLX4

Amazing video! thank you! one question tho (not related to the softwares) What is this laptop stand? looks very practical! 😍

I have used them all. Most recently, I have been very impressed by Virtual DJ (followed by djay pro AI). I was a Traktor user for many years, but as Phil said, after the whole “future of DJing” (Kontrol S8 and D2), then shakeups at Native Instruments, development of Traktor has slowed to a snails pace. I hope they can make a comeback because the core features of Traktor are so solid (sound, effects, MIDI programmability). I’ve never been a big fan of Rekordbox beyond preparation, it seems “fine”. Serato - it baffles me why they are still so locked down to only work with certain mixers. I have a Xone 96, and can’t use Serato at all. It’s bizarre. My physical setup is two Denon SC6000s, Xone 96, Xone K2s, Technics MK7s. I sometimes just use the Denons and Engine OS standalone, and that’s great… but sometimes I want to play with more stuff: Stems, more effects, DVS for my TTs, etc. Virtual DJ works with everything I have. The HID mode on the SC6000s is INCREDIBLE. The included mapping for the Xone K2s is really well thought out. I used to think Virtual DJ was a toy, but it’s actually quite excellent. I have also been playing around with DJay Pro AI. I really like how modern that SW feels, and it’s obviously native on macOS and iOS/iPad OS - they just need to support more HW.

VDJ all day!

I got started on MIXXX. It was fun. I mapped it to a Mixtrack and the rest is history, hahaaaa

I just got XDJ-RX3; Took DAYS to ANALYZE, IMPORT/EXPORT; and plan to play Digital in POINEER DJ Players; however Cannot Travel with it. I have a DDJ-SB3; it says SERATO on it; CAN IT BE USED FOR RECORDBOX; The software I learned and got comfortable with was 'TRAKTOR SCTRATCH PRO'; Like that I was able to 'Self-Design' what it controls and I assigned amazing CONTROLLER Preferences on the 'ALLEN & HEATH X2 (HEAVY DUTY AUDIO INTERFACE)

Great info Phil !, I would like to ask if its possible to analize music and save hotcues on Virtual DJ, that Remains the same when Using Rekordbox, ? or somehow that the tracks analized TAG's KEY Hotcues keeps the same when switching From Virtual DJ to Rekordbox....

VirtualDJ 🎉

I started djing with Virtual DJ two years ago, and love it. It doesn everything that i want to do, and works with both my intro Hercules controller and my new Roland controller. Have no reason or desire to change to anything else, and won't until there's something that I want to be able to do that VDJ can't. I don't get why VDJ isn't more popular, especially with the crappy pricing model that Serato has gone to.

29:49 V D 🤣🤣🤣 "Virtual DJ" is just fine with this cat TBH

I was using virtual 6 year back now I’m using searto & from 6 years I’m using serato is best software & very professional till now

What are your thoughts on DJUCED from the Hercules Inpulse series. Is it more capable then Serato Light? I was looking for a small compact controller and considering the inpulse 200 mk2 or 300 because of it's small size.

I too have been using virtual dj since 2005. I paid $300 for the full version and it has automatically updated every year since for free. I’m a mobile dj and virtual dj is more user friendly than the others.

For the record, I use Serato DJ Pro with Turntables, as well as a controller. I Use the is the "pioneer DJ DJM-S3 as my mixer. It's The Serato Version

Can’t wait to get my hands on your book mate, excellent content on your chan !!! 💥💥💥💥💥 you inspire me !

I were also thinking about djuced...I am not sure should I jump to it.

How about Cross DJ 4 pro from Mixvibes in comparison to the platforms you talk about in this vid?

I’ve been using rekordbox since dd series, previously with traktor until they removed the jog wheels and lost me for good. I also use denon engine but only to prep files from my prime go. Lastly; I have algoriddim djay app on my iPhone and iPad.

Traktor has had stems for years… They were one of the first DJ platforms to support it…

A Technics 1200, well maintained, will out live us all..

Hey - I am looking for DJ software for a sport event - any suggestions?

Mixxx is ridiculously stable. In the same hardware on Windows 10: Serato, DJuced and Virtual DJ all crashed for one reason or another within one hour, while Mixxx on Linux just ran happily for days, not hours, I had it running continuously for more than a week, without issues. So the user base of Mixxx may be tiny, but we don't want to use something else when stability matters. Many Pro DJs don't like to use laptops because they don't know Mixxx.

So with the new Mixtour Pro and my phone, it is the perfect portable pro package! Djaying from my pocket is King 🤴 and for practicing. I'm going Djay Pro AI as the beatgrid is the best in the biz, and neural mix has the most fun swapping vocals and harmonics. Really the possibilites for practicing with this are limitless, and on my iphone out and about, too. I had Prime 4 for years and never used it as my set up was solid with iTunes and Traktor and the old mixtour. Meanwhile with Denon now, I realised that the P4 won't have stems as it hasn't got the CPU power and I'm not getting the P4+. The beatgrids aren't good enough.

What about DJ Studio as a music library prep/ analysis tool for beginners? I play a lot of stuff with seriously Different BPM and styles and variety. And this has been able to help me organize my songs and find ones that go together well....

On rekordbox. It’s cool. Wished the stems feature would sound better. May consider virtual dj just for the stem quality and hardware compatibility.. I wonder how vdjs works with a cdj set up

I started with Traktor in 2009 with s4 mk1. Love Traktor but it just is so far behind other platforms. In 2014 I dipped into djay 2 and day pro with Spotify streaming. A lot of fun but I did miss Traktor. I ended up buying a s4 mk3 when it came out but got fed up of lack of updates and ended up with demon prime 4. Really enjoyed it, great piece of kit but engine prime was clunky and sync wasn’t great. Now I have Reloop mixon 8 with djay pro 5. Awesome combo for me. Loads of fun, easy to map, powerful features inc gridding and stems. Stems are loads better. Algoriddim also are innovators, they dare to be adventurous. Don’t always pull it off but still they go for it. I’ve dipped into serato and hate that you can only have 1 streaming service at a time and have to go into settings to change. VDJ is very good but I just don’t like way it looks. I know there are skins but still it’s not for me.

Just your opening statement ring so true. Got into tracktor years ago, and even though I admit they're not up to date with all the cool features, stems, an AI support, like some of the other platforms, and I've tried them all, I still can't find anything that matches the mapping power and complexities that Traktor can give me. Have two Allen Heath k2's, and an F1 Kontrol fully customized for my needs. So even though I sit with some envy with all the cool things other platforms are doing, not sure how I would transition effectively from what I got now

Traktor boy all the way here. I have to agree 100% with his Pros and Cons regarding Traktor. I have not used anything as tight and as intuitive in it's analysis when it comes to 4/4 electonic music, but it does lack as he said in other genres. The sound quality is amazing. For me, I I just love the layout and the features, which all seem to fit perfectly with how I like to DJ these days. I also just acquired an S4 MK3, which is just a wonderful piece of kit.

Phil, which of the DJ platforms is the most stable and reliable in terms of glitches / crashes? I’ve been a long time Traktor user and have never had a crash during a live gig - however have been recently dabbling at home with Djay Pro on my iPad and have already experienced several crashes!! So which platform is most stable and reliable in your opinion? Can you rank them in order of most to least stable?

Rekordbox 7 is awesome 🎉

I switched from Serato to MIXXX about 10? years ago, used with DVS Serato vinyl for an FM Radio show. Stable, flexible hardware interface. I also like the Icecast streaming option. My desire is to move to something with mobile support so that i can access my library away from the laptop. If MIXXX did that, I would be happy. I think that library accessibility and management is paramount and I was very inspired by Laidback Luke's use of DJAY - your library and DJ workstation on your phone.

i was just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction of where is best to download songs for a party. as in songs like . abba .ymca and ag a doo doo doo. haha.. gotta mix it up for the old party goers lol. but if anyone could help that would be great

Virtual DJ Infinity for life. The most stable software available. Prove me wrong.

Hello Phil, just want to ask if i can use the free rekordbox on the CDJ 3000 and DJM A9? Or i need to purchase the rekordbox plan for me to use on the cdj 3000 and djm a9?Thank you in advance

no mention of the traktor roadmap. yes it's a long wait but it's coming !

I would love if you could make a video about the new Pioneer DJ-AlphaTheta change! big news apparently on the 25th

hi, would you recommend using rekordbox dj with Opus Quad or serato dj,thanks.

Vdj is my favorite, serato is like apple they like u pay for features that comes with your device. I had to pay to use pitch n play on my DDJ-REV5.

I have been on Serato since the SL1. But I have an issue with glitching when I use my Rane One. Tech support says they’ve never seen my issue so I’m out of luck. Now I’m using Virtual DJ and overall I think it’s got Serato beaten!!

I use vdj and rekordbox

VDJ because I can do everything quicker. The key mapping, responsiveness, and controller compatibility are top-notch for me and my business.

I would love to know any controllers that I can use good software with a iPad Pro? I was DJing right before the controllers became a thing time code for traktor had only just came out at the time. So if you can help that would be awesome or am I looking at a new Mac laptop plus a controller to get back into it? Any way back to binging your videos 😂

which DJ sofware works best with Spotify?

What brand of lap top stand are u using?

Are the virtual DJ acapella stems beat gridded ? Once you record them

whats the name of your laptop stand u use on the desk

Traktor is by far the best DJing software. Last Friday I had to play on CDJs and it was a real nightmare to transfer my playlists from Traktor to Rekordbox. I noticed that Traktor is analyzing tracks a lot better and sets the beatgrids more accurately. One thing that is very annoying in rekordbox is that if you place a hotcue, the initial cue point stays on it's place while on traktor it goes to the hotcue which I think is the way to go.

It should be a condition for AlphaTheta to make Rekordbox USB export open source under MIT license when absorbing Serato. This would level the playing field a little bit, as DJs could prepare USB Sticks using any DJ software out there who decides to implement it.

The other thing with the Denon Alpha Theta issue, is that if Pioneer/Alpha Theta bought Serato, then they would have access to Denons development programs prior to release... This is obvious as Denon works with Serato and other platforms, when they are in development prior to release of new features....so their competition would not only have a monopoly but have access to their tech in development and it doesn't take a genius to work out what problems that would pose for Denon... never mind the fact that a monopoly would never be in the interest of the consumer from an innovation, competion and price perspective....I would be the first to eat humble pie if I'm wrong. Great show as always Phil. Thanks.

Phil, I have a Traktor S3 and I want to be a mobile DJ do video and karaoke and do weddings etc... can I use Virtual DJ with my Traktor?

How about the reloop touch that was build for virtual dj If I remember correctly

I use ableton to fix floating beats in disco tracks making them suitable for use in traktor

Former Traktor Pro user (Since version 1.2.7), now using Rekordbox. I have tried Serato, but I didn't care for the library function. I would try DJ Pro, but it doesn't work with the DDJ-XP2.

Amen

Wouldn't it be great if there was some sort of standard for all the software in regards to beat grids/cue points/loops etc.

What are the pros with using mixxx?

can serato dj pro be use on denon prime go

If I want to connect any cdjs with laptop which software I should buy for lifetime licence

I still use Traktor with the different NI controllers. Will it be possible to use those controllers with let's say Serato? As midi controller or such ? I really like those Native instruments Controllers so like to keep using them . Thanks

i used all of them from the start of the release but i love engine dj and cant wait to see where they take it in the future updates

DJ pro can it be used in clubs? or to connect to controllers?

Thye all so good but Am teeam VDJ.. Easy to use, works with everything and you can export cue point and everything for CDJ since the latest big update. Yes, it would be nice if it had a couple of stuff but with what they have is still plenty enough and if you start downloading maps, upgrade effect from the store.. Sky is the limit almost! It was my 1st dj software (Version 4 or 5... forgot), Have Serato Pro (Numark ns6), tried rekordbox and I always migrate back to VJ... All they are missing, Active loop and fix the cue/loop cue issue! Once that is done, VDJ is complete if you ask me! PS, FOR VDJ, you can use any controller you want no problem but if you have a PRO controller, you have 10mins (and you will get a warning when plugin the controller) before the software lock itself if you do not have a pro license. Either buy or get a monthly license.

its Serato for me though i wish they would make it less hard on the cpu.My Mac is an old intel job and Serato has advanced somewhat recently but it still taxes even an eight core machine thats in good nick.I am about to get an M3 so we shall see how well it handles things but with Serato at the moment the slightest thing and the cpu starts complaining.I like the stems i still mix video and i broadcast with it and obs on a second smaller mac.This last year my shows have not been live because i was unsure how well it and the other mac could handle everything.I record my show edit it then compress it then it goes out on twitch and later i post it to youtube.I am hoping to go live this year but damn i need more practice time .My partner will not be happy.

What if I want to go 100% software? With no consoles, Like laptop and ipad. Is Djay Pro the way to go?

Virtual dj has cloud storage with auto update on multiple devices .

Does Djay Pro Flexi Beatgrids only work on Mac?

I don't know which is the best but after almost 10 years I'm running away from Rekordbox, less features are free, and more are with monthly payment. Not even one purchase, MONTHLY! (I have a DDJ 800) Now I'm trying Virtual DJ and I will try Serato cause it's seems the best!

Hi Phil did you know Rekordbox 7B will not work with older Mac’s 13/14