![]() ![]() Overall I would say that of all the FREE DJ software I’ve experimented with, Serato DJ Intro is easily my favorite program for simple mixing and is a pretty foolproof tool for beginners to start dropping beats. But then again, I guess that’s why such things are left “for the pros”. Now don’t get me wrong, the intro is completely functional and is more than enough to mix with, but it would nice to have these features which I feel are pretty iconic and even a requirement for a professional sounding mix. Another huge feature that you won’t find in the intro is the ability to record your mixes, which for some home DJs may even be a deal breaker. In my review of the Pioneer DDJ-SB (a controller designed with Serato in mind), I noted that several of its core extra features were locked behind the pro version paywall, features such as extra hot cues and loops, stutter mode, and sample bank. ![]() It may even be a good idea to even go back to the standalone mode after picking your tracks to better analyze your library and give yourself a better view of your tracks and hot cues.Īs much as this intro version has to offer, I will be the first to admit that there is a lot that could be better, or should I say, there at all. Creating a crate is essential if you’re working on putting together a fluid mix with perhaps dozens of tracks, as it will number the tracks you select in the order you wish to select and filter out everything else. ![]() Here you can put together playlists (“crates”) and edit track information. It may be weird at first syncing your actions on the deck with what appears on-screen, but after a bit of practice the connection between the two will be seamless.Īside from the actual mixing section, to the bottom of your screen is a large library section that lets you manage any audio file you load onto it. Basically, think of the program as a visual extension of your deck. Other than that, everything that goes on on-screen is controlled by your controller. The mixing HUD removes the simple controls from the standalone mode, but you can still load tracks by clicking and dragging from your library with your mouse. Now as far as functionality, all I really have to say about how the controller mode physically works is that your MIDI controller can and will do all the work. But unfortunately you can’t mix at all in this mode, so to change that you’ll need to plug in a MIDI controller and then…well, that’s actually it for setup you should be fully mapped and good to go. This is actually a pretty nice feature for me, since if I’m not mixing I can still use Serato as an advanced music player to play through my premade setlists. That’s because it has two different layouts depending on whether you have a controller plugged in or not at the time. The first you may notice when you first pull up Serato DJ Intro is it might not look, well, “all there”, that is, you may only be presented with your tack library, hot cues and loops, and a single track bar. Basically it features everything you need for making a simple two deck mix and putting together a playlist, but unlike other free software out there it has a lot of extra features and unique design choices that make it a truly fun and user friendly program. The intro version of course comes with your essentials: a playlist section, crates, virtual jog wheels, samples and effects, track information, and scrolling wave bars. You can get the program included in several different intro controllers or just download it straight from Serato’s website. In fact, when put side by side, the intro and pro version are nearly indistinguishable. Serato’s intro version of their DJ program is basically the same as their paid for pro version in the sense of layout and functionality. Well it turns out I failed to really mention what in the world Serato DJ even was…cool, right? So to make up for it, here’s my full review (and a bit of a tutorial) of what is by far my favorite free DJ program. In my last post, I mentioned how simple the Pioneer DDJ-SB was to run with the included mixing software, Serato DJ Intro. ![]()
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