Virtual DJ 5 Review by “The CAT”
Here’s a great review by one of this site’s visitors. Thank you so much CAT for sharing. I made this site to help DJ’s decide on the best DJ software solution for their own personal style and needs. Reviews like this are greatly appreciated, and help achieve that goal!
As a novice to DJ software I decided my review would help those who were interested in Virtual DJ 5. I have been playing with it for about a month and overall I feel it will definitely fall short for any DJ for these reasons I state below.
I had read reviews about Virtual DJ crashing and running unstable. Testing this on Vista only, I had no issues or crashing so those claims are invalid, the software works. Anyway, I start with something simple, a song with a nice straight tempo, so I choose Dazz Band Whip it as my beat, I then try to sync a different random vocal track with a similar tempo so I choose some 2Pac, remember were testing here, my choices are based to test functionality. Using the auto-sync feature I was able to easily get 2Pac to sych his flow with the beat.
The unfortunate part to this story is that this auto sync feature/Smart Looping will work, provided the beats are straight and simple. Replace that beat with say, AC-DC’s Back in Black and you’ll see the flaws in the software. Whether it be for loops or other, a beat like AC-DC’s trick this program into cutting the loop at the wrong point/vocal flow doesn’t match the beat. Without these bare essential features working for all different types of beats, this programs usefulness is wearing thin, most insulting is the $300 price tag!!!!
On the bright side the music/vocal remover and tempo adjustment tools are the strongest points, I have also read that the video sync tools are great but didn’t get that far as the loop issue irritated me to uninstall this program. All this software is in essence is AtomixMP3 reskinned with Video editing feature for $200 more. Not being able to create easy loops drops this score of this software into the trash in my opinion because this is a basic part of DJing, generateing loops to drop lyrics and sound effects on. I hope to try the other products and can see why you have this blog.
The vital thing to grasp here is that I have used a lot of different products along the years and this site has introduced me to some new ones I’ll try soon. I would say “buyer beware†in this particular market as it seems there’s a lot of junk at high pricetags that won’t deliver the basic elements of what this software supposed to bring, an easy intuitive method of making the DJ experience more user friendly. I wish Virtual DJ the best, but my score has to be a 2-3 of 10 until they can get back to the drawing board with a product ready for prime time.
Ok, step one when using something new
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
VDJ has different settings for different types of music. 4/4 house stuff uses less system resources to calculate the tempo, whereas breakbeat uses more of your cpu. You can choose from 3 or so options. I’ve been using VDJ for Drum and Bass for 2 years now and it deals with 99% of my tunes just fine thanks. For the real tough customers it can’t get right first time round you can either let it try again (and usually vdj gets it right the 2nd time) or set anchor points on the kick drums yourself. This takes about 30 seconds and you only have to do it the 1st time you load the awkward track.
So how do you know if vdj is lying to you? Well if your DnB is showing up as 126bpm you know something is amiss.
Loops, assuming vdj has the tempo correct I don’t see how you can have a problem with looping. Choose the length (1 bar to 256 bars) and press the button (esc key as standard) at the appropriate moment. You can even shift the loop if you mess it up.
So, how does it compare to the other software? I haven’t used Traktor or Torq so cannot comment. Rane put a lot of effort into making SSL stable and it therefore is, extremely. I’ve had VDJ freeze on me a couple of times but I now know what leads to this and tend to avoid these situations.
To conclude, Virtual DJ is ace. SSL is also ace.
Both have their unique strengths. To be honest I rarely use the loops / effects / sampler when spinning DnB as the tunes have so much going on in them they don’t really need spicing up, although looping a well known 16 bar sample can be great for driving your ravers wild! When messing around at home with slower stuff I’ve found you can get really creative with loops and effects and play a much more unique set. In this sense VDJ is kind of a half-way house between vinyl and, say, Ableton Live.
So it boils down to this.
SSL offers rock solid dependability for those who need it, but nothing more.
VDJ offers creativity for those who need to express it, but may leave you looking like a dick head if it freezes.
So the reviewer starts his review saying he is new to DJ software, and ends it by saying he has used many products over the years. What do you mean by products? Kettles, toasters, irons?
That review doesn’t sound very genuine to me, and half of what he has said is wrong.
Not a very accurate portrayal of Virtual DJ in my opinion.
This review is inaccurate and biased, anyone serious about DJ’ing knows that VDJ is among the best DJ apps.
Wow! Thats a terrible review. I’m a professional DJ, and I think that VDJ is the best two track mixer hands down. Carl Cox has even said its get the best beatmatching (some call it “Warping” ala Ableton live) he’s ever seen. Plus its just incrediably fun. Sure Tracktor has four tables, and Ableton …well Ableton is a world onto its own, but I hardly think that a “novice” DJ is the right person to write any kind of indepth review of a pro software like VDJ. Certainly for beginners its probably absolutely the best software I would recommend if you know how to use.
On the other hand it sounds like the reviewer has no idea that VDJ is a mixing software for tracks. Creating loops on the fly is certainly just a “fun” add on feature, and there’s no way at all that you should be using it for creating, editing or dropping “loops” (whatever he means by that) into your mix. Use the right tool for the right job!
It sounds like what this guy needs is Ableton Live, or some such, which is a proper loop editor / player.
And finally, VDJ while maybe having had its origins in AtmoixMP3, it was certainly competely rebuilt, with a new sound engine in Version 4 that is nearly flawless. Its only issue is some of the effects such as the “KeyLock” feature.. But for almost all other aspects of it, especially combined with a good live controller (Hercules DJ Console is a popular choice), its a pleasure to use, reliable, and I bet my career on every set i make.
I would suggest anyone that is interested in mixing MP3s, and is looking for a “two deck” software, really check out VDJ. Its a pleasure to use, intuitive and has excellent audio quality output.
.o.
I have Virtual DJ and am running Time-coded CDs with Technics SL-DZ1200s. Not sure what this guy is talking about. As for professional DJ, I’ve been doing it since 1973 so this qualifies me. With the SL-DZs and VDJ there is nothing you can do with the normal CDs or even with 1200s (I have four of those) that you can’t do with this software. It’s easy to set-up (I have Numark version) and very intuitive. I taught someone to mix on the fly at a party and they didn’t want to come off the the mix. I recommend this to anyone starting out, or even for an old-head like me who still wants the feel of vinyl, but wants to save their back. This guy needs to go back to reviewing video games – try ColecoVision.
virtualdj is probably the only software that gets worse with each upgrade. I’ll stick to v2.06 features but with wiser skins. The database mgt features of 2.06 stink but it’s still the best release ever.
I’ve only started using this program recently, it works ok, but i found out that, especially when broadcasting, if i make longer mixes, lets say longer then 20-25 minutes, it seems to not load the track fast enough for it too play so it freezes up on me…does anyone here recognise this problem and perhaps have advice for me how to avoid it?
I’m a pro DJ (Since 20 years).
I’m using VDJ since 2 months. It’s
the best (DJ software for mixes and beatmatching). But for the sound it’s
not great yet. Bad sounding with different pro soundcards and computers. There’s no good output controls (limiter). If Atomix fixes that problem, it will be THE BEST software for DJing.
I’m trying to get ableton and virtual dj to work together, how would i do that?
The only problem i have with this review is that it dismisses that Virtual Dj can be unstable sometimes. I’ve had it crash on XP and Vista
I used Traktor for some time untill a couple of years ago when I found Virtual DJ (again). Traktor still has better sound and I wish I had those fx on VDJ, but besides that, VDJ is the better DJ software. There is no other program out there that gives you the features and posibilities that VDJ has. I never had a problem with the software crashing or anything like it, but maybe that is because I keep my computer in a way it does not give me mproblems with any program. All those computer problems I read about VDJ are just that, computer problems, not VDJ problems.
By the way, this guy entering the review does not know shit from shinola.
Has anyone had a problem with the bpm fluctuating when using timecode vinyl? (I’ve got a technics sl1210 mk5, shure m44-7, maya 44 usb, and computer that blows away the recommended specs. Oh, and a trial version of Virtual DJ and one timecode vinyl from their site =)
I mix trance, and I know that real vinyl fluctuates somewhat, but it’s never caused me to trainwreck like virtual dj has. Its like someone’s sliding my pitch slider up and down when I’m trying to mix >.
Hello guys! I have more like a sound quality problems with the control vinyls. And it is not stable. I have a brand new computer(Dell, Core due,3 gb ram …+ ESI U46se asio soundcard, which should be a good choice for digital djing) but there are still problems with the sound quality ( it kind of drags and flexes the sound sometimes and makes clicks).
Bad setup ? Or is the program unstable under Vista?
I have virtual dj 5 program now for 1 month. And it works great. I am no pro, just amateur trying to mix dance tracks together. Of course, first one has to practice a little and learn how the program works, but very soon you find out, it works great: very good beat matching and sync. And there are allways tracks that don’t match together: you have to choose your music carefully. Virtual dj gives some effects, I am not so into that, but the effects I tried work just fine. And on my simple laptop it’s quite stable too. But ofcourse, you must know how to mix, otherwise no dj program will be fine for you.
So for me virtual dj is just very good.
Hey Rookie, forego the auto sync feature and use your ear…that is if you have one.
I OWN BOTH SERATO AND VIRTUAL DJ
THEY GREAT BOTH THEY HAVE THEIR WEAKNESS AND THEIR STRONGS POINTS
SOUND QUALITY ON BOTH ARE GREAT
IVE BEEN USING VIRTUAL DJ FOR OVER TWO YEARS IT CRASHED ONE TIME BUT THE SOUND NEVER GO OFF, THE SONG RAN TILL THE END, AND THEN U JUST NEED TO RECOVER AND BUM 5 SECONDS TO START BACK AGAIN, IN THE MEAN TIME THATS WHY U HAVE CD’S OR WHATEVER ELSE U USE TO BACK U UP WHENEVER SOMETHING HAPPEN,
EVEN IF U ONLY SERATO ( SERATO CRASH IT COULD CRASH TOO ) IT IS A SOFTWARE PROGRAM AND BELIEVE ME IT COULD CRASH ) PLEASE DO NOT RELY ONLY ON COMPUTERS IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL DJ, HAVE ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BACK U UP IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
Carl Cox uses traktor, check on youtube if you don’t believe me, Virtual dj has a very good interface but the software is good enough for bedroom use only. The crash-guard they claim to have doesn’t work at all, it actually makes the laptop freeze you have to restart the computer. Even though i prefer VDJ interface I now use traktor 3.2 on both of my laptops because it is stable, has good sound quality, good fx and it never crashes. The only thing that lacks on traktor is auto djing, its of good help if you want to go and pee.
My VDJ never crashes and I’ve found it’s an excellent gate to open if you want to walk the path of a DJ. I now plan to buy some real decks but I highly reccomend VDJ for starters. You can pull off some great mixes and works wonders at parties if no one has decks. And who mixes AC/DC anyway?
hi there guys im just wondering. Ive been using serato and dj’s pinoneer for the past year. i just bought virtual dj last week, and this record feature that really cought my attention still dont know how to use it though using an external mixer. can anyone of u guys give me some tips it really works well. i really love to use this record feature so that i can listen where i go off beat with out the headphones. its good practice. hehehe ^_^