What's the Best DJ Software?

Numark Virtual Vinyl

Numark Virtual Vinyl is yet another DJ software solution that will be available in 2007.  No word yet on the actual release date, but according to vendor websites, it looks like Virtual Vinyl will be available in Feb.

Much like Serato Scratch Live and Traktor Scratch, Numark Virtual Vinyl uses a hardware interface and time-coded records and CD’s to control the DJ software.  The software in this case is Numark CUE, which is available as a stand-alone product as well.

Numark Virtual Vinyl has all the bells and whistles that you would expect from a typical DJ software/hardware interface.  The feature list includes master tempo, seamless looping, instant pitch matching, auto beat matching, BPM aware effects, hot-cues, sampling, and more.  The Numark website boasts that Virtual Vinyl has “zero latency” when used to control the DJ software.  On top of all of that, Numark Virtual Vinyl can even play video files!

Another impressive feature is that Virtual Vinyl is compatible with music subscription services like Yahoo Music Unlimited, Virgin Music, Napster Music, and others.  Could you imagine just paying a monthly fee and having unlimited access to all the music you would ever need?!  In my opinion, this is the direction the DJ industry is headed.  Hopefully, the other DJ software companies, like Serato and Traktor, will add this capability as well.

Here’s a summary of Virtual Vinyl’s features:

• Mix audio flawlessly with vinyl control
• Industry leading reliability and stability
• Mix and scratch video files interchangeably with audio and output the video to a monitor, projector, or TV
• Multiple user interfaces for different mixing styles
• Automatic BPM detection
• A variety of built-in effects, VST plug-ins, and create beatmatched loops and samples on the fly
• Visual waveform overlay of beats
• Browse, sort, and search your music library easily
• Works with Numark’s iCDX or standard MIDI controllers, multi-channel sound cards, USB mixers, and built in audio cards.

All of these features are nice to see, but it my opinion, auto this and auto that takes the artform out of DJ’ing.  Sometimes, especially with DJ software, less is more.  Still, I’m sure plenty of DJ’s will flock to the stores when Virtual Vinyl finally hits the shelves.