Developer(s) Atomix Productions Available in Multi-languages | Development status Active | |
Initial release July 2003; 13 years ago (2003-07) Stable release 8.0 build 2139 / 01 February 2015 Operating system | ||
Virtual DJ (also known as VDJ) is a range of audio/video mixing software developed by Atomix Productions Inc. for use by mobile and club DJs. The software is also exclusively repackaged for Numark, called Numark CUE.
Contents
The packages run on PC or Mac to allow computer DJs to mix music or videos, with or without an external controller. DJs can control the software with a MIDI controller or using traditional DJ hardware such as CDJs and DJ mixer with vinyl emulation software and CDs.
History
The first version appeared in July 2003. VirtualDJ is the software of AtomixMP3, which was released for the first time in September 2000. Development for AtomixMP3 stopped as soon as VirtualDJ was released as its successor. VirtualDJ was released in 5 different versions: VirtualDJ Home Edition (formerly sold at shops, now released as free edition), VirtualDJ Broadcaster (available online and in shops), VirtualDJ Pro Full (only available online), VirtualDJ Limited Edition (free with selected MIDI controllers), and VirtualDJ Pro Basic (a budget alternative to VirtualDJ Pro without MIDI control). In May 2014 VirtualDJ 8 was released, which was completely rewritten.
Versions
From Atomix Productions.
VirtualDJ v8.x
VirtualDJ v7.x
Features
Starting with version 7.0,VirtualDJ supports up to 99 decks. 4-deck and 6-deck skins are included in all editions of VirtualDJ 7. VirtualDJ offers video mixing and scratching. Vinyl emulation allows the user to physically manipulate the playback of digital audio files on a computer using the turntables as an interface. This allows DJs to scratch, beatmatch, and perform other turntablism.
NetSearch is a feature introduced with VirtualDJ version 6.x. At the first few releases this allowed users to access music and videos from content providers on internet. The music and videos would be streamed directly to the user's decks, and no downloads would be allowed, except for local web cache, protected by digital rights management. From the release of VirtualDJ 6.1 in May 2010 this model was replaced by a subscription model, with Grooveshark as the content provider.
MusicGroups was a feature added to VirtualDJ 6. MusicGroup collects track histories, and publishes them on Virtualdj.com. Licensed users can make their own single-user groups, or can join a multi-user group. Each MusicGroup page includes a mini-blog, with track history, as well as top 20 played tracks, and saved track lists. Other users can make comments to the group, and subscribe to the group. The software analyzes track lists, and makes suggestions to what track to mix next. The suggestions are based on what other DJs around the world have played next, with a stronger weight on the MusicGroup the user subscribes to. In essence a real-time track advisor based on evaluating what other DJs around the world are mixing.
VirtualDJ provides two ways for DJs to broadcast their mix sets to the internet. With the built-in radio server, a DJ can broadcast from his own computer by publishing a link generated by the software, that streams the mix played. The software can also broadcast to a webradio that runs Shoutcast or Icecast servers. VirtualDJ based webradio has been running since 2005 under the name VirtualDJ Radio.
From VirtualDJ 6, mapping to MIDI or HID controllers changed. In earlier versions mapping to a controller was done with the mappers built into the software, or by hard coded DLL files made by users (using C++ or other programming languages). VirtualDJ 6 introduced VDJScript language, making a custom mapper for any MIDI and HID controller easier by editing the mapper configuration of the software, or by editing an XML file.
Reception
In 2010, Virtual DJ won the award for Best DJ Software at the 25th Annual International Dance Music Awards the Winter Music Conference in Miami.
In 2013, Virtual DJ won the award for Best DJ Software at the 28th Annual International Dance Music Awards, the Winter Music Conference in Miami.