VirtualDJ
Encyclopedia
VirtualDJ is a range of audio/video mixing software developed by Atomix Productions Inc. for use by mobile and club DJ
s. The software is also exclusively repackaged for Numark, called Numark CUE.
The packages run on PC or Mac to allow computer DJ
s 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 CDJ
s and DJ mixer
with vinyl emulation software
and CDs.
, allowing the DJ to become a VJ.
allows the user to physically manipulate the playback of digital audio files on a computer using the turntables as an interface, thus preserving the hands-on feel of DJing with vinyl while allowing playback of audio recordings not available in phonograph form. This allows DJs to scratch, beatmatch, and perform other turntablism that would be impossible with a conventional keyboard-and-mouse computer interface.
, 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.
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 tracklists. Other users can make comment 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 you subscribe to. In essence a real-time track advisor based on evaluating what other DJs around the world are mixing.
s 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
.
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.
in Miami.
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s. The software is also exclusively repackaged for Numark, called Numark CUE.
The packages run on PC or Mac to allow computer DJ
Computer DJ
A Computer DJ is defined as a DJ who uses a computer or laptop to play digital music encoded audio files, to a public crowd. Originally due to file size storage issues this was usually using lossy codec files , however as drive space increased, this improved to using original uncompressed PCM files...
s to mix music or videos, with or without an external controller. DJs can control the software with a MIDI controller
MIDI controller
MIDI controller is used in two senses.*In one sense, a controller is hardware or software which generates and transmits MIDI data to MIDI-enabled devices....
or using traditional DJ hardware such as CDJ
CDJ
CDJ is a term used to describe a line of CD players from Pioneer Electronics that allow analogue control of music from CDs, usually using an emulated vinyl control surface...
s and DJ mixer
DJ mixer
A DJ mixer is a type of audio mixing console used by disc jockeys.The key features that differentiate a DJ mixer from other types of audio mixers are the ability to redirect a non-playing source to headphones and the presence of a crossfader, which allows for an easier transition between two sources...
with vinyl emulation software
Vinyl Emulation Software
Vinyl emulation software allows the user to physically manipulate the playback of digital audio files on a computer using the turntables as an interface, thus preserving the hands-on feel of deejaying with vinyl while allowing playback of audio recordings not available in phonograph form...
and CDs.
History
The first version appeared in July 2003. VirtualDJ is the successor 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).Video mixing
VirtualDJ offers video mixing and scratchingScratching
Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used...
, allowing the DJ to become a VJ.
Vinyl emulation
Vinyl emulationVinyl Emulation Software
Vinyl emulation software allows the user to physically manipulate the playback of digital audio files on a computer using the turntables as an interface, thus preserving the hands-on feel of deejaying with vinyl while allowing playback of audio recordings not available in phonograph form...
allows the user to physically manipulate the playback of digital audio files on a computer using the turntables as an interface, thus preserving the hands-on feel of DJing with vinyl while allowing playback of audio recordings not available in phonograph form. This allows DJs to scratch, beatmatch, and perform other turntablism that would be impossible with a conventional keyboard-and-mouse computer interface.
NetSearch
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 download would be allowed, except for local cacheCache
In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere...
, protected by digital rights management
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
. From the release of VirtualDJ 6.1 in May 2010 this model was replaced by a subscription model, with Grooveshark
Grooveshark
Grooveshark is an international online music search engine, music streaming service and music recommendation web software application, allowing users to search for, stream, and upload music that can be played immediately or added to a playlist...
as the content provider.
MusicGroups
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 tracklists. Other users can make comment 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 you subscribe to. In essence a real-time track advisor based on evaluating what other DJs around the world are mixing.
Broadcast
VirtualDJ provides two ways for DJs to broadcast their mix sets to the internet. With the built in radioserver in the software a DJ can broadcast from his own computer by publishing a link generated by the software, that streamStream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s the mix played. The software can also broadcast to a webradio that runs Shoutcast
SHOUTcast
SHOUTcast is cross-platform proprietary software for streaming media over the Internet. The software, developed by Nullsoft , allows digital audio content, primarily in MP3 or HE-AAC format, to be broadcast to and from media player software, enabling the creation of Internet radio "stations"...
or Icecast
Icecast
Icecast is a streaming media project released as free software maintained by the Xiph.org Foundation. It also refers specifically to the server program which is part of the project. Icecast was created in December 1998/January 1999 by Jack Moffitt and Barath Raghavan to provide an open source...
servers. VirtualDJ based webradio has been running since 2005 under the name VirtualDJ Radio
VirtualDJ Radio
VirtualDJ Radio is a live mixed webradio with DJs around the world. The radio is based on DJs using VirtualDJ software.VirtualDJ Radio started in 2005 with one channel, where DJs mixed mostly house and dance music. In 2008 a new channel was added for DJs mixing urban music, such as hiphop,...
.
VDJScript language
From VirtualDJ 6, mappingMemory-mapped I/O
Memory-mapped I/O and port I/O are two complementary methods of performing input/output between the CPU and peripheral devices in a computer...
to MIDI or HID
HID
HID may refer to:*HID Global, American-based manufacturer of access control products*HID, National Rail code for Hall i' th' Wood railway station, England*High-intensity discharge lamp, a type of electrical light...
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++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
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
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
file.
Multi-deck Mode
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.Reception
In 2010, VirtualDJ won the award for Best DJ Software at the 25th Annual International Dance Music Awards the Winter Music ConferenceWinter Music Conference
The Winter Music Conference is a weeklong electronic music conference, held every March since the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida, United States. Venues are hosted primarily in Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach...
in Miami.
External links
- Official website
- Example of a single DJ MusicGroup
- Example of a multi-user MusicGroup
- Example of a VDJScript
- Virtual Dj Skins Skins to use with Virtual DJ