Serato DJ Intro software: Set to shake up the bottom end of the market. (Click to enlarge.)
Serato, makers of pro DJ software Serato Scratch and Serato ITCH, has taken a show across the bows of both Traktor LE and Virtual DJ LE with its latest DJ software launch, Serato DJ Intro. (Update Nov 1 2012: It’s now also possible to upgrade this to Serato DJ.)
The new software, announced today, is designed to be packaged with beginner DJ controllers, a market that Traktor LE, but especially Virtual DJ LE, currently cater for.
And in a simultaneous announcement, Numark – the biggest manufacturer of DJ controllers in the world – has confirmed that it will now package Serato DJ Intro with its lower-end controllers, meaning its complete range – from the humble Mixtrack right up to the NS7FX – now comes with Serato software.
As well as the Numark controller, Serato announced that the Vestax Typhoon and VCI-100 Mk II also work with the software, although it seems there’s no four-deck support for the latter controller; this appears to be strictly a two-deck DJ solution.
We’ve yet to test Serato DJ Intro, but from the look if it, it is easy to use software with the main plus points of ITCH but without the complications of “pro” software. It comes with basic effects, cueing, and a four-sample sampler built-in, the latter apparently complete with Virtual DJ style air horns and explosions.
As with other Serato software, it is free to download, but only works when compatible hardware is plugged in.
Has Serato made a canny move by offering what is effectively a credible basic version of its ITCH software? What effect do you think this will have on Traktor and Virtual DJ? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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Tags: serato dj intro, Software
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Wow.. this is a surprise. Looks nice, can’t wait to try it.
[ link ]Just tried it with my Mixtrack Pro, perfect, good bye Virtual DJ LE
[ link ]I just tried it with Twitch (the only DJ controller I have with me at the moment) and it doesn’t recognise it, although it recognises my Serato library just fine. So I’d love you to let me know your thoughts, especially as regards the direct comparison with Virtual DJ LE.
[ link ]I’ve had a quick play around with my Mixtrack Pro and while it’s light on features it has one major feature over Traktor for me. I’ve been playing around with mapping my Mixtrack Pro with Traktor for a while but no matter how I set them the jogs always felt slightly “loose” and unresponsive. With Intro they’re incredibly responsive; it’s almost like having a new controller.
As I don’t really bother with the loops, effects and cue-points in Traktor I’m going to give Intro a chance as it seems like it could be really good. I haven’t found a full list of the mapping yet and there seem to be a few buttons that don’t do anything at the moment, but it’s only at version 1.0.1 so I’m sure there’ll be some improvement as more people try it and give feedback.
[ link ]I was actually talking to NI today about this and they reckon with Traktor 2.1.1 they’ve ironed out this issue for the majority of controllers – try upgrading your Traktor and see if that responsiveness is there. It’s been a bugbear of mine for a long time, too.
[ link ]“I was actually talking to NI today about this and they reckon with Traktor 2.1.1 they’ve ironed out this issue for the majority of controllers – try upgrading your Traktor and see if that responsiveness is there. It’s been a bugbear of mine for a long time, too.”
Unfortunately I’m still using Pro 1.2.7 so that’s not an option for me without forking out to upgrade.
[ link ]great move for Serato from a business standpoint, can’t wait for Denon to step up to the plate and pay for support for the MC6000 that a ton of people are looking for
[ link ]FYI, it doesn’t work with the Mixtrack, only the Mixtrack Pro.
[ link ]Thanks for the heads up on that.
[ link ]Do you think if we bug serato enough they will make it work w/ the regular mixtrack NOT PRO, it sucks that it doesnt work
[ link ]I agree but I guess Serato needs to know what sound card it’s using, which of course isn’t possible with Mixtrack.
[ link ]Do you have to have external hardware to use this software, or can I use it with just laptop controls?
[ link ]You need external hardware, or it switches into “offline” mode which is no good for DJing.
[ link ]Overall superior sound quality compared to VDJ, just as easy to use if not easier with the big colorful PDF manual.
Good to see this packaged aswell as vdj and Tracktor LE with midi future controllers, say bye bye to vdj.
[ link ]Overall superior sound quality compared to VDJ, just as easy to use if not easier with the big colorful PDF manual. Good to see this packaged aswell as vdj and Tracktor LE with midi future controllers, say bye bye to vdj.
[ link ]>and a four-sample sampler built-in, the latter apparently complete with Virtual DJ style air horns and explosions.
You know, this air horn effect is one of the things that has always made me dislike Virtual DJ.
And when I clicked on the link to this article, I was hoping for a video review.
[ link ]CAN THIS SERATO USE WITH DJ 4SET ?
[ link ]Please try not to comment in capitals! No, it doesn’t ship with DJ 4Set, so you can’t use it with that controller.
[ link ]do think it would be possible to get this working for the original VCI 100?
[ link ]My first impressions: I’ve had a play around with this, having gotten used to the Mixtrack Pro / Traktor combination, and while I agree that the jogwheels and sound quality feel better, it falls down on two points for me:
1. My Macbook’s CPU (2Ghz dual core, 2gb RAM) struggles with Serato in a way it never did with Traktor and the sound stutters. Maybe this is a latency issue?
2. Automatic looping, at first glance, is not as intuitive as Traktors.
Am not giving up yet, as overall I prefer the look and feel of Serato.
[ link ]Weird your MacBook can’t handle it – have you tried closing other stiff, wifi etc?
[ link ]Good point Phil, but I always close other applications / wi-fi when I open DJ software, so this would not appear to be the issue.
I tried it out at my last bar gig (with some CDJ tracks lined up on another channel just in case), and it worked fine when I changed the latency down a notch, however as much as it felt smoother than Traktor on the mixtrack pro (jogwheel response is lovely and more similar to vinyl), I really noticed that the sound quality was not as good as usual, and I eventually switched back to Traktor for the remainder of the gig.
Does decreasing the latency affect sound quality?
Anyone else notice a difference in sound quality with Serato?
[ link ]Are there any MIDI maps for the American Audio VMS4 for Intro available? If not, could somebody make me one please? (I’m not much of a under-the-bonnet type of guy)
[ link ]No, there’s no such thing as a Midi map for Serato Intro – it is all done for you on controllers that the software is compatible with. If your controller is not compatible, it won’t work with Intro.
[ link ]Its great but how do i record my sets???
[ link ]I loved it, but it is too essential. I mean, I know it’s a free software, but I’d rather pay something to get more features and the ability to record the sets (or maybe I just did not understand how). On my DDJ ERGO V it works well, but the console itself could be mapped better, the LEDs do not work and the commands are not visible on the software as in VDJ LE. I hope that they will upgrade it soon with more features.
[ link ]That, the “disrespectful” name of the software “DJ INTRO”, and not having a upgrade path (other than selling off your controller and buying an iTCH supported one) blows it for me. Why a controller as semi-wonderful as the Reloop Terminal Mix 4 falls at the high-end of the “intro” controllers and not the low end of the professional controllers (because of price) is a mystery to me. I’m getting off on a tangent right now, but this controller has to have the absolute best jogwheels on the market… smh
[ link ]Going to buy mix track express today as a back up //portable alternative to cdj 1000s & rane sl1 I currently use
[ link ]Question : will it only work with intro software supplied or will it work with my full serato software used for sl1 box also. Do I need to use time code CDs or is there a built in thing so I don’t need discs anymore to controll ?
No, you’ll still need to use SL1.
[ link ]Mixdeck express (numark) I mean to say
[ link ]