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VirtualDJ is a long-standing and popular piece of DJ software. In fact, it is the first piece of DJ software I personally used extensively, way back in 2004. It has a loyal user base, with a particularly strong following among mobile DJs, video DJs and karaoke DJs.
That said, it is also great for any kind of DJing, with good scratch performance, industry-leading live stem extraction, powerful mapping capabilities, and a host of other features that – for those who care to dig deep – often surprise and delight users.
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But one thing that makes VirtualDJ different from other DJing apps is that it is not “tied” to any particular hardware. For instance, Pioneer DJ’s Rekordbox only works with that brand’s equipment, Serato software is licensed to work with a relatively small number of devices, and Traktor works best with Traktor-branded hardware. But one of VirtualDJ’s strengths is that its makers strive to make sure it works with anything.
And the makers are extremely good at it. For instance, you can export your VirtualDJ library onto a USB drive, plug it into Pioneer DJ’s club-standard CDJs, and it’ll work fine! That’s some programming know-how right there. So it should come as no surprise to hear that when it comes to having VirtualDJ work with DJ controllers, the integrations are tight, offering a viable alternative for DJs who maybe admire a piece of hardware, but want to use VirtualDJ as their software.
So while you can usually just plug a controller into a computer running VirtualDJ and it will work, we nonetheless wanted to highlight five units where we feel VirtualDJ has done a particularly good job of the integrations. In this roundup, we’ll give you our picks, and tell you why they shine.
5 Best VirtualDJ Controllers 2023
1. Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX10
Pioneer DJ’s flagship controller has lots of dedicated stems controls on it. They are designed to work with Rekordbox and Serato, the two programs that are supplied with the DDJ-FLX10 – but as usual, it didn’t take VirtualDJ long to have its own mapping available for the FLX10. And it turns out that it’s a great one.
And here’s the thing: VirtualDJ has far better sounding real-time stems than Rekordbox as of now, and it also offers more flexibility in the way users can work with stems than Serato – so users who want really great sounding stem separation, with lots of choice as to how those stems are utilised, now have the option of doing that using VirtualDJ, with probably the most important new DJ controller on the market for the past few years.
Price: $1599 / £1469 / €1649
Our rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our review: Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX10 Review
Buy now: Amazon
2. Rane Four
This is probably the second most important DJ controller release of the past couple of years, behind the FLX10, and it offers the absolute best control over stems for Serato users (it’s a Serato controller, of course). But just like the DDJ-FLX10, the Rane Four can also be used to make VirtualDJ’s superior stems shine.
Once nice thing is that with LED displays for each pad, using VirtualDJ’s customisable pad library is made that much easier on the Rane Four. The VirtualDJ team has done a great job of making the most of the huge number of controls on the Rane Four, and it shows. In short, VirtualDJ users will find the Rane Four an amazing controller to work with.
Price: $1699 / £1649 / €1899
Our rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our review: Rane Four Review
Buy now: Official website
3. Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV7
This controller has excellent motorised jogwheels with built-in screens, meaning it is a natural choice for DJs who cut their teeth on vinyl, and who now want an all-in-one DJ controller that is particularly good for scratching.
The VirtualDJ integration is excellent, with perfect jogwheel mapping making full use of the high-quality turntable feel this controller majors on, and also using the built-in screens. While the REV7 is primarily a controller designed for Serato DJ Pro (and indeed unlocks that software on plugging in), existing owners of VirtualDJ software coming to this unit have no need to switch, meaning they get to use the REV7’s amazing motorised jogs while also taking advantage of VirtualDJ-only features.
Price: $1999 / £1849 / €2042
Our rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our review: Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV7 Review
Buy now: Amazon
4. Denon DJ Prime Go
We felt like we should draw particular attention to using VirtualDJ with the unique little Denon DJ Prime Go, and particularly in the use case of mobile DJs, perhaps using it for an open air reception at a wedding before a main show. Because the Prime Go is a portable device, with a built-in battery, in such circumstances it will work hand in hand with VirtualDJ running off a battery-powered laptop, away from mains electricity.
Another thing we really liked about this particular implementation is that the Prime Go mapping can be customised to match VirtualDJ’s different features, with its touchscreen able to be completely changed through VirtualDJ’s “skins”. Having a customisable touchscreen and a laptop in a battery powered unit is definitely a first for VirtualDJ.
Price: $999 / £1099 / €1319
Our rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our review: Denon DJ Prime Go Review
Buy now: Amazon
5. Hercules DJControl Inpulse 200
Not everyone can justify spending big on a DJ set-up. For beginners who are on a tight budget, the Hercules DJControl Inpulse 200 has always offered an easy route into the DJ world. And when it comes to VirtualDJ, it is the cheapest controller that unlocks all the functionalities of the platform, including stems separation on EQs, for under $150.
That’s an awful lot of functionality right there – but of course a point about VirtualDJ is that it works with pretty much every DJ controller and device you can think of. This means that when it is time to upgrade your gear, maybe to one of the more expensive, capable controllers mentioned in this article, if you’re using a device like this with VirtualDJ, you can do so with relative ease.
Price: $129 / £99 / €109
Our rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our review: Hercules DJControl Inpulse 200 Review
Buy now: Amazon
Finally…
Remember that VirtualDJ works with pretty much everything – just plug it in and give it a go. What we’ve highlighted here are five controllers that have particularly noteworthy features in their integrations, or that have proved particularly popular with VirtualDJ users.
Read this next: 5 Tips To Get Ahead In DJing This Year
Are you a loyal VirtualDJ user? Do you have a particular hardware combo that you use that you feel works well with the software? What features of the platform make you stick with VirtualDJ over the primary software for the gear you use? Let us know in the comments!
Phil Morse
