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DJ.Studio - The Ultimate DAW For DJs

Noah Feasey-Kemp

Noah Feasey-Kemp

DJ.Studio is a DAW created specifically for DJs. Not every DAW is created equal, most of the times they are created for producers in mind and very rarely with DJs in mind. This is where DJ.Studio is different.

Every stage of the design has been created with DJs as the focus.

Unlike most DAWs, DJ.Studio isn't designed for traditional music production, it's designed for creating mixes.

Read on to discover DJ.Studio and why it's the perfect DAW for DJs.

What is DJ.Studio?#

DJ.Studio is a digital audio workstation designed specifically for DJs, and other people who need to create DJ-style mixes and playlists.

It's a piece of DJ software with a DAW-style timeline and interface.

Unlike most popular DJ software like rekordbox, Traktor, Virtual DJ, or Serato - which uses the archaic 'mixer and decks' type system - DJ.Studio is closer in workflow to digital audio workstations - although with a DJ-centered twist.

It moves away from the live performance workflow to bring a more efficient system in the hands of mix creators. The entire workflow and set of features have been designed from the ground up to facilitate the mix creation process.

Yet, it's important to note that DJ.Studio isn't designed for traditional music production, and while it does borrow some concepts from these programs, its original design is completely tailored to DJs and other people who need to make mixes.

What are DJ.Studio's key features?#

Here are some of the notable features of DJ.Studio:

  • A simple and easy-to-use library managerĀ which shows all the information you need to know at a glance including key and BPM.

  • The ability to import music from various sources, including your hard drive, other DJ software, and streaming sources.

  • An automix feature that instantly creates the optimal sequence and mix based on a chosen selection of tracks-this works either harmonically or tempo-based.

  • A powerful timeline and transition editor which lets you customize your mixes and create loops and seamless fades between tracks, while also giving a huge amount of expression and creativity thanks to the included effects.

  • The ability to record your DJ mix quickerĀ than if you were recording it live - finished mixes can be rendered in 10x real-time speed.

  • You can export your mixes to a range of places, and generate YouTube videos with a visualizer including the playlist and timestamp information.

What is DJ.Studio's Unique Workflow?#

DJ.Studio Playlist

To get a better sense of how DJ.Studio changes the game, it's worth having a look at the workflow so you can understand the unique process.

  1. First, you import your music into DJ.Studio. You can import music from a range of sources, not only the files on your computer but also from DJ software like Mixed In Key, rekordbox, Serato, VirtualDJ, Engine DJ, TRAKTOR, iTunes and a few streaming services.

  2. The key and BPM for each of these tracks will be automatically detected, which makes it easier for selecting compatible songs.

  3. Select a bunch of tracks that you would like to include in a mix.

    Automix
  4. With the Automix button you can choose how DJ.Studio arranges the music. There is a slider that lets you choose a preference between BPM or key. If you use the key mode this prioritizes harmonic mixes, ensuring that each subsequent track has a compatible key to match with the previous one. This will make your mixes much more coherent and seamless and also gives you control over the energy changes of your set and mixes.

  5. DJ.studio will check every potential combination or tracks to find the optimal sequence of your chosen tracks for a DJ set. This could be literally millions or even billions of combinations to find you the best order of your tracks, that will be checked in just 30 seconds.

    In the studio view you will see a timeline of your set with the tracks laid out and with some automatic fading transitions .

  6. Now you can unleash your creativity and fine-tune the transitions. The transition editor helps you to customize the transition between your songs in a great amount of detail. You can automate all the transition parameters including volume, EQ, filters, effects, and looping. Due to the way this automation system works, you can create more detailed expressive transitions than you would ever be able to perform live using two hands and a traditional DJ controller setup. Lock the transition if it sounds good.

    DJ.Studio Transition Editor
  7. When you are happy with the transitions for each of your tracks you can listen back to your complete mix to make sure you're happy with everything.

  8. Now it's time to recordĀ your DJ mix. DJ.Studio will record your mix at up to 10 times the speed. This means that if you mix an hour long you can have it recorded in six minutes. This saves a huge amount of time compared to recording a live performance, which would otherwise take the same amount of time (or longer) to perform as it would to record it.

  9. Once the mix is recorded you can then export it to a range of different locations. The basic option is a file saved to your computer as a WAV or MP3.
    You can also export it as a YouTube video. This includes the track listing and contains the timestamp information, which will appear in the YouTube player timeline so listeners can see which song they're listening to easily. When you upload your video to Youtube, the artist will be accredited so they receive the money for playback as per the legal licensing agreement system.

    Record and Export

This workflow goes to show how beneficial the system of DJ studio will be for a range of people, in comparison to traditional software.

Why is DJ.Studio the Best DAW for DJs?#

DJ.Studio Timeline Close

There are several reasons why DJ.Studio is the best DAW for DJs...

Unlike other DAWs, DJ.Studio has been designed for DJs from the start of its development. In contrast to DAWs like Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, FL Studio - which are music production software tools - DJ.Studio is 100% focused on the needs of DJs and similar creators.

In these other programs, DJs are an afterthought to the music producer. In DJ.Studio - DJs and mix creators are the main focus.

For example, if DJs were to use any of these other DAWs, they would run into several issues and hurdles.

Because these music production DAWs aren't designed for DJs, they lack many of the vital features and design choices that make that software a viable option for creating DJ mixes.

You theoretically can create a DJ mix within any of these DAWs, but the process will be much harder and will take a lot more time to finish.

DJ.Studio is full of features that make it ideal for creating mixes#

All the features in DJ.Studio are designed to make the mix creation process as quick and easy as possible.

1. Music library system

First of all, the music library systemĀ helps with a core part of DJing - organizing and discovering new music.

The music library is powerfully designed to accept music from a wide range of sources.

Not only can you import tracks from your computer's hard drive, but it also has the ability to connect with other DJ software and streaming services. This lets you discover new music within the DJ.Studio app itself.

This is a powerful feature that streamlines the discovery process for DJs, meaning they can easily find new music to incorporate into the mixes without having to manage a bunch of different websites and software programs.

They can discover new music and manage their library all from within the DJ.Studio app itself.

2. Key and tempo detection

BPM and Key Detection

Another useful feature is the automatic key and tempo detection analysis.

This means that as soon as you import music into DJ.Studios library automatically begins to analyze the key and BPM.

3. Automix System

Automix Calculations

DJ.Studio's automix systemĀ is a uniquely useful tool for DJs and mix creators.

No regular production DAWs have this type of feature, because it's not really necessary for music producers. However, as a DJ, the automix harmonic mixing algorithm based on Mixed in Key's Camelot Wheel is incredibly helpful and turns an hour long workflow into minutes.

You no longer need to spend hours figuring out which keys go together, or work out the best order for your tracks - our AI does that for you!

This means that DJ.Studio is primed to help DJs quickly create full-length DJ mixes, while also helping many users overcome the steep learning curve of understanding harmonic mixing.

4. Timeline Editor

Timeline Editing

Additionally, the timeline editor is designed in a way to be highly efficient when constructing, editing, arranging, and fine-tuning DJ sets.

The grid system dynamically conforms to the beats in each track, making it super easy to move the beginnings of ends of tracks to the precise point you want them, and it also makes it easy to change the arrangement of your set.

When you move the playlist order around, it automatically moves the tracks around on the timeline, letting you quickly and easily reshuffle your entire mix without having to manually move any audio clips.

5. Transition Editor

DJ.Studio also features a transition editorĀ which works essentially the same ways automation in any standard DAW like Apple Logic Pro or Image Line Fruity Loops.

However, in this case, it's been fitted with a bunch of presets making it super fast to choose a type of transition that you want to use. This is instantly applied over the time frame that you want the transition to occur.

The transition system makes it more efficient to create detailed transitions, and unlike traditional DJ software, you can automate all parameters simultaneously, meaning you can create advanced transitions that wouldn't be possible to pull off live.

6. Exporting System

The exporting system lets you export, record, and share your finished mixes to a range of locations including Mixcloud, YouTube, and your hard drive.

It even lets you export it as an Ableton Live set, which makes it powerful for radio DJs and professional mixtape producers who need to fine-tune the mixing and mastering of their set, while also adding voiceovers, jingles, and other sound effects.

When exporting the mixes to Mixcloud or YouTube, it creates a note file that contains all the timestamp and tracklist information. This information is automatically uploaded to these platforms - saving you time, and also making it easy for your audience to find out what track you played, and ensuring that the relevant artist is compensated for their work.

7. Video Integration

DJ.Studio also has video integration. DJ.Studio lets you add visualizers to your music with a few simple but very powerful settings. This means you can create cool videos for your DJ mixes while you are arranging your set. You export your DJ mix as a video with a waveform visualizer and the artwork image for each track as it plays.

Difference Between DAW for Producers and DAW for DJs#

Ableton Live - a Traditional Music Production DAW

Comparing music production DAWs to DJ DAWs, there is a clear range of differences, based on the different needs of each demographic.

By comparing the needs of these two different demographics, we can see how a DAW designed for music production, and a DAW designed for DJs would be very different - and it would be hard to make one that was ideal for both types of users.

THE THINGS EDM PRODUCERS NEED THAT ARE IRRELEVANT FOR DJS

Looking at electronic music producers you can see that they would need the following things which would be irrelevant for DJs:

  • Firstly, the use of virtual instruments, soft synths, vst plugins, and MIDI controllers. This isn't really something that you explicitly need as a DJ, as there's no real need to add new instrumentation or notation to your DJ set. You don't need to compose music as a DJ, but you do as a music producer. This replicates the abilities of a professional music studio.

  • Another thing that a DAW for music production needs is a complicated multi-track mixer. Because when you use a music production tool to make a song, you have many, many channels of audio and MIDI instruments and a sound, so you need a potentially hundred or thousand-channel mixer to facilitate the mixdown process. As a DJ, you typically only need two channels; some people rarely use three or four channels. So you can see how the mix would be different.

  • Additionally, music producers need a system that enables external audio recording. For example, other instruments like guitars and drums or vocals with the microphone. Again, this is something that isn't necessary for DJs to use and would be a waste of the development budget.

A further demonstration of the differences between these two, is the architecture of how the software interacts with tempo and BPM. Obviously, DJ software needs something that can constantly update itself to stay on the grid with music-changing tempos.

The things that DJs need in a DAW would be different:

  • DJs need something that detects the tempo and harmony key of your tracks and ideally shows you how well a new track will connect with the outgoing track. This isn't something that's necessary for professional musicians.

  • Integration with DJ hardware - This helps people who want more of a hands-on workflow. The type of controllers for Djing and music production are largely different.

  • Help with music discovery, playlist management, and distributing mixes. Music production revolves around sample finding and instruments - where DJing revolves around discovering new and exciting music to bring to your audience. DJ.Studio also helps with this.

The above points demonstrate some of the areas where DAWs would need to be different for music producers and DJs. It wouldn't make sense to include both sets of features (for DJs and producers) in one set of software, as it would be overkill, and make the software unnecessarily complex.

Who Will Benefit From DJ.Studio?#

There are so many uses where DJ.Studio will make your life easier, and save a lot of time.

  • If you're a live DJĀ you can use DJ.studio to find the optimal sequencing for your tracks to then play live.

  • If you host radio shows, it makes it super easy to produce the final audio file while also creating some beautiful transitions between tracks.

  • If you are a beginning DJ and you want to create and share mixes but you don't know how to DJ it also lets you easily create a mix that you can then share with your friends online.

  • If you are a professional DJ and you want to create mixes to share to get new gigs and share with promoters then this makes the process super fast.

  • You can also make some impressive transitions, which otherwise you wouldn't be able to do when mixing live with a controller.

  • Also, you don't need to worry about recording and mixing making mistakes because you can tweak the set to perfection and it will make absolutely flawless mixes.

These are just some examples of where DJ.Studio can help people out, but there are countless other situations!

Closing Thoughts#

DJ.Studio has been designed from the ground up to be the best DAW software for DJs. Whether you are a serious professional, or an avid new enthusiast, DJ.Studio has all the features you need to produce the best mixes you can.

It takes inspiration from both types of software - music production DAWs and live mixing DJ software. By using the best of both worlds, it gives users a uniquely powerful tool for creating musical mixes.

If you are a DJ or anyone else looking to create a mix, don't waste your time with a traditional DAW, as you will run into many barriers.

DJ.Studio is the best choice of DAWs for DJs - after all, it was designed with DJs in mind.

Register for a trial today!

FAQs About DAWs for DJs

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