VirtualDJ for Mac is a software used by DJs to replace their turntables and CD players, and use digital music instead of vinyl and CDs.
In the same way that the CD players used by DJs have more options than a regular Hi-Fi CD player, Virtual DJ for macOS has more options than a simple media player like iTunes. It lets you 'mix' your songs, by playing two or more tracks at the same time, adjust their relative speed so that their tempo will match, apply effects like loops etc, and crossfade from one side to the other. It also lets you scratch your songs, set and recall cues, and all the other regular features DJs expect to find to be able to mix.
It will let you organize your collection of tracks and group them easily in a DJ-friendly way, using filter to find the hot songs, or find compatible bpm or key, access your previous playlists, etc. And if you're missing a track, the app will automatically find it on the Internet and stream it directly (*requires an additional subscription). And, using the millions of automatic reports Virtual DJ get every day from other the tool users around the world, it will give you meaningful advice on which songs other DJs consider to go well after what you just played.
VirtualDJ for Mac can play not only audio tracks, but also video or karaoke if you connect your Mac computer to a projector or the club's screens.
It comes with a plethora of effects, ranging from traditional flanger, echo, etc, to more modern 'beat-aware' effects like beatgrid, slicer, loop-roll. And if you mix videos, you'll also find a lot of video effects and transitions to play with. Its built-in sampler will let you spice up your mixes with a broad range of drops and loops, or you can go creative and merge live performance and production by creating remixes on-the-fly by using the sampler like a sequencer.
The tool is plug-and-play compatible with most of the DJ controllers that exist on the market. Just plug yours and you will be ready to go. And if you want to change any of the default behavior, the tool has a powerful 'VDJScript' language that will let you easily tweak any functions exactly to your liking. Same for the interface. If you want to change it, VDJ website hosts hundreds of user-made interfaces to replace the default one, or you could easily create your own.
Virtual DJ for Mac is used by tens of millions of people every day, ranging from bedroom DJs to international superstars. It is used to play live in clubs and big stadiums, at weddings, private parties, or just to train at home. And in addition to being used live, the app can also be used to record mixtapes, podcast or to broadcast to Internet radios.
Note: Limited to 10 minute recording and broadcasting sessions. Complex audio configuration is disabled in the demo mode.
Also Available: Download Virtual DJ for Windows

For all music lovers, Virtual DJ is a complete solution for mixing music on your desktop instead of carrying a full set of DJ decks and a mixer. It is also the perfect tool for newcomers to learn how to mix music live by using their personal mp3 collection.
VirtualDJ has a single menu interface with modular features offering the user from the beginning everthing that he needs in order to start a mixing session. Just load the decks with tracks from the library and hit the play button.
For a smooth transition between tracks you can check the BPM counter and set the right measure for both tracks. For a perfect usage the visual wave gives you additional control in any transition. You can also cue up parts of the songs, set the treble and the bass level or even apply several sound effects like: flanger, echo, filters, etc. In order to show off like a real pro you can also use turn-table effects like backspin, brake, flippin double, overloop, etc. But all these features mean nothing for a newcomer, therefore the software offers an auto mix solution which makes all the work for you in transitions. But the results may vary from acceptable to non-listenable.
Being a DJ tool, with VirtualDJ you can also scratch live. You can either use the virtual tables or use the scratch mode which gives you higher control on every move. But the aplication has also its downsides. It remains very faithful, in terms of geometry, to the real decks and mixer setup featuring a crowded interface with lots of small buttons. Therefore manipulating the buttons with the mouse tends to become annoying in most of the cases.
The new VirtualDJ adds also support for video effects and transitions which can be displayed on a second monitor or on a TV system. But much more interesting is the recording feature which gives the opportunity to any newcomer to record and analyze his own mixes. In this way you can find out your mistakes and learn how to improve your skills. With the recording option you can also share any of your creations by burning them on a CD, streaming them on the internet or by saving them in mp3 format.
Pluses: For the first time VirtualDJ is delivered as a free non-commercial application with lots of extra features. The basic functions for newcomers and the support for up to 6 virtual decks makes it a powerful DJ tool.
Drawbacks / flaws: Many small knobs cover the interface wich are hard to be manipulated with the mouse.
In conclusion: An accessible DJ tool for beginners with lots of extra features which can be easily used as an alternative for a physical DJ setup.
version reviewed: 7.0