Virtual DJ
 | |
| Developer(s) | Atomix Productions |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 8.0 build 2139 / 01 February 2015 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Windows (XP, Vista, 7, and 8) Mac OS (Leopard, Snow Leopard, Mac OS X Lion) |
| Available in | Multi-languages |
| Type | Digital DJ Software |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | http://www.virtualdj.com/ |
Virtual DJ (also known as VDJ) is a range of audio/video mixing software developed by Atomix Productions Inc. for use by mobile and club DJs. The software is also exclusively repackaged for Numark, called Numark CUE.
The packages run on PC or Mac to allow computer DJs 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 CDJs and DJ mixer with vinyl emulation software 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). In May 2014 VirtualDJ 8 was released, which was completely rewritten.
Versions[1]
VirtualDJ v8.x
- VirtualDJ 8.0 First Release (11 May 2014)
VirtualDJ v7.x
- VirtualDJ 7.4.2 (6 Nov 2014)
- VirtualDJ 7.4.1 (14 Nov 2013)
- VirtualDJ 7.4 (20 March 2013)
- VirtualDJ 7.3 (11 November 2012)
- VirtualDJ 7.2 (10 October 2012)
- VirtualDJ 7.1 (2 October 2012)
- VirtualDJ 7.0.5 (7 August 2011)
- VirtualDJ 7.0.4 (5 May 2011)
- VirtualDJ 7.0.3 (7 March 2011)
- VirtualDJ 7.0.2 (16 December 2010)
- VirtualDJ 7.0.1 (16 November 2010)
- VirtualDJ 7.0 (12 October 2010)
VirtualDJ v6.x
- VirtualDJ 6.1.2 (12 August 2010)
- VirtualDJ 6.1.1 (23 July 2010)
- VirtualDJ 6.1 (19 May 2010)
- VirtualDJ 6.0.8 (18 April 2010)
- VirtualDJ 6.0.7 (7 March 2010)
- VirtualDJ 6.0.6 (only Trial)
- VirtualDJ 6.0.5 (20 December 2009)
- VirtualDJ 6.0.4 (29 November 2009)
- VirtualDJ 6.0.3 (10 November 2009)
- VirtualDJ 6.0.2 (28 August 2009)
- VirtualDJ 6.0.1 (3 June 2009)
- VirtualDJ 6.0 (31 May 2009)
VirtualDJ v5.x
- VirtualDJ 5.2.1 (04 September 2008)
- VirtualDJ 5.2 (28 July 2008)
- VirtualDJ 5.1 (01 June 2008)
- VirtualDJ 5.0.7 (03 February 2008)
- VirtualDJ 5.0 rev6 (02 December 2007)
- VirtualDJ 5.0 rev5 (23 October 2007)
- VirtualDJ 5.0 rev4 (07 October 2007)
- VirtualDJ 5.0 rev2 (31 August 2007)
- VirtualDJ 5.0 (19 August 2007)
VirtualDJ v4.x
- VirtualDJ 4.3 (28 March 2007)
- VirtualDJ 4.2 (24 December 2006)
- VirtualDJ 4.1 rev2 (17 October 2006)
- VirtualDJ 4.1 (08 October 2006)
- VirtualDJ 4.0 (24 August 2006)
VirtualDJ v3.x
- VirtualDJ 3.4 (01 March 2006)
- VirtualDJ 3.3 (04 January 2006)
- VirtualDJ 3.2 (20 November 2005)
- VirtualDJ 3.1 (07 August 2005)
- VirtualDJ 3.0 (22 May 2005)
VirtualDJ v2.x
- VirtualDJ 2.1 (05 May 2005)
- VirtualDJ 2.06 (26 November 2004)
- VirtualDJ 2.05 (16 October 2004)
- VirtualDJ 2.04 (09 October 2004)
- VirtualDJ 2.03 (02 October 2004)
- VirtualDJ 2.02 (04 September 2004)
- VirtualDJ 2.01 (25 July 2004)
- VirtualDJ 2.00 (01 June 2004)
VirtualDJ v1.x
- VirtualDJ 1.0.9 (03 April 2004)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.8 (23 December 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.7b (11 November 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.7 (10 November 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.6 (11 September 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.5 (18 August 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.4 (11 August 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.3 (06 August 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.2 (07 July 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0.1 (05 July 2003)
- VirtualDJ 1.0 (01 July 2003)
AtomixMP3 v2.x
- AtomixMP3 2.3 (31 December 2003)
- AtomixMP3 2.2 (23 December 2002)
- AtomixMP3 2.1.1 (27 July 2002)
- AtomixMP3 2.1 (21 March 2002)
- AtomixMP3 2.0 (30 November 2001)
AtomixMP3 v1.x
- AtomixMP3 1.12 (11 December 2000)
- AtomixMP3 1.11 (13 November 2000)
- AtomixMP3 1.1 (24 October 2000)
- AtomixMP3 1.02 (09 October 2000)
- AtomixMP3 1.01 (01 October 2000)
- AtomixMP3 1.0 (25 September 2000)
Features
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. VirtualDJ offers video mixing and scratching, allowing the DJ to become a VJ. Vinyl emulation 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 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 downloads would be allowed, except for local web cache, 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.
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 comments 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 the user subscribes to. In essence a real-time track advisor based on evaluating what other DJs around the world are mixing.
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 streams 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.
From VirtualDJ 6, mapping 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,[2] 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.
Reception
In 2010, Virtual DJ won the award for Best DJ Software[3] at the 25th Annual International Dance Music Awards[4] the Winter Music Conference in Miami.
In 2013, Virtual DJ won the award for Best DJ Software at the 28th Annual International Dance Music Awards, the Winter Music Conference in Miami.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Virtual DJ History
- ↑ VirtualDJ 6
- ↑ DJ Forums
- ↑ IDMA Awards
- ↑ IDMA Nominees for the year 2012 presented in 2013. wintermusicconference.com