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Denon DJ And VirtualDJ sitting in a tree p-r-i-m-i-n-g

Mark Settle·
Software

Denon DJ and VirtualDJ join forces

Well now — here’s an interesting development. After announcing a more open architecture with the Rane TWELVE MKII, another key inMusic brand has taken the same approach but like with knobs on. In what is a bold and ballsy move, Denon DJ has announced that the Prime range (except the Prime Go) is now plug and play with VirtualDJ.

To be clear — I don’t mean that VirtualDJ has done its usual instant mapping thing whether you like it or not. No — this is an official partnership with deep integration.

There’s no PR as such — just a succinct motive-free explainer paragraph:

Denon DJ is proud to announce official controller integration with Virtual DJ’s desktop software. Featuring full-color moving waveforms, familiar touch screen gestures, OLED FX feedback, and a multi-view interface. The unique Virtual DJ desktop experience is now controllable with Engine OS 1.5.1 on selected Denon DJ products.

Download Engine OS 1.5.1: https://www.denondj.com/downloads
Download Virtual DJ: https://www.virtualdj.com/download/index.html

Compatible products: SC6000 | SC6000M | X1850 | X1800 | SC5000 | SC5000M | PRIME 2 | PRIME 4

I’m not in the Worxlab until tomorrow so I can’t give this a whirl. But from the video, it really does seem to work. Hats off to Denon DJ and VirtualDJ for making this happen.

BUT WHY?

As is my way, I look deeper than the surface news to read between the lines and find out what’s really going on.

Obviously Atomix don’t need anyone’s help to make VirtualDJ work with anything. It’s almost an in-joke that VirtualDJ will be mapped to whatever new toy comes within hours. They’re going to do it anyway, so why not do it officially and properly?

Despite some (well many) DJs looking down their noses at VirtualDJ, it has a HUGE and loyal userbase that’s ripe for tapping. So it makes perfect sense for Denon DJ to open up their hardware platform and fish in that deep pool for new customers. It’s also an endorsement of VirtualDJ from Denon DJ that they feel that it’s a product good enough for their premium platform.

What it also demonstrates is that other software can be plumbed into Engine OS and offer a compelling software/hardware platform without having to map a thing. Obviously you’ll still need to be running VirtualDJ on a laptop, but at least your attention will be on the DJ gear more than the laptop.

Re the Prime Go — I stated in my unfeasibly late first look piece that I would be surprised if it was ever mapped for laptop software. And given its obvious omission from this announcement, it seems that Denon DJ wishes to keep the Prime Go as standalone only. I feel that’s the best move, as it underlines it as a completely independent of anything device. If you’re going to plant a flag, plant it deep.

But beyond this, it starts to get interesting on an industry level. It’s impressive work that so much hardware gets official support on one go, rather than the drip-feed and now lagging behind approach by Serato.

That said I cannot comment on how good the implementation is. For me, a few minutes on the SC5000M will tell me how well this works. I’ll try tomorrow.

Denon DJ VirtualDJ Engine OS Prime (7)

Now… another question for me is how open Denon DJ will make this. Could Traktor for example suddenly get an entire hardware platform at their disposal without having to develop it? And djay too. Could, in theory at least, Denon DJ become a fully-featured development platform of choice? Wouldn’t it be the ultimate irony to see rekordbox running natively on Prime hardware?

Denon Prime users can now use VirtualDJ

And vice versa. Welcome to the brave new open world.

GALLERY

Denon DJ VirtualDJ Engine OS Prime (1)
Denon DJ VirtualDJ Engine OS Prime (2)
Denon DJ VirtualDJ Engine OS Prime (3)
Denon DJ VirtualDJ Engine OS Prime (4)
Denon DJ VirtualDJ Engine OS Prime (5)
Denon DJ VirtualDJ Engine OS Prime (6)

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Mark Settle
The Old Owner

I was the editor around these parts for the first two decades of the DJWORX journey. I’m on a creative journey at The Worxlab, and drop in occasionally here. Expect the odd article from me every now and again.

22 Responses

  1. So here’s my morning — abject disappointment that the Rane Sixty Four is no longer supported by Rane and/or Serato. Ironically won’t work with new Macs running Catalina but does with a 12 year old white MacBook running OS X 10.7.5. which is most annoying. Anyway…

    Updated the firmware on my SC5000M, plugged it into the latest VirtualDJ along with the Rane Sixty Four. Both were recognised immediately and worked perfectly, and the SC5000M scratches like a dream too. I was briefly inspired to work out a cue point and scratch thing with De La Soul’s “Eye Know” intro as a test.

    What’s more — the Sixty Four worked in DVS mode with Serato vinyl, something that Serato DJ Pro that is was made for can’t achieve.

    Let me state this plain and clear — all you VirtualDJ snobs need to reel your necks in and pull your heads out of your collective arses. God knows It’s not perfect, but when it works as well as this, you need to pay attention.

    1. I did find one issue — when I did fast finger drumming on the cues, the audio slowed down. Not noticeable on drums, but if you’re familiar with the two note intro to “Eye Know”, you’ll appreciate how iffy that became. Probably fixable by making sure key lock is engaged on the SC5000M, but I’ve moved on to other things now.

    2. Virtual DJ is one of the most versatile software choices out there. It has saved my butt on many occasions and is the software I started out with 8 years ago. I primarily use Traktor now however my VDJ is always up to date. I love it and their business model.

      1. Excactly! I started out long long long ago with VDJ, and since buying it like 15 years ago I STILL get updates. Never seen a software being that long support over different versions. I also use Traktor mainly but keep VDJ updated and test out new functions. It works perfectly.

        I switched to Traktor because of the snobs when I was getting to play venues. VDJ wasn’t allowed, Traktor was. I was using DVS with both… https://media0.giphy.com/media/3oKIPxRuQQtVbQz35S/giphy-downsized-medium.gif

  2. Sorry, I like VDJ, but that screen looks like a 2 year old picked the color scheme — it looks way too busy on that little screen. More is not always better. Learn your tracks and you won’t need wave forms taking up resources. Or have a way to flip it off and on with a button press.

    1. VDJ can be skinned. Skins can be modified. The screen skin code is almost identical to a standard one, so not hard to substitute.

      Some of us have already done it. The VDJ forum area to discuss the skin is open, so feel free to post there.

  3. I’m wondering how you switch between Virtual DJ mode and denon standalone mode. Could you use the mode button for it, or do you have to reboot the device like the Denon HD2500?

    GroovinDJ is mentioning an SDK, is this publicly available? I would like to check it out myself.

    From the intruduction text, It seem an integration / communication between VirtualDJ and the Engine OS running on the device instead of VDJ taking over the complete device / buttons / screens. If that is the case then it would be amazing if they could manage Denon standalone mode on layer 1 and VDJ on layer 2 running together.

    1. A reboot is required. The two modes are completely separate. You can’t play from Engine OS and VDJ at the same time. However you can use the mixer to play from a line input on any channel whilst using either mode, or whilst rebooting.

  4. It would be nice if VDJ would give users a 1 week free trial to see how well it works with the Prime gear. $299 is alot to pay to demo software. Heck, even Rekordbox and Serato let you try there software for free.

    1. VDJ has always had trial periods and 10 minute use with connected hardware. Nowadays you can also pay for a monthly Pro subscription whilst you try things out.

  5. Atomix had been ready with this since late 2019, but Denon were holding things back. First there was an issue with the SDK – some missing or incorrect info preventing use of the screens. Then when that was sorted and Atomix got the screens working, Denon asked them to disable the screens again.

    Some of us have been using our Prime kit with VDJ for a while now. It was all working fine. No idea why Denon delayed the release for so long.

    At least we got there in the end.

    1. Have you had a chance to demo STEMS with VDJ on Prime gear? If so, what gear did you use and how was it?

  6. Proper Traktor HID implementation would be a real winner for both sides.

    Traktor 3.4 beta already has Rane Twelve MK2 integration. I see that as a positive sign that there might be more in the works.

      1. Yup, I know the difference. I’m not talking about the 6000s getting DVS, even though at least the 5000M and 6000M would probably benefit from hybrid midi (like the 3700/3900 in the past).
        The positive sign I was referring to was just NI and InMusic talking to each other and making stuff happen. If that’s the case, they might be working on the Denon Prime hardware, too.

  7. My question is (only objective answer no fanboys please :) ) : If I took same computer and same mixer (for exmaple DJm s9) the scratch performance of Serato vs VDJ is the same?
    Because if yes..On long term will be a game changer (because will include Mobile dj..club dj and scartch dj as well! :)

  8. Yeah, VDJ is neat, but more important would be Serato DJ Pro support for all Prime units. Maybe Lite for the Prime Go. At least in Europe, the most big acts and club DJs work(ed) with Rekordbox, Traktor or Serato – not with VDJ. The Prime 2 already lacks the bigger 10″ screen and proper line/phono inputs, so give it at least Serato DJ Pro as well, considering the price.

  9. Gizmo, I guess I can add in here. The realistic scratch sound technology has pretty much been mastered since not long after TORQ. That s not the issue anymore .Pretty much every major player making DVS software has got it down packed including MIXXX.org, that is old news from what I have observed .
    The issue that is the current problem NOW between DVS is DRIFTING with INSTANT JUGGLES and KEY LOCK (no chipmunk or Darth Vader or artifacts when pitch control is sent all the way to +/- 50%) Yes for modern extreme pitch shifts TODAY +/-8% does not cut it anymore, cutting edge turntablists do not use limited Technics ranges anymore, it stops creativity. You add those parameters you will soon see the differences between the players, trust me. And the response time how fast the program responds to the command without lagging

  10. Kudos to Denon and massive respect to VDJ! Amazing what is possible when your not held back by pompous idiotic management decisions or penny pinching ideology = NI sort your shit out and Rane, would it really kill you to update legacy products

  11. That is incredibly cool. Midi mapping is one thing, but a full and functional GUI reskin is a whole level of integration that I didn’t even consider possible. I would love to see this with Traktor and Serato skins.

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