INDUSTRY: Young Ly takes over as Serato CEO

There's changes afoot at Serato HQ. Co-founder and current CEO AJ Bertenshaw steps aside to make way for COO Young LY to take the CEO reigns.

Young Ly Serato CEO

Young Ly Serato CEO

To say that Serato has undergone many changes over the last few years is a bit of a understatement. It’s not just the product line up that has evolved radically but also the people making this stuff happen too. You may recall Sam Gribben leaving to create his rather splendid Melodics teaching software, soon replaced by Serato cofounder AJ Bertenshaw as CEO. Well it would appear that role should have been called interim, as current COO Young Ly has now stepped up to take the role of CEO.

Just a few words from Serato HQ:

From Auckland, New Zealand, 17th May 2016

Serato Co-Founder, AJ Bertenshaw Appoints Young Ly as CEO 

Serato co-founder AJ Bertenshaw today announced that he will replace himself as CEO in order to focus on strategic growth and product vision for the company. “From the time I founded Serato, my passion has been in innovative product development, design, and the future of the business,” Bertenshaw said.

“Being CEO is a full-time job, and allowing Young to step up will mean I can really focus my creative energy where I bring the most value to Serato.”

Young Ly has accepted the role as CEO, which will be effective June 1, 2016.

Ly’s four years as Director of Product Development and then Chief Operating Officer at Serato have been marked by his exceptional leadership and vision. As a result, Ly has been instrumental in driving growth and helping cement Serato as a global leader in music software.

I know many of you couldn’t give a rat’s arse about such things, and only care that the shiny keeps coming out of the magic DJ factory. But I feel that it’s important for you all to have an understanding of what’s happening in the industry too.

Good luck Young — given the current market, you’re going to have a lot on your plate.

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Mark Settle
Mark Settle

The old Editor of DJWORX - you can now find Mark at WORXLAB

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53 Comments

    • Seems Pioneer is shaking things up. Just a guess but, Pioneer might even close off their controllers and Mixers when they find that RB is ready to head to head with SDJ.

      • I hope not. In fact, I really hope Pioneer come to their senses and offer both Serato & Traktor support for their new DJM Nexus 2 line. DJs win out when companies learn to work with one another. Did Pioneer not learn anything from Native Instruments when they decided to close off their partnerships w’ hardware manufacturers a few years back? Even they reneged eventually…ala’, Traktor Scratch certification for the MP2015.

  2. So AJ Bertenshaw will leave Serato too like Sam Gribben ?
    If Young Ly was directly responsible of SDJ roadmap and stragegy, I can’t see a good future for Serato :-(

    • “Being CEO is a full-time job, and allowing Young to step up will mean I can really focus my creative energy where I bring the most value to Serato.”

      Looks like he wants to be more ‘hands on’ and creative as when you’re the CEO there’s much more to do. It seems being out of the boardroom and more on the floor is his goal.

  3. So dude, sat and did nothing while another company swooped in and took their lunch, then dumped the whole mess onto someone else? That stinks

  6. Let’s get serious. Pioneer Record Box is far from a stable professional application. Don’t get me wrong, it has great potential and competition is great for the market. I never thought Traktor would be the stable software out there. I started out DJing by hauling crates around, so I have a deep appreciation for software.

    All I hear is everyone complaining about Serato DJ and how Scratch Live was so much better. They say that Serato DJ is unstable and constantly fails on them. That’s cool and I agree with them. But then I ask them what was Serato’s response when you Submited a Request Ticket? They always say, WHAT’S THAT? Every single problem I’ve ever had has been addressed by Serato or new drivers from the hardware manufactures. When I have a problem, I keep on yelling respectfully until it’s fixed.

    They don’t understand that Scratch Live only used 8 Rane hardware with custom drivers that shut off the mixer to other applications. Now with Serato DJ, it seems that new controllers are released monthly. Everyone has different specs from laptops to controllers to drivers. This will make any software more complicated to develop for. Not to mention what Apple did to OS X El Capitan and messing up USB Class Compliant devices. Always use the software as BETA and TEST it out before playing public. I always recommend to be involved in the Public Beta test. If you find a problem, it’s almost fixed within a few days. Plus, I always keep the last previous stable build on my computer.

    • SDJ has never given me show-stopping trouble, except once with the AMX, but that was faulty hardware. My NS7mk2 and Sixty-Four perform well. That being said, I’ve also reported genuine problems on the forums and with ZERO reaction for a YEAR.

      • The forum is where we talk to fellow DJ’s. However, my NS7ii was fixed when 20+ members also complained on the forum were having the same weird problems when version 1.7 came out.

        From my original text “…what was Serato’s response when you Submited a Request Ticket?”

        • I think that Rekord Box has potential but it’s going to take at least a year of refinement and big fixing. That being said, I use Traktor, I am not about to make the switch even if it is stable (maybe as a backup) as I have too much time and hours invested into it.

          I think Pio is hoping for that – well if you buy our stuff for outrageous prices, we’ll throw in this software that you won’t need to buy and map from another vendor. Kinda like a value add. Whereas the Traktor/Serato are the other way around.

          I’m still hoping Stanton will pump out a new controller for DeckaDance – it had potential, especially since you could use plugins.

          I’m waiting to see (and it may never come) where Ableton comes out with a try DJ app that will take everybody by surprise.

          • It could be done with maxforlive or even as live instument but it will not be a surprise for everybody. It will be a “oh, finally… What a pitty because I’m doing more at my iPad with djplayer, loopyhd, aum mixer and garageband to care about desktop innovation…” The sad thing is this maybe will not come but all I needed in the past is already possible at iOS for a part of the price of the Ableton Suite including the ipad itself.

    • I’m not sure why you think Rekordbox DJ is far from a stable professional application. I’ve logged a few hundred hours of use on it already and I’ve not had a single crash running Yosemite on a mid 2012 MacBook Pro. Literally not a single one.

      • That’s great. I hope it keeps on getting better with new features.

        When I downloaded Rekordbox DJ a few months ago, the first thing I did was stop the playback. Not only did it not sound like vinyl, it was more on the side of the Technics SL-DZ1200 with pitch lock on. Absolutely horrible for a new software. It also locked up on me a few times.
        OS X El Capitan v. 10.11.4
        iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015
        4 GHz Intel Core i7
        32 GB 1867 MHz DDR3
        AMD Radeon R9 M395X 4096 MB

        • Ah I see. I don’t scratch or use DVS so that part of it never occurred to me. Hopefully Pioneer addresses the issue soon so they can make inroads in that market.

  7. So is this the man behind serato replacing their flagship software scratch live with a new sup par version that lacked most of the great features from SSL and still does?

    here is a tip if your going to discontinuing a product the one you replace it with should do everything the old one did and more, if not then whats the point in discontinuing it in the first place

    • You’re kidding, right? Same old argument.

      SSL is just two separate virtual turntables – nothing is shared except the library. How do you move forward and be competitive with that?

      What “great features” does SSL have, that 99% of real world DJ’s use, that’s not in SDJ?

  8. Also Dj Works you say you want to let people know whats happening in the industry they why not report on innofader refusing to supply a company with mini innofaders because of a petty beef, which is quite ironic as the reasons he states contradict what he is doing and supplying another company with them that makes clone mixers too

        • You can read my thread which shows what you’re saying is untrue. Anyways enough… show some respect to Mark Settle and stop hijacking his story.

          • I read your thread and came to the conclusion that you’re a hypocrite, and regards to this thread it calms to be providing industry related news, and that’s also what I pointed out, if your going to be in the journalistic business but won’t post industry related news based on a relationship with someone that, than is not proper journalism

    • To be honest, the silence of DJWORX over last week’s hottest DJ topic had me wondering too, given also the fact about them close ties between DJW and Innofader.

    • Having longstanding connections with both parties, it would be inappropriate and unprofessional for me to comment on what I believe should have been a private matter. And it certainly won’t be played out in off-topic comments either. I trust I have made myself clear.

        • The purpose of a comments section on a website is so that the community can add their opinion to the posted story, in this case Serato’s new CEO.

          Should we decide to publish a story about Elliot’s stance, then you’ll get ample opportunity to comment under that story. In the meantime, please stick to the subject at hand.

          • this is why i commented

            “I know many of you couldn’t give a rat’s arse about such things, and only care that the shiny keeps coming out of the magic DJ factory. But I feel that it’s important for you all to have an understanding of what’s happening in the industry too.”

            so you don’t think it’s important to let people know other things happening in the industry too unless your getting some shiny piece of kit to review?

          • Alongside Serato, it seems that you guys at DJWORX have decided during last year to completely switch images.

            You deny to post about the hottest DJ topic for some time now, all because you think it should have been “private”. Meanwhile, Elliot himself decided to take it 100% public and in details.

            I guess you haven’t received your free Mixars press units yet, right?

            You have every right to make this blog a private stash of whatever opinions. It’s yours in the end of the day. But please, revert from calling this blog anymore an “industry” one. You’re not. You’re biased as hell, seasoned with lots of WTF controversial-click-baiting articles labelled as “opinions”.

            Fuck this blog, I’m outta here. Enough with this bullshit.

      • When I read the story and the hundreds of comments on FB last week, I kept thinking to myself… How does Mark feel about this? I almost always agree with his honest reviews and viewpoints. Plus he’s very knowledgable about the DJ Industry in whole. Some things are better conversed over a few beers. I still cannot figure out why that whole sponsored story had me so intrigued? Enquiring minds want to know :)

  9. Funny. It’s like people who play video games complain about the games and the programmers. Only difference here is the guys speaking about the craft ain’t no programmers. If you are speaking about busting a beatjuggle in your texts but acutally fail to prove you can beatjuggle, than you’re a fraud IMO. If this blog would been done by an actual recording-artist with a corresponding palmares (being dope on the cut, being able to beatjuggle and to produce beats à la premier), like a certian Scratch-DJ with a mustache, then this blog wouldn’t be questionned that much, other artists like the Ruck wouldn’t continually ask you to take their work down from your site etc. But since this is not the case, people will question it from all kinds of different angles, since you appear to be not credible. Especially when Scratchworx became DJWorx and you started to live from the blog. But this is how it turns out, when you make your hobby your job. So as long as this blog remains open, you’ll get constructive feedback from readers, wheter you like it or not. And it’s all subjective anyways (as if humans would be able to be 100% objective).

    So yeah props to Serato and their new CEO (I still rock SSL)
    And to Elliot…you got some dope reverse engineering skills (from proXfade 2 innofader)…

    Ps: This site is still considered to be malicious by Google, maybee because it’s too political correct

    • The ProXFade is based on a traditional (wiper contacting conductive tracks) potentiometer design; it utilizes plastic conductive tracks for durability and mechanical cut-in adjustments (turning the knobs physically changes the location of the stops on either end of the wiper’s travel range.) In terms of other crossfaders, it’s most similar to the Vestax CF-CC.

      The innoFader uses variable capacitance, a non-contact technology. There are several other non-contact faders out there using other technologies, including Rane’s Hall effect (magnetic) sensing and the optical sensing used by the Infinium fader. The crossfader on the PMC-05Pro4 is also non-contact as far as I am aware, and I believe that Pioneer recently released a non-contact crossfader too, but I don’t know what technologies underlie either of those products.

      The takeaway here is that the innoFader was in no way reverse-engineered from the ProXFade; they are both aftermarket crossfaders, but that’s where the similarities end.

    • First thing — this site is most definitely not considered malicious by Google: https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/safebrowsing/diagnostic/?hl=en#url=djworx.com

      As for the rest of your post… Asis was a hell of a drug. I’m sorry that you never got over it closing down. Maybe you can start your own forum and relive the golden age of turntablism all over again.

      You speak of credibility — I’ve always posted as me, been very honest about my skill level, and been entirely accessible. You however have posted under numerous aliases and with varying levels of trolling and hate. So who has the credibility here? Who is the fraud?

      Why not write to me directly with your issues with DJWORX? You can get me at contact@djworx.com. I guarantee that I’ll respond within 24 hours, provided you come out from behind your many aliases and have a grown up conversation with me.

  10. HEADS UP — We’re not one for censorship around here, but this thread had been seriously derailed. I’ll be doing some much needed moderation on it, but in the spirit of transparency, these comments will be around for a few hours until the thread is dragged kicking and screaming on topic.

      • The internet? Hmmm… nothing on Reddit or djforms.com. No other outlet similar to us has run a story, and I’ve only found one uncommented thread on the DJTT forum, plus another longer one at digitalvertigo. The only place that this is really being talked about is on Elliot’s self posted thread. And people are free to add their feelings to that.

        It’s scandal, and for us to write a story would be nothing more than gossip mongering. It would not help the situation one bit, and would simply serve to enflame what is a unfortunate state of affairs.

        Should a real story arise, then we’ll write one about it. But Elliot says this, and Mixars says that is not a story — it’s internet drama being played out on Facebook.

  11. So your going to censor the comments what a joke, don’t mention anything industry related or anything that doesn’t agree with your opinion or it will be censored

    • As a rule, we don’t censor, and I can’t remember the last time we did. There have been times where flames wars have been halted, insults moderated, and even some threats removed.

      But this thread is out of control, largely down to your derailment tactics. As a first time poster, you seem to have aggressively and anonymously hijacked this thread in an attempt to bait us into posting a story about some internet drama, and as a way to attack Elliot. I certainly won’t be bowing to pressure just because you want to read scandal and drama aka NOT facts or actual news about DJ gear. I have stated my opinion and still stand by it — this should have remained as a private matter. Writing a story on DJWORX will add nothing to the situation.

      Now should an actual story relating to gear rather than scandal develop, then and only then will we publish one. In the meantime, do feel free to contribute to Elliot’s thread on the Facebook Innofader page on Facebook. It’s right there waiting for your opinion.

      • so a supplier refusing to supply a company with parts in the dj industry isn’t dj news then you need to have a look at what your site is all about and it’s your last paragraph of your artical that prompted me to comment on this as you state you want to inform users of industry related news which this certainly is

  13. Ok most Super OEM turntables look the same manufactured by Hanpin so why suddenly is some 3rd party crossfader developer concerned about Mixars looking like DJ Tech mixers? As i remember he took the concept of the PRO X FADE and went his own way wich is totally fine in a competitive world. Now Innofader is a blessing for most low budget mixers.

  14. In a rare and unfortunate moment, I feel it best to close this thread. It’s been taken wildly off-topic with demands that I post a story that I feel has no place on DJWORX. Personal drama is best kept private, and we’re certainly not going to pour petrol on that particular bonfire simply to satisfy a minority’s lust for scandal.

    If you wish to express your opinion about Elliot’s stance, go to the Innofader Facebook page and leave your thoughts there.

    I’ll be talking with Elliot about this unfortunate chain of events, just as I have spoken to Alessio about it too. I can tell you that a press release is coming from Mixars soon, and when it does, we’ll post a story about it.

    DJWORX is not a place for people to walk in anonymously and leave whatever thoughts they wish without consequence. Should anyone try to derail threads again, the comments will be cleaned up and if necessary users and IPs will be banned.

    I cannot allow the tiny minority to ruin the DJWORX experience for the excellent community that we’ve built up over the years. Show some respect for us and the DJWORX community, and yourselves too.

    In real terms, I leave my front door open for anyone to walk in for a chat, but not to disrespect me and my family in my own home. I have house rules and all I ask is that you respect them if you want to stay. It’s not hard to be polite and constructive.

    I trust I have made myself clear. Thanks for your time. Haven’t you got some tunes to spin or something?

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