Pioneer DDJ-SZ and VirtualDJ 8 — officially friends

Pioneer DJ has just given its seal of approval to VirtualDJ 8 Pro by making their DDJ-SZ top end controller fully and officially compatible. This means that new and existing users can nab a full copy and use DVS too. VirtualDJ 8 Pro is now official sitting at the grown-ups table.

Virtualdj 8 Pioneer DDJ-SZ DVS

Yes, it’s that VirtualDJ name again, and this time coming from a source that I didn’t expect. Pioneer DJ has just announced that its uberbeast of a controller, the DDJ-SZ, is now playing very nicely indeed with Virtual DJ 8 Pro as well as Serato DJ. It’s officially supported by both Pioneer and Atomix, so it’s going to be a really tight match.

To make this deal happen, every DDJ-SZ shipped mid December onwards will include a key code card, complete with a serial number that will give you a free download of the complete VDJ8 Pro. For existing DDJ-SZ owners, this link gives you everything you need to get your free copy, but only up until February 28th 2015.

DVS?

Oh yes. I’m told that you can use VirtualDJ 8 Pro’s new DVS engine with the DDJ-SZ without an external audio interface. So you can hook up a pair of turntables or CDJs and rock VDJ8 timecode, and because of the SZ’s architecture and VDJ routing flexibility, you can also record your whole set internally.

UPDATE: Serato DJ DVS is free on the SZ anyway but a paid update on other controllers. But choice is good, especially when it’s free.

Serato’s gonna be pissed

Well… maybe, but probably not, because they’re still going to be making the same money that they always did. But what it does do is give SZ owners a free taste of the forbidden fruit. It also shows that VDJ8 is being taken seriously by the industry again. Given the closed nature of Serato DJ and Traktor, having a viable alternative in the shape of VDJ8 is great for manufacturers, especially if deals can be struck to have VDJ as the native software for new controllers. VDJ just needs to win the hearts of Traktor and Serato users before the DJ scene can move from a two-party to three-party system.

It’s clear that Atomix is doing its damnedest to leave behind the VDJ of old, and pitch itself into the more professional sphere, which makes this move significant. Having VDJ8 as a standard fixture on the world’s largest and most expensive controller is a puff out your chest move, and shows that if perhaps the biggest player in the DJ business is willing to put its name to VDJ8, then perhaps you DDJ-SZ owners should really take a look. We don’t own one so we can’t. We’re depending on you to give some feedback, especially with the DVS element.

Mark Settle
Mark Settle

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

Articles: 1228

29 Comments

  1. It only makes serato look kinda bad in the court of public opinion because the SX isnt DVS upgrade ready which and the SX2 is, when asked they the hardware was sort of pinned as the reason why.

    • My thoughts exactly. Also from what I can tell, most SZ users arent really that interessted in DVS anyway. It’s a nice option, looks good in marketing, that most dont use. At least thats what Im told by the resellers…

  2. I never really knew the DJ community was so thrifty and budget minded. Not even joking around either. MOST of the comments here are based around cheapest option…………… not even really value just pain cheapest. Some are then based on Value. I have ALWAYS based everything on performance, capabilities, innovation, support etc. with price coming in almost dead last. Def learned something today. I am curious if this is applicable elsewhere than this forum though. I HAVE noticed ideals, stances, even ethics vary from forum to forum at times. Def curious though. BTW I Don’t mean ANY of this in a bad way. Just an observation is all.

  3. What I am curios about too is this comment – “what it does do is give SZ owners a free taste of the forbidden fruit.”

    Is it really free? I mean is there REALLY no license to be paid for at all? I mean if this is true then I can see how “So MANY” people are using VDJ everyday as they say.

      • Yeah I just saw that. I am curious if people who purchased prior to the date posted can get the code. I just contacted using the channels they suggested and I am hoping it all works out as they suggest. I probably won’t use as I already have VDJ8 and do NOT use but I like to get everything I am entitled to LOL

      • Trust me SOMEONE paid for the license. Not the end user but Atomix does not just decide to add native support or give a THREE hundred dollar (Infinity Pro) license away to SZ owners for nothing. Think about that.

  4. If you own the DDJ-SZ. Virtual dj Pro can be used for free with the controller. Just need to contact pioneer with serial and purchase details of the controller This is the best controller for the software and works like a dream. I use this in my setup for two different laptops. There is a lot more coming in the future to Virtual dj, but some stuff must remain a secret.

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