Serato DJ 1.6 released
mark Settle·
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Serato DJ 1.6 plays nice with Scratch Live legacy hardware

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kymmp-Tg_cs

After a short period of public beta, 10 years of brilliance, mistakes, and clever ideas has brought us to this point, which is the monumental landmark release of Serato DJ 1.6, the version that truly unifies Scratch Live, ITCH, and Serato DJ under one common platform. This release brings Serato DJ compatibility to most Rane SSL based interfaces and mixers, as well as paving the way for the remaining key ITCH controllers, newly announced controllers, as well as bringing forth new FX packs and the much requested Pitch ‘N Time plug in.

Some short words from Serato, as well as the first soundbite from newly installed CEO AJ Bertenshaw:

SERATO ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF SERATO DJ 1.6

Serato is proud to announce the release of Serato DJ 1.6, available to download now from serato.com/dj.

Serato DJ 1.6 – The latest update for Serato DJ includes Rane Hardware support, Pitch ’n Time DJ Expansion Pack, Quantize, Nameable Cue Points, Jet Pack FX Expansion Pack, support for the Pioneer DDJ-SZ & Numark V7 Pro Controllers and the brand new Denon DJ MC6000MKII & Reloop Terminal Mix 8 DJ Intro Controllers and a healthy dose of maintenance bug fixes for continued stability and performance.

Serato CEO, AJ Bertenshaw says: “Serato DJ 1.6 is a big release for us, vinyl & CDJ control with Rane hardware support means that Scratch Live users can begin to migrate to Serato DJ and enjoy the latest advancements Serato has to offer. It also includes Pitch ‘n Time DJ – something that’s very close to my heart being the first product Serato developed 15 years ago – as an Expansion Pack which is very exciting. It’s the beginning of a new era at Serato, after 10 amazing years since the launch of Scratch Live, Serato DJ 1.6 is a big milestone for us.”

Serato DJ 1.6

Rane Hardware Support

  • Support for the Rane SL2, Rane SL3, Rane SL4, Rane Sixty-One, Rane Sixty-Two and Rane Sixty-Eight.

Pitch ’n Time DJ Expansion Pack

  • Pitch ’n Time DJ allows you to speed up or slow down your track to extreme tempo values while maintaining its key perfectly, with the highest quality and definition of any available software.
  • Expansion Packs can be purchased/activated in-app within the Serato DJ ‘Online’ window or from the Serato Online Store for USD29.

Serato DJ FX Expansion Pack – Jet Pack

  • A Trippy, Spacey & Rave infused FX Pack including: Shepard Filter, U.F.O., Space Verb & Bass Ducker
  • Each new FX Expansion Pack comes with several base FX for use in Single FX Mode, plus, a large number of base FX variations for use in Multi FX Mode.
  • Expansion Packs can be purchased/activated in-app within the Serato DJ ‘Online’ window or from the Serato Online Store for USD19.

Quantize

  • Quantize mode allows you to set and trigger Cue Points on beat. Make sure you have your beatgrids set!

Nameable Cue Points

  • You asked for it so we added it, you can now name your Cue Points.

OS X Mavericks 10.9 Support

Hardware Support

  • Pioneer DDJ-SZ, Numark V7 Pro Controllers.
  • Denon DJ MC6000MKII & Reloop Terminal Mix 8 DJ Intro Controllers. 
See also

Added Serato DJ Accessory Support

  • Pioneer CDJ-900
  • Denon DN-HC1000S

Other New Features

  • Stack View Mode
  • Open/Close crates from hardware
  • Improved Cue Point and Loops Display area

Hello Serato DJ 1.6. Goodbye Scratch Live?

The big day has arrived, when the now legacy Serato Scratch Live officially gets mothballed leaving one Serato DJ to rule them all. But this hasn’t been without its detractors of course, and has seen the Serato forum awash with all manner of emotions. Without regurgitating history, Scratch Live users often pitched themselves as elite users, looking down from their ivory towers upon the ITCH controller masses. But when ITCH and subsequently Serato DJ users started getting the new shiny features, some of them did feel a tad left out, and sat in their corner polishing their shiny Scratch Live badge of honour.

But now that 99% (feel free to give me an exact percentage) of Scratch Live and ITCH hardware is now supported, SSL is now officially a supported legacy product, with almost no chance of anything more than maintenance updates being pushed out. It’s really hard for anyone to complain, as all ITCH and SSL users get a free upgrade to the new Serato DJ, and get to experience all the new goodies that it will undoubtedly bring.

Serato DJ 1.6 released

I threw Serato DJ 1.6 at my elderly white Macbook this morning, and it’s running through the Worxlab Rane Sixty Four like a boss, with the processor bar only hitting 75%. Not to shabby, for an old Mac, especially one that’s hanging onto the bottom end of the supported specs for dear life.

So… still polishing that SSL badge of honour?

As a self-confessed lemming that generally installs the most alpha of beta releases without a smidgen of remorse, I do find myself surprised that despite being told that SSL is effectively over and won’t be updated, some users are still sticking to SSL. Are you one of those people? I’m not talking about SL1 and 57 users, as you DJs have no choice. I’m specifically talking about the die-hard SSL for Life DJs who appear to steadfastly refuse to update. Why are you digging in so hard and not going with the flow? I’m simply interested in the psychology behind your thinking. I think I understand, but it really is time to move on.

For everyone else who wants to update, Serato DJ 1.6 is out now, and is free to ITCH and Scratch Live users.

47 Comments

  1. I moved to Serato DJ but i know some didn’t because there is no MIDI SHOW PANNEL . That and a more accurate drop to absolute/cue position are necessary improvements .

  2. SDJ 1.6 has no midi panel (you can’t map scroll, left, right, loops, loop rolls, load tracks etc..) Also, no midi out. These are crucial to me, having a Pioneer DJM-T1 mixer. That’s the only reason I’m sticking with SSL. I can live without sync, beatgrids, quantize etc.. I never wanted them in the first place.

    2. Yep. I was actually kinda stoked to try Sync with DVS. I was hoping I could use it to eliminate turntable wow & flutter every now and then but, without Smart Sync (only Simple Sync) it actually makes it worse. It just kinda locks in at speed around +/- .05% of the other deck.

      Also Quantize looks pretty cool but only works down to 1/2 beat in SDJ. You can’t really do any quick cue point stuff unless you can get to 1/16 or 1/32.

      I could make the switch and hope for these upgrades in the future but no MIDI Panel + MIDI Out is prohibitive for me. That’s why I’m sticking with SSL.

  3. I understand sticking with SSL from the point of view as standing out as someone who can mix manually. I think it is a badge of honor in the sense that you’ve been in the game for long enough to be able to mix or respect the game enough to learn how to mix manually.
    I’m a little scared about using SDJ and using sync and loosing the satisfaction of a nice mix but then feeling it would be redundant to go back to manually mixing. What then?!?

        1. We don’t need another sync vs real DJ discussion. BUT, when I see a majority of SSL djs starring at the screen while they mix, matching the BPMs and the waveforms, it’s not mixing manually. Might has well press sync and at least have some interaction with the crowd, they don’t care that a DJ can move a slider and read an email at the same time :) Obviously I’m not talking about everyone, just making a point. As rock well said you don’t have to use sync, it’s just another featu. I don’t hear any old school djs complaining that there records don’t sound like chipmunks anymore because of key lock.

          1. Exactly, sync or not, all the DJs I’ve seen using Serato stare at the screen and match the waveforms as a crutch. So who cares if there’s sync. People are already cheating by waveriding. And its very pathetic to see a guy waveride yet still trainwreck.

  4. I think its just the fear of change which is causing some users not to switch, there were plenty of people still running SSL 1.9.2 even though it was years old compared to the latest version 2.5.

    I don’t really see much difference in the core of SDJ compared to SSL plus you get all the new stuff as well.

  5. I think its just the fear of change which is causing some users not to switch, there were plenty of people still running SSL 1.9.2 even though it was years old compared to the latest version 2.5.

    I don’t really see much difference in the core of SDJ compared to SSL plus you get all the new stuff as well.

  7. yup… some people just dont liek change.. i never knew that SSl had updates until a friend told me lol. i think i started with 1.4 and then enver upgraded until 2.0?

  8. Q: Why are you digging in so hard and not going with the flow? I’m simply interested in the psychology behind your thinking. I think I understand, but it really is time to move on.
    A: Lack of stability compared to SSL – a platfform with a reputation for being streamlimed and rock-solid – just what I needed when I walked away from Traktor’s Final Scratch merger-mishap in 2005. Re: ITCH, Advertised features and basic functions of my DDJ-S1 hardware that have yet to be offered in SDJ (adjusting beat grids with the platter doesn’t effect playback in ITCH, but good luck making an adjustment during a set on SDJ.
    Effect button ON/OFF lights are always ON, so good luck NOT triggering them when you think you’re switching them off.
    Levels don’t match hardware markings now.
    Track volume LED readings are useless now, as the Limiter kicks in despite levels being well below the reds. Serato’s answer: don’t look at the LEDs on the mixer section of your hardware, read the levels from your screen now.
    Also: I’m not in a position to upgrade my “future-proof” TTM-57sl.

    1. “Lack of stability compared to SSL”
      SDJ 1.6 is rock solid for me and many, many other users.

      “adjusting beat grids with the platter doesn’t effect playback in ITCH, but good luck making an adjustment during a set on SDJ.”
      I can do that – no problems

      “Effect button ON/OFF lights are always ON, so good luck NOT triggering them when you think you’re switching them off.”
      That issue was addressed ages ago.

      “Levels don’t match hardware markings now.”
      From a controller standpoint – this makes sense for 2 reasons.
      1) SDJ has it’s own master output level control, independent of the controllers master volume knob. If you adjust controller master level, the software master volume doesn’t change.
      2) The virtual deck level meters are to indicate the overall recorded level of that track (think auto-gain). Once again it’s totally independent to the channel trim pots of the mixer. If you adjust the virtual deck level gain, that info is saved to to track tag & will open with that same setting the next time you load that track.

      “Track volume LED readings are useless now, as the Limiter kicks in despite levels being well below the reds.”
      The headroom is totally adjustable. But…… Turn it off if it bugs you that much.

      AND NOW FOR THE REAL REASON……….
      ” I’m not in a position to upgrade my “future-proof” TTM-57sl.”

      Ok, I get that. Thanks for being honest.

      1. I’ve tried it on my SL-2 also, but SDJ doesn’t have the MIDI configure panel from SSL, so my peripherals aren’t much use with it unless they port that over.

        re: Effect ON/OFF button lights –
        “That issue was addressed ages ago.”
        Addressed, how? Mine remain permanently on. I’ve got my unit in front of me now with the 1.6 final release, and I see no change.

        re: adjusting beat grids
        “I can do that – no problems”

        Hey, you got me there! Since I didn’t see any mention of a fix, I hadn’t bothered to test that one on 1.6, but you’re right! Working now!

        It’s not that I want SDJ to not-work – quite the opposite, and I’ve been looking forward to it, and having SSL and ITCH lines merge. I’ve just been underwhelmed by the results so far and experienced enough crashes to hold off and wait.

        1. I’ve never used SSL, so perhaps there’s something Im not aware of, but you certainly can midi map in SDJ 1.6. I think you need to create a new device in the midi section of the setup. Thereafter, there’s a midi button next to the master level on UI. There’s no led output though :(
          re: FX On/Off – Some controllers had this issue in earlier versions (v1.5 I think) they sorted it out – perhaps now it only happens with the SL-2? I have no trouble with this anymore.
          re:Crashes – Possibly a library issue, which does seem to be a SDJ only problem. SDJ has issues with lots of crates & sub-crates. It used to take 5mins to load my library, I followed a suggestion on the serato forum about moving my music folder to the root of my drive. Now it loads up in under 20 secs. No hanging & running as smooth as silk.
          I do understand not using SDJ until it works stable for you.
          I’m sure with a bit of support from Serato you can sort these issues out though. Good luck.

    1. I read that the HC1000S is natively supported in 1.6. So It should be fine, but I’m not sure.

      I think that midi out is not a option for all midi controllers and midi mixers that don’t have native support from Serato.

  10. The Bridge can be a good reason, too.
    I for myself ordered an SL 2 the week SDJ DVS was announced. I don’t know where the problem is as I have SSL 2.5.0, ITCH 2.2.2, and SDJ 1.6.0 installed on my computer so I can use whatever I want, whenever I want. And I definitely want to use SDJ for Pitch ‘N Time DJ alone.

    1. Bridge is a big reason and I hope they are planning to implement bridge into SDJ in the near future. However I feel if people don’t make enough noise they will leave it out.

  11. I’m on an SL-1 but figured I would chime in anyway. I’ll consider upgrading to an SL-2 when:

    1) There is at least the same amount of MIDI in/out features of SSL (more options would be even better)
    2) 64-bit processors are fully supported

    Pitch N’ Time looks good but I don’t see any reason to upgrade otherwise. Traktor 2.6 still makes Serato DJ look mediocre when it comes to features (and it’s cheaper).

  12. I switched from Traktor to SSL when I left MIDI to head to DVS. Traktor was too cluttered for my liking as a digital crate solution, versus SSL which was just comfortable…just fit.

    Pulled SDJ down last night and gave it a tickle. So far, reminiscent of my time with Traktor as a DVS. Not digging it, and don’t understand why my auxiliary deck is showing up at the top instead of as third on the list (SL3 w/ three decks).

    Will be sticking with SSL for the foreseeable future. I don’t use loops or effects. I simply use it as a digital crate, so don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.

  13. Q: “Why are you digging in so hard and not going with the flow?”

    A: Because for some strange reason, Serato DJ is STILL missing critical features we’ve grown accustomed to and rely on in Serato Scratch Live such as…

    • Album Artwork On Loaded Decks

    • Album Artwork Grids 1 & 2

    • Album Art Size Increase/Decrease

    • Stacked Horizontal 2-deck and 4-deck Modes

    • Sort Cues Chronologically

    The inconsistent user experience when jumping between SDJ and SSL is very frustrating and maddening to say the least.

  14. I have 57SL. It still works with SSL but, I felt a bit slighted with them dumping support for the 57sl. I actually like some of the features in SDJ but, I’d have to get a Sixty-Two to replace my 57SL.

    What ended up doing is buying a Traktor Z2 when it was on sale for 600$ which it is again. I hated Traktor at first. Stuck with it a while watching youtube videos, tutorials, RTFM, and started understand it and even like it. I remapped the keyboard to behave like SSL and the advance features I been picking up slowly.

    I guess i could have bought the cheapest Rane Mixer the Sixty-One but, that thing is a serious downgrade to the 57SL. No post fader effects. No cue points triggers. No effects triggers. No onboard Effects. It wouldn’t do video.

    1. tractor doesn’t do video either….at some point you have to upgrade…get a 62 and make payments @ Americamusicalsupply.com 57 honestly is 10yrs old tech usb 1.1 plus sera to will collapse if they can’t make money…

      Since sera to DJ,do you realize how fast the updates are coming out??? now they have money due to an expanded market for R&D.

      We always complain too much but only look on our end only…support sera to move ahead as they have made our lives so much better with an excellent,reliable product…Let’s not be selfish,we’ve all made 10’s of thousands of dollars to millions for the Top DJs…let’s not be selfish now,share a little with Serato team.

  15. Would love to hear people’s experiences using HID on their CDJ’s using SDJ 1.6. I read that Serato have made vast improvements in HID over the SSL implementation. At one of my current gigs I’m using CDJ-900’s so once they announced HID support for this model I was very excited to know how well the integration works.

    1. Works just fine,way way better than time code as you can use the whole CDJ features to control the software directly…just used CDJ2000 NXS in HID and love the tightness…would never go back to time code

      1. Im currently using HID with CDJ900’s with ScratchLive but every once in a while I get that skipping issue when there is too much vibration. I was curious if that bug was resolved in SDJ.

        1. I didn’t notice the issue on CDJ 2000’s Nexus (Platter set about halfway loose) even last weekend at concert level type heavy sound (Soulja boy,Sean kingston &Kid Ink concert) but i’ve heard of it.

          I’m thinking,it may be related to how tight or loose you have the platter set…but Serato is aware and said they’ll fix the issue in the next update 1.6.2

          I love how you can be in HID mode and switch to cd play or usb key or SD card…this is one reason i’ll never go back to TT…the flexibility of CDJs at events like this really saves your life.

  16. I am extremely disappointed in Serato dropping support for the 57SL, to my understanding. As an early adopter of flagship technology, I feel like I’ve been shitted on as a customer. Thanks.

    1. That’s the point-you are an early adopter. Its ten year old tech. Getting USB 1.1 ports to work with USB3 alone is a nightmare, and every time a new change to computer hardware or operating system comes along it makes it even more difficult to make the USB1.1 product work. If you think about development, switching to a class-compliant piece of hardware only frees up resources for developing the program, instead of trying to continue to support tech that was first introduced in the SL1 back in 2004…………

  17. I’m a die hard user of SSL (all turntablist on a MBP) and all I can say is that all new features in SDJ are most welcomed BUT…only after v1.7 is released, lol!
    I will never risk losing the stability of SSL that I rely on so much, just for testing out new features. Only after Serato can guarantee 101% the stability of SDJ, then I will consider jumping ships. And with software companies, this usually comes after the second update.
    PS Don’t forget that we’re not talking here about only switching software but also making that stable on a new OS too, Mavericks. This is too much work and I doubt it can work from first version.

  19. I’m a new dj who is getting into it just for fun and the love of music(bedroom dj). I’ve been very fortunate to come across some second hand gear. My question is the following:

    I friend just gave me an old white macbook(2008) specs below.so who is running serato dj on a macbook like mines? How is it holding up any issues? Thanks in advance for any comments

    Gear:
    2 Gemini pt 2000II
    Vestax 05pro
    Sl1

    Numark Ns6

    Macbook white 2008
    Core 2 duo 2.40 ghz
    2gb ram
    160 gb harddrive
    Mac osx 10.7