Serato DJ Pro — time for a revolution?

Serato DJ v2 has faintly blipped on the fair game journalistic radar. Serato DJ Pro has hit private beta, so let's pull on our speculating trousers.

Serato DJ Pro

Earlier this year, we ran a piece asking what you would like to see in future versions of Traktor. And you certainly let them know in fine style. Some 176 comments later, NI had a much clearer picture of what you’d like in the next version.

And as someone reminded us in a comment a couple of weeks ago, we promised to do a similar piece about other software too. So now it’s time to give the floor over to Serato DJ users to vent their spleen, or just posit an idea or two that may help the people in New Zealand make their software that little bit better.

TRENDING

There is also a very timely reason for posting this now. It feels like v2 has been on the horizon for a couple years, and the release 1.9.10 told me that perhaps that horizon was further away than I thought. But last week Serato offered me a private beta of V2, along with a highly restrictive NDA, but for reasons that I laid out over three years ago, I’m not signing NDAs in my role as a journalist anymore. They’re never enforced, and when leaks happen we’re free to talk and speculate.

I also outlined to them what would happen — forum chatter, screenshots, and eventually video will surface, simply because Serato DJ V2 is too hot a cat to keep in any bag. And sure enough, two out of three of those things are already out there. And because I knew it would happen, my decision to forgo the pleasure of signing my silence over for five full years was entirely justified, and leaves me free to talk about what I know.

But I’m not a dick, nor am I a bridge burner. So instead, I’ll limit my coverage to what has already been posted (and notably not taken down) which thus falls into the realm of fair game (incidentally spotting minutes before posting this but what the hell). So…

SERATO DJ PRO is coming

That dear reader is the extent of the facts I’m willing to share. I’m sure that some of you will already have signed the NDA or ticked the box on the Serato forum that binds you to secrecy. But if you sign such a thing then you’re legally bound by it, and should respect it, even if in reality Serato will probably just exclude you from betas until the end of days rather than sue. Nobody ever sues.

But what could be coming? I’m sure we’d all love to see a heap of groundbreaking features that combat the ones found in their competitors. But the reality, whether you like it or not, is that DJ software was nailed many years ago. The vast majority of users are fully serviced, and the ability to play A to B all night cannot be done significantly better than it is is now.

Bearing this in mind, my thinking is that Serato DJ Pro will just be better and more up to date. Ground breaking game changing features are worth mo-nay, and Serato DJ has the architecture to add such killer features as expansion packs. Let’s be frank, right now Serato is only sparring with rekordbox, and is pretty much on a par feature wise with that. They don’t need to blow it out of the water — a more measured approach is more strategic right now. Besides, how on earth could anything be added to DJ software that could even begin to create more than a ripple?

So to some potential changes:

64-bit

This is a given really. With Mac OS High Sierra signalling the end of 32bit software, Serato DJ has to be dragged kicking and screaming into line. I suspect it’ll mean 32 and 64-bit support — cutting of Serato users who largely stick with OSes that work wouldn’t be a terribly popular decision. But if you’re running 64-bit, look forward to installing more RAM and having better performance. That said, modern DJ software works just fine on old 32-bit machines anyway, but Serato will be able to push the performance of Serato DJ even harder now.

Interface improvements

With Retina screens being standard on performance laptops now, I expect to see the Serato DJ interface take advantage of all those lovely pixels (hence the headline image). I don’t think there will be radical interface changes — Serato has only ever taken pigeon steps when it comes to changes in this area. I think it will probably just look more polished, responsive, and have a few things moved around, and maybe an addition or two here and there.

Hardware Cull

With updates in software usually comes some casualties. It wouldn’t surprise me if some older controllers, mixers, and computers slipped off the supported list. You can’t blame them — they can’t be expected to support everything for ever. I know you want them to, but it’s just not practical.

Aaaand I’m done. My gut is telling me to expect a decent update rather than a serious evolution in Serato DJ. I’m sure there will be a number of small features added and annoyances removed or improved. But I keep coming back to the same question over and over — what else of substance could they possibly add? Or what more could you possibly want?

For this reason, I think Serato DJ Pro will be a free update, simply because there’s nothing that can be added that would justify making you pay, especially as rekordbox pushed out v5 for free. And if they could make you pay, they’d almost certainly do it via turning those features into plugins.

So while you’re all getting antsy for some new Serato DJ stuff, I imagine that once it goes into public beta (probably right around NAMM 2018), you’ll excitedly install it, only to be left with a feeling of “is that it?”. Time will tell.

So fulfilling the internet law of headlines (if the headline ends with a question mark, then the answer is no), we expect no revolution. Definitely some evolution, but most likely just a decent update. That said, the Pro moniker does offer some tantalising opportunities, that perhaps have yet to make it to the very early private beta.

LOOKING PAST SERATO DJ PRO…

As a Serato DJ or even Scratch Live user, you probably have issues and ideas too. What are they? What could Serato add to make it exponentially better? As a Scratch Live user, how long will you hold off from making the inevitable leap to Serato DJ?

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Mark Settle
Mark Settle

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

Articles: 1228

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83 Comments

  1. Serato need to sort out the tracking issue with the 2.5 control vinyl. When doing quick juggles/backspins it makes the software bugout and skips. If you do the same patterns with the 2.0 cv however its smooth sailing.

    • Sad to be the bad news messenger but the thing works this way…
      DVS will not be better than analog scratching never. Even digital turntable like twelve can’t beat it. It’s due resolution, latency an so on. The nearest was Numark Cdx-like (with dedicated dsp) and it never took really off.
      So,
      Increasing the freq only brings more “data”; useful for mixing, issue full for scratching (where high pitch goes off the ADC freq or algorythm needs to “imagine” probable position and sometimes goes wrong). Anyways never will catch analog so just switch and put a battleweapon…

      Final thought: Serato Scratch Live was drop, Serato Dj born. It seems a clear statement from the name itself…

  3. I´m not a Serato user yet but if they added a tool to import a Traktor collection, I might be a future Serato user since I´d really like to have more hardware options than I have now as a DVS user with Traktor.

  4. Only thing i can really think of is additional cue points. (not really necessary for everyone by any means but seeing the new Pioneer controller it would seem a logical step to me). It may also somehow, in a way i’m yet to fathom, involve integrating Serato Sample (which i think is the best thing ever) into Serato DJ.

    • I imagine they’ll let Sample stand on its own for a bit, but possibly make it into an expansion pack in the future. I haven’t used it for more than five minutes to think about how they might work together though.

      • yeah i believe if they add additional cue points any basic implementation/integration would be moot. However the idea of being able to run a drum loop on one deck and replay and chop a sample live (with more than 8 cues) on another is appealing especially if it can be done outside of a daw environment. Kind of like how Dj Manwell does… just with more cue points… then i’m thinking where does Flip fit in…

  6. We’ve been asking for the same thing in the past 5 years and still no replay – We would like to route the FX of Serato DJ to the AUX output of the SL cards!! That way we could use the FX of Serato with every mixer that has an FX sends and RETURNS channels!

    Also, since clubs keeps banding laptop djs from the DJ booths, maybe it’s time to consider adding an option to export our track’s edits from Serato DJ (same as Recordbox or Engine Prime) so we could play our Serato edited tracks (grid, cue points, etc) on CDJs Denon Prime…

  8. Advanced Midi mapping (similar to Traktor), Browser in seperate window (similar to rekordbox), being able to utilize any audio interface (similar to rekordbox), being able to use dj mode without support interface attached (like every other piece of dj software on the market), and thats it so far. Serato has a history of being a pretty solid piece of software. It simply works and doesn’t take much setup. (and this is coming from a RekordboxDJ/Traktor user :p)

    • Serato doesn’t have on-screen mixer controls, so they’ll never have mapping for those features.

      It can be argued that Serato’s history of being solid is probably in part down to being more closed than other software. It’s a vicious circle really.

      • It doesnt need to be on screen to be able to map it. I was also referring to more advanced mapping features such as modifiers, cc values, and midi output. You did remind me that Serato is missing some basic mapping functionality, though.

  10. 1. Pad FX feature (like Rekordbox one which is really cool!) I guess it will come with the Rane 72 since there’s a dedicated pad mode named Pad FX

    2. 16 slots sampler bank ( like in Rekordbox again)

    3. Advanced Library management (guess what ? => like in Rekordbox too!!!)

    4. Bug fixes !!!! Echo out, midi mode with multiple devices…

  11. Improvements I can think of:

    – 64bit / Retina support obviously
    – GUI improvements (yes I think they can be made – look what Ableton did with the latest version) including the daymode finally
    – Better quality FX (I guess it’s possible to make them sound more like hardware FX – Echo out is still much better sounding on mixer hardware FX than Serato FX)

    Other than that I think streaming and looping (Remix decks/Ableton style) still have some potential for new innovation.

  12. Track editor
    The possibility to edit tracks would be nice. I would like to be able to cut and paste my own scratch sentences and edit recorded vinyl records within Serato.

    Loop recorder
    A 4 track Loop Recorder would also be a feature that I would like to see.

    MIDI Clock
    MIDI clock for sync’in up with external hardware like drummachines and samplers

  13. For years I’m asking the following things.
    1.
    Some kind of cover-flow would be nice… Serato is the ‘best vinyl emulation’, but the vinyl kind of browsing never came. One can say none of the other DJ sw have it.Pretty sad fact!
    Many of us came from the vinyl ages, and the most highly missed felling of the digital age is the browsing part of the good-old record-boxes. (o.k. the smell and touch also, but it might come with the VR agees)
    I’m a visual guy, cover art, label art tells me more than anything else. Artist/track names in an excell kind of format… well, not that much.
    So this kind of thing would be handy… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmDL2QtkoJ4
    2.
    Anyone can create a multi monitor setup these days.
    Ipads, tablets and even phones are waiting to be used, collecting dust instead.
    Adding 1-1 (or even 2-2) additional screens on each side of your main screen could give a big bunch of opportunities.
    Not only dedicated screen for every deck, but could open up a ‘never-before’ browsing and track selecting workflow (different decks with different crates for example) and all of these could have more layers (one for the current song info, one for browsing, one for X/Y FX things, one for ‘remix-deck’ features , STEAM files and so on.)
    3.
    MANY options should be user switchable in the preferences menu.
    And the m*********** space bar should be midi-mapable so I could change browse mode function key (especially with the TONS of convertible devices on the market, this feature lock it is just s2pid)
    4.
    Would like to gig with 2 beat-box guys , record their ‘art’ on the fly and with a push of a button play their stuff back on more than one deck and chop it up, scratch it, pass-pass and whatever. It is fun, it is simple, it is unique!
    5.
    I would like to use an RME or Focusrite or ANY professional soundcard instead of the built-in ones! (or wait till the big brands start to license these things instead of trying to create their own whatnot)

    I would be happy with these things, maybe the Serato sampler, Ableton link, 64 bit things, but the first 5 would be way more important than the rest.

  14. 1. I’d like to be able to edit a track in Serato Sample when it’s loaded on deck in Serato DJ, and see the same change on deck (I hope it;s clear enough to understand).

    2. Also if FLIP could record more than only cuepoints woud be great. ie. pitchplay.

    • Also recording in Ableton was dope in SL with all the knobs and fader movement recording as automation. Plus deck 1 and 2 post fader recording like in SL.

  17. I’d like to see less lag. Maybe the move up to 64 bit will help but anything to get the overall lag down without causing pops or dropouts would be the number 1 thing for me.

    I’d like to see the interface be more user-customizable. Widows should be sizable and movable. TOUCH-SCREEN FRIENDLY features would be ideal.

    Glad to see they are finally fixing the problem with high-def screens and scalability. I had to use this crazy workaround to trick my computer from making Serato super-small.

  18. Things that I’d like to see fixed or added:

    1.) Improved SQ to match SSL 2.5
    2.) Fix distortion on echo out and other effects
    3.) Fix erratic autogain & fix DDJ-SX2 gain bug
    4.) Fix jerky waveforms to be smooth like SDJ 1.7.8 or SSL 2.5
    5.) Add dynamic “related tracks” functionality like RekordBox DJ
    6.) Add retina support
    7.) Add day mode

    1-4 are critical for me to finally leave SSL behind. 5-7 are nice-to-haves. I suspect I’ll be on SSL for many more years because I’m not feeling confident the Serato team will be able to address these soon. I suspect they are hard problems to sort out as they have been outstanding issues for a long time.

  19. Plaaaaaaaaay count!

    Also the ABS/REL drop down menu is an extra step that doesn’t need to be there. Keep it the old SSL way where you can quickly switch when needed or midi map it for when your needle gets too dirty you can one button it to INT.

    Can we go back to green for tracks played? The blue blends in too easily and makes the non played tracks harder to differentiate.

    Play count though, for real.

  21. How about adding a crate search option. Currently, you can highlight anywhere in the crate section and start typing the name of the crate your looking for. But that doesn’t always land you on the right crate.

  22. MixtapeV2 > fully midi mapped (fader automated) recordings of mixes exported to daw of choice for editing, sampling, etc. they had something hreat and destroyed it.

  23. If Serato DJ Pro can add save preset or template to FX instead configuring each time it defaults back to original setting when opening up application then I would definitely leap to Serato DJ and leave Scratchlive. It is a pain in the butt.

  24. Two deck offline player
    A simple two deck offline player with a fader to A/B songs for preparing sets.

    Sampler overhaul
    Either more slots per bank or at least no cutting of playing sounds when switching banks.

    Fix waveform issue
    I know the current waveform glitch is not influencing playback, but it always feels weird.

  25. – Make SDJ read Traktor and Rekordbox meta data without the need of any additional converter tools.
    – Invent a cloudservice that enables every dj to backup their SDJ playlists and meta data (automated just like mac´s timemachine), so that it can be recovered or streamed on any computer that has SDJ on it, just after logging in. And in the same step enable multi user loggin in SDJ, so that DJs can play together on one maschine without the need of an external device connected.
    – Make screen elements modular so that they can be dublicated or just moved on a multiscreen setup (for example. move the track list and the browser on a second screen and watch two different tracklists at the same time).

  26. Recently I’ve been messing with Rekordbox performance. After using Serato software for 10 years the transition isn’t easy. Rekordbox is still bugy and the interface not as intuitive as Serato’s.
    tbh I would love to keep using Serato. If version 2 had the same options that makes Rekordbox interesting i would be very happy.
    So those functions are
    16 cue points
    16 sample slots
    A better functioning sync mode (Serato is working fine, but i feel rekordbox has a slight edge)
    Integrated keyboard function (allowing you to tomeplay, preverbly all cue points and not just 1)
    Sample sequencer (great function in rekordbox, they are def ahead of the game with this function)

  27. Dual or multi screen mode. example: library broswer on laptop screen and decks/fx on external monitor.

    Multiple USB device capability – Allow use of multiple SDJ hardware devices. Primary soundcard device could be selected and additional devices would be seen as accessory devices with soundcard disabled. Example – I have a Numark v7 and Akai AMX and the problem is there is two soundcards. Sometimes it works but it is not necessarily stable and prone to crashes. Or using the same V7 as an accessory deck with a controller that has controls for 4 decks. If I can control decks 3 and 4 by DVS, why can’t I control it from a v7?

    Setting panels presets. Be able to save different configurations of all the settings panels. Either for different users on the same PC or for different hardware setups. example: I always have to change instant doubles settings and drop to cue point or drop to absolute position when I play with other DJs on the same laptop.

    Set maximum processor load in setting panel. Some PCs start to overheat under heavier workload (especially using DVS and lots of effects and pitch n time simultaneously) and then the PC will throttle the processor. It would be nice to be able to tell SDJ not to load the processor more than 80%

    Open up MIDI or HID mapping (or remapping) of jog/scratch functionality. Every other DJ software has this. Soundcards are already locked down for SDJ to specific hardware, so why does this need to be locked down also? The scratch latency performance may not be as fast on un-official midi devices, but users should still be given the option.

    Allow 3 PCs per software license instead of only 2.

    Have an option to buy a club kit/DVS software license that is tied to a particular hardware/soundcard. Example: clubs or festivals or radio stations with installed mixer that want the software to be activated for all users. The price can be high… say $500, but for power users, it should be an option.

    • Higher freq doesn’t means better in each purpose. When Traktor announced “twice resolution from competency” (Serato was at 1000Hz) they “forgot” to mention how that required new audio interfaces to deal with it (more on scratching side). Obviously Traktor seems drop the “turntablism edge” (meanwhile adverted it with Djs like Shiftee to keep users loyalty…) so in mixing purpose it’s a “collateral damage” but Serato can’t do that without killing themseves so that’s why Twelve is the way to go. Only die hard scratch djs will argue against “no needle” etc… but Serato needs to push forward the game in this field or it will be fuck’d for sure. ATM it’s still between two roads with fanbase still moaning about missing SSL features…

      • “When Traktor announced “twice resolution from competency” (Serato was at
        1000Hz) they “forgot” to mention how that required new audio interfaces
        to deal with it (more on scratching side)”

        what interface you talk about ?

        • Audio6/10dj. They don’t marketed as “must” but users found it by experience with similar rantings at forums… By the same principle 32 vs 64 bits and also the old Serato soundcards (Sl1 andttm57sl) were unsupported in SDj.
          Said that, the Noisemap on Serato isn’t equally as timecoded signal from other brands but since what I’m talking (probably making some mistakes since I’m not dsp engineer myself but this is excerpt from a discussion with one of them) is relative to the “system” itself, probably applies for all of them. I made a search for the conversation but Ms. Pinky forums seem down ;(
          This can help to understand the issue about “digital ear”, more freq and highr ADC resolution needs. As a resume, if something goes out the maximum ADC freq it drops a digital error and the software can decode it or drop an error (keeps the position until it can read again the new one). For relative scratching it could lose part of the “scratch” nuances and so…

          When Traktor upgraded timecode signal (to avoid royalties from the N2it lawsuit) let the dvs scratching die (N2it was the killer and Torq one of the victims). Now Serato is facing the old same problems and trying to keep themselves relevant fighting against Traktor (the don’t give a f##k turntable) and Rekordbox (the we give a little f##k to fill all segments but that’s it) but “timecoded turntablism” isn’t a priority. They done it with SSL and maybe the devs rear it are gone from Serato…

  30. For me id like to see the on screen decks laid out in a formation that replicates the physical deck layout, IE all 4 decks ‘stacked’ along the upper edge of the screen. this could then be unique to each to controller setup, for example my SX2 would connect to Serato whereby it would display channels 1 and 2 in the middle two slots and 3/4 in the outer two slots.

  31. Can Serato finally improve their archaic (I think of Microsoft https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f44d86a85ab0e36949d5eb3db8b833a4a6d7b9e3e8718bf98deb7432d8c0afb4.jpg Windows Millennium Edition everytime I see it) GUI and provide some options as to how it looks? For example I cannot stand the dials/ needles that they have used for ages. I prefer something that looks more like Traktor if I were to consider becoming a regular Serato user. Parallel waveforms mean nothing to me and my workflow. Traktors phase meters work well however are not necessary at the same time since I play using my hearing to beatmatch.

  32. Having been a long time Virtual DJ user who only made the full switch to Serato last year, my wish list is largely some features I wish implemented on SDJ as stacked against VDJ.
    i) Pitch range adjustment on the GUI. (I play out on DVS on CDJs) At home I have a Mixtrack Pro 3 for practice, I normally like playing with a pitch range of +/-16%. Only thing that the MTP3 does not have a pitch range button, you are stuck at +/-8%. On VDJ I can change that on the settings or GUI whereas on SDJ it is fixed, unless you have a premium controller like SSZ.
    ii)Sample slots: Using the MTP3 as an example again, I have 4 sample slots on each deck. If I load 4 samples on the left deck, I would really like to be able to load 4 different samples on the right deck, otherwise it makes no sense to have 8 buttons which only do the work of 4. This is very much possible on VDJ.
    iii) Filter crates: the filter crates rules on SDJ are very limited, VDJ’s options are very many and you can even create your own. For example, I would like a filter which can link to a folder, such that if I add new music it automatically loads up on to that crate. I usually have a folder on my HDD where I dump new music before I sort it out and/or analyze and tag it. This came in very handy when I was using VDJ.
    iv) Pop up info tab on the library: VDJ has a feature in which you can select a track and check out all the info tagged on to it, and has some user field which you can add any info you want. This is sometimes useful when you do not want to add many coulumn fields to view all info on the track. Not a biggie but handy.
    v) The preparation tab, I’d really wish it were possible to turn off auto remove track when played. Sometimes you are just checking out tracks and then you have to keep adding them back when you load it on a deck.
    vi) History: exporting history from a session is a real pain in the @ss in SDJ. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Exporting to a .text format gives out total gibberish. I wish SDJ would have a look at how VDJ churns out the history info on the .text format. This comes in handy when preparing track lists for a mixtape.
    vii) Recording in .mp3 format. Recording in .mp3 format. Recording in .mp3 format. Did I say recording in .mp3 format? Yeah, recording in .mp3 format.
    viii) MIDI mapping. I know SDJ has limits on what you can custom map but I wish it was much more open. Again using the MTP3 as an example; the MTP3 does not have gain knobs on the mixer, I have therefore changed the filter knobs mapping to gain, which is somehow awkward before one gets used to it (sometimes I get used to it and then when I play on different gear I always turn the bass knobs instead of the gain). On VDJ I was able to change the mapping, the filters are bass, bass are mids, mids are hi, and hi are gains. I wish I had this capability on SDJ.
    Also if I could map the pitch bend buttons ( which I never use) to something else. The shift button would also come in handy to map an extra layer on the functionality etc.
    ix) When making playlists, sometimes I wish could the same track twice on two different places. Currently it is not possible to add the same track to a playlist, unless you copy and rename it. I know this prevents adding duplicates to crates or playlists, but if there was a pop up that prompts you to confirm adding the same track twice that would be very much welcome. Not really a biggie but would be handy.

  34. What I am wondering is if the “Pro” means that this will be a paid upgrade. Seeing also how they slashed prices for black friday I am thinking they might deviate from the extra cost for unlocking features and just have a simple version called Serato DJ and one with all the bells and whistles called DJ Pro

    • I’m pretty sure that it will be a cut down Serato DJ in place of Intro, and full fat Serato DJ Pro. As I said in my piece though, I don’t think that there can be enough to warrant them making this a paid update. They will at some point, probably at v3, because as a business it’s unsustainable if they don’t.

  36. 1-a simple function to put a loop on a sampler bank and directly sync to the master bpm (directly cut on the song and save in a loop folder, not all the song like now )
    2- a gater fx like gate in djm
    3- mutiple color Fx that can be assigned to the filter like in rekordbox
    4- serato video can play many video fx when you juste play mp3 because sometimes you have a song but the video clip doesn’t exist, and with serato video don’t have juste video fx without video clip (like fire , light ….etc)
    :) :) :) :) :) :)

  38. 1. i’d like to see a phrase looper implemented… or even a phrase looper plugin. rane 72 already has a footswitch jack. 8-16 banks for rec and overdubbing laid out on the pads. being able to do loop performances inside of serato would be next level… the ability to record the mic/instr ins… think of the possibilities!

    2. more functionality with the sampler. 16 samples instead of 8 .the ability to quickly load and save samples groups. def putting in my vote for master bpm sync and sequencing capabilities.

    3. waveform size controlled by volume (faders excluded). eq already colors the waveforms. having complete visual control over the waveforms would be amazing.

  39. You gotta be kidding me. Serato DJ has been out for over five years now and despite countless pleas, begging and groveling, SDJ 2.0 beta STILL doesn’t provide us album art grid view like SSL had?! Unbelievable. :facepalm:

  40. i want to use serato. ok. but i just dont understand why i need to buy their soundcard or a serato controller. you sell your software not enough? serato needs a double payment to use that mighty software. and you can not just open it work quickly in somewhere. in short. fuck you serato. you the most greedy stupid company in the game

      • i dont want hardware man. i want a sofware i can work on my laptop with on board soundcard. later i wanna connect to wahtever soundcard and work with it. if you own traktor, you can use it anyway you want, there is no limitation about sound card or controller. you dont need one and you can use the full software. i hope you understand what i mean

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