Where does DJ software go from here?
Mark Settle comes up with 10 incredible ideas for pushing DJ software, and therefore the art form itself, forward. We told you he hadn’t gone far. Founder of DJWORX and former editor Mark is welcome back here anytime. He’s a source of fantastic ideas for many things including the future of DJ software, based on 35 years as a DJ and founding what became this site back in 2003. To see what he is up to now head over to Worxlab – we are pretty sure that you’ll be able to find Christmas present ideas (for yourself) there.
In this article, in his usual no nonsense style, Who better to espouse on the future of DJ software? We’d be astounded if we don’t see some of these ideas incorporated into DJ software over their next few iterations. If you think you’ve got a better idea, or any thoughts on Mark’s then comment below. As Mark points out, it’s hard to get the companies interested in outsiders ideas. But trust us, this is DJWORX, they will see these. – Paul, Editor.
As a great man once said, let’s push things forward
Table of Contents
Free — MY LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF SOFTWARE IDEAS
Hello again. It’s me, the former industry judge, jury, and sometimes executioner. But why am I showing my haggard face around these parts?
I’m here to share some ideas. Much like I used to do of course, but what follows is a collection of random thoughts, herded from their assorted location across my analogue and digital existence, and presented for your perusal and discussion.
WHAT ARE THEY?
As you might imagine, living at the cutting, leading, and bleeding edges of DJ technology since the start of the digital DJ revolution, I had thoughts. Oh so many thoughts. Decades of the bloody things.
Over time, I wrote them down and sketched them out in my stack of Moleskines, and also added them to a growing collection of documents on my laptop.
Some of this was sent unsolicited to a company well over a decade ago, and subsequently rejected.
More recently (2022 in fact), I pulled all my concepts together and turned them into a full three-part workflow. This was again sent unsolicited to a company (a different one this time), but our paths and directions were not in sync.
A third company was approached, who weren’t even interested in seeing the pitch deck.
At this point, the old assumption that ideas are worthless and nobody was going to top up my pension kicked in. After all, they all employ very clever people to do that. Why on earth would they listen to me? They used to through my writing, but they didn’t have to pay for that particular endless truth bomb.
Oh wait… it did end But I digress.
WHY NOW?
That’s easy. I need them off my laptop, out of my head, and just out there.
I’ve always known that when attempting to appear like an expert that there’s a bunch of much smarter people itching to tell you you’re a complete knob.
You see, I’ve always known that it’s you lot, the DJs out there doing it every day and every weekend are the true experts, and ultimately the people who should be driving the design decisions and directions of the DJ industry.
So rather than sulk and sit on these ideas, I feel it’s better to put them out there for everyone to see and discuss. It’ll soon become apparent what will stick and what won’t.
A LENGTHY DISCLAIMER: Honestly, I tried to read every DJ-related website, social channel and forum post, but haven’t seen these ideas elsewhere in this form. If they exist, please link to them and give credit where it’s due. Again, there are so many smart people out there and all should get credit where it’s due.
So I don’t claim ownership or for them to be seen as “my” ideas. I mean, they could be but that doesn’t matter anymore.
Just so you know, I posted these on LinkedIn this week. My intention was to reach DJ industry professionals who could then take the ideas and implement them in their software. I’ve had one message thanking me and that they’ll go in the huge pot they already have aka might get lost in the process.
But it’s important that you, the end users, get to see them and comment, and probably more so.
To be clear — I seek nothing from posting this. Not money, and not credit. My intention, and harking back to the very first mission statement of skratchworx, is to help the DJ industry make better DJ gear.
WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
I’m still of the opinion that most DJs are a conservative bunch. And no matter what spangly next-level shiny is put in front of them, most simply want an experience that closely resembles two turntables and a mixer, and just need it to be reliable.
So these ideas are probably more for the few to get excited about. It has to start somewhere. But start it absolutely must.
As our Dan once explained to me when I ranted about the obscene amount of money being spent in F1 racing, this is where automotive innovation starts and filters down. And the same needs to happen in DJing.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN MARK?
Having DJed in some capacity since 1980something, I’m looking for ways to fully twist and even break the traditional paradigms. Not to replace old ones you understand, but simply to open up minds to new possibilities.
As the legendary Grace Hopper said: “The most dangerous phrase in the language is ‘we’ve always done it this way’”
We have the capability to tear apart tracks to their constituent parts, and to go in all kinds of creative directions. And yet all I see are the same paradigms with higher wallet-emptying prices being pushed out as being all-new, with just a nod to what stems can offer.
In fact, when you truly boil down the last 35 years of the digital DJ revolution, the significant driver for change has been the medium. Instead of vinyl that absolutely had to spin to function, we’re now playing data that absolutely does not.
But it still does, metaphorically speaking.
We’re still DJing on units that oh so closely resemble turntables and mixers.
Because we’ve always done it this way.
Perhaps it’s just me, but an incredible world of creativity awaits. And some brave company needs to think about how DJing can evolve. It doesn’t mean replacing the standard layout format of two turntables and a mixer, but adding other ways to play music.
WHAT NEXT?
By posting this, I simply want to start discussions and try to open minds. I hope to challenge perceptions that step way past the oh-so-tired FULL CAPS RANTS of what a real DJ is, and instead ponder what DJing could be and what are the creative possibilities if we think beyond the way we’ve always done it.
Ultimately some of you will stick with vinyl and the OG ways of DJing and hate everything I’m proposing. That’s fine — you do you and I wish you every success and endless happiness. I don’t see the standard workflow of DJing being replaced, nor should it be.
Me? I want DJing to move forwards, to experiment, and find fresh new ways of playing tracks. I want DJs to be excited by the possibilities.
The Future of DJ Software
360 mode – One revolution of the jog wheel to equal 4 beats
Automix assist – Taking the waveform and song structure further
Mixcues – Using song structure as navigation
Adding rules and fine tuning
MixCurve – Adding peaks and troughs
Plenty more good ideas from Mark, and how to use them, on the next page, including what the future of Stems could include.
Let us know your thoughts on Mark’s ideas for the future of DJ software, and your own, in the comments.