djay - Touch your Music.™

Algoriddim Djay

Cheaper than chips and Mac-friendly, Algoriddim’s Djay software has certainly got our eyebrows raised. Will they lower, during this comprehensive review? Let’s find out…

International DJ Magazine – October 23, 2008: Having been a fan of Apple for so many years, it’s good to see a software company embrace the easy functionality of the OS X operating system for a DJ platform. That’s exactly what Algoriddim have done with Djay. Basically an Apple Mac plus Djay equals two onscreen, fully scratchable turntables that are iTunes-compatible and come with a whole host of effects and sampling functions. What’s more, it doesn’t suck up processor speed.

Before you go thinking Djay is just another clone of Traktor or Serato, it’s not. Algoriddim have embraced the richness the OS X system to offer the DJ a whole new experience in DJ software. There are no compromises for cross-platform compatibility here – Djay even looks like a Mac program. What really excites me is that Algoriddim has embraced the more advanced audio processing capabilities that OS X has to offer.

The onscreen display is simple: two turntables, upfaders, crossfader and three-band EQ on sliders and the two sets of turntable controls. At the bottom of the screen is a pop-up for adding individual echo or reverb to each deck, as well as looping, crossfade transition options, three hot cue points and manual BPM tap control.

As I’ve previously mentioned, Djay hooks up to iTunes a treat. You still have to add ID3 tags and create playlists, but once they’re created Djay will save all info including cue and loop points as well as playback lists. Drag your song out of iTunes and Djay will add the artwork to the playback decks.

Start/stop delays can be set in the preferences, as can the speed slider range (from 8% to 75%). Changes in the pitch visually speed up or slow down the onscreen record. Djay also includes a processor-adjustable pitch shifter, and crossfader curve options are available in the preferences. You can easily record your set to your hard drive with the top centre record button with selectable quality in AAC, AIFC or AIFF formats.

Needle drops and scratching can be performed with ease; use your mouse or Mac Book track pad and you can mix and scratch as if you were using vinyl records. Perform needle drops just like you would on turntables, but using the mouse.

For simplicity, cue monitoring can be via a USB headset or, if you want to add a small sound card, you can use conventional headphones. The master output can be taken straight off the Mac’s internal stereo soundcard. A mic can be easily added through your Mac’s mic input and a whole host of effects can be applied to the mic.

In true Mac form, Djay is not trying to keep numerous windows open at once, so your processing power isn’t having the life sucked out it, so yet another bonus. There’s also full MIDI integration for the Vestax VCI and VCM MIDI controllers making this software package very versatile.

I’m sure some people will moan that it doesn’t have auto BPM, or even a three-deck option, but for the money you won’t find better mixing software for the Mac. Although there is a basic auto mix function, you actually have to count BPMs and not rely on the computer to do it all for you, which is a breath of fresh air as far as I’m concerned. A DJ having to DJ, whatever next?! Plus, it’s nice to see a DJ package that’s not just another clone of Traktor, but instead ploughs its own furrow… iDJ

Verdict

iDJ RATING: 94%
Easily the simplest and easiest to use DJ software package on the market to date. It really feels like you’re using turntables, it’s incredible value for money and it’s for the Mac. Hurrah!

Features

• Seamless iTunes integration
• Multiple audio effects
• Pre-cueing with USB headphones
• Song history
• Visual loops and cue points
• Real-time sampler
• Mic with effects
• MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, MOV and audio CD
• USB and FireWire support
• Full control with keyboard shortcuts
• Mac OS required

PRICE: €39.99 RRP inc VAT
CONTACT: Algoriddim
WEB: http://www.djay-software.com/