DJ

I get all panicked when I have to put together music for a party. It's not because I hate music; it's because I love it too much.

Putting together a playlist is like putting my ego on the line. If someone doesn't like a song I picked out -- or just fails to love it as much as I hoped they would -- it has the power to send me into a depressive spiral of self-loathing.

I'm weird that way. I could never make it as a DJ.

That why I was excited to see CNET … Read more

Those who want to be DJs or users looking to create a better sound mix for social gatherings need a program capable of mixing audio files. Radiologik DJ for Mac functions well, but the full version's high cost and its limited utility make it a questionable choice for all but the most serious audio listeners.

Radiologik DJ for Mac offers a free trial version, while the full program costs $128. The only trial version restriction is that a pop-up menu stops the program every 30 minutes and must be dismissed to continue. The program's small size of about … Read more

Both aspiring disc jockeys and those looking to experiment with music may have trouble finding a way to work with digital audio files. ItDJ for Mac accurately simulates a DJ's equipment using digital media.

ItDJ for Mac comes in its full form as freeware, with no payments required for additional features. The program installed fairly well, but one additional download for playing certain audio files was required before it completed. Upon starting, ItDJ immediately synced up with iTunes to make the digital music files available. The interface would be confusing for anyone who isn't already familiar with the … Read more

The first disc jockeys discovered that using side-by-side turntables is the best way to cue up tunes for broadcast or dancing. DJing has gone from a skill to a performance under the hands of today's turntablists, but you don't need to invest in a pair of analog decks to mix beats like the pros with VirtualDek 2.2. This digital music suite uses two virtual turntables with realistic action to make playing and mixing MP3s, WMAs, and WAVs nearly as easy as cueing up vinyl tracks with a stylus. With a central mixing panel, syncing, direct monitoring, scratching, … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Achieving DJing glory on the iPad is possible thanks to some pretty nifty apps out there, but there's always been something missing from the experience. A cold flat screen just can't replicate the dynamism and quirks of real knobs and records. Ion Audio is taking a shot at putting the feel back into tablet DJing with a set of tactile controls.

A demo unit of Scratch 2 Go is on the show floor at CES 2013. It consists of a slider control, two round discs for scratching control, and two banks of three knobs each for all the fine tuning. They hang onto the screen thanks to what Ion describes as "industrial suction cups."

The suction cups feel pretty solid. Pull them up and look below to see what makes this tick. Underneath, the spinners have what looks like the tip of a touch-screen stylus. It's nothing fancy, but it works.… Read more

This app makes it easy to experiment with your MP3 collection as though they were vinyl records. If you are not familiar with mixing music, have no fear, as DJPad MP3 DJ Lite is very easy to use and understand. It does have quite a few drawbacks, however.

Downloading and setting up DJPad MP3 DJ Lite works like a charm. After you download this app you are greeted with a virtual turntable image. The options are listed on the bottom of the screen and you may load two different tracks on the two opposing turn tables. The tracks can then … Read more

djDecks for Mac is a software mixer and audio player for the MacOS platform. There is a free download available, but the full copy of djDecks for Mac will cost ?80 (around $110 US). The software installs easily and can be told to read your existing library of music.

The djDecks for Mac interface shows two mixers for two audio streams in the lower part of the interface, and a graphic frequency display in the upper part. Sliders and knobs let you adjust the audio streams and the mixing. In addition to audio, video and karaoke clips can be played … Read more

Traktor Pro for Mac is a popular and highly regarded DJ mixing app for Mac OS X. It is available from many sources, and after the 30-day trial you have to pay $229 USD to buy a license. Traktor Pro for Mac installs easily.

While the price may seem high for a DJ mixing app, Traktor Pro has long been a standard for serious professionals and amateurs alike. Traktor Pro for Mac offers a two-deck interface that lets you cue up audio from two different sources and manipulate a virtual mixer to keep a constant stream of music playing. You … Read more

You don't need to spend thousands of dollars in expensive equipment to be a hip-hop DJ. You just need this $29.95 download. It's a bit expensive for a novelty, but DJ Music Mixer gives you quality performance and plenty of effects and cuts you can add to any track. That is, if you can figure out the confusing layout.

From the second you open it, this program definitely makes you feel like a DJ. The layout perfectly imitates a soundboard complete with equalizers, effects, and other nifty features. It's more than likely too much for the … Read more