Serato vs Traktor vs Torq

[aaron dae]

Thoughts? Discuss? Let the games begin.....

Also, anyone know where I can get a very reasonably priced used Mac laptop that will support Serato (Uh oh am I biased?)? I have a laptop but it's dedicated to home use ONLY!

Thanks

[Sal Paradise]

Search function.

[aaron dae]

Search function.

Thanks for you help Sal

[Sal Paradise]

Thanks for you help Sal

[aaron dae]

Eyyyyyy-O wegodda wise gye heeeeeeeeeeere!

Bada bing

[boxmusic]

i don't use any but have seen many cats use serrato. just make sure that used laptop can handle the program. for the most part nobody seems to have any problems, but i have seen more than a few computers freeze in the middle of gigs....and to people that i would assume know what they're doing. happened to kerri chandler at deep, for example. (he's a pro so he handled it well...grabbed the mic and talked to the crowd while it was being fixed....most didn't even know what happened.)

so i'm no help other than to say whatever program you use make the sure the computer can handle it, and if possible, is dedicated only to that program and your music files.

K.

[deejaysoul]

I use Torq on a weekly basis for a guest I do near Union Square for the past 6-8 months, but owned it for 2 years now and I swear by it. I spin a wide range of house and a few occasions hip-hop and r&b, so it help me bring my music to any event and be ready for any type of gig. I like Torq compared to the others, since its real easy to use and even easier to set hotkeys the way you want. It has a few built in effects and it can sync to programs like Ableton. The only thing I can complain about is the music browser, not as fast as Serato or Traktor, but no software is perfect. I like Serato too, but the lack of effects, ease of hotkeys and price tag keeps away for now. Traktor is nice but the interface is real busy, but if you a real control freak, there's tons of options and features built in that you set till youre blue in the face. I know laptop djs, arent really accepted in the house scene, because there some sort of stereo type. I have been djing for 18 years, and I feel its given a new out look on djing, now I dont feel limited, I feel I can be more creative, and Im not killing myself at end of gig trying to carry my records home or even trying to figure out how Im going to get them there.

[House]

I use Torq on a weekly basis for a guest I do near Union Square for the past 6-8 months, but owned it for 2 years now and I swear by it. I spin a wide range of house and a few occasions hip-hop and r&b, so it help me bring my music to any event and be ready for any type of gig. I like Torq compared to the others, since its real easy to use and even easier to set hotkeys the way you want. It has a few built in effects and it can sync to programs like Ableton. The only thing I can complain about is the music browser, not as fast as Serato or Traktor, but no software is perfect. I like Serato too, but the lack of effects, ease of hotkeys and price tag keeps away for now. Traktor is nice but the interface is real busy, but if you a real control freak, there's tons of options and features built in that you set till youre blue in the face. I know laptop djs, arent really accepted in the house scene, because there some sort of stereo type. I have been djing for 18 years, and I feel its given a new out look on djing, now I dont feel limited, I feel I can be more creative, and Im not killing myself at end of gig trying to carry my records home or even trying to figure out how Im going to get them there.

how do you like the zero4?

[aaron dae]

Thank you all - Keep it comin!

[deejaysoul]

The Zero4 is great, since I can use it digitally with my software, but also use it as a straight up mixer. Its loaded and I feel its future-proof for later on down the road. I find it easier to use than Pioneer 800 when it come to effects. There's 9 effects on all 4 channel, which are pre-amp to accept 4 turntables (if I ever went that route), buts there also 11 more effects that can be applied to any of the 4 channels at any time. The only I wish it had was an option for rotaries, but currently there isnt anything that I know of yet.

[House]

The Zero4 is great, since I can use it digitally with my software, but also use it as a straight up mixer. Its loaded and I feel its future-proof for later on down the road. I find it easier to use than Pioneer 800 when it come to effects. There's 9 effects on all 4 channel, which are pre-amp to accept 4 turntables (if I ever went that route), buts there also 11 more effects that can be applied to any of the 4 channels at any time. The only I wish it had was an option for rotaries, but currently there isnt anything that I know of yet.

did Korg resolve the issues with hum? (i think those were w zero8)

[kato]

mofo's need to start using vinyl again i been place to place and everytime
some djs can't get their laptop working properly you come early to set up your (torq serato traktor) turn to play and your shit don't sync with a turntable?? WTF

[deejaysoul]

I think so, I never had a hum I noticed on the Zero4. Can make a call to buddy who has the Zero8 and see if he has the hum issue.

[House]

mofo's need to start using vinyl again i been place to place and everytime
some djs can't get their laptop working properly you come early to set up your (torq serato traktor) turn to play and your shit don't sync with a turntable?? WTF

you don't need turntables

carry on...

[Jamie 3:26]

mofo's need to start using vinyl again i been place to place and everytime
some djs can't get their laptop working properly you come early to set up your (torq serato traktor) turn to play and your shit don't sync with a turntable?? WTF

What about a dj who uses rekkids and they don't own needles?

[JimmyEllis]

I've got, or had all 3.

my personal choice is Serato Aaron.
The GUI is simple, I like the waveforms side by side for when I do double copies of tracks.
The GUI in Torq is wack.
Tracktor is nice, but I wish it was layed out a bit diferent.

Sound on all 3 is much better now.

Is Lee still on the oldschool tracktor? I heard he moved to Serato?

[KragShot]

The idea with using software-based rendering systems is that you always bring a mixture of media. I bring regular vinyl, CDs, as well as music files to do my set. If my laptop drops out, with a flick of a switch, I can bring in an analog music source.

But with that argument...what happens if your stylus breaks? What about if your CD/record is scratched? Equipment breakdown is something that comes with the territory.

BTW Kato, if the tables you are using at a given venue won't sync with the Scratch Live program (you only need a 75% sync ratio to be effective), then you just run in relative mode (to maintain vinyl control), or internal mode (eliminating the turntable altogether).

You take care of your gear. You run your anti-virus scans and defragment your hard drive regularly.

Assigning "what-ifs" specifically to Serato/Torq is borrowing trouble and not a convincing argument to not use a particular piece of gear. Shit breaks down...that's life.

[kaaos]

i use traktor with the vci-100 LE (balck) and i love it.

tried using virtual DJ but i just could not get used to it. although i do like that i can use my vci-100 with virtual to mix music videos.

Serato is cool serato itch not so much.

[DJJM3.COM]

I moved up to traktor scratch pro..My only issue is the wave forms should be next to each other like serato...I have seen Serato in action as well as torq...If I wasnt on Traktor, I would be on serato....

Its really a matter of personal preference now....most of the programs worked out most of the bugs and issues...

[deejaysoul]

No system is perfect it comes down to personal preference, its the same argument Vinyl vs CDs. My preference is Vinyl, whether if its analog or digital, not til recently I started to learn & appreciate the CD medium. Equipment failure can happen whether you use Vinyl, CDs or a Laptop. I have played in bars & clubs where the turntables are treated like crap, but I make the best of it I have learn to make things works when the booth looks like a warzone. The fault of turntables of even cdjs & mixers not working is the fault of the owners, not having a proper sound guy looking after equipment and resolving issues after a gig, but I blame unprofessional djs who dont know how to handle other peoples equipment.

As for the Serato vs Torq vs Traktor, the waveform on each are different, but I like Torqs since they are so close together to can easily see if your mix is off and you can adjust the speed of that view, in Serato you cant. I think thats where Torq excels compared to the others, since it lends itself more to mix and blending. Another nice thing I like about Torq comparing to Serato I can fire off hot cues & load tracks with one button not using two, so in a crunch you can load tracks really fast. I can be here all day comparing the softwares, but it doesnt matter I like what I can do in mine.

[DJ_Francesca]

I wonder how many songs you can play/mix at a time with these programs?
Does anyone know? I was told with serato you can only play 2 at a time, but im not sure if this is correct and which programs allow you to play more then that?

[DJJM3.COM]

I wonder how many songs you can play/mix at a time with these programs?
Does anyone know? I was told with serato you can only play 2 at a time, but im not sure if this is correct and which programs allow you to play more then that?

Traktor Scratch Pro you can play 4 at once

[LarsLB]

loving my traktor scratch pro.
loops, fx, analyzed data, artwork (if one is a fan), 4 decks possible .. list goes on..

but then again . I never used any of the other .
I think it'll get to the point where it really doesn't matter anymore .

most frequent in clubs is serato but traktor is a breeze to setup if u have access to the mixer .. serato is as well

look, try, judge ..

I love my traktor

peace,
lars

[kaaos]

I wonder how many songs you can play/mix at a time with these programs?
Does anyone know? I was told with serato you can only play 2 at a time, but im not sure if this is correct and which programs allow you to play more then that?

traktor has 4 tables..


ableton you can play over 10 at one time but a bit more difficult to play with

[deejaysoul]

Yeah 2 is enough for me, even though I have witness a sick set with Richie Hawtin doing for virtual decks, but his set was more "live pa" dj style. Dropping loops and applying effects ad whatever else he was doing with 2 laptops running ableton on one and traktor on the other. Maybe one day I will start learning how to mix with more than 2 decks at a time, now that I own a pair of cdjs...