What's the best alternative choice to Traktor DJ software?

majo · 2025-03-26T12:52:25+00:00

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Do you hear that, too? The silence from NI? Yeah. Exactly.

Hello everyone,
With the announcement that Apple Music is now available as a[dditional] streaming source for many (all?) other DJ software and Traktor is once again missing from this list, I've decided to switch DJ software. Unfortunately, because I've actually been really satisfied with Traktor - for about 20 years.

It's a shame that NI's inactivity in this area forces me (and many others) to do this. The integration of stems in Traktor 4 was nice, but it's already standard in all other serious DJ software and really nothing more outstanding.

I have posted here in the forum myself in September of last year urging to improve and even found many other entries/feature requests on the subject, some of them years(!) old. Apparently nobody at NI realizes how important such an integration is and how much the feature is missing.

Judging by the responses in those threads: There are a lot of people in this forum who think the same thing, but there is a group of others saying that something like this is "unnecessary" and that “real DJs” don't need a feature like that. The way I and others are patronized about how and with what I and others DJ is remarkable to say the least. Those reactions reminded me of sideeye CD/LP DJs, when I first turned up with a laptop about 20 years ago.
Besides the fact, that basically all other DJ softwares got the feature: It's a simple Google search that shows; There is now a whole industry offering solutions to “get around” the problem/missing feature – again: Basically just for Traktor(!).

I don't know who at NI is responsible for strategic decisions regarding development, but whoever it is: Alles Gute! Recent industry user numbers speak for themselves, don't they?
It's sad to see a really good product on the decline, keeping out potential new GenZ and Genα users, who nowadays just don't own any music.

⇛ To my question: I'm looking for a DJ software that feels a bit like Traktor DJ, but allows streaming from/through leading services like Tidal/Apple Music (or similar), while keeping my file/list structure intact. (Or making it not too hard to transfer those.)
Who has recommendations for alternatives that are compatible with common DJ interfaces/gear?

All the best!
-max

Side note:I'm curious whether this entry will make it into the forum and/or remain here. I've noticed that criticism and critical comments are often not allowed on here or need a lot of time to get seen/published, which in and of itself is a very sad thing. #CriticismCulture #Critics

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PK The DJ

This just posted on the VDJ forum:

"The other day, my DJ friend complained that Traktor does not support XDJ-XZ. I advised him to try VirtualDJ.

A few days later, he calls me and enthusiastically tells me how cool VirtualDJ sounds compared to Traktor.

To be honest, I did not pay attention to all this talk about difference in sound quality before and thought that it was all nonsense. But then I really got interested. My wife and I (she is also a DJ) came to his house (he has good audio equipment & sound card) and the three of us once again compared the sound of the two programs in the same conditions.

Indeed, VirtualDJ sounds much more punchy and assertive, the drums sound like they are alive. Traktor has a more boring, cardboard sound.

Moreover, the difference is very noticeable. Even in a blind test it's easy to distinguish between both programs, and when a friend heard how stems 2.0 sounds, he immediately subscribed.

Thanks to the VirtualDJ team for quality software!"

😃

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lord-carlos

Side note:I'm curious whether this entry will make it into the forum and/or remain here. I've noticed that criticism and critical comments are often not allowed on here or need a lot of time to get seen/published, which in and of itself is a very sad thing.

Can you name a few examples?

If you use "bad" words comments will be hold in moderation queue until a humanoid lifeform can take a look. If a thread has an uncivil discussion that requires a lot of moderation, they sometimes gets closed or put into state where they don't get pushed to the front any more.

But in my experience it's no problem criticizing NI. I have done that for multiple years now, and as you can see in this thread I also often suggest other DJ software if users ask for specific features that Traktor does not offer. They even offer me free stuff.

lord-carlos

I think the Traktor team is just very small. They just can't deal with the legacy code and new features at a rate that is satisfactory for many users.

Anyhow, take a look at Virtual DJ. Does not yet implement Apple music, but has many many features. The mapping is even more advanced then Traktor. You can combine it with scripts! You can use VST plugins. You can get skins for the UI. It supports many 3rd party controllers and even some NI HID controllers, like the s4 mk3.

Stems are GPU accelerated and very close to Traktor in terms of quality.

Tidal, deezer, soundcloud ++ support.

Cost 350 EUR though, or 150 if you just want to use a single controller. https://www.virtualdj.com/products/virtualdj/features.html

Hardware: https://www.virtualdj.com/products/hardware.html

That said, I have not tested it myself. Just impressed with the features :D

PK The DJ

Another vote for VirtualDJ here. It's unique among DJ software. No other software allows you to customize the GUI or the functions of buttons, pads and knobs on the GUI or your controller. The scripting is super powerful.

Unlike Traktor it can play video, and stream the output directly to sites such as Twitch (no OBS required).

Supports way more controllers than any other DJ software.

The cost is a one-off payment. Once you've purchased, you will never be charged again. I bought VDJ 18 years ago, and that's the only time they charged me. There's also a subscription option.

The support is second to none. The devs communicate directly on the forum daily, and bugs are fixed often in hours rather than weeks or years.

red_nick

I love Traktor, in particular the sound quality and filters, but I've switched to VirtualDJ recently as it works better for me other than that.

VDJ is the most obvious switch: controllers will work (other than the S4mk3's screens and motors), it can actually play NI-style stem files if you've made them in NuoStems etc, easily remappable so you can make things like move/loop encoders work the same as they are in Traktor (which IMO is one of the best things about Traktor).

Stem controls aren't quite as good: you don't get the FX/filter controls on stem in Traktor, but you can toggle which stems effects apply to. And the stem swap sampler is very neat.

No Apple Music, but has Deezer, which IMO is better. The integration is very nice, you can add tracks from your local library straight into deezer playlists which is a very neat bit of witchcraft. But you shouldn't rely on streaming for your library. IMO it should only be used for requests etc.

Every DJ software has its pros and cons. I missed Traktor's newest feature, Ozone Maximiser, so much I use the actual Ozone Maximiser VST in VDJ (despite it resulting in uneven latency between master and channels)!

Side note:I'm curious whether this entry will make it into the forum and/or remain here. I've noticed that criticism and critical comments are often not allowed on here or need a lot of time to get seen/published, which in and of itself is a very sad thing.

Got any examples? I've seen plenty of criticism, it doesn't seem like they delete it at all?

lord-carlos

Any updates on examples of not allowed criticism? Would love to look into that.

BIF

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/43817/whats-the-best-alternative-choice-to-traktor-dj-software

The only thing I'm going to raise is this comment:

"Side note:I'm curious whether this entry will make it into the forum and/or remain here. I've noticed that criticism and critical comments are often not allowed on here or need a lot of time to get seen/published, which in and of itself is a very sad thing. #CriticismCulture #Critics"

Native Instruments is now mostly US-based and US-owned. Francisco Partners has other fish to fry, and they are much bigger fish than just you. Or even me, for that matter. It's not you, it's a math problem.

Not even when Berlin controlled Native Instruments would anybody have taken the time to delete forum messages such as yours. Now it's US-based, and they're all just way too busy to really care to delete your posts.

Another point…

Some will think it's very rude for you to use the company forum to dis the company and to continually and actively seek alternatives/replacements.

But no, I highly doubt that any of our current mods will take the time to bother with "gatekeeping" the forum from your petty claim. The only way you'll get slapped down is if you misbehave toward the company or your fellow forum members. Other than that, if you hate being here/being an NI user, then you've already made the decision to leave.

So with that in mind, I will wish you good luck on your quest. I suggest that maybe you go to X or Reddit for additional suggestions. After all, when you ask a Native Instruments forum for advice, you'll probably get mostly Native-Instruments knowledge, and maybe only a little bit of advice on alternative options.

Why waste your time in the wrong realm of knowledge? Go check out Reddit or X. There's probably a wider base of knowledge and experience outside of the NI ecosystem there, and you'll probably be happier in the long run.

Good luck.

PK The DJ

If you'd like a maximizer on the output, then a popular choice with VDJ users is a free VST called LoudMax.

https://loudmax.blogspot.com/

PK The DJ

This just posted on the VDJ forum:

"The other day, my DJ friend complained that Traktor does not support XDJ-XZ. I advised him to try VirtualDJ.

A few days later, he calls me and enthusiastically tells me how cool VirtualDJ sounds compared to Traktor.

Indeed, VirtualDJ sounds much more punchy and assertive, the drums sound like they are alive. Traktor has a more boring, cardboard sound.

Moreover, the difference is very noticeable. Even in a blind test it's easy to distinguish between both programs, and when a friend heard how stems 2.0 sounds, he immediately subscribed.

Thanks to the VirtualDJ team for quality software!"

😃

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