DJ games are hit and miss but there are some out there, on the web and offline, which are worth checking out if you have the time.

Turntable.fm

Turntable.fm isn’t exactly a DJ game as it’s more of a website where you can take turns playing songs for people in the crowd. The site is setup so you can make an account, build a fan base and play music to people in your own hubs. You can even join up with other people in larger hubs that have a ton of people; hell, some of the DJ’s on the site has begun to make a name for themselves – even big named DJ’s have checked out the website and played a few tracks of their own.

Check it out: Turntable.fm.

I tried out Turntable.fm and it’s pretty enjoyable. You take turns playing songs and people can rate the track; if it’s no good than it automatically jumps to the next person. Overall, it feels like a game and doesn’t do much in terms of learning to DJ but it’s still fun to hang around, chat with people and listen to tunes – it can help you find new tracks while you’re at it!

DJ Hero 2

DJ Hero came out and was hit and miss with most people because it didn’t quite give you the feel of actual DJing and video game players didn’t care for the style compared to the massive Guitar Hero franchise that was rolling at the same time. However, DJ Hero 2 came along and did upgrades that give you better flexibility on your mixing, greater selection of tracks and multiplayer mode.

Check it out: DJ Hero 2 on Amazon.

I haven’t had the chance to play the DJ Hero games but they look worth the shot if you have some money to spare. Just like the Guitar Hero games, you’re not going to get the full DJ experience but you’re going to get a video game – leisurely play, ya know? You can’t really expect to learn how to DJ with this DJ game but that’s beside the point; you’re just having fun with it.

Beatmania

If you can find it, Beatmania is a really interesting game that pulls together button mashing and DJ mixing for the PS2. The game revolves around you playing music like you would with Guitar Hero; you press buttons when you need which will create the sound but there are also moments where you need to do the scratching for other parts.

Check it out: Beatmania on Amazon.

I had this game when it first got release and I can say that it was pretty enjoyable. Friends and I would go back and forth trying our best at some of the songs; it’s very different from actual DJing since it’s just a game but you did get into it after a while. The Beatmania Bundle is a little expensive but it’s still a fun DJ game if you have some cash and time away from the real thing.

DJ Games – Worth It?

Welllll, if you asked me, DJ games are hit and miss and they don’t really add to your skill. However, since they’re video games they can be fun and great to let loose when you don’t really feel like mixing your own tracks or if you’d like to play to real people in your off-time such as with Turntable.fm.

I’d say check out DJ games if you have a bit of money to spare and you’ve got a lot of free time on your hands otherwise just practice the real thing since that’s what truly matters.

Awesome, you’re off to a good start since you’re here. What I’ve done is put together a list of some of the best DJ programs for beginners. These aren’t what I would call “high end” DJ programs but they certainly get the job done and can get you started before you drop serious money on the higher end DJ software like Traktor, Serato or Ableton.

Okay, enough of all that, let’s take a look at what’s available out there as far as DJ programs for beginners …

Virtual DJ

Virtual DJ - A good place to start

Virtual DJ is probably the best selection as far as DJ programs for beginners go because it has one of the best set of features and options or mixing and even doing a bit of visual DJing while you’re at it. You get two full decks, mixer, effects, file browser, visual elements and the ability to record and save your mix.

Out of the programs listed in this post, this is the one that I recommend checking out first because there is a free version of Virtual DJ available and if you want to upgrade it’s less than $100 which is a dirt cheap steal if you ask me. You get everything you need to get started so this is obviously the best choice; plus, there are a lot of Virtual DJ tutorials available on the web that will help you get started in no time at all.

MixMeister

Definitely worth checking out

MixMeister is sort of a mix between DJ mixing software and Ableton Live mixing capabilities; you can do your normal DJ thing but you could also do live mashups with the higher end versions of MixMesiter which is really great if you have the money to invest toward the software.

Overall, MixMeister may be a little bit too much for you when you’re first beginning but it’s definitely great for the intermediate level and even some expert level DJing because it’s quite robust and aims to give you a ton of flexibility in your ability to DJ. The higher end you get, with the software, the more features you unlock so if you’re willing to drop about $400, you can do everything up to live video mixing which can take your DJing to the next level because you’ll be putting on a bitchin’ show. Verdict? At least give MixMeister a try and see if it’s something that fits into your style and gives you the features you need to do your DJ mixing. There are a few trials of MixMeister available from their website too.

Mixxx

It's free. Completely free.

Finally, one other DJ program worth checking out for beginners would be Mixxx. Mixxx is an open source DJ mixing software which means it’s absolutely free and people can improve upon it because the source code is openly available to those that are willing to give it a shot.

Mixxx may not look like the sharpest tool in the DJ shed but it’s still got everything you need to get into mixing and for the price of free – yes, free – you really can’t beat it if you’re out of money and need to put all your money toward DJ equipment. Mixxx gives you the things you’re looking for such as importing your music, crossfading, beatmatching, effects and more. You can even hook up your midi gear to the program which is excellent since even some of the other DJ software that’s out there has limited support for midi equipment. Mixxx is available, for free, for Windows, Mac and Linux which you can download here.

Conclusion

Aaaaand, if you’re looking for midi DJ controllers for mixing with these pieces of DJ software than take a look at my recommendations for the top DJ controllers under $300. Coupled with a midi controller and some DJ software, you’ll be ready to begin DJing once you hook the two together.

Take some time to learn the interface of each of the DJ programs otherwise you’re going to stumble around while you’re trying to mix. In time, you’ll probably outgrow these programs so then start considering moving onto the bigger programs out there that is a bit more professional (as noted in the beginning). However, have fun and practice your ass off with these DJ programs.

The following are the top 3 computer DJ programs for mixing.

Traktor

Traktor is a powerful DJ program provided by Native Instruments. You are able to buy it separately or can buy it bundled with a variety of DJ equipment such as Traktor Scratch Pro.

This piece is equipment is very powerful and is quickly become one of the most used piece of DJ programs. It’s really a no-brainer because Native Instruments have a very long track record for creating fantastic software synths and electronic music related programs.

One of the main draws of Traktor is the ability to utilize the traktor scratch controller box. This box allows you to hook up turntables and route them to Traktor, giving you a ton of control.

If two turntables arent’ enough, Traktor lets you bump it up to 4 decks – talk about layering like a madman.

Check out some of the features of Traktor:

• Four track playback
• Full effects and EQ
• Tons of looping features
• Built in effects

Pick up a copy of Traktor from Amazon here

Check out some of these posts about using Traktor for DJing:

• Mixing With Traktor
• Digital DJing with Traktor

Ableton

Ableton is a power house for modern DJs that want to combine the ability to mix tracks and produce their own music.

Ableton’s main draw comes from the ability to go beyond just mixing tracks as you would with a crossfader and decks. Ableton gives you the power to combine audio processing through loops, vsts and other built in effects to create a mix on the fly however you want.

Combine with a midi controller, Ableton lets you easily beatmatch, cut up tracks, resample and record your DJ mix.

Purchase a copy of Ableton Live from Amazon here

Check out these other posts that go into great detail about using Ableton for DJing:

• How to DJ with Ableton Live
• Ableton Live Review
• Ableton Live Forum

VirtualDJ

Virtual DJ makes the last of this list because it’s one of the most easily accessible DJ programs for the computer.

Although it’s not nearly as extensive as Traktor or Ableton, Virtual DJ still provides you with a ton of features and everything you need to get started with DJing.

With Virtual DJ, you can use a midi controller, external decks or your mouse to control your mix. The interface is simple and has the essentials to build a mix – no frills to distract you.

Virtual DJ is packaged with many midi controllers or if you plan to buy it separately, it won’t make a dent in your wallet.

Buy a copy of Virtual DJ from Atomix here

Check out some of these posts and videos about Virtual DJ:

• How To DJ with Virtual DJ
• Tons of Virtual DJ tutorials

Others To Consider

Before you make a comment about the other DJ programs I skipped out talking about, I want to also mention that Torq, MixMeister and MixVibes are all great DJ programs.

The top 3 DJ programs continue to evolve simply because they are so well known and backed by their companies. If you go with one of these, you can be sure that you’ll stay ahead of the curve on DJ technology.

Plug in your midi controller, connect your decks or make some mouse clicks and you’ll be building your DJ mix in no time.