You can now DJ for Free with just a laptop thanks to Serato Play, an expansion pack for Serato DJ Lite of Serato DJ Pro.
If you already own Serato DJ Pro or Serato DJ Lite you can choose the Serato Play Expansion Pack for $29, or subscribe to all the expansion packs for $9.99/month.
The add-on allows you to DJ from home for free using just your laptop, without the need for any additional hardware (controller).
Though Serato DJ Lite is free, and a great way to getting into DJing, I would highly recommend upgrading to Serato DJ Pro, as it has more features. If you are planning on getting into DJing anyway, you are more likely to use the full, professional version of any DJ Software.
If you do want to continue using the software with just a laptop, you can actually download the Pro version in their free trial and then you shouldn’t have to pay for the upgrade.
Even if you already have, or plan to buy a hardware controller, you can still practice using just your laptop and a pair of DJ Headphones. Ideal if you want to have a play on your lunch break, in your bedroom or even on a plane, where you wouldn’t normally have access to a large DJ controller.
How To Get Serato DJ Pro For Free (for Laptop DJing Only)
- Head to the Serato website
- Register for a free Serato account (unless you already have one)
- Go to the Serato DJ Pro section
- Click on Free Trial button (NOT the BUY button)
- Launch the software
- Go to ‘My Serato’ at the top-right
- Log in with your username and password
- In the ‘My Serato’ window, choose the Serato Play Expansion Pack
Serato DJ Software Keyboard Shortcuts
You can use your laptop’s trackpad and/or mouse with DJ Software, but it is easier (I promise) to use HotKeys, the keyboard shortcuts built in to the software.
To make this even easier, you can buy a Serato DJ Keyboard Cover, which is a ‘skin’ that goes on your laptop keyboard and shows you exactly where the shortcuts are for the software so you don’t have to remember, or press the wrong button mid-mix!
|
PLAYBACK SHORTCUTS |
LEFT DECK |
RIGHT DECK |
|
Load selected track |
shift + left arrow |
shift + right arrow |
|
Double track |
control + shift + left arrow |
control + shift + right arrow |
|
Eject Virtual Deck |
shift + alt + left arrow |
shift + alt + right arrow |
|
Play/Pause |
W |
S |
|
Reverse play direction |
Q |
A |
|
Add Cue Point |
control + 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
control + 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 |
|
Delete Cue Point |
control + shift + 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
control + shift + 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 |
|
Set next Cue Point |
alt + ` |
alt + – |
|
Set/Jump to Cue Points in track |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
6, 7, 8, 9, 0 |
|
Jump to temporary Cue Point |
I |
K |
|
Load next track |
alt + W |
alt + S |
|
Load previous track |
alt + Q |
alt + A |
|
Rewind |
alt + E |
alt + D |
|
Fast Forward |
alt + R |
alt + F |
|
Pitch bend down |
T |
G |
|
Pitch bend up |
Y |
H |
|
Censor |
U |
J |
|
Keylock |
F5 |
F10 |
|
LOOP SHORTCUTS |
LEFT DECK |
RIGHT DECK |
|
Loop On/Off |
[ |
(apostrophe) |
|
Autoloop On/Off |
alt + 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
alt + 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 |
|
Loop Roll |
control + alt + 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
control + alt + 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 |
|
Reloop/Exit |
alt + [ |
alt + ‘ (apostrophe) |
|
Set/Adjust loop in point |
O |
L |
|
Set/Adjust loop out point |
P |
; (semicolon) |
|
Loop Slot Select Up |
alt + O |
alt + L |
|
Loop Slot Select Down |
alt + P |
alt + ; (semicolon) |
|
SAMPLE PLAYER SHORTCUTS |
KEY |
|
Load Sample from library (slot 1-8) |
control + alt + Z, X, C, V, B, N, M and , |
|
Play Sample (slot 1-8) |
Z, X, C, V, B, N, M and , |
|
Stop Sample (slot 1-8) |
alt + Z, X, C, V, B, N, M and , |
|
LIBRARY ACTION |
KEY |
|
Move Up/Down through tracks |
up/down arrow |
|
Move Up/Down through crates |
control + shift + up/down arrow |
|
Shift highlight focus |
tab |
|
Move cursor to search |
control + F |
|
Reveal track in Explorer (PC) or Finder (Mac) |
control + R |
|
Locate last loaded track (press again for other deck) |
control + L |
|
Select All |
control + A |
|
Undo Track load |
control + Z |
|
Delete track/crate |
control + delete |
|
Send file to trash |
control + shift + delete |
|
Add track(s) to prepare panel |
control + P |
|
Zoom main waveform display |
+ or – |
|
Zoom library text size |
control and + or – |
|
Start new recording (mix, aux or mix) |
control + N |
|
Open track in default media player |
control + O |
|
(While editing BPM) Double/Halve PBM |
alt + up/down arrow |
|
Enable AM Mode(hide track names) |
alt + / |
|
Enter Beatgrid Edit Mode |
alt + spacebar (repeat to toggle between decks) |
|
Exit Serato DJ |
Esc (escape) |
Serato DJ Software Prices
Serato DJ Pro is currently $129, or you can subscribe for $9.99 a month. You can also try it for 14 days with their Free Trial.
Serato DJ Lite is a free download.
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