DJ For Free With Just Your Laptop

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DJ For Free With Just Your Laptop with Serato

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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!

Serato DJ Shortcuts

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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