In 2018, Serato has received a series of welcome updates and topping the list of extra features is the ability to run the software with no controller! Namely ‘Practice Mode’, this finally allows DJs to mix offline without any hardware.

In Practice Mode, you can mix with two decks, a crossfader, tempo faders, cues and of course, your full library of music. All you need is your laptop and the software. Now, let’s take a closer look at this highly demanded functionality and see what are the other new implementations and enhancements that you get with the latest iteration of Serato DJ including the Serato Play expansion pack.

In past versions, it was only possible to use Serato in this mode with a controller. If you were traveling, just lounging around or wanted to mix anytime when you didn’t have your controller, you’d be screwed! It’s absolutely perfect for those (and there were many) who were frustrated about Serato being virtually useless for anything other than making playlists when there was no hardware connected.

We can’t stress how useful this is. If you want to run through your routine or test transitions with just the software then you’re good to go. Obviously, it won’t do for proper DJ performances and we won’t be seeing the death of the controller anytime soon but it’s an awesome tool and it works well.

So, if you were considering Serato but was put off by this lacking feature, fear no more! This brings Serato on par with Traktor for hardware-less use.

Serato Play

If the Practice Mode is not enough, there’s a brand new fully-featured expansion pack that comes with Serato DJ Pro 2.1 and Serato DJ Lite 1.1 called Serato Play that aims to take your laptop DJ mixing experience to a whole new level. In a nutshell, Serato Play lets you DJ using just your laptop by giving you a mixer interface, keyboard hotkeys, and DJ splitter cable compatibility. Now we are talking!

Unlike the Practice Mode, this extra functionality isn’t free, though, as it will set you back $39. In return, you get three-band EQs, filters and a crossfader, plus new hotkeys for controlling them using your keyboard. What’s more, you can enable output splitting, which lets you use a DJ splitter cable.

Serato DJ Lite

Another headline feature is that Serato DJ Lite, which used to be known as Serato Intro, runs licence-free with any controller. Simply plug in any hardware to get going for free, without having to pay for Serato. You’ll obviously have access to less features than if you buy the full version but for those tempted to try Serato with their controllers, this is a welcome addition.

Display and Interface

Using Serato DJ without a controller isn’t all, though. The software now sports a new and updated interface which simply looks beautiful. It’ll appear super sharp on any display but it works especially well with the latest 4K and retina displays. Text is clearer, the waveforms look more detailed and you can navigate with more precision than on older versions. It’s great to have the software looking as slick as possible and every little bit of improvement will help you see what you’re doing that little bit better in a club or at a party!

64-Bit Support

Serato is now 64-bit meaning it’ll run better on the current processors used in most laptops and computers. It’s more stable and you can access a virtually unlimited library without any issues.

Any modern laptop will now crunch through any Serato task with basically no hassle at all. Even if you’re running a ridiculously complex set of playlists, crates and hot cues, 64-bit support introduces new-found performance for the app.

Conclusion

That’s about it but what else can Serato really add at this stage? It’s an industry leader and these useful additions, especially practice mode, plug the final few gaps that existed in the software.

So, if you didn’t know you can now run Serato and use it practically even without a controller, now you know!

[source: Digital DJ Tips]

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