There are two camps in the world of DJing--analog purists and the cutting-edge digital folks. The purists hold on to their vinyl like children clutching their favorite toy, while the digital folks look for the best way to rock the house and steer clear of the poor house. The latest update to djay by algoriddim allows you to rock the beats without breaking the bank.
 
For the beginner, djay is a painless entry into the world of DJing. For veterans, it’s a wonderful addition to your arsenal that doesn’t skimp on features. Djay interacts with your existing iTunes library, offering instant access to any DRM-free music you have on your machine. The interface looks like a typical DJ setup with two turntables and a mixer. Drag songs from the music library in the app onto one of the turntables, and they become virtual records complete with album art (if available).

Mix your iTunes library on virtual turntables.

Fans of multitouch will appreciate the quick gestures used to fade between songs and perform digital scratches. While virtual scratching has a ways to go before it replaces the feel of scratching vinyl, djay does a commendable job re-creating the feeling via multitouch on the trackpad. As tracks are added to the mix, the app calculates a track’s beats per minute to help you determine whether the song will work in the mix and lets you know if you need to speed up or slow down the track. The Sync button will help match the BPMs of the two songs, or you can make manual adjustments.

The new audio engine handles scratches, variable speed, and reverse admirably, even going so far as to replicate the braking sound of a turntable that has been turned off while the needle is still in a groove. The smooth slow-down of the song will spark memories of the vinyl days of yore.

If you’re tired of mixing and need a break, you can use the Automix feature to build a playlist and let the application take care of the mixing while you cruise the party.