When organizing a party at home, the music problem is easily solved using the computer, with a program such as Windows Media player or iTunes, listening to the mp3 files in continuous playback. Of course you can do more using a program that can turn your computer into a DJ mixer, with which you can really have fun.
The difference between a DJ console and a normal media player is the ability to mix music in different ways, adding fades, scratches and other effects .
There are free music programs, as seen in the post on how to mix music by professional DJs but often the software does not have an intuitive and simple graphic interface.
Then I wanted to describe a program, to mix music and become a DJ, which shows two turntables and allows you to mix music in real time and to scratch like a Precious of the past.
First of all, remember that the Virtual DJ program can be downloaded for free .
However, if you want to try a different program, you can download OTS Turntables (Turntables means Turntable) of which there are several paid versions and a free one.
Although the free version of OTS Turntables is very limited and with several functions locked, it still allows you to create a playlist of songs and, while playing, to have fun moving the discs on the platters.
The best part of this application and also the reason why I write about it is the design.
Although, for functions, it also has something less than programs like Mixxx or Zulu, OTS Turntables puts before the eyes a real designed mixer made of two cymbals, an equalizer, a digital effects processor and much more.
It also offers a level of mixing that is only expected with commercial and expensive software.
To download the DJ program you can go to the official website or to Download.com.
The installation is very fast and, once the program is opened, just add the mp3 files that are on the computer, in the playlist.
The key to load music on the cymbals is the arrow at the top but, from the playlist, you can drag them on the turntables.
You can also set the mixed sequence automatically with continuous and sequential playback of the tracks in the playlist.
The fun part, while playing a record, is touching it with the mouse and scratching or stopping the song.
With the mixer lever and the two volumes, you can alternate listening to the right disc with the left and create the typical fades of a passage between two different songs.
Next to the volume and preamp bars, there are bars for setting the rhythm and speed with which the disc should turn.
You can also spin a disc in reverse.
In the free version, as you can see by fiddling on the interface, many functions are blocked but, fortunately, you can use the equalizer completely and the Dynamic processor only in the preset presets.
Unfortunately, you cannot save playlists and not even record the session but, since you can load m3u files or load all the tracks that are inside a folder, you can organize a playlist outside the program and play it without problems.
With the pro version you can also burn a CD and send your mix online on Shoutcast.
By pressing the FX button under the turntable you can activate different types of scratch which, however, can also be tried using the numbers from 6 to 0.
The function to create custom scratches to be reused is instead blocked on the free version.
OTS Turntables is perhaps the only free and high-level virtual DJ studio that can be found (I will be happy to be proved wrong) and can be used for free without time limits even if with locked functions.
To have a completely free, unlimited DJ program that can be installed on Windows and Linux, you can download Miximum, which acts as a mixer and audio editor for DJs.
Music and mp3 files can be loaded by creating playlists that can be mixed.
There is a "vynil" view showing the two turntables and which you can also scratch on.
The program has a somewhat spartan graphic interface and it is not too easy to find the desired functions but, from what I have seen, there is everything you need to add effects, for the equalizer, for the volumes and to create fades .
In another article, three online mixers with a double DJ turntable are listed
If you have to organize a party, the DJ is done at home.
READ ALSO: Free PC audio mixer: 8 programs to listen to mixed music
