The first DJ/Live Performance software?

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
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The first DJ/Live Performance software?

What were the first DJ/Live performance softwares and when were they released?

I’ve had a little search around, VDJ seems to have came out 2003, Traktor dj studio (1998?), one called Virtual TurnTables that seems quite old but can’t find a release date, Ableton (2002?)

Looking for examples of traditional 2 Sources + Mixer layouts and also anything more groundbreaking such as Ableton, i’m doing some evaluation of user interfaces.

Help is much appreciated :slight_smile:

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Nobody?

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I used Virtual Turntables BACK in the day.

PCDJ…after.

Then forgot about it all and went CDJ.

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Surely Traktor 1.0?

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Virtual DJ is the sucessor of AtomixMP3 (made around 2000)

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Back in the day, like mid 80’s, there was Commodore Amiga and Atari ST, Cubase was released for both of them. Some great tracks were wrote on them and some people performed live with these machines, mostly used as midi clock and sequencer. Really broke the ground for software based music to be wrote and performed in a computer environment using other midi instruments as well as internal. I was continually saving my paper route money for one of these computers, never could get it together.

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Thanks very much for the replies guys, gave me some nice points to bounce research off.

If anyone can think of any more of the early stuff let me know :slight_smile:

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Digital Performer (which was once just called Performer). Max MSP.

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Going to bump this up as it was helpful, but i could use more :smiley:

Also, can anybody name when/what the first DJ-focused (or at least adaptable for dj use) MIDI controllers there were? Online resources are pretty thin on the ground.

Cheers :slight_smile:

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November 1998 - First DVS(?) Final Scratch 1.0

The First “DJ” style controller I can think of was the Mixman DM2 in 2000/1 which people were using along with HID>Midi software but that was…

a) Designed for a game!
b) mainly Adapted for controlling other types of software programs e.g. Visuals.

The First “real” DJ style all-in-one DJ controller I remember was the Hercules DJ console in around 2003 - although there were various other DJ midi controllers out there it was the first as far as I know with built in soundcards and phono inputs for DVS - They deserve much more credit than they get.

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Thanks for the blast from the past. I had (actually think i still have both in the attic) the Atari St and Cubase, and a Kawai K4 synth (which I know I still have). The Atari was the only computer with a built in midi port. Cubase was just a midi sequencer then, but oh the fun I had writing songs and making arrangements. I also used it as a back up band for solo gigs.

Sorry for the OT trip down memory lane.

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I used to use PCDJ for a very long time, then PCDJ red, then I stopped spinning. Came back on board with Traktor about 4 years ago.

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I remember the first time I saw DJ software live was at a bowling alley. I wish I had a year. It had to be around 1999-2000. This guy had PCDJ running on a desktop. I was astonished. I went home and downloaded it and realized it was no good for beatmixing unless you had a 4 channel soundcard. I tried to use an inboard and an outboard soundcard and the drivers kept conflicting.

I tried Deejaysystem around 2003 and even did a whole set at my friends house with it one night. It was very simple, but dependable and functional.
I picked up Traktor in 2008. Never looked back.

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Thanks guys, this is all great info!

More info on control surfaces if anybody knows of any?

If anybody was wondering, this is part of a dissertation paper pertaining to HCI & Djs that might interest some people, will make it available once i can :slight_smile: