There’s been a couple of recent updates to the world of DJ Tech which are worth covering in the blog.

First up, a brand new version of Pioneer Rekordbox is out, version 6. It looks a lot better, with far improved waveforms, but beyond that, this does seem to be a genuinely major update, and they have a fascinating new feature – Cloud Library Sync. With this function, coordinated with Dropbox, you can sync your library across up to 4 devices, allowing you to edit and save on the go. It is the first DJ company to provide this feature, which is very similar in concept to how many store their photos.

It is a paid function – so it will have to be pretty special to get much uptake. But cloud DJing is something that we have explored before, and with the arrival of 5G, it could well be the future of DJing. So this feature is a logical direction for Rekordbox to take. But how many will want to sign up for a monthly fee to use their software? Recent Denon controllers included WiFi connectivity – presumably the goal is to be able to DJ from your own cloud library via Pioneer devices.

Check out in more depth in this video, and there’s a real deep dive into the software and implications here.

Elsewhere, we have spoken recently about the options available for live-streaming DJ sets online. One of the major issues faced by many DJs is the problem of copyright takedowns terminating broadcasts, and repeat offenders getting their live privileges revoked by social media platforms.

Mixcloud have seen this, and have brought forward the release of their live function, which is currently in beta – so there will be bugs and glitches for now, but expect those to be worked out as more users join.

This move actually makes a lot of sense – they’ve found a way to host DJ mixes and license the music which record companies are happy with, and have introduced a subscription model for premium accounts, including the option to paywall some content for subscribers only. This means that DJs have the possibility of generating some income from fans who are prepared to pay a small amount per month towards their Mixcloud channel.

You are provided with a stream key and url, to use through things software like OBS (covered in this article). You need to have a Mixcloud Pro account, but at the moment they have a 90 day free trial, and it is then $7.99/£9 per month after that.

All in all, these are two really interesting, and potentially game-changing, developments in DJ technology!

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