Tutorial for Para Virtual DJ

DJ with turntable

Para's Virtual DJ is software for computer-based audio and video mixing. It uses a graphical interface representing the two turntables and mixing gear that you'd see in a professional DJ setup. Para's Virtual DJ has many advanced features including sampling, a looping engine and real-time recording of mixes. The software includes features like analysis of beats per minute (BPM) and automatic beat matching.

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the controls and zones of the software. Install and load the software and the interface menu will be displayed. Select the "Internal Mixer Interface"---it's the principal interface, and will allow you to become familiar with the most important elements.

2. Browse the Music Folder---the area below the turntable icons. You create, edit and save your playlists here. This area is where you adjust effects, video and audio. You also record and save mixes here.

3. Look at the Deck 1 Control---it's the turntable icon on the left. Drag and drop music from the Music Folder to this area. The turntable icon on the right is the Deck 2 Control. The center area between the deck controls is the Mixer Zone. Crossfader, gain, volume, VU meters, EQ and key adjustment takes place here. The bar at the top is the Rhythm Window. The Rhythm Window tracks the waveform of each song loaded or playing on a deck. You can use that graphical representation to visually mix and beat-match.

4. Control the Decks. Drag a file from the Music Folder to each of the two decks and press the "Play" button on each of the virtual decks. Press the button marked "Sync" and the two tracks will sync their tempos. Use the sliders to adjust the speed and pitch of the tracks.

5. Control the Mixer. Adjust the crossfader--it's the horizontal slider--to blend the audio between the two decks. Slide the crossfader from channel to channel to isolate the left and right audio, or to blend them together.

6. Experiment with the other controls. The mixer has adjustments for BPM, and other adjustments like looping. Press the "Loop In" button where you want the loop to start and the "Loop Out" button at the end point. The decks also have effects---use the drop-down menu labeled "Effects" to play around with them.

References

• Virtual DJ: Home Edition User Guide