The DJ world, digested weekly. Gear, software, trends. One email.
The Big Story
InMusic buys Native Instruments — Traktor now shares a roof with Denon DJ, Rane, and Engine DJ
The biggest DJ-tech acquisition in years. InMusic (parent of Denon DJ, Rane, Numark, Akai, Moog) is absorbing NI in full — Traktor, Maschine, Komplete, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, all of it. What happens when Traktor's new owner also controls Engine DJ is the question every booth software loyalist should be asking.
via DJ TechTools
Software
Serato bundles Studio into DJ Suite at no extra cost
Serato Studio — their beat-making DAW for edits and remixes — is now included with every DJ Suite subscription and licence. No price increase. The real question Digital DJ Tips raises: if Studio is in, why isn't Pitch 'n Time baked into Pro yet?
via Digital DJ Tips · May 11
Devious Pocket: a €249 open-source standalone DVS — no laptop required
An Amsterdam outfit built a box that turns any turntable into a digital vinyl rig without a computer, library software, or setup ritual. At €249 and open-source, it's the most interesting DVS proposition in years for vinyl-first DJs.
via DJ TechTools · May 10
Gear
Richie Hawtin × Erica Synths Bullfrog Drums finally ships
First teased in 2024, it blends 909-style sequencing, seven-track sampling, and modular connectivity. Not a DJ tool per se, but if you're building live hybrid sets it's worth a look.
via MusicTech · May 8
Teenage Engineering EP-136 K.O. Sidekick: mixer, FX unit, and looping sequencer in one
TE calls it a "DJ mixer with a 2-bar looping effects-automator." Designed as the performance companion to the K.O. II — another option for DJs experimenting with pocket-sized live sets.
via MusicTech · May 8
The Feed
Ableton Live 12.4 drops with new Push, Move, and Note features
Incremental but relevant if you prep edits or run Ableton in the booth. The update includes improvements across Push, Move, and Note hardware integration.
via MusicTech · May 5
Someone's building an auto-tagger that catches fake 320s before they hit Rekordbox
A DJTT forum member is beta-testing a tool that fixes filenames, fills missing ID3 tags, and flags transcoded files posing as 320kbps. If you pull from pools, promos, or Bandcamp, this solves a real workflow headache.
via DJTT Forum · May 10