iTunes 11 has been completely redesigned from the ground up. Development of iTunes has been stagnant the last few years so Apple needs to get this one right. Has Apple nailed it or is the new iTunes a mess? Read on to find out.
The interface of iTunes has been completely re-imagined. Everything is simpler and space is better utilized. In the previous version of iTunes, there was a persistent bar on the left where you can access playlists, albums, devices, and more. While it provided quick access to those features, most users didn't use them most of the time. Apple has scrapped this and has made the default album view take up the entire window.

Browsing by album is a pleasure. Click on an album and the tracks will show up below. iTunes also analyzes the color of album artwork to create a colored background for each individual album. It works well for the most part but the effect blurs the album art around the edges.

New in iTunes 11 is the "Up Next" feature, which is basically a fancy name for your queue. Add songs to your queue from wherever you are in the interface. You don't need to manage a playlist to arrange and rearrange the tracks to your liking.

Creating playlists is much improved. Instead of having to jump in and out a playlist to add and arrange tracks, playlists now have a dedicated pane on the right where you can manipulate tracks without having to jump around the program.

iCloud integration has also been tightened. Every track you've bought in iTunes will now show up in your music library, whether or not it has been downloaded. Click on it to download the album. User can now also stream directly from the cloud instead of having to download the track first. This also applies to all your TV and movies that were purchased in iTunes. There's also a dedicated tab for iTunes Match, Apple's music matching service to make all of your tracks available across devices, if they're available in the iTunes store.

The iTunes store has also gone through a redesign with featured content up top. Top lists are still there and are easier to browse. iTunes 11 will also allow you to access the iTunes store content from your music library, suggesting similar artists and tracks, without having to take you to the iTunes store.

The mini player has also been completely redesigned and is actually useful now. The mini player has gotten smaller but utilizes that small space much better than previous versions. Player controls will show up with you hover your mouse over the mini player. There's access to search and your Up Next queue can be manipulated from the mini player.

Devices now show up as a button at the top right. Clicking on it will take you to a detailed page where you can manage everything. Choose what you want synced, manage your apps, and even play music directly from your iOS device. Everything is easier to read and comprehend in the device tab.

The only thing missing from iTunes 11 is a music streaming service. iCloud gives users the ability to download tracks locally but not stream them. There is no subscription service in iTunes to compete with the likes of Spotify, Rdio, and Xbox Music. It's only matter of time before Apple releases its own music subscription service but it's disappointing that Apple didn't release it with iTunes 11.

iTunes is still one of the best media players around. It has gotten easier to use, feels less bloated, but is still missing a music subscription service.

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iTunes 11 has been completely redesigned from the ground up. Development of iTunes has been stagnant the last few years so Apple needs to get this one right. Has Apple nailed it or is the new iTunes a mess? Read on to find out.

Features

iCloud integration has also been tightened. Every track you've bought in iTunes will now show up in your music library, whether or not it has been downloaded. Click on it to download the album. User can now also stream directly from the cloud instead of having to download the track first. This also applies to all your TV and movies that were purchased in iTunes. There's also a dedicated tab for iTunes Match, Apple's music matching service to make all of your tracks available across devices, if they're available in the iTunes store.

The iTunes store has also gone through a redesign with featured content up top. Top lists are still there and are easier to browse. iTunes 11 will also allow you to access the iTunes store content from your music library, suggesting similar artists and tracks, without having to take you to the iTunes store.

Usability

New in iTunes 11 is the "Up Next" feature, which is basically a fancy name for your queue. Add songs to your queue from wherever you are in the interface. You don't need to manage a playlist to arrange and rearrange the tracks to your liking.

Creating playlists is much improved. Instead of having to jump in and out a playlist to add and arrange tracks, playlists now have a dedicated pane on the right where you can manipulate tracks without having to jump around the program.

The mini player has also been completely redesigned and is actually useful now. The mini player has gotten smaller but utilizes that small space much better than previous versions. Player controls will show up with you hover your mouse over the mini player. There's access to search and your Up Next queue can be manipulated from the mini player.

Devices now show up as a button at the top right. Clicking on it will take you to a detailed page where you can manage everything. Choose what you want synced, manage your apps, and even play music directly from your iOS device. Everything is easier to read and comprehend in the device tab.

Quality

Conclusion

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Looking like a classic DJ set-up, with a mixer and two decks, Virtual DJ will be instantly accessible to DJs and newcomers alike.

Features

You can sample and loop tracks live, add effects, and there's a very natural-feeling scratch mode. For the adventurous, there's a lot you can add to your mixes with Virtual DJ.

Usability

Quality

Virtual DJ is accessible to beginners and packed with extra features. The downside of the software is that it sticks too much to what a physical DJ setup is - other programs offer four decks and more user-friendly interfaces - small knobs may be great for your fingers, but they're less use on a screen.

Conclusion

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On the surface, iMesh looks polished and easy to use. The program features a tab bar that gives you access to different areas: Library, with all the media stored on your computer; Home, which is the main screen on iMesh; Search, where you can find, download and buy music and video; Discover, a tool do find new artists and music genres; and finally DJ, which plays music you may like based on a song or band of your choice.

The iMesh community is a great place to make friends, exchange messages and also share media libraries. You can also upload photos to your profile, and send songs over to friends. On the downside, we missed a bit more integration with other social services such as Twitter or Facebook.

iMesh also includes a powerful built-in player for audio and video – featuring a 10-band equalizer – plus a built-in CD burner to create custom media CD and DVD on the spot.

iMesh is a complete P2P client with which you can discover new bands, buy the music you like and make new friends.

Download iMesh 12 in Softonic

MediaMonkey automatically scans your PC for all types of music formats. If you have playlists from other programs, it’s good to know that MediaMonkey also adds m3u files, sparing you the pain of having to recreate them. The file explorer view on the left lets you easily navigate your music collection by categories like artist, genre or rating. You can convert tracks in MediaMonkey into any format you wish, depending on what size or quality of sound you’re looking for. MediaMonkey also lets you analyze and adjust the volume of tracks to increase your listening experience.

MediaMonkey has made its reputation on its advanced tagging management feature. Every time a track is added, the program will verify its tags. You can automatically fill in missing details with info from Amazon or Filename. The program can clean up your tags, move information into the correct categories and synchronize tags for selected tracks. You can also rename and move multiple files thanks to the auto-organize function. MediaMonkey also supports Winamp plugins and visualizations plus skins can be applied to spice up the interface.

If you want to make your own mix CDs, you’ll be happy to know that MediaMonkey rips and burns CDs and DVDs. Create a virtual CD of your favorite tracks and let MediaMonkey do its job. Budding DJs will enjoy the auto-DJ mode, which mixes tracks for you and the Party Mode, which blocks your configuration but lets anybody play their favorite tune. MediaMonkey’s versatility doesn’t stop there. The music manager also lets you synchronize with your portable music devices like your iPod or iRiver.

If you feel like completing your library with a couple of fresh albums you can browse sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble or AllPosters and purchase tracks. However, unlike Songbird, where you can type in a URL, browse and save your favorite music blogs and sites, MediaMonkey only allows you to browse their selection of online stores.

We were disappointed with the web radio selection, which only features Shoutcast and Icecast, and were surprised to see no sign of podcasts anywhere in the application. However version 3.0 is planning on incorporating this to the application.

Despite these drawbacks, we recommend MediaMonkey to anybody looking for a solid alternative to iTunes or Winamp. This original music manager is more than capable of organizing a very large music library and offers advanced tagging management rarely seen in other music applications. While the browser and web radio are fairly limited, MediaMonkey allows you to rip your custom CDs and connects to most portable music devices. If you really take a liking to MediaMonkey, cough up a few bucks and upgrade to the Gold version, which will open up all of the program’s functionalities like finding missing tracks or creating auto (smart) playlists.

Download MediaMonkey Free 4.0.7.1511 in Softonic

Have you found that you've never really fallen in love with iTunes or any of the other major media players? If so then you might find Jajuk a breath of fresh air.

Firstly, Jajuk is based on Java which I don't usually like but because the program does such a good organising job, it's worth tolerating the occasionally lags and sluggishness.

Jajuk is very flexible in that it can handle music in all sorts of formats including MP3, OGG Vorbis, AU, AIFF, WAV and SPEEX audio formats. The problem is that this is no simple organiser of music - it's very specialized and quite technical meaning that you'll spend a good few hours just getting to grips with its main features.

On the plus side, Jajuk is remarkably fast intuitive in the way it organises your music into different genres, bands and titles. I particularly liked the ambiance manager which allows you to make playlists based on genres of music to suit your moods. There's also a basic but functional DJ tool in Jajuk which includes a configurable crossfader for some super slick mixing and editing of your favorite tracks.

Jajuk is a very exciting alternative to iTunes although it's maybe a little too bloated with features for it's own good.

Download Jajuk 1.10.3 in Softonic

Whether you want to rock your bedroom or the club, Traktor Pro is a very complete program that does pretty much everything you might want. It's highly configurable, which makes it very flexible but also pretty inaccessible to beginners. There is extensive documentation for Traktor Pro, but even that is pretty scary!

As well as controlling external sources, Traktor Pro allows you to mix from your computer on up to four decks at once. Importing your music library is really simple, and it works with iTunes libraries too. Tracks are analyzed when loaded into a deck, and appear as a wave form that can be moved with the mouse, alongside the beats per minute (BPM) and much more information. Traktor Pro is pretty accurate when it comes to finding BPMs, but if it is wrong, you can set them manually.

All the usual mixing tools are present, with pitch control, crossfader effects, and levels. There is extensive hotkey mapping, which is fully configurable, but takes a lot of time to do. Once you get used to Traktor Pro, it reveals itself as an incredible DJ tool. With some practice you'll be able to create fantastic mixes, which you can record from within the program.

Traktor Pro is an excellent and incredibly powerful DJ application with a steep learning curve that is worth climbing.

Download Traktor Pro 2.5.1 in Softonic

The Gemini Groove interface isn't very slick, and reminded us of some of Gemini DJ's older mixing software, like CD DJ. There are 2 decks and a simple mixing console between them. Each deck has its own pitch, loops and effects console, three cues and the song's progress bar. In the center, you'll find a three-range equalizer, the master volume, individual volume controls and an excellent cross-fader.

Gemini Groove also includes an excellent automix function, which allows you to apply just the right amount of fade. You can also control the duration and style of fades via the options menu.

In the upper part of the Gemini Groove interface you'll see a small screen with a graphic representation of the songs that are playing, making it extra easy to make small BPM adjustments to your mixes. Below, you'll see your track library.

Despite just falling short of professional programs like Traktor and Torq, as well as showing a few notable failings (not great on effects, no auto BPM, no skinning), Gemini Groove is still a solid app for those starting out in the world of mixing.

If you're thinking about taking your DJing to the next level, Gemini Groove is a good place to start.

Download Gemini Groove Pro Edition 5.6.3 in Softonic

Highlights of the program:

* Delivers professional sound with crossfading, gap killer, beat matching, volume normalization and 5-band compressor/limiter
* Smartly handles large media libraries - sorting them into easy-to-manage categories
* Advanced playlist rotation logic and scheduling will make your station sound professional - even if you are not in front of your computer
* Advanced streaming encoders - able to encode MP3, mp3PRO, WM9 and Ogg
* Support for all major streaming servers, including SHOUTcast, Live365, IceCast, Windows Media and P2P Streamer
* View statistics in real-time: know how many listeners are connected at any time
* Interfaces directly with your website to allow automated song requests and improve the experience of your listeners by providing them with Artist, Title, Album, Cover art and other information on songs being played
* Generate additional revenue with Buy CD links

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Does DJ ProMixer stand out from the crowd?

There are lots of mixing apps for budding DJs, from high end programs like Traktor Pro and Virtual DJ to the open source Mixxx and other free options like CrossDJ. DJ ProMixer NB Netbook is designed to be lightweight enough to run smoothly on netbooks, and it does seem to be fairly light on resources. It offers a two-deck mixing interface, with a central mixer, effects and sampler console.

Interface.

Under the mixing desk is the library, split into DJ ProMixer NB Netbook saved playlists, and an explorer for your Netbook's hard drives. There is no support for iOS devices. The explorer isn't great - Traktor's system of allowing you to open your iTunes library is much simpler, for example. Searching through your Windows folder tree is a pain.

Once you've found your music, loading tracks into the mixing desk is simple. BPMs are automatically calculated, and generally quite good. There are plenty of functions, and a switch to activate well mapped keyboard controls. despite its name, DJ ProMixer NB Netbook doesn't look great on a small screen. The interface is detailed with lots of small buttons that simply aren't ideal for netbook monitors.

Download DJ ProMixer NB Netbook Free Home Edition 1.5 in Softonic

If you're serious about creating and recording your own songs and tracks, MAGIX Music Maker is not a bad place to start.

It includes sounds, a drum machine, synthesizer and more. With a microphone, you can import your recorded sounds too, like vocals or live instruments, to mix with your digital creations too. MAGIX Music Maker also features midi support.

The interface in MAGIX Music Maker is a little scary to start with, and novices will probably have some trouble getting into it. There are help files, and online video too, but currently they're not developed enough. Nevertheless, MAGIX Music Maker is fun to play around with.

You can quite easily get a drum beat going, and add some strange noises to it. Altering sounds is easy, as there are a variety of effects you can add. The more you explore, the more possibilities open up in MAGIX Music Maker. The problem with all of this is lack of explanation. It's a shame the demo doesn't come with preloaded examples and proper tutorials, as you are left to just mess around by yourself.

If you're looking for an in depth music maker, MAGIX Music Maker could be the answer, as it does almost everything the bedroom producer might want. Novices might find it frustrating though.

Download MAGIX Music Maker MX in Softonic

The interface in Torq will surely look confusing, even overwhelming to those not used to music mixing software. The program can have up to four mixing decks, though you can have only two visible at the beginning, while you get to grips with it. All buttons, sliders and menus are conveniently laid out for ease of use.

A deeper look at Torq’s features will reveal an interesting set of tools and options: automatic song syncing (with support for iTunes playlists), a powerful audio equalizer, crossfader and tons of special audio and visual effects.

But if there’s one feature that stands out in Torq, that’s Traq Morph, with which you can apply transition effects associated to the crossfading tool. Torq can apply up to four different effects that make your transitions between songs even more amazing.

If you were looking for a complete, stable and powerful DJ tool, here is Torq: an awesome piece of software that takes you one step ahead in the world of professional music mixing.

Download Torq 2.0.2 in Softonic

Have you thought about DJ-ing but weren't sure where to start? Zulu DJ software is a functional, and simple music app that will get you started with minimal fuss.

Zulu DJ features two decks and a panel for your playlist. Users can drag and drop MP3s onto the interface and they'll be added to the playlist. Once they're in the playlist, you can drag tracks into Zulu DJ's decks. Tracks are analyzed as you load them, so when you play them you'll be told the beats per minute (bpm).

Controls on the Zulu DJ interface are pretty basic and self explanatory, meaning users shouldn't have a problem getting started. There are a couple of obvious features missing though, and the main one is that it's not possible to drag the wave display manually in order to find the exact spot you want to start a track. It's possible to select start points, but it's not very easy or accurate.

While it's too basic for professional DJs, Zulu's great for amateurs who just want to mess around. The Sync button will match your track's bpm, making smooth transitions really easy. You can also set up your own hot keys for most of the features of Zulu DJ Software. The virtual play buttons are a bit less responsive though.

Zulu DJ boasts simplicity and is a good starting point for any budding DJs out there.

Download Zulu DJ 3.03 in Softonic

BPM Studio is a popular choice among Softonic users which might be down to the wealth of possibilities available in this music mixer. This application will allow you to read, edit, mix, encode and write your tracks with precision.

DJs and music fans alike will appreciate the hardware look of the interface and the inclusion of all the essential buttons and functions expected in a professional mixer. It’s very easy to switch between the 3 different views: lists, mixer and ripper, streamlining your music creation process without disruptions.

Thankfully BPM Studio Pro integrates an explorer view of your music library, for quick dragging and dropping of the tracks you need. Although the application only comes with 30 original sounds and tracks you can effortlessly add all the sound you need. The program keeps a record of the tracks you searched for and the play lists you created for quick access. You can use the search function to quickly find tracks in library.

Over to the editing functions, BPM Studio lets you set up to 6 different cue points in an individual track. The sample player is nestled between the two track modules and features a sample editor to modify saved sounds. Use the wave editing view to edit more precisely.

BPM Studio also diversifies your cross fading possibilities. You can manually switch from one track to the other, let the program do it automatically or set the track lines yourself. While this last option is the most enjoyable, it’s also the least precise of the three.

On the downside, while BPM Studio is studded with options for editing, mixing and writing, the interface often feels stuffy and overloaded and it can become difficult to read functions or drag counter switches. The equalizer for example is very complete and even offers a graphic view, yet there is no numerical indication of the changes you are making.

The audio presets are limited to 5 (lounge, DJ, party, office, radio) vague choices. We also believe that with only 30 sounds and tracks pre-included in the program, BPM Studio doesn’t have a rich enough library of sounds. However this is very subjective and it’s quite possible that you will be happy with this collection of tracks and sounds.

While there are some drawbacks to this application, we consider BPM Studio a solid application for anyone serious about mixing tracks. The interface is well structured and all your tracks, edits and functions are accessible. The extensive editing possibilities will open you up to hours of track tweaking and polishing.

Download BPM Studio Pro 4.9.94 in Softonic

UltraMixer's interface is clear although first time DJs will probably find it handy to get grips with the different elements. Use of typical features like the crossfader, equalizer or cue are just like you would expect on a regular mixer. The UltraMixer library is well organized in a tree structure, and allows you to keep all your different tracks the way you're most comfortable with.

The installation process is long and awkward however and is probably aimed at getting you to purchase the more advanced, expensive version of UltraMixer. Within this download, there are three versions: professional, basic and free. You'll need a key to activate the demo, and the process takes too long.

UltraMixer is a powerful DJing application but the awkward and lengthy installation process to access the free version will frustrate and annoy many.

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This new software is as easy to use as our CDJ turntables, and it offers many of the same features including cue/loop points, scratching, beat synchronization, and more, said Karl Detken, director of product planning for Pro DJ equipment at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. Pioneer has consistently created new DJ products to meet changes in the music world. When consumers switched from vinyl and cassette to CD, we offered the CDJ-1000 CD turntable. When DVD took off in the marketplace, we created the DVJ-X1 to enable spinning of video content. Now, we’re tracking market trends in the use of .mp3 files and offering yet another revolutionary new product for PC users.

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MP3DJ Music Mixing DJ Software includes 4 settings: Transition Type, Transition Time, Cut First, and Cut Last seconds of each mixed song, all of which are fairly easy to use and control.

MP3DJ Music Mixing DJ Software can be used by both professional and amateur mixers, DJs and others for mixing different music for parties, events or just for personal use at home or at the office.

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These settings are easy to use, and the user does not need complex editing skills for him or her to be able to produce good quality audio mixes.

MP3DJ PRO Music Mixing DJ Software also has other additional features like the option to use more than one card in the same computer. The program can play different playlists in different sound cards, so more than one window of the program can be running at the same time.

One window can also be used as the Previous Output and the other for playing back to AIR. This feature can also be used for playing several channels of mixed music from the same computer at the same time.

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It also has CD Ripping/Encoding that lets you rip files into MP3 formats. There are editing settings to let you edit music tags such as genres and many more.

Mr DJ Music Studio also lets you browse through music files, copy, move, edit, join or create playlists in seconds. Amusic library keeps all your files in one program.

This tool has an intuitive user interface which makes browsing for music easy as possible and a playlist you can use for playback or organization of your music files.

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You can also set the volume amplifying level for each song and customize the Intro playback. Options for Fade In, Fade Out, Loop playback and other settings are included.

DJ Assistant-plugin for Winamp lets you jump from song to song with the crossfade feature, play two or more Winamp applications at the same time and even create mixes or jingles from the multiple play option.

It can be used both by professionals and amateurs, from music editors to ordinary people who want to have personalized playlist settings for their music in Winamp.

Download DJ Assistant - plugin for Winamp 1.02 in Softonic