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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Sound Quality: The Missing Piece in VirtualDJ's Excellence - Page: 1
I would like to add something that has honestly been bothering me for years because, in my opinion, it is the most important issue that VirtualDJ should have addressed long ago: sound quality.

I have been using VirtualDJ for more than 15 years, and I truly love it because it allowed me to learn and develop in this art that I am so passionate about. However, throughout all these years, I have constantly heard criticism and negative comments about it. I know this is not because VirtualDJ is not the best DJ software, because in many ways it absolutely is, thanks to the countless tools and features it offers. The problem is that many people perceive its sound quality as being below the level of other professional DJ platforms.

I have experienced this myself, and many other DJs feel the same way. What I still do not understand is why this aspect has never been given the same level of attention as the software's other innovations.

Sound quality is fundamental. Some people consider it a minor issue, but believe me when I say that in professional environments, especially when working with Hi-Res audio systems or large-scale concert sound reinforcement, the differences become much more noticeable compared to other software platforms. That reality genuinely frustrates me.

It is painful not being able to defend the software that helped me grow as a DJ with complete confidence. VirtualDJ means a lot to me. It has provided me with professional opportunities, helped me make a living, and allowed me to develop my skills beyond what I ever imagined.

In my view, this is one of the main reasons why many well-known DJs still consider VirtualDJ to be an entry-level or lower-tier platform, even though we all know that is far from the truth. The software's power and versatility are unmatched, and every month the developers introduce new features that leave the community impressed.

However, there is still a perceived gap in audio quality that many of us consider essential. Closing that gap would finally allow us to say with complete conviction:

"I use the best DJ software in the world, in every single aspect."
 
Posted Tue 20 Oct 26 @ 3:24 pm
What makes you think the sound quality is less than other software? Do you have any specific comparisons where we can hear the difference?
 
My limited experience is the opposite. Little obvious glitches and subtle sound quality differences made me skip Rekordbox to invest in VDJ.
 
The genre where you can most easily compare and evaluate the differences is Techno. To truly notice them, you should listen through a professional sound system or a pair of Hi-Res headphones, as this is where any loss of quality and definition becomes most apparent. Personally, I can detect these differences even on lower-end audio systems because I have trained my ear over many years of listening and working with music.

Most techno tracks rely heavily on the contrast between bright high frequencies and deep low-end elements, making details, transients, and frequency cuts much more noticeable. In VirtualDJ, I have observed that these distinctive characteristics often sound less vibrant, with the highs feeling somewhat dull and lacking presence. Likewise, the bass tends to lose some precision, punch, and detail.

Dynamic range is not VirtualDJ’s strongest point. I recommend comparing the same techno track in FLAC format using Rekordbox and then playing that exact track in VirtualDJ, paying close attention to the finer details. The differences become much easier to identify when focusing on clarity, transient response, and overall definition across the frequency spectrum.

In any case, thank you very much for your comment and for sharing your perspective.
 
With all due respect, please stop posting about things you don't know about. People have already told you, in other posts what you need to learn about the situation and why certain decision were made, to give meaningful feedback.
When you get the required knowledge and understand the components, then come back and read the topics of interest again.
 
I don't find your comment respectful at all, as it comes across as rather arrogant. Nevertheless, I will respond.

First of all, I would like to clarify that this is my first time participating in these forums. I joined because I wanted to better understand the experiences and perspectives of other users.

Second, this is a public forum where freedom of expression is encouraged, so you have no right to tell me what I can or cannot post.

Third, whether I know a lot or very little about a particular topic is not something you can determine with certainty. I would therefore invite you to learn a bit more about the person you are addressing before making assumptions.

Fourth, nobody has explained anything to me, as you claimed. As I mentioned, this is my first time participating in these forums.

Finally, I am fully aware of the reasons why part of the audio quality may have been sacrificed in VirtualDJ.

My post is made with complete respect toward the programmers, developers, and everyone involved in the creation of this outstanding software. They have my appreciation, respect, and admiration.

The sole purpose of this discussion is to encourage interest in addressing what I personally consider to be an important aspect of music playback and listening.

I appreciate your comment, but I respectfully disagree with it.

Best regards.
 
The comment is quite respectful and gets to the point - you have to learn about what actually matters objectively when it comes to audio quality, and what are personal preferences, because your entire post states I have a preference I'm accustomed to, and I don't understand the choices made by the devs.

What's disrespectful is posting a story, in bold, and not listening to what people are actually telling you, not because they think they are more correct than you but for you to understand why things are as they are and isn't wrong/rather is what software should be aiming for, because it shows you don't want to listen to/learn the why, you just think you're right.

You're not the first person to comment on this, there are many posts before talking about it, so we've seen the claim before, it's just not one based on objective, measurable deficiency, it's based on personal preference (which you can adjust for to taste).

So the takeaways to highlight on the learning aspect (which is what others pointed out):

  • What does bit perfect mean, why it matters (probably the only truly objective measure to start with), and how was it confirmed for VirtualDJ
  • EQ, compression and why it would desired, and which software may be appling some form of it
  • Why Atomix decided to leave that out (and up to you to decide)


Even after all of that, the devs asked you for an example (quantitiative of course) to prove the claims - if you can come up with that then moves can be made. What you hear, is not objective, it's preference.
 
And here I thought it was just the name that was holding Virtual DJ back.

Suggestion: Why don't you null test the same song file in VDJ against any other software and post the results. Then we will know for sure.
 
And @PaulMcKenzie the A/B test stated doesn't tell you much about audio quality, it tells you about the choices made for A and B respectively. Worse case you have two applying different types of compression - they both are ultimately distorting/degrading the quality.

Also, you have to factor in that most sound engineers are gain staging and EQing most likely with specific software, where specific choices on coloring/compression are made, and so software that made a different choice will sound different (and could be (imo incorrectly) perceived as less quality).
 
I appreciate your feedback, but I think you've misunderstood my position. This is actually my first time participating in these forums, and my intention is simply to discuss an aspect of audio quality that I consider important.

I have a great deal of respect for the VirtualDJ team and for the work they've done. My criticism is not directed at the developers, but rather aimed at encouraging discussion about an area where I believe improvements could still be made.

We may disagree, and that's perfectly fine, but I believe constructive discussion benefits everyone.
 
So feel free to let us know a specific song where you can hear the difference, amd ideally a recording of a part of it in both VirtualDJ and a competitor that you think sounds better.

Also make sure to check VirtualDJ settings pitchQuality and scratchfilterquality and make sure they are set to the highest
 
So much noise, so little substance.

1) There's no real term "audio quality."
What am I talking about ? People use it all the time, so it exists!
- NO. You cannot measure "quality" in sound ! HOW do you measure quality in sound ?
If you try to come up with a metric, you end up measuring FIDELITY.

FIDELITY, which means that "the thing" plays back the sound as close to the original captured/produced sample, is a thing we can measure. AND WE DO.

So, if we agree that when we talk about quality, we actually talk about fidelity, I dare anyone to come front with an A/B test where all other things being equal, VirtualDJ has "worst" numbers.


2) Let's examine this one:
Benzul Music wrote :
Sound quality is fundamental. Some people consider it a minor issue, but believe me when I say that in professional environments, especially when working with Hi-Res audio systems or large-scale concert sound reinforcement, the differences become much more noticeable compared to other software platforms. That reality genuinely frustrates me.

This shows me that the OP has zero to none field experience.
Every summer for the last 10+ years I work with large scale audio systems. I usually do opening acts for some major live bands in my country.
I have played with VirtualDJ in L-Acoustics, EAWs, RCFs, TW Audios, Meyer Sounds, FBTs, db Technologies.. you name it.
I had never ever a sound engineer complain about my audio.
I had several of them compliment my audio, but that's not something to get focused on.

What you should get focused on is that it's absolute BS that VirtualDJ lacks in sound and cannot be used on "Hi-Res audio systems or large-scale concert sound reinforcement" systems.
I've written this in the other thread of yours as well.
I call you out personally on this one:
Find me ONE professional audio engineer that claims that VirtualDJ has "unacceptable" or "poor" or "subpar" sound that he can't work with.
But he should be a respectable professional audio engineer. Not a random guy that also run his church sound on the weekends.

3) Sound Coloring and Shaping:
When it comes to sound coloring and shaping everyone has his preferences. That's what most people don't understand / tend to confuse with "audio quality"
There's no extra "quality" in a sound that a subharmonics synthesizer added extra bass (as an example) or that we EQ'ed lower frequencies to +12dbs
There's no extra "quality" in a sound that's compressed and has more perceived loudness.
Actually, whatever you do in sound in order to "improve it", it degrades it's fidelity and it's "quality"

Now: Sound coloring and shaping is OK. They are extra tools an audio engineer has to shape the sound as he wants it for a given room / concert hall / arena, depending on the type of gig and sound he's after.
There's nothing inherently wrong with them. As long as we understand what they are and what they do. As long as the "sound guy" that applies them knows what he's doing and what he's after.
If not, then as any other tool, they might start working AGAINST you.
BUT: Do you know what sound coloring and shaping requires to be successful ?
A good, clean signal. Not an overprocessed one. As a DJ you cannot alter the processing of your media.
However, when working with large scale sound systems it's always a NO-NO to add ANY extra processing by your own after that.
The sound engineer that's there, will take the DJ's signal and adjust it (color/shape it) however he likes/wants.
I have seen with my own eyes a situation where a DJ would constantly try to add more bass out of his mixer, only for the sound engineer to constantly remove it through his console.
The point is, that your DJ software and your DJ gear should NOT add extra layers of coloring and shaping besides what's already done during the mastering of the tracks you play.

4) Large Scale and "Smaller Scale" PA systems (or productions).
Actually the sound system doesn't matter that much. What matters is if it's a "big" production that includes an audio engineer responsible for running the sound, or if there's none and/or you are using your own sound system.
In other words, if the DJ is doing the sound engineer's work or not.
A lot of DJ's have their own sound systems, and they are used to do some sound coloring/shaping to it.
While there's nothing wrong with it, it's not the job of a DJ, nor the job of a DJ software or a DJ mixer.
It just happens that two different roles are filled by the same guy with whatever tools he has at his disposal.
People should not be confused. It's still two different things, just done by the same guy. Whether or not the guy has the knowledge to do both tasks sufficiently is another story.
I know many DJs that claim they can do a sound engineer's work (I can't). Also I don't think I ever met a sound engineer that claims he can do a DJ's work. At most, I come up to a nice guy that was using VirtualDJ with automix to play some playback music before his band's main gig.
That's probably a discussion for another topic, but it should also tell you something..
So.. Don't confuse the "I know how to apply some EQ and adjust a compressor" with the "I know to tweak a sound system as a sound engineer would"

Disclaimer:
I don't want/mean to sound angry or flaming. Sometimes language is a barrier on the way I want to express myself since I'm not a native English speaker.
Therefore I apologize in front, in case I sound like being angry or mean.
Yes, I'm a little frustrated when I read things that have no substance in reality, but it's ok to get frustrated once in a while I guess!

Thank you!
 
I feel so ignorant—or perhaps just hard of hearing—whenever I see a post claiming that VDJ needs to improve its audio quality. Sometimes I wonder: given all the audio frequencies I’ve lost over my 40 years as a DJ, am I actually quite deaf, or do I simply know nothing about sound? On the other hand, I’ve never once had a complaint—not from a fellow DJ who uses VDJ, nor from anyone in the audience—suggesting that the software doesn’t sound good.
To me, this program/software is an excellent piece of work, from top to bottom.
 
You come of a bit arrogant, especially because it's an area where we have already had a very deep dive on these forums through the years.

So there are actually established a few facts based on technical analysis of master output. These are not opinions. They are measured facts

The VDJ sound engine has been tested digitally and found to be among the best in the industry

Serato's is by far the worst, but that's by design. They have decided to always add a sort of loudness to the master putput. That can create a warmer sound to the ear. Like adding milk to your coffee

You can get something similar in VDJ by adding master FXs

So to sum it up:
VDJ's is one of the the most honest/technically correct sound engines among DJ software
Serato has gone in another direction and may sound warmer/punchier to the human ear, but it's by altering the sound. So it's actually adding an FX, which you can also add in VDJ.
Here is an example:
 
I'm no sound engineer but having used VDJ in various clubs and latterly mobile gigs using both Bose and RCF Art sound systems I have no issues whatsoever. It's crystal clear.
 
Maybe were all being trolled here, this whole thing seems robotic lol!!
 
Totally agree Huey.
 
Naw he bought a licence and updated his profile bio, so most likely it's a real person, they're just using AI to craft the post before sending it.

Unfortunately it's another person who has the "magical ears" that makes him hear the difference (of course there could be a difference, but it tells no story other than software choices), but doesn't understand enough about the scenario and listens to other people in the same boat using popular software (unfortunately the blind leading the blind) instead of the people who actually know what is going on (sound engineers and the devs of the software).

The real tragedy is that most DJs using more popular software don't know enough or care enough about gain staging and coloring outside of YouTube videos and other people's opinions - just take a look at some of the wacky IG posts with EQs and gains all over the place and the VUs clearly clipping.
 
Could it be about the effects? I read a few years ago that VDJ effects used to be subpar and were updated over the years. I don't have an opinion on that, not in a position to compare meaningfully. I witnessed the improvement to the stems however and they are now great!
 
Ermmm nope
 
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