User Manual


Interface - Decks - Advanced Controls  

effects


VirtualDJ offers the ability to apply a variety of Effects to a specific deck as well as the Master Output (see Master Panel). A large selection of effects are included in the software and can be accessed in different layouts.

For a complete list of native effects included with VirtualDJ, please see here.



The Starter Layout offers a simple 3 dial FX Panel. Moving the dials left or right will increase or decrease the strength of the effect. Double clicking on the dial will turn off the effect returning it to the 12 o'clock position.

3 effects are offered: Filter, Flanger, and Cut. These effects cannot be changed in the Starter Layout.



The Essentials Layout offers a Single FX panel. In this view, a single effect slot is offered with 2 parameter dials and a button to open the effect’s Graphical User Interface in the SideView area of the browser.

Clicking on the effect name will trigger the desired effect, while clicking the dropdown arrow will open the FX menu providing the ability to select one of the many other effects available.




FX x3
FX x1



FX x3 (full)
FX x6


The Pro Layout offers multiple effects panel configurations that can be selected and toggled from the FX Toggle button. Regardless of the layout chosen, the FX panel works identical by clicking on an effect to activate it, using the dropdown beside the effect name to select different effects, and using the buttons to open the effect’s Graphical User Interface in the SideView area of the browser.

Clicking on the View Selection button inside the FX Toggle will provide the 5 different available views: FX x3, FX x1, FX x3 (full), FX x6 and Pads 16 (if you wish to display 8 additional pads instead of the FX panel).

As many of these views can be selected (marked with a check mark) to toggle through each look quickly by using the FX Toggle button.


USING EFFECTS





Once the Effect select button is pressed, an Effects Selection list will be displayed to easily scroll through all the available Sound and Video Effects to make your selection. The Sound Effects Group is displayed by default, and the Video Effects Groups will be nested as a separate folder. Clicking the Video Effects folder will open it and display those effects.

Click on the Pin icon to the right of Sound Effects to keep the Effect Selection list visible (pinned) after effect selection if required.

Once the Effect is selected it can be activated by clicking on the effect name in the Deck Effect Panel or in the Effect Selection List by clicking on the Activate Button to the left of the desired effect.

Multiple effects can be triggered from the Effect Selection list simultaneously regardless of the number of Effects visible in the Deck Effect Panel.




Clicking on the button in the Deck Effect Panel (if available) or the gear icon to the right of each effect in the Effect Selection List will open the GUI for the desired Effect and dock it to the lower right of the software interface beside the Info Panel.

The Effect can then be unpinned by using the Pin icon on top of the Effect GUI so that it can be re-positioned to anywhere on the screen for greater customization and ease of use. Clicking on the X will close the Effect GUI regardless of it’s position but will not deactivate the effect.



Some effects can be used post-fader providing that the hardware being used supports it. For a complete explanation on the difference of Pre-Fader and Post-Fader effects as well as how to configure them please see: PRE AND POST FADER EFFECTS





Effects can be applied to Stems directly by toggling the STEMS FX Pad on the Stems Pad Page.

The Pad is toggled through 3 Stem FX modes; Vocal, Melody, or Rhythm.

When Stem FX are enabled for a specific stem, the effect will only be applied to that Stem and not the entire track.


Stem FX can also be applied from the FX Dropdown Menu. At the bottom of the FX Menu, the ability to toggle through 3 Stem FX mode buttons is available for Vocal, Melody, or Rhythm.
Stem FX Toggle


When Stem FX are enabled a small S icon will appear next to the effects providing visual feedback that the effects will only be applied to the stem chosen.



Stem FX Enabled
Stem FX Disabled




GROUPING EFFECTS



VirtualDJ offers the ability to group and organize the default, custom and VST effects. A new Effects Group can be created by right-clicking on any of the available Sound, Video or Visualization effects or folders and selecting Move to new folder...


Enter a name for the Effects Group and click OK.


Once the group is created, right-click on any additional effects and choose to move them to the newly created folder.

Additionally, effects can be set to Ignore if not being used. Clicking on Ignore will create a new Group (folder) and remove the selected effect from the main drop-down menu. All ignored effects will be placed into the ignore folder.

The Ignore Folder is particularly useful for controller use. While scrolling through effects, any effect that is placed into the Ignore Folder will not be displayed in the effect selection slots on the interface.





VST EFFECTS






Virtual Studio Technology (VST) is a software interface created by Steinberg that integrates software audio instruments (VSTi) and effect plugins with audio editors, hard-disk recording systems and dj-ing applications. VST technology uses digital signal processing to simulate traditional hardware in software. Thousands of plugins exist, both commercial and freeware.
VirtualDJ supports VST and VSTi effect plugins. These are usually simple .dll files that come zipped in a file to facilitate download through the internet.



Windows: Extract and copy the .dll file of the VST to the sound effects folder of VirtualDJ (\Users\YourUsername\Documents\VirtualDj\Plugins\SoundEffect)*.

Mac: Install the .dmg file to your computer. Open the contents of the file and find the .vst file that you wish to install. Copy the file and paste it in the effects folder (\Documents\VirtualDj\Plugins64\SoundEffect)*. Once pasted into the folder rename the ".vst" extension to ".bundle". This is necessary for VirtualDJ to recognize the VST.

*On newer installations, VirtualDJ no longer uses the Documents folder to store data. The new home folder locations are as follows:

\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\VirtualDJ
\Users\YourUserName\Library\ApplicationSupport\VirtualDJ

Alternatively, if you already have VSTs installed in a folder on your computer, you can point VirtualDJ to their location by going to Options vstFxFolder and selecting the folder where your VSTs are located.



After that your Effect will be listed along with your other effects and you can select and use it like the default ones. A restart of the software will be necessary if the VST was installed while the software was open.

VST Effects usually provide their own GUI. Use the + button from the skin or the settings icon from the Effects List, to get a floating window with the effect’s interface.



MIDI devices such as MIDI Keyboards can be set up to control VSTs through a deck. Right clicking the device in the Controller settings will bring up an option for MIDI to VST. You can then select which deck the VST will be controlled by the device when it is activated.

This setup is pass through. Mapping for the device is handled by the selected VST (if offered).

Loops