Getting the Most from VDJ

This is the first version of this article - please check back in the next week or so, as we will continue to add more tips in the future.

This article will walk you through some helpful tips to ensure you get the most out of Virtual DJ Studio. Before sending us support requests for glitchy playback or visual problems, please be sure to try all of the following first.

System Speed

First of all, the faster your processor, the better results you will have. Any computer purchased in the last few years should be plenty fast enough.

Perhaps more important is your system memory (RAM). The more, the better, period. Having more RAM will ensure that there is enough to go around, especially if you do run additional software while DJing.

Resource Usage

For best results, you should not run unnecessary software on your DJ computer. This is especially important with a Laptop computer, as laptops often slow down the processor when the machine becomes too warm. This will cause serious problems with VDJ.

Do you know what all is running on your computer? If you look at the icons by your clock, can you describe what each of them does? If not, some cleanup will be necessary.

Cooling

It is highly recommended to use a cooling pad with a laptop computer. This will ensure the machine remains cool, avoiding the overheat problem described above. This is especially important in a club environment, or an outdoor gig in the summer time. The cooler you can keep your laptop, the better.

You can usually find cooling pads for less than $40 US. This is a small investment to protect your laptop, which likely cost much more than that.

Antivirus

We recommend NOT running any Antivirus software full-time. Many of the common antivirus and so-called internet security tools that come preinstalled with many computers will severely slow your system down.

One method you can try is to turn off everything you do not need, one by one, when you boot up at your gig. This way, if you use that same machine when not DJing, you can still use your Antivirus and other software, simply disabling them temporarily when using it to DJ. A simple reboot will put everything back to normal. Note that you should do this before launching VDJ.