By Brian Parker

The djay 2 app by Algoriddim expands on award-winning design and adds professional features to an interface formerly suited for beginners. Added features such as replicated record grooves, color-coded waveform analysis, new equalizers, effects, and a sampler are some of the details that make this app shine.

djay 2 stays true to the interface of the former djay app, but cleans up the design and places track loading buttons right on the virtual vinyl deck of the turntable view. DJAY2 users now have access to their entire iTunes library, and can purchase tracks on the fly and load them immediately after downloading. A simple swipe can create a playlist or request list, and the songs that have already been played are tracked to avoid repeats.

djay 2′s HD waveform analysis detects tempo, quantizes the beat grid for easy syncing, and color codes the frequency spectrum of the song to display when kicks, snares, hi-hats, and vocals are prominent. The HD waveform zoom nearly to the sample, and cue points can be adjusted by sliding the waveform with the finger or by placing the needle at a specific place on the virtual record.

The parallel color HD waveform view allows the user to sync tracks by beat, much like a visualized waveform on Serato software, and provides an alternative beat matching method to the traditional waveform tool. Switching between the standard and vertical view is seamless, and no quality loss or latency occurs when toggling between the views.

A variety of pre-loaded effects including phaser, flanger, echo, bit crush, and gate can be triggered on an X-Y filter axis, manually with sliders, or instantly with a combinations of the effects and filter. Both tracks’ effects panels can be opened simultaneously for more advanced EQ mixes. The loop and master pitch functions bring some of the standard DJ hardware features to a touchscreen app.

The sampler comes pre-loaded with some stock sounds (including the guiltily enjoyable air horn) but each of the pads can be loaded with samples of the user’s choosing.

Tiny details that are familiar to pro DJs like switching between a light and dark interface, slip mode in playback, and a beat slice feature keep djay 2 in the running for the next successful mobile DJ software. The app certainly makes use of every bit of power in the iPad, and works surprisingly well on the iPhone too, in a scaled yet unreduced version of the app.

djay 2 has integrated functionality with mobile DJ hardware by Numark and Pioneer, and probably with an intent to showcase the software, it hasn’t made the transition over to full-fledged pro hardware such as CDJs or control vinyl quite yet. The technology and capability of the app offer a chance to learn some of the more complex features of DJing, though can just as easily be set on auto-mix mode to let your party ride out with a set playlist. Algoriddim is undoubtedly looking to bridge the gap between amateur and professional DJs, and djay 2 offers an innovative middle ground between the hopeful newcomer and the seasoned expert.

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