stick to VDJ for right now if u already have it. there are a few issues with Itch now and VDJ has effects included (need to buy extra controller for Itch). Itch doesn't have a sampler as well yet.. wait for Itch 2 to come out and then check back.. VDJ has made some great improvements anyways.. You are not missing anything really. You have more with VDJ as of right now actually.

Itch only works with 4 specific controllers. 3 are all-in-one, and one is traditional.. (v7: u would need to buy two v7's and the mixer *Numark.)...

In addition 2 of the controllers require u buy an extra controller for the effects to work (NS7, VCI 300). The New A&H XONE DX has the effects hardware built in and well as the V7/and MIXER..

All of these controllers are compatible with HID software such as VDJ tho not natively supported yet (but close).

Read on some more around check youtube and google to compensate the info. =]

oops missed one controller Denon (DJ DN-HC5000)

I honestly think its about learning new things as a part of being a good DJ and learning new material and software/hardware. If you have the chance of getting hardware for itch or scratch-live i think you should get it experiment with it and learn it. Its always good to know different software. I've used vdj, traktor, scratch-live and itch. I've personally chose the VCI-300 for my main hardware mostly because i love how its so portable. Honestly there is no real reason as to which is better. You just have to choose what is more compatible with you and its all preference. Like czar said read some more and check on each hardware setup to see whats more to your liking.

@OP, remember a DJ's value is in the SKILLS, not the tools. It doesn't make a difference if you use VDJ, ITCH, or SSL. Learn your tools and push them to their breaking point so that you can ALWAYS put on a great show with TTs, CDJs, a DVS, or a controller.

If you don't know where VDJ's strengths and weaknesses are, stick with it until you do. When you outgrow VDJ, try out SSL or ITCH then to see if it will enable your SKILLS to grow the direction you want... then decide.

Until then, just keep practicing and enjoying what you have.

-KLH

Here is a nice overview of ITCH www.serato.com
If you decide to upgrade from VDJ I suggest you digg into ITCH since SSL requires external Turntables or CDJs to work.
Since you're more on beatmatching & effects and you also like the sync function of VDJ i suggest you go with the Xone:DX controller. It has built-in effects, beatgrid and 4 channels. The beatgrid will also be available for all the other controllers sometime in the future but no one knows exactly when.

As for the comments of the previous members I agree that a DJ must built skills and be able to play on (theoretically) any hardware but in real world most DJs stick to a couple of different setups (at most) and learn them really well. If you fell that you somehow reached the capabilities of VDJ have in mind that ITCH has fewer features as a software (no video, no sampler, beatgrid only for DX, no skins, no explorer view, etc). If your problems are caused by the controllers you use then you will definitely feel an upgrade if you digg in to one of ITCH supported hardware.
ITCH is definitely much more stable than VDJ but keep in mind that you need a good laptop and if you plan running it on Windows you MIGHT (ie really SMALL chance) dump into some serious problems with your laptop (especially if it wasn't designed for real time audio manipulation). Still, Serato stuff and forum members are really helpful and will aid you past those problems most of the times.

Great input all,
thank you so very much =-)

I have seen dramatic improvements to VDJ, over the time I have used it.
Mostly the jump from 5 to 6. I agree, my hardware is part of the limitations as I am just using the basic entry Hercules RMX, which is great for portability, but I am ready to make that leap forward into better decks and mixers.
My main issue is the VDJ flakes out a lot. despite the hardware I have put it on. IE: different computer systems.
I get random distortion when I adjust the knobs and toggles via hardware or software. Sometimes if I mix in to many samples at once, my headphones get distortion and I have to restart the software to fix that, and when I start to really get into the effects. IE: phasers, pans, flangers, echos, and so on. The interface just freezes up and I have no control. This has bitten me in the arse to many times and it's honestly, very embarrassing specially when I want to be the best I can be, and the software itself is my limitation because it can be so flaky. I am just fed up and frustrated I guess. I have checked the forums on their websites and surfed around google, and am not finding to much on these issues to help me fix them. Another reason I am looking to something new, and from talking the to local music equipment stores here, they all sell and swear by serato, and they keep stating it is the industry standard for digital djing on computers. I always say, if the pros use this hardware or software, it's probably the stuff to have. IE: pro tools for recording, DJ Sasha using Serato, Paul Oakenfield hating Laptop djs, lol.

So I guess another question is... and I have been trying to research this. What laptop is worth getting with a really good sound card to DJ on? The Asus laptop I currently use (a G70S, which set me back roughly $3500 USD) has about the most top of the line hardware a computer can have. I don't want to lug a big huge tower around with me to gigs. Bedroom DJing is one thing, but mobility is the key =).

I am willing to break down and get a MAC if a mac is the way to go, but any ideas on this would be great as well.

Once again thank you all so much for the input. Nothing better then talking with other DJs and collaborating ideas. So many DJs I meet are so caught up in themselves and don't realize it is about the music, Almost a spiritualism in it. I love DJing, I love music. Producing, writing and mixing. =D

if u have issues with Windows and there is plenty u can read on the forum and see if u can get it corrected if not plenty of people seem to agree mac is plug and play. go cheap as well no need to spend 3500!!! that is ridiculous!

I'm thinking the reason why VDJ acts up is it could be your laptop. What kind of laptop do you use? I use to use VDJ a lot back than before i moved up to serato. It always worked great for me and i was using it on a AMD Turion Compaq.

I wouldn't suggest using a soundcard off your laptop for audio when djing. A external soundcard is key. Also 3500 for laptop is way to high. All that money could go into your hardware and a laptop (i.e. a Mac) and should be stable and ready to go anytime and anywhere. if your not gonna be using Pro Tools just settle with a MacBook. Its affordable for the price and handles Itch very well.

a know someone using an old macbook with protools so idk..

As far as the laptop I had tested a very old HP with a single core 2.0 ghz and it worked..

It couldn't analyze and perform at the same time but if the files were analyzed before hand it worked so with Windows it's about the computer meeting minimum system requirements and configuring Windows ...

The laptop wasn't just being used for DJing, I just had started devoting it to DJing recently because I wanted a solid Laptop. I also used to game a lot more, and it was basically a portable gaming system.

The specs are -
Core 2 duo 2.6ghz
4gig memory
HD Realtek audio
2x Nvidia GeForce 8700M GT (running SLI)
Windows 7 Pro.

My point was I figured the laptop specs were well above and beyond the min. specs required. So I wasn't pushing the blame to the hardware I was using IE: the pc.

So what external sound cards do you all suggest? I was using the one in my RMX hercules that it built in when I DJ.

ur computer is nice. =D More than capable to run anything..

I have years of tweaking Windows and working with it more than basics so I can do a lot with ease like configure for maximum performance but do a search on the forum to find guides search for my posts and comments by pressing (holding "CTRL" + F) will bring up a search function so u can find my posts and read on.. just type "CZAR" on the windows that pops up and it will bring u to anything I have written in a specific thread.. I have written a lot on how to set Windows. Hope that helps.

www.djtechtools.com

Here's my experience with me and my friend from switching over from Virtual DJ.

My friend's been DJing for about 6-7 years on Virtual DJ. He's pretty awesome on it, he doesn't just let the program do the work for him. He's pretty much flawless on it he utilizes the cue'ing up technique alot. He can pretty much do a whole party with only a trackpad and keyboard since he has fast fingers and built up alot of muscle memory over the years. He recently got an NS7 and gave Itch a try but he didn't like it even tho the NS7 at first didnt work too well with VDJ. For him making the dramatic switch is probably alot harder and would negatively impact him for a while till he got used to it.

Me on the other hand i was on virtual dj for 1-2 months. I was looking for a better mixer/controller interface and found the VCI-300 after some research. So i bought it for $150 less off ebay barely used. Going from VDJ to Itch there was a learning curve and at first I was very frustrated with the lack of features and didn't understand the beatmatching and tempo thing. But after about a month or two I "got" it and started seeing the great benefit of the beatmatching display and beat view.

So i guess it all depends what your used to, how willing you are to learn a new way of doing things and how much time you can devote to it.

I'd hate to say it but maybe Traktor might be the way to go for you. If your not looking to buy a full on setup then don't worry about the scratch versions. Traktor pro will give you beatgridding, pitch sync, effects, and the ability to do 4 decks (not just 2). I used traktor before Serato. I only made the switch because the clubs here have Serato boxes installed already when you get there. So it was more a convenience thing.

Yea, I understand that DJ Bacik
That is my other concern at this point.

Learning the industry standard, and I agree with the above comments that it's good to be diverse and know about other software, but it's hard to learn all these new software packages, new ways to have to map the HID and MIDI controllers, plus all the money that is involved with getting new hardware and software. After I finish spending the time learning how to script the individual software mapping code and figure out how to learn the software, and then tweak it and optimize it work with your own setup, I have no energy for creativity anymore, hehe. Plus, that whole job thing we have to contend with that takes 8 hours of our day, and sleep and food. Plus my mom likes me to stop in and say hello once in awhile, and my neighbors think I am a freak because I live in my cave and never go outside. =p

So that brings me back to the question about what is the best software to stick with and use so it's fairly universal.

What do the clubs use? Do they even want digital laptop DJs? I know the silly wars that go on between Vinyl DJs, Cd Djs, and now the laptop DJ. sighs....

I am willing to break down and get good hardware and spend the money, that I can also use without the software, I just have been spoiled with the beauty of the wave tables and the sync assistance when beat matching, allowing me to focus more on the creativity.

Traktor, VDJ, Serato, SAM (do real DJs even use SAM?), PCDJ, MixMiester, Mixvibes, ultra mixer, and the list goes on.

Like Pro tools is pretty much the industry standard for recording studios, what is the industry standard for DJ software? Personal preference, I'll stick with VDJ as I have already dropped the bucks into it, and there seems to be pretty decent amount of hardware support for it now.
that DN-3700 sure looks pretty and the CDJ-400.

Also, I do a lot of djing via stream (shoutcast) when doing my bedroom DJing, does serato offer this support as well? VDJ is great for this.

Thank you all again for the great feedback thus far, you rock =)

I would go with what you feel can benefit you the most as a performer. Most clubs will be capable of allowing you to hookup your laptop and a controller. Remember, a lot of clubs will have either turntables or more common cdj's. Sometimes the clubs have confined spaces that can't allow extra equipment like a midi controller. Just so you can be prepared in that event.

I have personally used Traktor. I loved it. Serato and Traktor are the number one dvs's out there. Just different features and all. I would test the demo of Traktor and see if you like it.

Yea, I understand that DJ Bacik
That is my other concern at this point.

Learning the industry standard, and I agree with the above comments that it's good to be diverse and know about other software, but it's hard to learn all these new software packages, new ways to have to map the HID and MIDI controllers, plus all the money that is involved with getting new hardware and software. After I finish spending the time learning how to script the individual software mapping code and figure out how to learn the software, and then tweak it and optimize it work with your own setup, I have no energy for creativity anymore, hehe. Plus, that whole job thing we have to contend with that takes 8 hours of our day, and sleep and food. Plus my mom likes me to stop in and say hello once in awhile, and my neighbors think I am a freak because I live in my cave and never go outside. =p

So that brings me back to the question about what is the best software to stick with and use so it's fairly universal.

What do the clubs use? Do they even want digital laptop DJs? I know the silly wars that go on between Vinyl DJs, Cd Djs, and now the laptop DJ. sighs....

I am willing to break down and get good hardware and spend the money, that I can also use without the software, I just have been spoiled with the beauty of the wave tables and the sync assistance when beat matching, allowing me to focus more on the creativity.

Traktor, VDJ, Serato, SAM (do real DJs even use SAM?), PCDJ, MixMiester, Mixvibes, ultra mixer, and the list goes on.

Like Pro tools is pretty much the industry standard for recording studios, what is the industry standard for DJ software? Personal preference, I'll stick with VDJ as I have already dropped the bucks into it, and there seems to be pretty decent amount of hardware support for it now.
that DN-3700 sure looks pretty and the CDJ-400.

Also, I do a lot of djing via stream (shoutcast) when doing my bedroom DJing, does serato offer this support as well? VDJ is great for this.

Thank you all again for the great feedback thus far, you rock =)

dude I live in NYC and people here use everything from Traktor to VDJ to Serato. It depends some people are idiots who wont do business with you unless you have specific software but that is what it is...

as far as "After I finish spending the time learning how to script the individual software mapping code" <-- This is NOT necessary! VDJ already supports and will keep adding controllers. It supports the NS7, V7, VCI... and will keep adding. same goes for other software... you just plug the controller, go to options and select it. press ok and ur controller is already mapped for you.. that is called "native support."