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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nConnecting A Serato-Ready DJ Controller To Your Laptop \u2014 A Step-By-Step Guide<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe good news is that it’s incredibly easy to hook up your new controller to your laptop; however, for clarity’s sake, I’ll split the process into discrete digestible steps. Sound good? Fantastic; let’s get to it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1. Fire Up Serato<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nI’m betting that you’re going to want to get tactile and start playing some music with your controller as soon as it’s plugged into your laptop, so before you wire anything up, it’s a good idea to organize and prepare some music in Serato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a number of ways you can do this, but the integrated “Crate” system is a great way to start. To add a crate\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Click the little yellow crate icon near the top left of the interface. The crate will then appear in your file list below.<\/li>
- Double click it to give it a unique name, then click the \u201cFiles\u201d button at the top right-hand side of the screen. This will access your computer files through the software, saving you routing around for them separately.<\/li>
- Once you\u2019ve found your files, simply drag and drop them into your new crate.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Alternatively, you can source music via one of Serato’s partnered streaming services, accessible via the gear icon (settings) \/ Library + Display \/ Music Streaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okay, so you’re almost ready to start connecting your controller to your laptop, but first, you should analyze any of the audio files you dragged and dropped from your computer into a Serato crate. You can do so by\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Clicking on a crate.<\/li>
- Selecting individual or all of the tracks in the crate.<\/li>
- Dragging and dropping them into the small \u201cAnalyze Files\u201d tile in the top left-hand corner of the screen.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Serato will then check for file corruptions, calculate keys and BPMs, and create beat grids for the tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2. Powering Your Controller<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSome DJ controllers are bus-powered, meaning they get all the power they need from your computer \u2014 no adapter necessary! Others do<\/em> need to be plugged into a mains outlet. If that’s the case for your controller, look for the included adapter, and plug it in.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 3. Connecting Your Controller To Your Laptop<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAlmost all controllers utilize a USB connection to link up to laptops and computers, so that’s what you’ll need. If you don’t have a USB cable, you can buy a reliable model for a sweet price here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPlug one end of the USB into your controller’s USB port, plug the other end of the cable into your computer’s USB port, and voil\u00e0; you’re in business!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ll notice that the Serato UI shifts a little, but it’s nothing to worry about. In fact, it’s a good sign. It shows that Serato has registered your controller and is rearranging its UI to enhance compatibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3. Connecting Your DJ Controller To An Audio Source<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSo far so good, but if you actually want to start mixing some music<\/a>, you’ll have to link your controller to an audio source. To do so, you’ll need one of these RCA Adapter Audio Stereo Cables.<\/a> Once you’ve got one\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n- Plug the red cable into the red port of your controller.<\/li>
- Plug the yellow cable into the yellow port of your controller.<\/li>
- Plug the AUX end of the cable into your sound source.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How Do I Use A Midi Controller With Serato DJ?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you forked out for an all-in-1 controller, then chances are it’s got some form of midi capabilities, like this Roland Two-channel Serato DJ Controller. These facilities typically come in the form of a pad grid or perhaps a few faders or dials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These controls will all have a function out of the box but can be reassigned features unique to the Serato software. Here’s how it’s done…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1. <\/strong>Open Serato.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 2. <\/strong>Power up your controller and connect it to your laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 3. <\/strong>In Serato, click the gear icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen to open settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 4. <\/strong>Click “Midi” from the menu rail at the top of the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 5. <\/strong>Check that your controller is in the “Midi Devices” list.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 6. <\/strong>Click on the “Allow Serato Hardware Remapping” check box at the top of the Midi Devices list.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 7. <\/strong>Head back to the main Serato UI, and click the “Midi” tab to the left of the gear, “Help,” and “My Serato” tabs. This will open “Midi Assign” mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 8. <\/strong>Select the Serato software feature you’d like to map, then tell it where to go simply by pressing, turning, or moving the desired midi control.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you want, you can assign more than one Serato feature to a singular midi control by selecting the feature, interacting with midi control, then pushing” A.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or, if it suits you, you can even map the same Sorato feature to multiple midi controls by holding shift when selecting the already mapped<\/a> feature, then interacting with a different midi control on your controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSumming Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere you have it, folks. You’ve hooked your DJ controller<\/a> up to your laptop, you’ve learned how to customize the integrated midi controls… there’s nothing left to do but practice your craft, book some shows, and fill some dance floors!<\/p>\n\n\n
I’m betting that you’re going to want to get tactile and start playing some music with your controller as soon as it’s plugged into your laptop, so before you wire anything up, it’s a good idea to organize and prepare some music in Serato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a number of ways you can do this, but the integrated “Crate” system is a great way to start. To add a crate\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Click the little yellow crate icon near the top left of the interface. The crate will then appear in your file list below.<\/li>
- Double click it to give it a unique name, then click the \u201cFiles\u201d button at the top right-hand side of the screen. This will access your computer files through the software, saving you routing around for them separately.<\/li>
- Once you\u2019ve found your files, simply drag and drop them into your new crate.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Alternatively, you can source music via one of Serato’s partnered streaming services, accessible via the gear icon (settings) \/ Library + Display \/ Music Streaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okay, so you’re almost ready to start connecting your controller to your laptop, but first, you should analyze any of the audio files you dragged and dropped from your computer into a Serato crate. You can do so by\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Clicking on a crate.<\/li>
- Selecting individual or all of the tracks in the crate.<\/li>
- Dragging and dropping them into the small \u201cAnalyze Files\u201d tile in the top left-hand corner of the screen.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Serato will then check for file corruptions, calculate keys and BPMs, and create beat grids for the tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2. Powering Your Controller<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some DJ controllers are bus-powered, meaning they get all the power they need from your computer \u2014 no adapter necessary! Others do<\/em> need to be plugged into a mains outlet. If that’s the case for your controller, look for the included adapter, and plug it in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3. Connecting Your Controller To Your Laptop<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Almost all controllers utilize a USB connection to link up to laptops and computers, so that’s what you’ll need. If you don’t have a USB cable, you can buy a reliable model for a sweet price here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plug one end of the USB into your controller’s USB port, plug the other end of the cable into your computer’s USB port, and voil\u00e0; you’re in business!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ll notice that the Serato UI shifts a little, but it’s nothing to worry about. In fact, it’s a good sign. It shows that Serato has registered your controller and is rearranging its UI to enhance compatibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3. Connecting Your DJ Controller To An Audio Source<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So far so good, but if you actually want to start mixing some music<\/a>, you’ll have to link your controller to an audio source. To do so, you’ll need one of these RCA Adapter Audio Stereo Cables.<\/a> Once you’ve got one\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Plug the red cable into the red port of your controller.<\/li>
- Plug the yellow cable into the yellow port of your controller.<\/li>
- Plug the AUX end of the cable into your sound source.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How Do I Use A Midi Controller With Serato DJ?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you forked out for an all-in-1 controller, then chances are it’s got some form of midi capabilities, like this Roland Two-channel Serato DJ Controller. These facilities typically come in the form of a pad grid or perhaps a few faders or dials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These controls will all have a function out of the box but can be reassigned features unique to the Serato software. Here’s how it’s done…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1. <\/strong>Open Serato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2. <\/strong>Power up your controller and connect it to your laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3. <\/strong>In Serato, click the gear icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen to open settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4. <\/strong>Click “Midi” from the menu rail at the top of the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 5. <\/strong>Check that your controller is in the “Midi Devices” list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 6. <\/strong>Click on the “Allow Serato Hardware Remapping” check box at the top of the Midi Devices list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 7. <\/strong>Head back to the main Serato UI, and click the “Midi” tab to the left of the gear, “Help,” and “My Serato” tabs. This will open “Midi Assign” mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 8. <\/strong>Select the Serato software feature you’d like to map, then tell it where to go simply by pressing, turning, or moving the desired midi control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want, you can assign more than one Serato feature to a singular midi control by selecting the feature, interacting with midi control, then pushing” A.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or, if it suits you, you can even map the same Sorato feature to multiple midi controls by holding shift when selecting the already mapped<\/a> feature, then interacting with a different midi control on your controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summing Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There you have it, folks. You’ve hooked your DJ controller<\/a> up to your laptop, you’ve learned how to customize the integrated midi controls… there’s nothing left to do but practice your craft, book some shows, and fill some dance floors!<\/p>\n\n\n