MP3-DJ

Pros

• Audio mixer
• Dual media players
• Integrated equalizer

Cons

• Minimal audio format support
• Some functions paywalled

MP3-DJ is a hobbyist-grade audio mixer for Windows that delivers excellent results and is fun to use.

MP3-DJ is an audio mixer that you can use to mix music real-time or into new recordings. This is not a professional-grade solution. However, the freeware version of MP3-DJ is easy to use, packs in a lot of features and delivers fantastic results, all things considered. If you fancy yourself an aspiring DJ and want to set up a playlist for your next party or handle the festivities live, MP3-DJ is not a bad option.

MP3-DJ has dual integrated media players. This means that each music player can play its own song. The program combines them and sends that combination as a single output. You can adjust the settings for each player independently. You can even pause one player as the other continues to play.

This also means that each music player has its own playlist. You can create these playlists in advance. You can also adjust these playlists on the fly. The playlists support adding songs, removing songs and moving songs up and down the queue. Playlists can pull songs from the same pool, and the program even handles each player accessing the same file at the same time.

These players support many different settings. Both players can have their settings configured individually. Your secondary player, for instance, could be set to play at a lower volume and at a lower playback speed. You can adjust these settings on the fly. You can also set behaviors for particular songs. You could, for example, have the volume automatically increase for a particular song. Settings are on a per-player basis, so the same song could be played quite differently depending on the player.

MP3-DJ features five-band equalizer and normalizer functionality as well. The equalizer can be adjusted program-wide as well as be configured on a per-player and per-song basis. If you want to adjust the equalizer as your playlist unfolds, you can do that, and there are various configurable presets that you can use so that you can apply and undo various personalizations quickly.

Transitions between songs, such as crossfades, can be handled manually. MP3-DJ also supports automatic transitions between songs. You can even use one player with one playlist for your own personal enjoyment. The automatic transition from one track to the next can be much more enjoyable than the oft-jarring non-transition that happens between songs in a playlist.

As you may suspect from the name, MP3-DJ is very MP3-focused. This is not going to be an issue for the average user. Most amateur users maintain their music libraries in the MP3 format. The program also features a WAV-to-MP3 converter as well as a CD ripper. This means that you can rip songs from your CDs, create MP3s and manage your music library all without leaving the MP3-DJ program.

The program does support OGG as well but there is no integrated conversion tool for that format. Beyond MP3, OGG and WAV, there is no other support. This is not something that can be expanded either. MP3-DJ does, however, feature CDDB support. With access to the Internet, you have automatic and even on-the-fly access to album covers and other media. MP3-DJ supports MP3 tag editing as well.

CDDB support allows MP3-DJ to provide an auto-DJ mode. Select a song. Point the program to a directory of songs. The auto-DJ will then build a playlist by match the criteria of the original tracks to the other available tracks. This can be a fun way to create a playlist in the spur of the moment. It also effective for seeding a playlist that you can then manually refine.

MP3-DJ has a free edition. There is also a pay-for upgrade. The free edition is not ad-supported, and it does not even nag you really. It does lack some features and capabilities, however. The bitrate is limited to 64 kbps in the free version. The pay version also includes a powerful music archive feature as well as a series of more sophisticated volume adjustments for the dual players.

Pros

• Audio mixer
• Dual media players
• Integrated equalizer

Cons

• Minimal audio format support
• Some functions paywalled