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You plug in a new DJ controller, open the software, and the jog wheels still do nothing, which is when many beginners search for how to connect a DJ controller to Virtual DJ.

The usual answer is simple: install any driver your controller needs, plug it in by USB, open VirtualDJ and sign in, then accept the audio setup it offers.

This guide follows VirtualDJ’s own manuals and hardware setup pages, and it explains the license rule that makes many controllers stop working after ten minutes.

You’ll also see which controllers need a driver, how to check that VirtualDJ sees yours, and what to try when it doesn’t.

Start with the seven steps, because most setups come together in that order.

How to Connect a DJ Controller to Virtual DJ in Seven Steps

That order comes straight from VirtualDJ’s own manual pages, and the second step trips up more setups than it should.

Seven empty circles joined in a row, with a USB plug, a laptop and a DJ controller drawn above them
  1. Download VirtualDJ from its download page, which says the software is free for home use.
  2. Install your controller’s driver first if the maker provides one, because VirtualDJ’s audio setup manual says to install drivers before going further.
  3. Connect the controller to the computer with its USB cable, then connect your headphones and speakers to the controller.
  4. Open VirtualDJ and sign in when the Connect window appears, since VirtualDJ ties its licenses to your account.
  5. When the detection window appears, accept the controller’s pre-defined audio setup if your speakers are plugged into the controller’s master output, then click OK.
  6. Open Settings and choose the Controllers tab, where your controller should have its own tab, a green connection icon and the factory default mapping selected.
  7. Load a track on each deck and test the jog wheels, faders and play buttons.

VirtualDJ’s audio setup manual adds that a controller with a pre-defined setup gets an extra button with its name in the hardware options, and clicking it builds the audio setup before you press Apply.

VirtualDJ is the official spelling of the software many people search for as Virtual DJ.

Do You Need to Pay to Use a Controller With Virtual DJ?

That seventh step can fail for a reason that has nothing to do with cables, because VirtualDJ limits controllers on its free version.

A DJ controller on a desk with an open laptop behind it, beside a round clock face with a small wedge shaded in

VirtualDJ’s trial FAQ says the software is free to download and use at home without professional gear such as USB controllers, and that controllers can be tried for 10 minutes at a time. Restarting the software gives another 10 minutes, and the same FAQ says an account that’s logged in with a controller connected gets a one-time 30-day trial of all Pro features.

VirtualDJ’s controllers manual puts the rule the other way around: controllers are available only with a Pro Full Infinity license, a Pro Monthly subscription or a controller-specific license, and otherwise work only for the first 10 minutes of use when the software is launched.

Option What it means for a controller, per VirtualDJ The catch
Free Controllers work for 10 minutes at a time, and a logged-in account with a controller connected gets a one-time 30-day Pro trial Restarting VirtualDJ gives another 10 minutes, and the trial is one-time
Home No limits on the entry-level controllers VirtualDJ lists for it It doesn’t remove audio and video branding and isn’t allowed at public or paid events
Pro (subscription or Infinity) Works with every DJ controller, according to VirtualDJ’s buy page VirtualDJ’s hardware pages name Pro Infinity alongside the subscription
Controller-specific Plus license One named controller, such as the DJControl Mix Plus license Covers only that device
VirtualDJ LE bundled with a controller A 30-day trial of Pro features, according to VirtualDJ’s FAQ It supports only the controller it came with, according to VirtualDJ’s wiki

VirtualDJ’s older wiki pages still use some earlier license names, so treat your controller’s own setup page as the final word on which license it needs.

The Home license suits a first controller: VirtualDJ’s Home page lists the supported models, which include the AlphaTheta DDJ-FLX2 and several Hercules DJControl and Numark Mixtrack models.

Does Your Controller Need a Driver?

That depends on the controller, and VirtualDJ’s own setup pages show both cases.

The Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 needs no driver on Windows or Mac, because VirtualDJ’s setup page for it calls it a USB class-compliant device that uses the operating system’s standard audio driver.

The Hercules DJControl Mix is the other case: VirtualDJ’s page for it says to install the latest driver from Hercules on Windows and Mac first.

To find your own answer, open the controller’s tab in VirtualDJ’s Controllers settings and click Setup & Drivers, which opens the online setup page for that device. VirtualDJ’s wiki also tells owners to install the latest drivers and firmware from the maker’s website and to keep VirtualDJ itself up to date.

How Do You Set Up the Sound?

Once the driver question is settled, the audio setup decides where the sound comes out, and VirtualDJ handles the common cases for you.

A controller with a built-in sound card usually gets a pre-defined setup: click its button in the hardware options and then Apply, as VirtualDJ’s audio setup manual describes. A controller with no audio interface is simpler, because the DJControl Mix page says VirtualDJ then uses your computer’s built-in sound card by default.

VirtualDJ’s main Audio Setup page offers three basic output choices, Speaker Only, Speaker + Headphone and Separate Decks, and hardware choices of Computer Audio, USB Soundcard or a stereo-to-mono splitter.

VirtualDJ can store each configuration as an audio profile, which helps if you switch between a controller’s own sound card and the computer’s.

For the speakers side of the job, our page on wiring a DJ controller to speakers covers the cables and the no-sound fixes. If you route the sound to an external mixer instead, our page on using a DJ controller with an external mixer picks up from there.

How Do You Check That Virtual DJ Sees the Controller?

That check takes a few seconds, because VirtualDJ gives every connected controller its own place in Settings.

Open Settings, choose the Controllers tab and look for a tab with your controller’s name, whose connection icon turns green when the controller is fully connected, according to VirtualDJ’s manual.

Clicking that icon offers to reconnect devices or rescan for devices, and the Missing Controller section also rescans and lists compatible devices.

The mapping dropdown should show the factory default, and VirtualDJ says an Ignore option exists for using the controller with a different application at the same time.

The computer keyboard is mapped by default too, which makes it a handy way to confirm VirtualDJ itself is working while you sort out the controller.

What If Your Controller Isn’t on the Supported List?

That need not stop you, because VirtualDJ’s wiki says to start with the Add-Ons page, where another user may already have shared a mapper for your model.

If no mapper exists, the wiki’s basic method is to open Settings, choose Controllers, pick the device, make sure it isn’t set to Ignore, press a control on the controller and type an action such as play_pause into the Action box.

VirtualDJ’s manual adds that once you edit a key it creates a custom mapping automatically and leaves the factory default untouched.

Expect limits, because the wiki says LEDs and other advanced MIDI features won’t work unless someone creates a proper definition file for the controller.

If you’re still choosing hardware, our roundup of DJ controllers with native Virtual DJ mapping lists models that need none of this.

Why Won’t Virtual DJ Detect Your Controller?

VirtualDJ’s wiki gives a checklist for a controller that isn’t detected, and this is the order that rules out the cheap causes first.

A USB cable running straight from a DJ controller to a laptop past an unused hub
  1. Check that your controller is on VirtualDJ’s list of natively supported controllers.
  2. Install the latest driver and firmware from the maker’s website, and update VirtualDJ to its latest version.
  3. Check your license, because without one a controller works for only 10 minutes at a time.
  4. Plug the controller straight into the computer rather than through an unpowered USB hub, which the wiki says may not give a bus-powered controller enough power.
  5. Try another USB cable and another port, using a USB 2.0 port if the computer has one, because the wiki says some controllers aren’t compatible with USB 3.0.
  6. Make sure the controller’s MIDI channel settings are at their defaults.
  7. On Windows, consider a system MIDI conflict, which the wiki says can stop a controller from working.
  8. Test the controller with VirtualDJ’s MIDItrace tool, or HIDtrace for HID controllers, with every other program closed.

If MIDItrace shows messages as you press buttons, the controller itself works, and the wiki says no response at all points to a hardware fault or a conflict on the system.

Why Is There No Sound or an Audio Error?

This is where the audio setup matters, because a controller can be detected and still send its sound to the wrong device.

VirtualDJ’s wiki says an Error in ASIO Sound Driver or Error in WDM Sound Driver message is normally caused by incorrect sound settings, so open the sound setup, check the settings for your sound card and click Apply.

It also says to connect a controller with a built-in sound card before you start VirtualDJ, and to keep it in the same USB port, because some drivers are tied to a port and need reinstalling if you move it.

If VirtualDJ shows no controller at all, the checks that come before the software opens, such as the cable, the port and any hub, are in setting up a DJ controller with a laptop.

On Windows, the wiki adds a trap: if the default playback device is set to the external card, Windows can force it into WDM mode and block ASIO, so set the default back to the computer’s built-in card.

Skipping, stuttering or crackling is a different problem, which VirtualDJ’s wiki says is normally caused by computer performance issues or incorrect settings in VirtualDJ.

Can You Use Two Controllers at Once?

That works, but VirtualDJ’s wiki attaches conditions, so check them before you buy a second controller.

The wiki says multiple controllers work together with a Pro Infinity license or a Plus license for each controller, and that each needs a USB port, though a powered USB hub can generally be used.

VirtualDJ LE, the Limited Edition that comes with some controllers, supports only the controller it was bundled with, according to VirtualDJ’s wiki.

Can You Use Virtual DJ Without a Controller?

That is possible, and VirtualDJ’s download page says the software lets you start mixing right away with just your computer.

The computer keyboard is mapped by default, with blue keys controlling the left deck and red keys the right deck in two-deck mode, according to VirtualDJ’s manual.

Our guide to what software lets you DJ without hardware compares the options, if you want to try the keyboard first.

Which Controller Works Best With Virtual DJ?

That depends on your budget and license, but VirtualDJ’s own pages give two useful shortcuts.

Its Home page lists the entry-level controllers that work without limits under the Home license, and its hardware list shows every natively supported controller, so both are worth checking before a purchase.

If you’re buying your first controller, our guide to DJ controllers aimed at first-time DJs compares models by what a first year of DJing needs.

The Bottom Line

To connect a DJ controller to Virtual DJ, install any driver, plug the controller in by USB, open VirtualDJ, sign in and accept the audio setup it offers.

Then check the license, because a controller on the free version stops after 10 minutes, and use the Controllers settings tab to confirm the green connection icon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install a driver for my DJ controller?

Some controllers do and some don’t. VirtualDJ’s setup page says the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 needs none, while the Hercules DJControl Mix needs the latest driver from Hercules, so click Setup & Drivers on your controller’s tab to see its page.

Is VirtualDJ free to use with a controller?

The software is free for home use, but VirtualDJ’s trial FAQ says controllers can be tried for 10 minutes at a time on the free version. A Home license covers entry-level controllers without limits, and a Pro license covers every controller, according to VirtualDJ’s buy page.

Why does my controller stop working after 10 minutes?

That’s the free-version limit: VirtualDJ’s hardware setup pages say a controller operates for 10 minutes each time you restart VirtualDJ without a qualifying license. Restarting starts another 10 minutes, and a license ends the limit.

Which VirtualDJ license do I need for my controller?

It depends on the controller. VirtualDJ’s controllers manual lists Pro Full Infinity, Pro Monthly and controller-specific licenses, its Home page lists the entry-level controllers Home covers, and your controller’s own setup page names the license it needs.

Why doesn’t VirtualDJ detect my controller?

Start with the supported list, the latest driver and firmware and your license, then try a different USB cable and a port directly on the computer. VirtualDJ’s wiki also suggests a USB 2.0 port or a powered USB 2.0 hub and testing with MIDItrace.

Can I use a controller that isn’t on the supported list?

Yes, by mapping it yourself. VirtualDJ’s wiki says to check the Add-Ons page for an existing mapper, then use the Controllers tab and key learn, and it warns that LEDs and advanced features need a definition file.

How do I change what a button does?

Open Edit Mapping from the controller’s tab, keep the factory default selected, pick a key with key learn, and type or generate a new action. VirtualDJ then creates a custom mapping and leaves the default alone.

Do I need an audio interface with a controller?

Not if the controller has a built-in sound card or you use the computer’s own. VirtualDJ’s manual says controllers with built-in sound cards usually get a pre-defined audio setup, and the DJControl Mix page says VirtualDJ uses the computer’s sound card when a controller has none.

Can I connect two controllers to VirtualDJ?

Yes, with a Pro Infinity license or a Plus license for each controller and a USB port for each, according to VirtualDJ’s wiki. A powered USB hub can generally be used.

What if the detection window never appears?

VirtualDJ’s audio setup manual says that in rare cases a controller’s setup isn’t pre-defined and its button doesn’t appear, and it points to that device’s manual. You can also set the sound yourself in Settings under the Audio tab.

Does VirtualDJ work on Mac?

Yes. VirtualDJ’s minimum requirements page lists Windows 10 and 11 and macOS 12 or newer, and its setup pages cover both systems.