How to Set Up Virtual DJ Software for Karaoke

One of the biggest hassles with being a KJ is digging through all the CDGS to find the one you need. You also have the additional stress of hauling around CDG players. These are often times bulky and just take up too much space. Going digital is a way to remedy this, but you will need software that will play your music and run the karaoke graphics. Virtual DJ is one of your options.

Virtual DJ is just as the title suggests a DJ software. There are other karaoke specific software packages out there. Many of these work wonderfully, and have many bells and whistles to add a little "sparkle' to your production. However, if you ever want to DJ or if you play any "regular songs" between your karaoke singers, it can be difficult if not impossible. If you fall into that category, Virtual DJ may work better for you.

You will need to download the software onto your computer or laptop. You will also need to rip all of your CDGS. If you have a computer with a large amount of memory, you can save them to the computer. More realistically, you will want to save them to an external hard drive.

Once you have familiarize yourself with the software, plug it into your audio system. Make sure that you have some kind of video feed going to your slitter or directly to your TV. Turn on your laptop. If you have a new computer, it may automatically detect the video connection and ask if you want to extend your desktop. If it does not, then you will need to go into your desktop properties. From there you can manually extend your desktop. Once the desktop is extended you will see your desktop image on the TV.

Click on you Virtual DJ icon and start the software. Select Internal Mixer Interface from the pop up box. This interface seems to be the one best suited for your needs as a KJ. Next go to the configuration settings and set up your audio configuration. Depending on your computer, sound card and mixer, you will have different settings.

Once you have the audio set up, keep the configuration box open. Go to the video tab. In the top of that box there should be a drop down menu for video output. One option should be window. The other should be the TV. Select the TV and put a check mark in the activate box. The screen will flash and then the TV will have a black screen.

Now that you have the laptop hooked into your system, now it is time to set up your music. Look at your search bar. There should be two dots just to the right of it. Click on the second one, and a menu should drop down. Make sure Show Karaoke is checked. If you are using that laptop for karaoke only, make sure the Show music option is unchecked. If you are using an additional video (like a slide show), make sure you check the video option. If not leave it unchecked. Go to the left side of the search box and pick the drive you are searching. Right click on the drive and select: add to search library. This will make those songs show up in your search. Most times you will be able to find a song simply by searching for a song title. However, sometimes you will need to search my artist or by part of the song name depending on how the song saved. Once your song comes up in the search listing, you can drag it over into your playlist or down into your side bar.

Now it is time to test your music. Make sure that you side the toggle bar over to the deck you are testing. Drag your song over to the deck. Once it loads click play and hopefully your audio will come out the speakers and the "words" will some up on your television screen.