We’ve covered Algoriddim’s djay for iOS, the popular all-in-one DJ system software, in the past including the debut of djay 2, and today djay is out with a major new feature that unlocks over 20 million songs: Spotify integration. Previously, the DJ app relied solely on songs downloaded and stored in the iPhone or iPad Music app. The latest version of djay focuses on music access and discovery and also includes set list sharing using Spotify playlists as well as more than 30 new audio effects to unlock within the app. I’ve had the opportunity to test drive the new version of djay with Spotify integration over the past week, and it’s definitely a major benefit to users of the DJ system software.
Even if you’re not a DJ, professional or as a hobby, having access to over 20 million songs in the app makes for a really, really fun experience.
In the past, I’ve been intimidated by the software, but not really having to decide which music to bring with you before you explore is a huge benefit. By integrating Spotify so closely with the software, djay for iOS is likely to have most any song you have in mind.
Aside from making the software that much more approachable, the partnership between Algoriddim and Spotify helps solve a few more problems: access, discovery, and sharing.
With iPad storage capacity starting at 16GB and iPhone storage capacity dipping down to 8GB, it’s often difficult to actually manage the music stored locally on your device regardless of what music you actually own.
As for the experience using the new Spotify integration, you might expect there to be a performance difference between using a song stored locally via the Music app and a song streamed over the Internet via the Spotify integration. This was not the case, however, in my experience. The playback performance is on par with that of locally saved music even when you manipulate a track using any of the various effects available or looping a section of a track over and over.
Discovery is really where Spotify’s integration with djay shines. During my own testing of this version of djay, I tried starting out the first track with a pop-style song you typically wouldn’t associate with a dance mix, then I used the genre browser offered by Spotify to partner that with something electronic from someone I’ve never heard of to make it feel like a remix. I’m not even a hobbyist DJ, but using djay on my iPad Air with Spotify’s music catalog made this really fun (almost like an iPad game where the challenge is to make a decent mix).
The Spotify integration also includes access to top chart songs if you’re looking for current and popular music to use in your mix, and the Match feature, which is powered by The Echo Nest which Spotify recently bought, recognizes your first track and recommends similar songs while showing you the track’s key and beats per minute.
Even if you really challenge the Match feature and the paired track is wildly different than the first track, you can manipulate the playback to mix together using the track sync feature and any of the available effects within the app.
Spotify’s integration with djay also enables set list sharing in the form of Spotify playlists possible. Before djay built Spotify’s catalog of music into the software, playlist sharing was in practice a complicated idea with music rights and ownership dominating the possibility.
By opting for Spotify playlists, members of the streaming music service all have access to the same catalog of songs. This is especially useful for djay users wanting to study and learn from the music choices and arrangements of other djay users.
The update also introduces a new feature called Automix Radio that allows djay 2 to do most of the driving for you. For example, this feature will find the next appropriate track and automatically transition it from the current track using beat matched transitions. While the mix allows you to sit back and let djay do most of the heavy lifting, it still allows you to set transition duration time, transition style, and more.
I’ve enjoyed using djay 2 with Spotify integration from the standpoint of a non-DJ and only hobbyist musician, and I imagine the Spotify integration into djay will be a huge deal for a lot of people. If you’re already a Spotify Premium subscriber, the integration with djay gives you a good reason to check out the software; if you’re already a djay 2 user, there’s about 20 million reasons to check out Spotify and use it within djay 2. You don’t have to be a DJ to appreciate this version of djay 2; even if you’re just a fan of music, there’s a lot of fun to be had.
The update includes support for a range of DJ hardware as well that makes the software that much more powerful.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGXsp4Lhbns&feature=youtu.be]
In addition to deeply integrating Spotify’s music streaming service into djay, Algoriddim is cutting the price of djay for iPad by 50% and making the iPhone version free ; both sales are running for a limited time. For the iPad version, djay 2 is ordinarily $9.99 but on sale for $4.99 temporarily to celebrate the major update. The iPhone version of djay 2 is typically $1.99 but will be free for the first time as part of a limited promotional run to promote the new version. For existing djay 2 customers, the Spotify-integration update is as free upgrade.
Access to the Spotify catalog of music does require a Premium membership to the service, and djay 2 users can try Spotify Premium for free for 7 days during the update launch even if you have already tried Spotify in the past.
This version of djay 2 is a lot of fun for music fans and really powerful for DJs so check out the new partnership with Spotify for yourself on iPhone and iPad.
