Virtual DJ is a complete music mixing application for your desktop, allowing you to dump your vinyl turntables for a laptop. Looking like a classic DJ set-up, with a mixer and two decks, Virtual DJ will be instantly accessible to DJs and newcomers alike.

To get started, simply open your music library, and drag and drop files into Virtual DJ’s decks. There’s a BPM counter to help you judge transitions between tracks, and the visual wave display also helps to cue up your music. Setting sound levels and altering the bass and treble are all really easy. If you don’t want to worry about your transitions, press the auto mix button and let Virtual DJ do all the work for you. Be warned though, that the results are pretty mixed!

You can sample and loop tracks live, add effects, and there’s a very natural-feeling scratch mode. For the adventurous, there’s a lot you can add to your mixes with Virtual DJ.

Support for recording your mixes is also available, which is a great way to learn, allowing you to analyze your mistakes and successes with the application. It also means you can record mixes for your friends! Mixes can berecorded in MP3, burned to CD or even streamed to internet radio. Virtual DJ can be set up to use two sound cards, if you have them.

Virtual DJ is accessible to beginners and packed with extra features. The downside of the software is that it sticks too much to what a physical DJ setup is – other programs offer four decks and more user-friendly interfaces – small knobs may be great for your fingers, but they’re less use on a screen!

On the whole, Virtual DJ is a solid, traditional-looking application. You can showcase your very own mix without having to carry around expensive and bulky equipment.