1. Introduction to Mixxx

Mixxx allows you to perform live DJ mixes with your digital music collection. It helps you rock the party with MIDI controllers, vinyl turntables, or even just your keyboard.

Mixxx is used by professional DJs and bedroom DJs alike. It is designed by an international team of volunteer DJs who want to bring the joy of DJing to everyone. The project is non-profit, open-source and community driven. Together and with your help we aim to build the best DJ software ever created.

1.1. Mixxx Features

  • Dual Decks: A scratchable, scrolling waveform marks beats and cue points of a track, along with a whole-song waveform overview for quick seeking.

  • Advanced Controls: Change playback with time stretching, and loop beat segments.

  • Sampler Decks: Perfect for dropping that vocal sample or airhorn.

  • iTunes Integration: Use your playlists and songs from iTunes, Traktor and Rhythmbox.

  • BPM Detection and Sync: Instantly detect and sync the tempo of your songs.

  • DJ Controller Support: Control your DJ mixes with MIDI/HID controllers.

  • Timecode Support: Use a real turntable or DJ-CD player as a controller.

  • Live Broadcasting: Start a radio station and stream your mixes live over the Internet.

  • Powerful Mixing Engine: Supports various file formats, custom EQ shelves, recording, etc.

  • Automatic Mixing: Create a quick playlist and let Auto DJ take over.

  • Microphone Input: Drop vocals or give shoutouts on the air.

Nuevo en la versión 1.11: This version adds several major new features including completely revamped Waveforms, Direct HID controller support, Point & Click Controller Mapping, Next Generation Beat Detection, a Library History Feature and much more.

1.2. System Requirements

Mixxx is available for Windows, Mac OS X and GNU/Linux. Mixxx is designed to use very few system resources, but the Mixxx Development Team suggests these minimum requirements for having a great experience with Mixxx:

  • A 2GHz or faster CPU

  • At least 1GB of RAM

  • A soundcard with 2 stereo audio outputs

1.3. About the Mixxx Project

Mixxx is designed by an international team of volunteer DJs who want to bring the joy of DJing to everyone. The project is non-profit, open-source and community driven. Together and with your help we aim to build the best DJ software ever created.

Mixxx started as an open-source project because of demand for DJing software on Linux, and discontent with proprietary DJ software on Windows and Mac OS X. Today, Mixxx development is driven by the simple idea that together we can create a better way to DJ, and that has brought Mixxx to the cutting edge.

Mixxx is the only free cross-platform vinyl control software and has the most advanced MIDI/HID controller support via our innovative JavaScript-based scripting engine. We are continuing to pursue new and exciting features that give DJs more tools to create better live mixes.

1.3.1. Project History

Mixxx was originally created in 2002 as part of a PhD thesis on new interfaces for DJing by Tue Haste Andersen. After releasing the project as open source, dozens of contributors began modifying and improving Mixxx.

In 2006, a new development team lead by Adam Davison and Albert Santoni began reorganizing the project to ensure smooth growth of both the code-base and the number of contributors. A renewed focus on usability and stability has helped Mixxx grow to become the most popular free DJ software in the world, receiving over 1,000,000 downloads annually. Our committed team has worked hard to create great DJ software, and this growth is a sign of our success.

In 2011, RJ Ryan took over as Lead Developer to successfully continue the teams endeavor to make Mixxx a world-class DJ software.

As our user community grows, so does our development team - Over 150 developers, artists, and translators have helped create Mixxx!

1.4. About the Mixxx Manual

Some effort has been made to present the material in a way that is neither too technical nor too dumbed-down. Take some time to look through it and you’ll find lots of hints that will enhance both your enjoyment and your productivity.

Through the manual you’ll find text formatted like this:

  • Library ‣ Add new Playlist

    This is to simplify the business of choosing commands in menus. In this example, the instruction means “Open the Library menu at the top of the application window and then choose the Add new Playlist command”.

  • Apply

    This is used to indicate a certain area of the GUI, including button labels, tabs, checkboxes, field names, values in selection lists etc. .

  • STRG + G

    This is used to mark a keystroke, or a sequence of keystrokes. In this example, you would have to hold down the STRG key, then to press G.

  • http://www.wikipedia.org/

    Links to external websites are marked like this.

Important information in this manual are highlighted like this:

  • Nota

    For anything that should receive a bit more attention.

  • Consejo

    For supplementary information that lightens the work load.

  • Ver también

    For references to other documents or websites if they need special attention.

  • Advertencia

    For anything that needs to be done with caution.

1.4.1. Improving the Manual

1.5. Additional Resources

Got questions? Need more information? Want to contribute ? There are a variety of other resources you can use to find out more.