Serato DJ Pro vs Steinberg MixKey

Serato DJ Pro is desktop software for mixing music and performing with supported DJ hardware on macOS and Windows. It can play up to four tracks at once when connected to hardware that supports four-deck playback, and deck waveforms can be viewed horizontally or vertically. Serato Stems separates vocals, melody, bass, or drums for making acapellas, instrumentals, transitions, and mashups. The product includes access to more than 50 built-in effects and officially supports over 100 pieces of DJ hardware. Listed streaming services are Apple Music, Beatport, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Tidal. Practice Mode provides a basic version without connected hardware. Set recording is unavailable when playing from a streaming service, in laptop Practice Mode, or with hardware without a recording function. A Digital Vinyl System setup requires a Serato DJ Suite license or subscription. Serato DJ Pro costs $11.99 a month; DJ Suite costs $14.99 a month and includes DJ Pro, DVS, Video, and other listed additions. Eligible new users with hardware requiring a paid upgrade can try DJ Pro and all Expansions free for 14 days, without card details.

Steinberg MixKey is a free audio mixer for streamers and creators on Windows and macOS. Auto Gain adjusts levels automatically, while stream-level monitoring lets users hear the mix as the audience hears it. A cue function previews a channel in headphones before it reaches the fader or mix, and a built-in low-cut filter reduces unwanted low frequencies in speech. MixKey records the full mix as a WAV file and can send a separate microphone output to applications such as Discord or Zoom. Panic controls can mute the microphone or cut all output instantly. Elgato Stream Deck can trigger functions including microphone mute and panic controls. Users can rename channels, change colors and appearance, and resize the interface. Steinberg lists MixKey as a free download for Mac and Windows. The software supports live audio input and WAV export, with no paid plan listed.