Complete Guide to Add Apple Music to Serato DJ

As an alternative to Virtual DJ, Serato DJ can be accessible. In the meanwhile, Apple Music has complete its music services with a perfect combination of the Apple Music catalog and personal music collection in iTunes. When it comes to mix music with Serato DJ, DJ beginner also can benefit from Apple Music.

For how to mix Apple Music with Serato DJ, the process is a simple one but, the direct use of Apple Music in Serato DJ is more difficult than expected.

While Serato fans are using Seraro DJ Lite/Pro on different computer devices (Windows/Mac), we'd like keep different devices separated in the following instructions for how to import Apple Music to Serato DJ and how to add Apple Music files to Serato DJ.

Part 1. How to Import iTunes Library to Serato DJ using iTunes

If there're a vast personal music collection in iTunes, the Serato DJ will load and make all the compatible files contained in the iTunes Library visible.

Note: Just for identification, while within Serato DJ software both the Serato fans and Serato refer to Apple's Music application as iTunes, MacOS Catalina has introduced a change in name to it as Music.

If the MacOs has been updated to one of the versions from above, the Music Library will be converted from the old iTunes Library to a new one. Once the conversion completes, the new Apple Music app will read the contents in it.

Note: On Mac devices above, the Music Library may take a longer to load than expected in Serato DJ software. Please be patient when waiting for it to load.

Adjust Settings to make iTunes Work Better with Serato

Besides the problematic apple music streaming files, the instruction from above should make Apple Music work fine in Serato DJ Pro & Serato DJ Lite. However, there are some recommended settings in iTunes to make the whole experience smoother, while at the same time save time and efforts.

1. On Windows or Mac, open iTunes.

2. From the top, click on Edit button and then Preferences.

3. In the pop-up, click on Advanced at the top.

See the options under Advanced, from her to see how 2 settings here function to make the DJ experience smoother:

For Keep iTunes Media folder organized option:

• If this has been checked in the Advanced Preferences, iTunes will shift the files to a new location packed with folders of Artist and Album Name, which means there can be missing files in Serato DJ software. Make sure this is unchecked and make the integration between the 2 apps seamless.

For Copy files to Music Media Folder when adding to library option:

• This advanced setting in iTunes is to stop iTunes from creating duplicates of the accessible files (hasn't been added to iTunes) when importing them into iTunes. If this has been checked, there will be doubles caused to show in Serrato and will take up more space on Windows or Mac.

4. Feel free to uncheck these 2 options to import Apple Music to Serato DJ with better experience.

Pro Tips: Issues with Apple Music (iTunes) in Serato

While some issues are reported with the related apps, we'd like to update this part to make more sense.

Can't Access Apple Music Streaming Files in Serato?

Even the Apple Music (iTunes) work fine with the Serato software in use, the streaming files from Apple Music streaming service are not supported in Serato DJ. How about the purchased from iTunes Store? Well, the selling AAC in 256Kbps is on the list of the supported file formats with Serato DJ Pro, however for Mac. For Mac users with the purchased in iTunes, download the files in AAC.

Supported File Formats with Serato DJ Pro:

For those have a local collection in iTunes, see this full list of supported file formats with Serato:

• 1. .MP3
• 2. .OGG
• 3. .ALAC (for Windows 10 & Mac)
• 4. .FLAC
• 5. .AIF
• 6. .WAV
• 7. .WL.MP3
• 8. .MP4
• 9. .M4A
• 10. .AAC (for Mac)
• ...

Still prefer some Apple Music songs to mix with Serato but don't have files in the supported formats from above? No worries. You can convert the accessible Apple Music streaming files from Apple Music catalog into .MP3, .FLAC, .WAV, .M4A, and .AAC with one powerful tool - ViWizard Audio Converter.

Just as important, ViWizard Audio Converter is simple to use.

Part 2. How to Add Apple Music to Serato DJ with Streaming Files

Since Apple Music streaming files are protected in M4P, it's a difficult task for Serato fans and Apple Music fans to have all the files exclusives to Apple Music and iOS devices into the supported file formats in Serato DJ.

However, ViWizard Audio Converter is designed to remove the DRM of the Apple Music streaming files stored in iTunes and convert them into MP3, FLAC, WAV, M4A and AAC (for Mac) formats to add as local files in Serato. To keep them in iTunes and accessible with Serato, the formats are can be set as MP3 or AAC compatible with iTunes, however, can save much more time and efforts!

For Windows and Mac:

On Windows or Mac, please download ViWizard Audio Converter's Windows or Mac version and follow this step to convert streaming files in iTunes!

Convert Apple Music Streaming Files into Supported Formats

Step 1Add Apple Music Streaming Files

Once the ViWizard Audio Converter is open, it will launch iTunes for stable conversion. In ViWizard, click on the Add Music icon at the top can load all the files in the iTunes. Select and add the Apple Music songs to ViWizard.

Step 1Set Output Formats

Now back to ViWizard, see and click on Format tab at the bottom to go to Format Setting. From the Format list, select from MP3, FLAC, WAV, M4A, and AAC to add to Serato FJ or from MP3 and AAC for a backup in iTunes first. You can also customize codec, channel, sample rate and bit rate here, then OK.

Tips: In Serato DJ, fixed and variable bit rate (VBR) files are both supported. You can make full use of the bit rate option in ViWizard.

Step 1Convert Apple Music Streaming Files

On the screen, the output format of the Apple Music streaming files should be visible to check. Feel free to add more files or click on the Convert button to start the conversion. Once the conversion completes, the DRM of songs are removed.

Add Converted Apple Music Streaming Files in Serato

Here we'd like to introduce 3 popular methods to add converted Apple Music streaming files in Serato - using internal hard drive, external hard drive or iTunes.

Use Internal Hard Drive:

The easiest method to import the converted Apple Music files to Serato DJ is the Files in Serato DJ.

1. On the computer, open Serato DJ software.

2. On the screen's left side, click the Files button to open the files panel.

3. From here with the Windows Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) to navigate to the location where all the converted Apple Music streaming files with ViWizard are stored in.

4. Now make sure the music folder and Serato DJ software are on the same screen, drag and drop the whole folder to the All… button in Serato.

5. To find the converted Apple Music streaming files for mixing with Serato, locate the top of the crates.

Use External Hard Drive:

This method to add Apple Music to Serato DJ is for those want to transfer the converted Apple Music streaming files to an external hard drive for backup or sharing with DJ friends.

To share Converted Apple Music Streaming Files with Friends:

1. Connect the external hard drive to the computer.

2. Repeat the steps to see the music folder packed with the converted Apple Music files, transfer them from the computer to the external hard drive.

To add Apple Music Files to Serato:

3. Once the external hard drive is connected to the computer, open Serato DJ software.

4. Similar to import Apple Music to Serato from the internal hard drive of the computer, repeat some steps to add the music folder to Serato from the external hard drive instead.

5. The external hard connected to the computer will show in the Files panel.

Pro Tips: Issues with Files from External Hard Drive

Without implementing this permission, user is not able to see or access converted files from there devices in Serato DJ Pro/Lite:

MacOS 10.15 Catalina and MacOS 11 Big Sur require removable volume permission for Serato DJ Pro & Serato DJ Lite to access external drives.

Use iTunes:

Note: You can scroll up to the part to adjust settings to make iTunes work better with Serato software.

1. Open Serato DJ software, click the Settings icon at the top.

2. In the Library + Display tab, check the Show iTunes Library option.

3. On the main screen, find and click on the LIBRARY option to show iTunes library.

4. At the bottom of the crate section, click on the create icon to create crates.

5. To get the iTunes Music folder, click on the Files panel and then iTunes.