Tidal is not only a high fidelity music streaming platform, but also a powerful tool for DJs. With its 110 million over tracks, curated playlists, and lossless audio, Tidal provides the sound quality and music diversity needed by both professional and amateur DJs. Whether you're spinning at a club or practicing in your bedroom, Tidal lets you mix without restraint. But how do you DJ with Tidal?
This complete guide will walk you through everything you need before using Tidal for DJ and provide an additional tip on how to use Tidal with any other DJ application without the Tidal DJ extension. Without further ado, let's get started!
Part 1. What You Need to DJ with Tidal
To start DJing with Tidal, here are some essentidals to make them work together. You'll need a Tidal subscription, compatible DJ software, and, in most cases, the Tidal DJ extension. Let's break it down.
1. Tidal Subscription
Tidal subscriptions form the foundation. As there is no longer a free Tidal plan, you must subscribe to Tidal membership to unlock its vast music library. This means that you first need a Tidal Individual or Student plan. If you haven't joined Tidal, applying for a 30-day free trial plan is the most cost-effective option.
Note: Do not choose the Tidal Family plan, as it doesn't have the DJ extension add-on.
2. Compatible DJ Software
Tidal DJ integration is only available for a few DJ hardware and software, such as Rekordbox, Serato, and DJUCED. We will introduce more in the next section. As long as you have the Tidal DJ extension, these DJ applications can access Tidal music and import it directly. However, is it possible to import Tidal music into DJ software that is not integrated with Tidal? Yes, please refer to Part 3 for a detailed tutorial.
3. Tidal DJ Extension
Tidal DJ extension is an additional feature designed for integration with DJ apps. It unlocks access to the complete Tidal directory in supported DJ software, making real-time search, loading, and mixing easy. The DJ extension costs an additional $9/month on top of your Tidal subscription. However, if you are new to Tidal, you can subscribe to a Tidal plan with the DJ extension for a 30-day free trial.
How to Get Tidal DJ Extension:
- Visit tidal.com/pricing .
- Select Individual or Student Plan and toggle on the DJ extension.
- Click "Continue".
- If you choose the Student plan, you will need to verify your student status to receive the student discount.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to activate it.
If you don't want to purchased Tidal's DJ extension add-on, you can still mix Tidal music on your DJ controller. ViWizard Tidal Music Converter allows you to download Tidal music to your computer, allowing you to import songs directly from File Explorer into DJ software. We think it's a more cost-effective way, so give it a try.
Part 2. DJ Apps That Work with Tidal
In this section, we'll take a look at the top 6 DJ software programs that work perfectly with the Tidal music service. More specifically, we'll look at Rekordbox, Serato, Virtual DJ, djay Pro, DJUCED, and DEX 3, highlighting their ideal users, outstanding features, and attaching a comprehensive step-by-step guide to using them.
1. Rekordbox
Best For: Pioneer DJ users and professionals preparing for club performances.
Rekordbox excels in library management, visual effects, and Pioneer hardware integration. Its Cloud Library Sync (with Rekordbox Creative plan) allows you to access Tidal tracks across devices. Tidal DJ Rekordbox integration has been optimized for Pioneer hardware such as DDJ-200 and XDJ-XZ, but its BPM analysis may misinterpret complex Tidal tracks such as jazz or live recordings. Therefore, it is best to manually verify BPM before mixing.
The left panel on Rekordbox has the Tidal access option, click there to log into your account. Once connected, all your Tidal playlists, albums or artists will be displayed on Rekordbox.
Read More : Guide to Rekordbox Tidal Offline and Online DJ Use
Discover how to take your DJ setup to the next level with Tidal and Rekordbox! We'll show you how to use Tidal seamlessly online and offline, so you're ready to mix anytime, anywhere! Plus, get tips for fixing pesky connection issues to keep the music going.
2. Serato
Best For: Professional DJs and beginners seeking a robust, industry-standard platform.
Serato is known for its ability to utilize DVS (Digital Vinyl System) and turntables. Another thing about Serato is that it is very stable and can be used with controllers such as Pioneer or Rane. Due to its clear waveform, it is easier for beginners to match perfectly. In addition, you can split the track into vocals or drums (Stems) for cool mixing. Unlike other apps, Serato's Tidal integration caches tracks temporarily, reducing lag even on spotty connections. However, it's CPU-intensive when running Stems, so close background apps.
To use Serato with Tidal, go to "Setup > Library + Display > Music Streaming", check "Show Streaming Services", and then choose Tidal. Now, you are ready to use the Tidal DJ Serato integration.
Read More : How to Add Tidal to Serato DJ Pro & Lite
3. Virtual DJ
Best For: Versatile DJs mixing music, videos, and karaoke across genres.
Virtual DJ lets you use multiple decks, add samples live, and play them on platforms like Mixcloud. It makes smart playlists from Tidal's tracks that match the tempo or key of your music. Another thing we love about it is that it rarely crashes, even with heavy traffic. Does Tidal work with Virtual DJ? Yes! The Virtual DJ Tidal integration is not as well developed as Serato or Rekordbox, and there may be occasional track loading delays (4-5 seconds). Therefore, you can pre-load tracks to avoid glitches. Another tip to avoid delays and bugs is to use Sandbox mode to test Tidal songs privately, especially during live performances.
How to use Tidal with Virtual DJ? Open Virtual DJ and go to your Online Music folder. Right-click on Tidal and log in with the DJ extension. After that, you can start mixing.
Read More : Does Tidal Work with Virtual DJ? 2 Available Methods!
Want to use Tidal with Virtual DJ? Whether you have a subscription or not, I've got you covered! In this video, I'll show you two easy ways to mix Tidal tracks on Virtual DJ — so you can DJ without limits!
4. djay Pro
Best For: Mobile DJs and visual performers using iOS, Mac, or Windows.
djay Pro is one of the most suitable applications for beginners because of its simple interface and AI driven automatic mixing function, which can create smooth transitions without manual intervention. It runs well on iOS, macOS, and Windows, and is even compatible with some older laptops and iPads.
Click on "Music>Tidal" and log in with a Tidal account that includes the DJ extension. Then, you can use djay Pro's Neural Mix to split Tidal tracks into vocals or drums for fun mixing. In addition, you can also mix Tidal's music videos for visual display. For more detailed steps, please refer to the following guide.
Read More : How to Use Tidal on djay Pro [Latest]
5. DJUCED
Best For: Beginners and DJs with Hercules controllers.
New to DJing and want an easy-to-use program for your first mix? Try DJUCED! DJUCED has a free test version and it also has a DJ Academy that offers lessons. BeatMatch Guides shows you how to arrange tracks. What else? When connected to Tidal, the Music Assistant in DJUCED suggests Tidal tracks that match your musical vibe, simplifying the song selection process. However, it lacks advanced features like stem separation.
DJUCED works on Windows and macOS. To mix Tidal music in DJUCED, open the DJUCED app and go to "Settings > Connect." Then, click the Tidal icon and sign in with your Tidal account.
Read More : How to Connect Tidal Music to DJUCED with/without Subscription
Tired of that annoying DJ extension pop-up in DJUCED? 👎 Here's the trick to use your favorite Tidal tracks in DJUCED without linking your Tidal account — it's fast, easy, and 100% works! 🙌
6. DEX 3
Best For: Multimedia DJs blending music, videos, and karaoke.
DEX 3 mixes audio, video, and karaoke together to create fun sets. Its automix makes perfect transitions automatically for hands-off mixing, and its pitch lock feature maintains Tidal's audio quality. But DEX 3 cannot save Tidal playlists to the cloud, so please backup your playlists. Its automix is better than djay Pro's for long sets, but manual mixing is less smooth than Serato.
Tidal DJ DEX integration is only available for v3.17 or higher versions. Linking Tidal to DEX 3 is very simple and fast, just find the Tidal option in the "Browser" section and log in to your Tidal account.
Read More : How to Get TIDAL on PCDJ DEX 3
These 6 DJ software are preferable for beginners and DJs who pursue stable performance. In addition, Tidal also collaborates with some other DJs, and you can find specific DJ brands on Tidal's official website.
Alternative Ways to DJ with Tidal Music:
Part 3. How to DJ with Tidal Without Using the Tidal DJ Extension
The above DJ apps work wonderfully with Tidal, but require a Tidal subscription and DJ extension. If you are using a DJ controller and software that is not included in the Tidal DJ integration, then ViWizard Tidal Music Converter is the solution!
ViWizard Tidal Music Converter allows you to mix Tidal music with your DJ setup offline without the Tidal DJ extension. It downloads all tracks, playlists, and albums from Tidal and supports a wide range of output audio formats, such as FLAC, WAV, MP3, AIFF, and more. Therefore, this method works with almost all DJ hardware. Another advantage is that ViWizard downloads the highest quality audio from Tidal (up to 24-bit/192 kHz), and thanks to its download feature, mixing is done without any delays.
Key Features of ViWizard Tidal Music Converter
Free Trial Free Trial* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.
- Download full songs, albums, playlists, and artists from Tidal without ads offline
- Convert Tidal tracks in bulk at up to 35x faster speed
- Export Tidal music to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B
- Support various quality options up to a maximum of 24-bit, 192 kHz
Step 1 Choose and Import Tidal Tracks into the Converter
Open the ViWizard Tidal Music Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Log in to your Tidal account or search for the tracks, playlists, and albums you want to download. Click on the Add Music icon located in the bottom right corner. You can select multiple songs at once and queue them for download.
Step 2 Set the Output Format and Quality
Next, click the menu icon at the top right of the converter and go to Preferences > Conversion. From there, select MP3 or another supported format like WAV or FLAC. You can adjust the bit rate, sample rate, and audio channels for the best quality. Confirm your settings before proceeding.
Step 3 Download the Tidal Music and Import It to Your DJ Software
Once everything is set, hit the Convert button to start the download process. The software will quickly convert your selected Tidal tracks into DJ-ready files. After the conversion finishes, you can import them into any DJ app you use — Serato, Virtual DJ, Rekordbox, or djay Pro. Simply drag the files into your software's library or use the software's file import function. You're now ready to mix Tidal tracks without needing the DJ extension or even an internet connection.
Part 4. FAQs about Tidal DJ
Q1.Do I need a Tidal DJ subscription to mix with Tidal music?
A1.No, you don't always need the Tidal DJ extension. The extension ($9 per month) allows for direct streaming in supported applications such as Serato or Rekordbox. Alternatively, use ViWizard Tidal music converter to download tracks, so you can mix them in any DJ software without any extensions.
Q2.How much does Tidal DJ cost?
A2.The Tidal DJ extension costs $9 per month, plus the Tidal Individual ($11 per month) or Student plan ($5.49), totaling $15-$20 per month for most users. However, for new users, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial, during which you don't need to pay for the DJ add-on.
Q3.Can I DJ with Tidal music offline?
A3.No, DJing with Tidal without internet is not possible. The Tidal DJ integration is designed to work with supported DJ software in Performance Mode, which means that a stable internet connection is required. If you are going to DJ in a place with a weak Internet connection, using ViWizard Tidal Music Converter to download tracks and playlists in advance is the most reliable way.
Q4.Can I use Tidal music in Export Mode on DJ software?
A4.No, you can't DJ Tidal music in Export Mode. Tidal DJ streaming doesn't support the mode to protect the copyright of its content. But downloading tracks from Tidal with ViWizard Tidal Music Converter is a game changer. Because you can import the converted files into any DJ application and mix them in Export Mode.
Conclusion
Tidal provides DJs with a vast, high-quality music library and flexible integration options. Whether you choose the Tidal DJ extension to play directly in Serato, Rekordbox, or djay Pro, or use the ViWizard Tidal Music Converter for offline mixing in any application, Tidal will eliminate the limitations of your creativity. Choose the appropriate DJ application, set up a subscription, and start creating a program collection that attracts viewers.
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Dave Henry, a multimedia technologist at ViWizard, focuses on delivering the best solutions for digital media challenges, including audio and video conversion, media optimization, and troubleshooting.
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