Fine-tuning mixes, sorting promos and playlists, and adjusting hot cues are easy enough from a well-equipped studio. But what about when you're on the road? Or just tired on the couch? Here's a guide to the latest available tools and services, so you can refresh your playlist and deliver that podcast mix you promised. The choices have become more powerful, with new mobile and cloud sync features. This means lots of new subscription services to navigate.

Managing Libraries On the Go

rekordbox

If you just want to do some simple digging and "what-if" mixing, a number of handheld apps will do. For many DJs, especially those working with CDJs, Pioneer's rekordbox iOS/Android app is a decent place to start. The iOS app is now iPhone-only as Pioneer dropped iPad support, but functionality is much improved in recent versions. (We tested the latest iPhone version on iOS 16.)

rekordbox's mobile app falls a bit short of being a complete mix solution—for one, it lacks a pitch/tempo fader. But you do get complete grid, memory and hot cue settings that can be synced to other Pioneer products, plus basic looping, tap tempo, EQ cut and sync. The waveform view also supports dragging and pinch-zoom for cueing, with waveforms displayed similarly to those on the CDJ3000 (or tools like Traktor for iOS). rekordbox also now supports SoundCloud Go+, which comes in handy if you follow accounts on SoundCloud to find new music.

rekordbox is stronger as a companion to your digital collection, with multiple paths to syncing with other Pioneer tools:

• Import songs from your iTunes/Android music library (provided you've downloaded local copies)
• Connect to rekordbox for macOS or Windows, via a Wi-Fi connection
• Connect to a compatible CDJ or XDJ via PRO DJ LINK (with the Pioneer devices connected to a Wi-Fi router over an Ethernet cable)
• Automatically synchronise your library using Cloud Library Sync and a Creative subscription

With the exception of the subscription option, all of these are available with a free rekordbox download. That means you can use bi-directional sync with your smartphone from the desktop rekordbox app just as you would with Sync Manager and a USB stick. (Look for the "Search Mobile" button at the bottom left-hand corner of the Mac or Windows rekordbox app.)

The advantage of the subscription is that you have cloud access to your library, so if something happens to your laptop and your USB sticks, you can still get to your music. rekordbox cloud support requires you to either bring your own Dropbox subscription or opt for a Professional plan that includes unlimited Dropbox storage. The Professional plan also has the advantage of device backup and auto-upload.

Mixo

If you want additional flexibility across devices and outside the Pioneer ecosystem, Mixo is a strong third-party sync option currently in beta. Mixo supports rekordbox and iTunes music collections but can cross-sync with other DJ tools, including Traktor, Serato and VirtualDJ. So if you DJ at home on Serato but want to play CDJs at clubs with USB sticks, you can. The service already supports iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and even Linux, and offers Google Drive as an alternative to Dropbox, with additional storage choices promised in the future. Importing libraries manually is free on desktop. Mobile and automatic cloud support is $7 per month, which can save some money depending on your setup, especially if you've already upgraded Google Drive storage.

Mixo does more than just sync—you can access memory, loops and hot cues, plus metadata editing, just like rekordbox. For making complete mixes, you're free to use rekordbox, Traktor, Djay or whichever mobile or desktop app suits your fancy.

Mixing with iOS

An iPad or iPhone can be a complete mixing solution, and if you're comfortable enough with touch controls, you might even forgo a controller. If you're making this as portable as possible—and leave the interface at home—you'll want to consider a split cable. This uses the mobile device's single headphone jack to split a separate cue output to your headphones and monitor/booth output to speakers. We tested a Native Instruments Traktor DJ cable (it's analogue, so the vendor choice isn't relevant).

Traktor DJ for iOS introduced a number of powerful features and interface concepts, but it hasn't been updated since 2020. We tested DJ Player Pro, which at the moment is the most complete offering for iOS, and the one that makes your device most like a deck. On an iPhone, it can act as a complete handheld deck and works as a nice complement to your iTunes library (or Mixo). On the iPad, its four-deck functionality shines. The interface can get a little busy on smartphones, but the feature list is deep, with complete MIDI controller support, DVS compatibility and other extras. It's also fast, especially when navigating libraries, and it supports external devices.

Hardware Unlocks and Serato On the Go

If you're willing to tote a controller with you, you have additional options for using your computer/mobile DJ rig—some even fit easily into a carry-on bag.

Pioneer's DDJ-200 and DDJ-FLX4 fit into a medium-sized backpack or suitcase and still provide CDJ-style controls and jog wheels. They're both driverless so they work as well with tablets or smartphones as with computers. Both support rekordbox. The DDJ-FLX4 also unlocks Serato.

If you want to go even smaller, Serato supports Reloop Ready, Numark Party Mix II, Numark DJ2GO2 and Hercules DJControl Starlight. You might easily dismiss these as consumer-grade products, but they have the advantage of being extremely inexpensive and lightweight. All of these can still be upgraded to a Serato DJ Pro or DJ Suite via a one-time purchase or subscription.

Most DJ tools also support MIDI mapping, if you have a custom controller in mind. The free version of rekordbox already includes MIDI controller support. Serato can work without a controller with a Serato Play subscription, or with custom controllers with a Serato DJ Pro purchase or subscription.

More Useful Apps (Mobile and Browser)

Bandcamp Tempo Adjust

This free, user-contributed extension for Firefox- and Chrome-compatible browsers gives Bandcamp's Web players a tempo/pitch slider and basic BPM detection.

dj.beatport.com

The Web-based companion to Beatport gives you a complete two-deck DJ mixer in-browser, with playlists, charts and pre-made sets. It's mainly useful as a companion to a Beatport subscription, since the audio is otherwise limited to two minutes per track.

Beatport, Bandcamp apps

Both Beatport and Bandcamp also have useful apps for going through your library. Bandcamp's shows all the music in your Bandcamp library, which includes any promos producers sent to you as Bandcamp codes (provided you were logged in when you redeemed them).

Verdict

It seems everyone is offering one kind of cloud subscription or another, which can quickly get confusing (and pricey). But if you start with the tools, you can easily assemble an inexpensive and ultra-portable setup for digging and mixing. If all you want to do is refresh playlists and cues, you can get a lot from a free download of rekordbox, Mixo or DJ Player Pro. With these expanded mobile offerings, you're not even tied to a laptop. From there, your choice of tool and ecosystem will likely guide any subscription add-ons. But that cloud subscription could be worth a few bucks a month if it saves just one gig, and Mixo deserves some extra credit for its low-cost and maximum flexibility.