Glossary of DJ terms
This glossary explains key DJ and technical terms used throughout the manual. Each entry includes a short definition to help you navigate djay with confidence.
Bar / Measure
A bar (also called a measure) is a group of beats that define the timing of music. For example, most House music is in 4/4 time, so one bar equals four beats.
Beatmatching
The process of aligning the tempos and beats of two tracks so they play in sync. Beatmatching helps you create smooth transitions by keeping the rhythm consistent when switching between songs.
BPM (beats per minute)
The unit used to measure a track’s tempo. The higher the BPM, the faster the song.
Channel
A single path for audio (or video) in the mixer. Each deck plays through its own channel.
Crossfader
The crossfader blends audio between two decks, letting you smoothly transition from one track to another.
Cue point
Markers you set along a track’s timeline to instantly jump to key moments like drops, vocals, or transitions.
Deck
The virtual place where you play and control a track, just like a physical turntable or CDJ. Use the deck to control tempo, view the waveform, and use other DJ tools.
Downbeat
The first beat in a bar. It often marks the strongest beat in a phrase.
Digital Vinyl System (DVS)
A system that lets you control digital music using real turntables and special timecode vinyl. DVS is supported in djay Pro with compatible hardware.
Effect
A change you apply to your mix. Audio effects shape how a track sounds, like adding an echo to make vocals trail off, or using a filter to muffle the bass before a drop. You can chain (combine) up to three audio effects and two video effects per channel.
EQ (equalization)
EQ lets you adjust or remove specific frequency ranges in your track—typically highs, mids, and lows.
Fader / Slider
A horizontal or vertical control that lets you adjust levels, like volume or mix between channels. Includes the crossfader, which blends two tracks.
Force Touch
Technology that detects pressure sensitivity on some touchpads and touchscreens.
Jog wheel
The circular controller on DJ hardware that lets you nudge, scratch, or manipulate a track, similar to a vinyl record or CDJ.
Library
Where you browse, search, and organize your music and video files before mixing.
Loop
A repeated segment of a track. You can adjust a loop’s size and position as you like.
Mixer
The central control hub for your output. Use the mixer to adjust channel volume, EQs, filters, gain, and the crossfader.
Multi-touch
Technology such as the Apple trackpad or touchscreens that recognize more than one finger or gesture at a time, such as pinching or swiping.
Playlist
A saved group of tracks from your library. Use playlists to organize sets or create Automix queues.
Pre-cueing
Listening to a track through headphones before playing it out loud. Pre-cueing lets you prepare your mix by checking timing, setting cue points, or adjusting EQ—without the audience hearing it.
Quantize
Automatically aligns music to a set tempo. Quantized tracks stay in sync, even if you trigger them slightly off the beat.
Sample
A short audio or video clip you can trigger instantly—great for drums, stabs, vocals, or custom sounds.
Sync
Keeps tracks in time automatically by matching tempo and aligning beats.
Tempo
The speed of a track, measured in BPM (beats per minute).
Transport controls
Buttons used to control playback, such as play/pause, cue, rewind, or fast forward.
UI (user interface)
The visual elements you interact with in djay, like buttons, menus, sliders, lists, and waveforms.
Waveform
The visual representation of a track’s audio. Waveforms show volume and frequency content, often using color to distinguish highs, mids, and lows.