How to DJ with iTunes or Apple Music (Serato, Rekordbox & Virtual DJ)
iTunes or Apple Music can be a very useful addition to your music library. However, Apple applied a couple of changes when it comes to iTunes. The most important question is can you still DJ with iTunes and can you DJ with Apple Music? In this article, I’m going to explain how you can integrate iTunes into your DJ software, so you can DJ with iTunes, and explain how new Apple users can DJ with Apple Music.
You can DJ with iTunes on all popular DJ software. You have to adjust the settings on your DJ software to be able to acces your iTunes library. After you’ve done this you can find your iTunes folder in your music library on your DJ software.
What happened to iTunes?
Since the end of 2019, Apple changed the name of iTunes to Apple Music.
iTunes still exists and can be used by Windows users but for the macOS Catalina and higher versions iTunes has been limited to a place to buy music, which you can later import to your Apple Music library.
If you want to DJ with a music streaming service I highly recommend Tidal. If you’re interested, here is an article about how to DJ with Tidal that I’ve written on this blog.
Can You DJ with Apple Music?
The only way to DJ with Apple Music on your DJ software is to buy your songs in iTunes and sync your Apple Music library with iTunes. You can’t DJ with Apple Music streaming files.
Apple Music is a music streaming service. You can’t buy music, you can only purchase a plan and stream music. That is exactly where the problem comes in for DJing with your Apple Music library.
DJ software can’t play the music streaming files from Apple Music. Apple has restricted these music streaming files to iTunes and iOS devices only.
You can’t DJ with Apple Music streaming services, but you can DJ with Apple Music using your purchased music in the iTunes library.
To sum up: the music you’ve bought on iTunes and have synced up with your Apple Music library will be available for you to DJ with on the DJ software that is discussed in this post.
In the remainder of this article, I’m going to show you how to connect your Apple Music library to your DJ software and how to connect your iTunes library to your DJ software.
DJ with Apple Music for Catalina and Higher
The main question for all DJ software out there is, do they have an updated version that is compatible with Apple music?
- If there isn’t an updated version, your DJ software needs the library XML file.
- If there is an update, the connection will be made automatically.
Serato DJ and Apple Music
Serato DJ has already updated its software to use it with Apple Music. They do, however, still call it iTunes.
If you want to DJ with Apple music, make sure you download the latest versions.
Once you’ve done that, all you have to do is go to the library tab in your Serato DJ settings and make sure you check the box that says Show iTunes Library.
Rekordbox and Apple Music
Rekordbox hasn’t updated its software to be able to connect to Apple Music.
What you need to do now is to export your Apple Music Library.
- Open the Music app
- Check if you need to make some changes to your playlists
- Go to File>Library>Export Library
- Give the file this name: iTunes Music Library.xml and store it in the iTunes folder, usually found under your username -> Music>iTunes
- Don’t forget to save the file
Once you’ve done that follow the connecting Rekordbox to iTunes steps in this post.
Virtual DJ and Apple Music
For Virtual DJ it’s the same as for Rekordbox. Follow the steps to create an XML file in the Rekordbox and Apple Music instructions above.
Next, go to Connect Virtual DJ with iTunes and follow the steps.
DJ with iTunes for Windows and macOS Mojave and Lower
When you don’t have the newer versions of macOS or a Windows computer. Then you can just follow the instructions below to connect your software to iTunes.
If you don’t have iTunes on your computer right now, follow the steps below to download and install iTunes on your computer. When you do have iTunes installed on your computer you can continue with iTunes setup.
Download iTunes
- Click on this link to download iTunes. The link will lead you to the download section of iTunes on the Apple website.
In the download section, you can download different versions of iTunes. The most important thing to look at is your operating system. If are downloading on a Mac or any other Apple product, you need to download the latest Mac version. If you have a Windows computer you need to download the latest version of Windows.
When you click on the Mac download link, it will start downloading immediately.
When you click on the download link for Windows, it will lead you to the Microsoft website. Follow the steps on the Microsoft website to download iTunes for Windows.
You will need a Microsoft account to be able to download iTunes from the Microsoft store.
If the Microsoft website has led you to the correct iTunes download area on the Mircosoft store you can download and install it from there.
Sometimes the Microsoft store won’t find iTunes from the direct link from the Microsoft website. When this happens to you just type in iTunes in the search bar within the Microsoft Store.
iTunes Setup
Before you can DJ with iTunes on any DJ software you have to go into your iTunes settings and let iTunes share your music library with other applications. When you don’t do this your DJ software will not be able to read your iTunes library.
To activate sharing your iTunes library with other applications open iTunes on your computer and go to the top bar menu and click on Edit -> Preferences. Next, go to the Advanced tab. Next check the box that says Share iTunes Library XML with other applications.
Your iTunes library is now available to other applications. The next step is to connect your DJ software with your iTunes library.
On Which DJ Software Can You DJ with iTunes
Here is a list of DJ software on which you are able to DJ with iTunes.
- Serato DJ Pro
- Serato DJ Lite
- Virtual DJ
- Traktor Pro
- DJUCED
You can only DJ with music that you’ve bought on iTunes. You can’t stream music to your DJ software from the iTunes music collection like you can with music streaming platforms like Tidal.
On Apple music, however, the iTunes replacement for macOS Catalina and higher, you can stream music directly from the Apple music collection if you have bought the Apple Music plan.
In the next couple of chapters, I will go over each one of the DJ software and show you how you can set up your DJ software to DJ with iTunes.
Connect Serato DJ with iTunes
On Serato DJ it’s very easy to connect to iTunes. Simply go to Settings in your Serato DJ Lite or Serato DJ Pro software by clicking on the gear icon. It’s located at the top menu bar right next to the Help menu option.
In your Settings click on the Library + Display tab and check the box that says: Show iTunes Library.
When you’ve done this you’ll be able to see the iTunes option in your DJ software library.
Connect Rekordbox with iTunes
Rekordbox is another very popular DJ software that is loved by many Pioneer DJ users. Follow the steps below to connect Rekordbox to your iTunes.
First, go to Settings in Rekordbox. You can click the gear icon at the top on the right side. You can also just go to File -> Preferences.
When you’re in your settings, in the View tab, scroll down to the Layout settings.
Here you need to check the box that says iTunes.
The iTunes icon should now be added to the tree view on the left side of the screen.
Connect Virtual DJ with iTunes
To connect Virtual DJ to iTunes, you’ll have to do a couple of things.
The first thing you need to do is go to your settings by clicking the gear icon at the top of your screen on the right.
Next, choose Options on the vertical menu on the left and go to Browser.
You will enter the Browser screen where you can enter the iTunes library XML file pathway. To browse for your iTunes Library XML file on your computer, click the arrow at the end of the row.
When you’ve located the file click on OK and the path will automatically be added in the Browser settings window.
If you don’t know where your iTunes Library XML is located on your computer, go back to your iTunes settings.
In the advanced tab where we allowed sharing of the XML document before, you can see the path on your computer in the grey area.
The XML file is in the iTunes folder, not in the iTunes Media folder.
Now you can close your settings in Virtual DJ and you’ll find the iTunes folder in the music library tree view on the bottom left side of your main screen.
Connect Traktor Pro with iTunes
First, let’s go to your settings by clicking on the gear icon on the top right of your screen or by going to FIle -> Preferences.
Next, go to file management. You can see in the image below where you can find the File Management.
In File Management, go to Directories and look for the iTunes/Music option. Here you can add the path to the iTunes Library XML file on your computer. Click on the 3 dots on the right side of the row to open your computer browser and manually select your iTunes Library XML file.
If you don’t know where your iTunes Library XML is located on your computer, go back to your iTunes settings.
In the advanced tab where we allowed sharing of the XML document before, you can see the path on your computer in the grey area.
If you’ve set it up correctly you will see the iTunes folder in the tree view on the Traktor Pro main screen.
Connect DJUCED with iTunes
Within DJUCED go to settings by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner of your main screen.
When you’re in your DJUCED settings click on Browser and check the box that says SHOW ITUNES. See the example image below. Now you can click on OK at the bottom of the settings window.
When you check your music library tree view area, you can see the iTunes folder.
If you have any trouble getting your DJ software set up to DJ with iTunes, you can send me an email by clicking on the Contact menu button at the top.
