DJ Software and Audio Compression Restoration

Less than five years ago, the noses of professional DJs were permanently upturned at the prospect of using a software program to mix songs. Now, more and more DJs are crossing those lines and embracing the convenience, portability and power that a DJ software program offers. Sure, many DJs are keeping their MIDI and external controller decks, but simply having the tools at hand that most DJ Software programs offer. Tools such as BPM counter, Master Tempo, synchronizer, master clock and others, greatly improve a DJ’s ability to focus on the more important tasks like track selection and proper mixing.

But as DJs continue to incorporate DJ Software into their performances, questions of audio quality and integrity are becoming hot issues. Many DJs continue to lug around crates filled with vinyl records and CDs, fearing that the MP3, WAV and other audio file formats will contain poor compression qualities. But while most DJ Software programs accommodate external controller and MIDI devices, most don’t include applications to improve and restore audio quality from poorly compressed file types. But not to worry, there are many audio compression restoration and improvement applications available.

The question remains: what is audio compression and how can it be restored?
Audio compression is a method for reducing the size of audio files by implementing an algorithm which shaves off information from the file at hand. Most consumer audio devices utilize “Lossy” algorithms to provide greater compression ratios. As CDs have been replaced by MP3s in popularity, these “lossy” compression algorithms have been tightened making it possible to fit more data in storage. While most of us reap the benefits of these compression techniques daily when we use computers, watch DVDs or listen to MP3 players, few are aware at what is missing from the sound and images they enjoy.

Not to worry, audio compression restoration applications have been engineered to locate the algorithm used to compress the files and restore, improve and even convert them to better compression ratios, such as WAV, FLAC and other audio file formats. Now, DJs can keep the costly (and heavy) vinyl records and CDs, which are often lost or damaged during transport, at home and use “lossless” audio file formats stored on their hard drives or external devices in their sets. It might take another five years, but the chances of hearing high-quality, “lossless” tracks coming from a DJ Software program without external vinyl or CD decks is very high.