Most event planners tell us the same thing at first: “We don’t need video on the dance floor—guests are here to enjoy the evening, not watch a screen.”
“The result? Guests don’t just attend—they remember.”
Imagine this at your next brand activation: a DJ stands behind a classic setup of two turntables and a mixer. But behind them, a massive LED wall displays stunning visuals.
The synchronization: the DJ loads a track in Serato, and a custom music video or branded animation is automatically loaded in MixEmergency. As the DJ uses the turntable to cue up the first beat, the video on the screen scrubs back and forth in perfect sync.
The moment of impact: the DJ finds a percussive break in a track and places a hand on the record. As they perform a rapid-fire series of scratches—a “transform” or a “flare”—the sound cuts through the room. Simultaneously, because MixEmergency is linked to the audio, a specific visual effect triggers — perhaps the brand logo on screen “scratches” along with the audio, warping and glitching in real-time, or a burst of colour explodes with every record movement.
Layered complexity: using a MIDI controller, the VJ/DJ can layer additional elements — fading the brand’s logo over the music video via MixEmergency’s overlay functions, triggered by a simple button press. A mixer’s “beats” knob, often unused, can be mapped to control the intensity of a video effect, making the visuals breathe and pulse with the energy of the set.
This level of integration creates a “wow” factor that is impossible to ignore. It demonstrates technical mastery and presents the brand as innovative, dynamic, and cutting-edge. It moves beyond simply having a DJ and a screen to presenting a unified performance where the music and message are one.
The Video DJ setup is run entirely from the DJ’s own HDMI and audio output — nothing runs from your AV desk. It’s planned in advance with the event organisers and client beforehand, particularly around anything sensitive such as branded or personal video sections.
Video DJing is specialized, high-skill work — we have three video DJs on our roster, each with over 20 years’ experience. It’s not something you check a box and book; it’s a short conversation and a tailored set, much like booking a wedding DJ.
Serato DJ is the industry-standard software for professional DJs. When a DJ scratches a record on a turntable, that movement is translated via a control tone on a special vinyl record into digital data that Serato DJ uses to manipulate the digital audio file.
It’s not limited to turntables — any professional CDJ or controller setup behind a booth works the same way. We’d typically suggest a turntable setup for smaller brand events, and CDJs for bigger galas.
MixEmergency is a powerful VJ software plugin that acts as a bridge. It runs alongside Serato DJ and “listens” to what the DJ is doing. When the DJ starts a track, scratches a sample, or moves the crossfader, MixEmergency can be configured to perform a corresponding visual action.