Setup

Firmware, setup & connection

The AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X is a class-compliant “Serato Official Accessory” for Mac and Windows, and does not require separate drivers.

Each AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X media player used with Serato DJ Pro in Internal mode via HID requires a USB cable and an available USB port, and must be connected alongside Serato DJ primary hardware.

If you don’t have enough USB ports available, you may need to connect your AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X media players to a powered USB hub. Where possible, it is important to always connect your Serato DJ primary hardware directly to your computer.

To connect your AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X to Serato DJ Pro, ensure you have firmware version 1.10 or higher. You can download the firmware from AlphaTheta’s website.

Please also ensure you have version 4.0.8 of Serato DJ Pro installed: Click here to download Serato DJ Pro

HID Mode

To use the CDJ-1500X in HID mode:

1. Connect your Serato DJ primary hardware via an available USB port on your computer.

2. Open Serato DJ Pro.

3. Connect the CDJ-1500X to your computer via an available USB port or USB hub (if required)

4. Press the SOURCE button on the  CDJ-1500X, then press the Scroll Knob in.

5. Turn the Scroll Knob to select a virtual deck to assign the CDJ-1500X to control, then press the Scroll
Knob in again to confirm.

6. Set the respective virtual deck in Serato DJ Pro to INT (Internal) mode.

7. Repeat steps 3-6 for any further CDJ-1500X devices you wish to use.

LCD Display Controls

The following controls will only display when connecting to Serato DJ Pro

Main Display

Loop Functions

Loops can be set using the physical Autoloop encoder or the touchscreen Loop controls. When the Loop screen is active, you have access to manual loop points and fixed-size autoloops. Tap any beat value button to toggle an autoloop of that size on or off.

Accessing the Loop Screen

1. Load a track to the deck.

2. On the touchscreen waveform view, tap the LOOP tab at the top of the performance area to switch to the Loop screen controls.

3. Use the 1 and 2 page buttons on-screen to switch between autoloop values.

Setting a Manual Loop (Loop In/Out)

1. On the Loop screen, tap In at the point where you want the loop to start.

2. Tap Loop Out at the point where you want the loop to end - This sets the end point and immediately activates the loop. 

3. To adjust the start position of your loop, tap In again

4. To adjust the end position, tap Out.

Using Slip Loops

Slip Loops allow you to loop a section while the track continues playing underneath. When you release the loop, playback resumes from where the track would have been.

1. Enable Slip mode by tapping the Slip button on-screen.

2. With Slip enabled and the LOOP screen visible, Slip Loop controls appear automatically.

3. Press and hold a Slip Loop value to activate the loop. Release to resume normal playback from the ghost playhead position.

The Slip Reverse button on the same screen triggers Censor while held. Releasing Slip Reverse resumes from the true position.

Memory Cue

The Memory Cue function on the CDJ-1500X allows you to save, recall, and manage loop slots directly from the touchscreen. 

Accessing Memory Cue Mode

1. Load a track to the deck.

2. On the touchscreen waveform view, tap the MEMORY CUE tab at the top of the performance area to switch to the Memory Cue controls.

Saving a Loop Slot

1. Set a loop using the Autoloop encoder or by using the Loop In/Out controls on the Loop screen.

2. While the loop is active, tap the Memory button to save the current loop to the next available slot.

Navigating Between Saved Loop Slots

• Tap the Right Call ▶ button to select the next saved loop slot.

• Tap the Left Call ◀ button to select the previous saved loop slot.

Each press triggers a Slot Select event and the button lights up while pressed.

Deleting a Saved Loop Slot

1. Navigate to the loop slot you want to remove using the Call buttons.

2. Tap the Delete button on the Memory Cue screen.

3. The selected loop slot will be removed.

Beat Jump

Accessing the Beat Jump mode

1. On the touchscreen waveform view, tap the BEAT JUMP tab at the top of the performance area to switch to the Beat Jump controls.
    

2. Toggle between the '1' and '2' page buttons on-screen to switch between the different beat jump values. (Page 1: 1/2, 1, 2, 4. Page 2: 8, 16, 32, 64)

Performing a Beat Jump

1. With a track loaded and the Beat Jump screen active, tap a beat value button to jump the playhead by that amount. (Each value has a left and right option to jump backward or forward respectively)
    

2. To access larger jump values, tap the '2' page button to switch to Page 2.

Help

Show Tooltips

Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Show Tooltips to enable Tooltips. Tooltips provide a handy way to learn the various features of Serato DJ Pro.

Move the mouse over a section of the software to bring up a context-sensitive tooltip that describes the feature.

Click on the Help button again to turn off Tooltips.

Show Shortcut Keys

Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then click Show Shortcut Keys to launch a pop-up window displaying shortcut keyboard combinations.

These shortcuts can help you perform various actions quickly, such as triggering specific deck functions, controlling playback, or navigating the library.

Watch Tutorials

Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Watch Tutorials to launch
your default internet browser and watch tutorials to help you get familiar with Serato DJ Pro.

Get Support

Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Get Support to launch your default internet browser and navigate to the Serato DJ Pro knowledge base, where you can find helpful articles and guides on Serato DJ Pro. Alternatively, type keywords in the Search Help box to search the Serato DJ Pro knowledge base for specific, related topics.