Setting up Bonza as a DJ

What You’ll Need

To get the most out of Bonza, DJs will need:

• An audio interface with at least four inputs (4x4) - this is essential if you plan to route both your main mix and your cue mix (headphones). Examples include (but are not limited to) a Focusrite 4i4 or SSL 12.
• A basic understanding of audio routing - DJs typically have separate stereo signals for the booth/main mix and the cue/headphone mix. Bonza can handle these, but you’ll need to configure your inputs correctly. Drop us an email (below) and we’d be happy to support.
• Your DJ software and interface details - knowing your exact brand/model and the software you’re using (e.g. Serato, Rekordbox, Traktor, Virtual DJ) will help determine the best routing method.

 

Typical Setup Scenarios

1. DJ Software on One Laptop, Bonza on Another

If you’d prefer to keep your DJ setup and Bonza running on separate machines, you can:

• Feed your DJ mixer or controller’s Main and Booth (or Cue) outputs into an audio interface with 4 analogue inputs (XLR, TRS, Jack, RCA/Phono)
• On a Mac, you can also create an Aggregate Audio Device to combine your audio interface and built-in mic AND route audio between programs, allowing two-way communication within Bonza, if your DJ mixer does not have a mic input. For help on this, please see our Knowledge Base article on Aggregate Devices.

This setup helps keep your DJ performance computer focused on the mix, while the second laptop handles Bonza’s live connection.

1. Running Both DJ Software and Bonza on the Same Laptop

If you’d rather keep everything on one machine, you’ll need to route your audio internally.

• macOS: We recommend using the BlackHole Audio virtual routing driver. This allows internal routing between applications, making it possible to send your DJ software output directly into Bonza.
• Windows: We recommend using SAR (Studio Audio Router), which provides similar internal routing functionality on Windows systems.

Both of these tools are freeware made by independent developers, so please donate to them as a thank-you if they come in useful for you.

Both tools allow you to complete audio paths entirely within your computer, which is required when running a DAW or DJ application alongside Bonza on the same machine.

Important: We cannot recommend this setup on lower-powered machines or computers with fewer CPU cores, as running multiple real-time audio applications simultaneously can be demanding. It's best to try it out and see if it works, and if it doesn't please let us know - we may well be able to fix the issue!

 

Cue Mixes and Why They’re Tricky

Cue mixes are where DJ setups differ most from typical musician or vocalist workflows, and this is the point that most often causes confusion.

To use Bonza comfortably as a DJ, you need to be able to output two separate mixes:

• Your main mix being sent into Bonza so other participants can hear your performance
• Your cue or local monitoring mix (in headphones) that allows you to audition tracks without anyone else hearing.

To achieve this, your DJ mixer, controller, or software must be capable of providing four independent input channels in total:

• Two outputs (a stereo pair) for your main mix, which are routed into Bonza
• Two outputs (a stereo pair) for your cue or headphone mix, which remain local to you

Many entry-level DJ controllers and 2x2 audio interfaces simply cannot do this. They may allow cueing, but they do not expose the cue mix as a separate, routable stereo output. In these cases, it becomes impossible to preview tracks privately while also sending a clean main mix into Bonza.

For reliable cue monitoring and proper routing, we strongly recommend:

• A DJ mixer or controller that supports separate, assignable outputs
• Or an audio interface with at least 4 inputs and a headphone output when using software-based routing

Without this level of output flexibility, cue audio may leak into the Bonza session or you may lose independent control over your headphones - neither of which is suitable for live collaboration.

 

Note on Sync, Tempo, and Beatmatching

At present, Bonza does not transport sync, tempo, or beat grid data between DJs.

This means:

• Automatic beatmatching or shared sync is not possible
• Each DJ’s software runs independently, with no tempo or transport information exchanged
• Any alignment between performers must be done by ear, just as you would when playing back-to-back without sync enabled

Bonza is focused on transporting high-quality, low-latency audio, rather than control or metadata streams. While tempo and sync sharing is something we may explore in the future, it is not currently supported, and we don’t yet have a timeline for when or if this will be implemented.

For now, DJs using Bonza should expect a workflow closer to traditional vinyl performance techniques rather than software-assisted beatmatching.

 

Final Thoughts

Setting up Bonza for DJ use is more advanced than a typical vocal or instrument setup, but it is absolutely achievable with the right hardware and a bit of technical confidence.

If you’re unsure where to start, it really helps to know:

• Which DJ controller or mixer you’re using
• Which DJ software you perform with
• Whether you plan to run Bonza on the same laptop or on a separate machine

We’re always happy to help you design a setup that keeps your cue mix private and your performance sounding exactly as intended. We’d much rather help you do it right than struggle with a compromised setup. Drop us a message at support@bonzamusic.com.