Phase DJ Finally Works Natively with rekordbox—But Is It Ready for the Gig?

Phase DJ is officially compatible with rekordbox through a direct USB connection. I tested the new wireless DVS workflow during a live set at Goodness in Denver—and the experience came with both a major advantage and an important warning.

Phase DJ Is Finally Native in rekordbox

On July 9, 2026, AlphaTheta released rekordbox version 7.2.16 with official HID support for Phase. For DJs who like the feel of turntables but want a needle-free DVS setup, this is a major workflow update.

Once the Phase Receiver is connected to your computer by USB, rekordbox now displays a WIRELESS option in DVS mode. The Phase Remotes send their movement data directly through the receiver, so you no longer need the traditional RCA control-signal connection from the Phase Receiver to your mixer.

It is a cleaner setup with fewer cables—and it makes Phase a much more natural option for DJs whose music libraries and preparation workflows already live inside rekordbox.

Testing Phase and rekordbox at Goodness in Denver

I recently took a trip to Denver and got the chance to test the new setup at Goodness, an amazing party thrown by my guy Loki.

For my first set, Phase and rekordbox worked as expected. I was able to use the turntables and play through the set with the new USB-based wireless workflow.

During my second set, however, Phase disconnected. I could not confirm whether the battery was getting low or whether it was a connectivity issue. In the middle of a live party, I did not want to stop and troubleshoot the system, so I switched rekordbox to Internal Mode and finished my set.

That does not mean the new integration is unusable, but it is a reminder that every new live setup needs to be tested before you fully depend on it. Update rekordbox, update the Phase firmware, fully charge the Remotes, and keep a backup playback option ready.

rekordbox vs. Serato on Turntables and the DJM-S11

The bigger question is whether this update is enough to make turntable DJs choose rekordbox over Serato DJ Pro.

rekordbox has some excellent library-management and preparation tools. Its intelligent playlist features, track suggestions, and Queue workflow can be extremely useful when organizing music or building several possible directions for a set.

Serato, however, still feels like the better performance experience to me when I am using turntables with the Pioneer DJM-S11. Serato Stems remains one of its biggest advantages because the separation sounds cleaner and produces fewer distracting artifacts in a live mix.

The DJM-S11 is also still an incredibly fun performance mixer. After spending more time recently on mixers such as the DJM-A9 and DJM-900NXS2, returning to the S11 reminded me how much creative control it gives a turntablist or open-format DJ.

Could an AlphaTheta DJM-S12 Be Next?

There has been no product announcement—this is only an idea—but it is interesting to imagine what a future DJM-S12 could become.

What if AlphaTheta built a next-generation battle mixer with a larger screen, onboard Stems, DVS control, and the ability to play directly from a USB drive without a laptop?

With more DIY controllers and alternative DVS products appearing, established DJ manufacturers have an opportunity to rethink what a modern performance mixer can do.

Final Thoughts

Native Phase support gives rekordbox DJs a cleaner and more flexible way to perform with turntables. The single-USB workflow is a real improvement, but my disconnect during the second set means I would still test the complete setup carefully before trusting it as my only option at a live gig.

Would you use Phase with rekordbox, or does Serato still offer the better turntable workflow? And would you want an all-in-one DJM-S12 that could run DVS, Stems, and USB playback without a laptop?

Let me know in the comments.

Watch and Learn More

Watch the new Music Gear Mondays episode:
[ADD NEW EPISODE URL AFTER PUBLISHING]

rekordbox Phase HID announcement:
https://rekordbox.com/en/2026/07/rekordbox-for-mac-windows-compatible-with-phase-in-hid-mode/

Download/update rekordbox:
https://rekordbox.com/en/download/

Phase DJ setup tutorial—How to Set Up Phase with rekordbox via USB:
https://youtu.be/wnaPE1oy8HY

Earlier Music Gear Mondays Phase episode—Phase DJ & Serato DJ Pro: Are We There Yet?
https://youtu.be/aj81_iODouA

Pioneer DJM-S11: 3 Tips
https://youtu.be/Jrovob1GHUs

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