Why Can’t I Hear Serato Through My Laptop Speakers?

Struggling to get sound out of your laptop speakers when using Serato? It’s a common frustration for new DJs, but it’s happening for a very specific reason. Serato is professional DJ software designed to work with external hardware, like a DJ controller or mixer, which has its own dedicated, high-quality sound card.

By default, Serato automatically sends the main (Master) audio output directly to your connected controller. Your laptop’s internal sound card is typically reserved for your headphone Cue. This separation is a crucial feature, not a bug, as it allows you to privately listen to the next track in your headphones before mixing it into what the audience hears. This guide will show you how to bypass this professional setup for practice or preparation.

Key Takeaways: How to Get Serato Audio Through Your Laptop

  • For Serato DJ Pro users, the solution is simple. Go to Setup > Audio and check the box that says “Use Laptop Speakers”. This will mirror the master output to your computer’s built-in speakers.
  • For Serato DJ Lite users, this option doesn’t exist. You’ll need a workaround using a free virtual audio device like BlackHole (for Mac) or VB-CABLE (for Windows) to route the audio internally.
  • A physical workaround involves using an RCA to 3.5mm cable to connect your controller’s Master Out back to your laptop’s Line-In jack, though this method can be less reliable.
  • Always check your computer’s sound settings to ensure the correct output device is selected system-wide.

How to Play Serato Through Laptop Speakers (The Pro Method)

If you have a Serato DJ Pro license, getting audio to play through your laptop speakers is incredibly straightforward. This is a built-in feature designed for exactly this purpose—letting you prepare sets without needing to connect external speakers.

From my own experience, this is the feature I use most when I’m on a plane or in a hotel room organizing my library. It takes just a few seconds to set up.

Step-by-Step Guide for Serato DJ Pro

  1. Launch Serato DJ Pro: Open the application on your Mac or Windows computer. You can do this with or without your DJ controller connected.
  2. Open the Setup Menu: Click the cogwheel icon (⚙️) located in the top-right corner of the screen. This will open the main Setup window.
  3. Navigate to the Audio Tab: In the Setup window, click on the “Audio” tab from the top menu bar.
  4. Enable Laptop Speakers: Look for the Audio Output section. You will see a checkbox labeled “Use Laptop Speakers”. Click this box to enable it.
  5. Close and Test: Close the Setup window. Load a track onto a deck and press play. The audio should now be coming directly from your laptop’s built-in speakers while still allowing you to use your headphones for cueing if a controller is connected.

This setting tells Serato to create a second, parallel audio stream of the master output and send it directly to your computer’s default sound card.

Playing Serato DJ Lite Through Laptop Speakers (The Workaround)

One of the key differences between the free Serato DJ Lite and the paid Pro version is the absence of the “Use Laptop Speakers” feature. But don’t worry, you can still achieve the same result with a clever and completely free workaround: a virtual audio device.

Think of a virtual audio device as a digital cable that lets you route sound between different applications inside your computer. We’ll use it to “catch” the audio from Serato DJ Lite and send it to your speakers.

Step 1: Install a Virtual Audio Device

Your first step is to download and install the correct tool for your operating system.

  • For macOS: The industry standard is BlackHole. It’s an open-source tool that is powerful and reliable. Download the latest installer from their official GitHub page.
  • For Windows: The most popular choice is VB-CABLE Virtual Audio Device. It’s a simple, effective tool that creates a virtual audio endpoint.

Install your chosen software and restart your computer to ensure it is properly integrated into your system’s audio devices.

Step 2: Configure Your Audio Output (macOS Example)

If you’re on a Mac, you need to create a special output that combines the virtual device and your speakers.

  1. Open the “Audio MIDI Setup” application (you can find it in Applications > Utilities, or by searching with Spotlight).
  2. Click the plus (+) icon in the bottom-left corner and select “Create Multi-Output Device”.
  3. A new device will appear in the list. Select it and, on the right-hand panel, check the boxes for both “Built-in Output” (your speakers) and “BlackHole”.
  4. Crucially, ensure “Built-in Output” is set as the Master Device. This prevents audio sync issues. Also, check the “Drift Correction” box for BlackHole.

Step 3: Set Serato DJ Lite’s Audio Device

Now, you just need to tell Serato DJ Lite to send its audio to the new virtual device you’ve configured.

  1. Open Serato DJ Lite.
  2. Go to Setup (⚙️) > Audio.
  3. Under the “Audio Device” dropdown menu, select your newly created device.

* On Mac, choose “Multi-Output Device”.
* On Windows, choose “CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)”.

  1. Close the setup menu. Now, when you play a track in Serato DJ Lite, the audio will be routed through the virtual cable and out to your laptop speakers.

Alternative Method: Using a Physical Cable

If you prefer a hardware solution or find the virtual audio software too complex, there’s another way—as long as your DJ controller has a master output.

This method involves physically routing the audio from your controller back into your computer.

What You’ll Need

  • A DJ controller with an RCA (red and white) Master Output.
  • An RCA to 3.5mm (1/8″) cable. This is a common cable with two RCA plugs on one end and a standard headphone-style plug on the other.

How to Set It Up

  1. Connect the Cable: Plug the two RCA connectors into the MASTER OUT ports on the back of your DJ controller.
  2. Plug into Laptop: Plug the single 3.5mm end into your laptop’s Line-In or **Microphone