Setup guide · Closed Beta

1 · What you need

• Chrome on a desktop or laptop computer. Recording doesn't work on phones or tablets, or in other browsers.
• A DJ mixer or controller connected to the computer over USB, and headphones or speakers.
• Tested so far: Pioneer DJ DJM-S9 on a Mac with Chrome. Other mixers may work but haven't been tested yet — if you use one, tell the person who invited you how it went.
• A sign-in (Google or Discord) and your invite link.

2 · Check your audio

1. Open Device setup and press Allow microphone. Chrome asks for permission in the address bar.
2. Pick your mixer as the Input.
3. Scratch and watch the meter: peaks around −6 dBFS (−12 to −3 is fine). Never hit 0 / CLIP — a clipped take can't be fixed. Very quiet takes (below −30) get noisy when levelled.
4. Press Test record 3 s. If you hear yourself late or twice, turn off monitoring in your mixer software so you only hear the mixer itself.

Microphone blocked? Click the icon at the left of Chrome's address bar → allow the microphone → reload the page.

3 · DJM-S9 settings (tested rig)

First decide which channel you scratch on. The game records that channel after the crossfader — your cuts are part of the take — and plays the beat on the other channel, so the beat stays out of your recording.

1. In the DJM-S9 Setting Utility, open MIXER OUTPUT and set USB1/2 to Cross Fader A (right-handed) or Cross Fader B (left-handed). Keep your scratch channel's selector on PHONO as usual.

   

2. Send the beat to the other channel, and set that channel's selector to the computer (USB) so you hear it. Pick one of these, not both:
   • In The Pit: set OUT to 3/4 (right-handed) or 1/2 (left-handed) after you press JOIN.
   • On a Mac, in Audio MIDI Setup: select DJM-S9 → Output → Configure Speakers… → Configuration Stereo, Left 3 / Right 4 (right-handed) or Left 1 / Right 2 (left-handed) → Apply.

   

   

3. Type 21 into input offset in The Pit. That's the delay measured on the tested rig; this browser remembers it.
4. Leave USB Output Level at its default (−19 dB). If you change it, set it back, or Serato may read your timecode wrong.

4 · Play a battle

1. Sign in with your invite link and pick your in-game name. It's only shown to your opponent at the reveal.
2. Open The Pit and press JOIN THE PIT. Battles are 8 bars. You're matched with the next player who joins. You never see who until the reveal — they're HOOD.
3. The question side plays the beat and records. The answer side presses LISTEN — you hear their take once — then records an answer. Two rounds, sides swap in round 2.
4. After each round both of you give the other 1–3 stars. More stars wins; equal is a draw.
5. RE-TAKE as often as you like, but every re-take is counted and shown with your name at the reveal.
6. Optional: play from your mixer's pads instead of the mouse — set them up once in Device setup › MIDI controller. The pads light up to show what you can press.
7. Optional: turn the mixer's Browse knob to move between buttons and links, press it to choose, and use Back to go back — set it up in the same place.
8. Fullscreen: press FULLSCREEN. Changing page leaves fullscreen — click once on the new page to go back. To stay fullscreen on every page, press F11 (Windows) or Ctrl+Cmd+F (Mac).

5 · Timing rules

• Once you start your turn (PLAY BEAT, REC or LISTEN) you have 4 minutes to submit.
• When it's your turn you have 24 hours to start it. If you don't, an empty take is sent for you.
• Listening before the stars, and giving the stars, must also happen within 24 hours — otherwise the battle closes with no result.
• Keep The Pit or My battles open in a tab: the tab title changes to ● YOUR TURN when it's your move.

6 · If something goes wrong

• Something wrong with your opponent's message or behaviour? Use Report in The Pit — an Official reviews it.
• Page stuck or an error message? Reload. Your battle is kept on the server — press JOIN THE PIT to get back to it.
• Questions about your data: Privacy.