xwax is Linux software that lets you control digital music files with turntables using compatible timecode vinyl. To run it, you need a Linux computer, compatible timecode media, an audio interface with suitable stereo connections and Linux audio support, and a phono preamp if neither your turntable path nor interface provides one. The official project materials identify xwax 1.10, announced on May 3, 2026, as the current release.
What xwax does
xwax is an open-source Digital Vinyl System (DVS) for Linux. It reads the control signal on timecode vinyl and uses the turntable’s movement to control digital audio files, including MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and AAC. That lets a DJ use familiar turntable techniques—such as pitch changes, scratching, needle drops, spinbacks and rewinds—with music stored on a computer. xwax is GPL software.
The project’s official description characterizes it as software for both beat mixing and scratch mixing. A physical timecode record is not just an optional control accessory: xwax needs a supported timecode signal to interpret the record’s motion.
What you need to run xwax
- A Linux PC or laptop. xwax is a Linux application.
- Timecode media supported by xwax, one record per controlled deck. Compatibility depends on the record’s timecode format and edition, not just its brand.
- An audio interface with suitable stereo input and output for each deck. It must work with ALSA, JACK or OSS on your Linux system.
- A phono preamp when your signal path needs one. A turntable’s line-level output or an interface with built-in phono amplification can remove the need for a separate preamp.
- xwax’s software dependencies. The project overview lists libSDL and audio decoders.
The xwax documentation lists a Pentium III 600 MHz or faster processor and typically 512 MB or more of RAM. These are project-documented requirements and guidance, not independent benchmarks or a guarantee of performance on a particular system. The same documentation gives less than 1 ms audio latency as a target; treat that as project guidance, not a measured result for every interface or configuration.
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Which timecode vinyl works with xwax?
The official xwax guide recommends Serato Scratch Live 2nd edition or “Performance series” pressings and also lists MixVibes timecode vinyl as supported. The product wording most relevant when shopping is Serato Scratch Live Performance Series timecode vinyl. Check the live listing for the edition and timecode format; a Serato label alone does not establish compatibility.
Current-generation Traktor Scratch records are not supported. First-generation Native Instruments/N2IT Traktor Scratch records are supported, but the xwax guide describes them as discontinued and difficult to acquire. If a listing does not make the edition clear, verify it before buying rather than assuming a newer record will work.
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Choosing an audio interface and preamp
xwax does not require a particular sound-card brand. According to the project documentation, an interface is suitable if it provides the needed stereo input and output for a turntable and works through ALSA, JACK or OSS. More than one interface can be used together.
Check the whole signal path, not just the interface’s connector count. A turntable’s phono-level signal needs phono amplification before it reaches an ordinary line input. If the turntable already supplies line level, or the interface has a built-in phono preamp, a separate preamp is unnecessary. Otherwise, add a phono preamp between the turntable and interface. xwax also offers a software-preamp option, but its documentation warns that this may reduce scratch responsiveness.
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| Setup choice | What it provides | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Interface with built-in phono preamp | Audio interface and phono amplification in one device | Suitable stereo I/O and Linux ALSA, JACK or OSS support, as required by xwax documentation |
| Interface plus external phono preamp | Separate phono amplification ahead of the interface | Use this when neither the turntable path nor interface provides phono amplification |
| Interface without phono amplification | Stereo I/O, but no phono stage | Add an external preamp or consider xwax’s software-preamp option, noting the project’s responsiveness warning |
Installing xwax and starting it with ALSA or JACK
The project’s getting-started instructions call for downloading the source, reading its INSTALL file, compiling with the desired audio support, and launching xwax from a terminal. The documented source-build configuration command enables both ALSA and JACK:
./configure --prefix /usr --enable-alsa --enable-jack
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Use the project’s INSTALL instructions for the remaining build steps and dependencies. For an ALSA first run, the getting-started guide gives this representative command, with a music library at ~/music and ALSA device hw:0:
xwax -l ~/music -a hw:0
The guide also documents a two-deck example using the serato_2b timecode definition, two music-library paths and two ALSA devices. Device names depend on the Linux system, so identify the appropriate devices for your setup rather than copying a device number blindly.
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Check the first run
- Start xwax with the library path, audio backend and device or devices appropriate to your setup.
- Load a track using the deck’s function keys.
- Enable timecode control for the deck and choose the timecode definition that matches the record.
- Put the needle on the timecode record and check the scope display. The guide describes a healthy circle as the expected indication.
If the scope does not show a healthy circle, check that the record is a supported timecode pressing, the correct timecode definition is selected, the turntable signal reaches the expected stereo input, and the selected audio device is the one connected to that input.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can one turntable control two xwax decks?
Yes. The xwax project documents controlling multiple virtual decks from one turntable or CDJ. Its documented approaches include an Y-adapter, duplicated ALSA inputs, or JACK routing. Timecode control can be toggled independently for each virtual deck. This is an advanced routing arrangement: the input signal has to reach the relevant virtual decks, and the chosen audio backend and connections must support the routing you set up.
What changed in xwax 1.10?
The official project homepage announced xwax 1.10 on May 3, 2026. The release notes describe migration to SDL2, scriptability improvements, fixes for non-stereo imports and quit crashes, reduced real-time disruption on low-memory systems, and ALSA fixes. The announcement also notes tighter ALSA audio performance and a later SDL version. These are release changes, not a promise of a particular latency or performance result on every computer.
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