Which timecode vinyl can I use with the SL1?

Serato CV02 (Side A, 33⅓ RPM) is tested with Mixxx. Other timecode vinyl depends on your DJ software and is untested; OpenSL1 only delivers the audio signal.

Does the Rane SL1 work with VirtualDJ?

VirtualDJ opens the SL1 as a sound card and plays to Line 1 (tested). Timecode in VirtualDJ needs a paid licence and has not been tested.

OpenSL1 – Unofficial Rane SL1 (Serato Scratch Live) driver for macOS

Why OpenSL1?

The SL1 is the original Rane interface for Serato Scratch Live from 2004 – a small box with Input 1/2, Thru and Line jacks for two decks. On USB it reports itself as Serato Scratch LIVE(c)2004 (13e5:0001).

Serato Scratch Live is legacy 32-bit Intel software: Apple Silicon Macs cannot run it, not even through Rosetta, and Serato DJ never supported the SL1. You need the OpenSL1 driver so macOS sees the SL1 as a sound card – the DJ software on top is your choice.

Which DJ software works with the SL1 on macOS?

Software	With the SL1 on macOS
Mixxx (free, open source)	Works – timecode on both decks, tested with Serato CV02 vinyl
VirtualDJ	Sound card works – plays to Line 1 (tested). Timecode needs a paid VirtualDJ licence and has not been tested.
Serato Scratch Live	No – legacy 32-bit Intel software, does not run on Apple Silicon
Serato DJ Lite / Pro	No – does not accept the SL1; only Serato could change that

OpenSL1 will never present the SL1 as another device and does not circumvent any licence checks.

Features

Plug & play“Rane SL1” with 4 inputs and 4 outputs at 44.1 kHz.

Timecode on both decksSerato CV02 control vinyl in Mixxx, tested with real turntables.

Built for accidentsCable pulled mid-set? Plug it back in – the driver delivers audio again about 0.3 s later.

Never loses your setup“Rane SL1” stays available even when unplugged – start Mixxx first, plug in later.

Sleep-proofClose the lid, open it again – the sound comes back.

Watched streamsA watchdog restarts USB if any input or output stops; a dead input reads silence, never old timecode.

Safe by designNo kernel extension – runs inside Apple’s sandboxed audio service.

Gig diagnosticsLevels, gaps, USB errors and power events in the macOS log.

Installation

Download OpenSL1-0.1.3.pkg from the latest release.
Open it and follow the installer.
Plug in the SL1 – it appears as “Rane SL1” in Audio MIDI Setup and in Mixxx.

The installer is not “notarized”. Apple has not checked it, because that requires a paid developer account. macOS therefore shows a warning at first – go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. To remove the driver, open OpenSL1-Uninstall-0.1.3.pkg.

Mixxx setup

Where	Setting
macOS microphone prompt	Allow – otherwise no timecode reaches Mixxx
Preferences → Sound Hardware	CoreAudio, 44100 Hz, buffer 5.8 ms (2.9 ms worked on a MacBook Air M4, with less safety margin)
Output: Deck 1 / Deck 2	“Rane SL1” channels 1–2 / 3–4
Output: Main, Headphones	None – your DJ mixer does that
Input: Vinyl Control 1 / 2	“Rane SL1” channels 1–2 / 3–4
Preferences → Vinyl Control	Serato CV02 Vinyl, Side A, 33⅓ RPM, mode REL, Alpha-beta filter

Mixxx Sound Hardware outputs: Deck 1 to Rane SL1 channels 1-2, Deck 2 to channels 3-4 — Mixxx outputs: Deck 1 → Rane SL1 channels 1–2, Deck 2 → channels 3–4.

Mixxx Vinyl Control with Serato CV02 Vinyl Side A, 33.3 RPM, Alpha-Beta filter — Mixxx vinyl control: Serato CV02 Side A, 33⅓ RPM.

VirtualDJ setup

Sound card: works. Timecode: not tested yet – only because VirtualDJ needs a paid licence for timecode/DVS. If you have one, please report back in an issue.

Where	Setting
Settings → Audio → Outputs	Separate decks: deck 1 → “Rane SL1” chan 1 & 2, deck 2 → chan 3 & 4
Settings → Audio → Inputs	Timecode signal: timecode 1 → chan 1 & 2, timecode 2 → chan 3 & 4
Settings → Timecode	Mode relative, Record Serato side A

VirtualDJ Audio Settings with Rane SL1 as separate decks and timecode inputs — VirtualDJ audio settings with the Rane SL1.

Measured performance

MacBook Air M4, macOS 27, Mixxx 2.6.0-beta, two turntables and a DJ mixer.

Hardware loop (USB + converters)	2.9 ms
Record → line out (5.8 ms buffer)	≈ 35 ms
15 min of timecode on both decks	≈ 906 000 packets per input, 0 errors
Replug during playback	audio back 0.3 s after plugging in

FAQ

Is there a Rane SL1 driver for macOS and Apple Silicon?

Yes – OpenSL1 is a free, open-source, unofficial CoreAudio driver for the Rane SL1 (Serato Scratch Live) on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 12 or later. The installer is universal, so Intel should work too, but that is untested.

Does Serato Scratch Live still work on a modern Mac?

No. It is legacy 32-bit Intel software and does not run on Apple Silicon, not even through Rosetta. OpenSL1 replaces the missing driver; for the DJ software use Mixxx (free) or VirtualDJ.

Does the SL1 work with Serato DJ Lite or Pro?

No. Serato DJ never supported the SL1 and does not accept it – only Serato could change that. OpenSL1 will never pretend the SL1 is a different device.

Which timecode vinyl can I use?

Serato CV02 (Side A, 33⅓ RPM) is tested with Mixxx. VirtualDJ has its own control vinyl and, according to community reports, also reads Serato CV02 – unverified here. OpenSL1 only delivers the audio signal; decoding the timecode is up to your DJ software.

Sound drops when I plug the Mac’s charger in or out

The SL1 is powered over USB and can drop off when the Mac switches between charger and battery; occasionally it stays away until you replug it. Plug the charger in before the set and leave it alone.

Is it safe?

OpenSL1 is a user-space audio plug-in, not a kernel extension. It runs inside macOS’s sandboxed audio service with access to the SL1 only – no files, no network. The full source is on GitHub.

Disclaimer

Unofficial – use at your own risk. OpenSL1 is an independent hobby project, provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. To the extent permitted by law, the author accepts no liability for damage of any kind. It is not made, endorsed or supported by Rane, Serato or inMusic and contains no code from them. Test your setup well before a gig.

Rane, SL1, Serato and Scratch Live are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here only to name the hardware and software this driver works with.