Despite its popularity, Virtual DJ 2011 was often stigmatized by professional DJs. The "sync button" (which automatically matched the tempo of two tracks) was derided as "cheating" or "DJing with training wheels." Publications like DJ Mag and Resident Advisor published op-eds arguing that the software prioritized convenience over craft, potentially erasing the traditional skill of manual pitch control.

However, defenders noted that the software still required track selection, phrase matching, and crowd reading—skills far more critical to successful DJing than manual beatmatching. Virtual DJ 2011 simply automated the mechanical part of the process.

While Virtual DJ 2011 has been superseded by newer versions (and competitors like Rekordbox and Traktor Pro 3), its legacy is clear. It served as an "entry-level gateway drug" for a generation of electronic music producers and club DJs. By 2011, the question was no longer if digital DJing was legitimate, but how to best teach the new skills it required.

This led to what scholar Mark J. Butler calls "bedroom producer culture," but extended specifically to live performance. The software's visual waveform display allowed novice users to "see" the music structure (verses, choruses, drops) without relying solely on auditory cues, creating a new hybridized form of intuitive mixing.