Serato Audio Research is a New Zealand software company headquartered in Auckland, that specializes in audio signal processing, production and professional performance tools for DJs.Serato was founded in 1998 by Stephen West and AJ Bertenshaw who developed a timestretching and pitch-shifting Pro Tools plugin, Pitch 'N Time. They then focused on the evolving vinyl emulation software market, developing the first release of Serato Scratch Live (SSL) in 2004.