Major Windows and Mac update adds Next Picks recommendations, track energy ratings, improved quantization, higher-quality stems and AI-synced karaoke lyrics.

CLEARWATER, Fla., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- PCDJ has released DEX 4.1, a major update to its DJ, video mixing and karaoke software for Windows and Mac. The release puts AI-powered beat mapping, more precise quantization and smarter track selection at the center of the performance workflow, alongside extensive improvements to stems, scratching, effects and karaoke.

PCDJ describes 4.1 as its biggest DEX 4 update yet. The full announcement, screenshots and downloads are available in the DEX 4.1 release announcement.

A new AI analysis engine identifies tempo, beats and downbeats, while updated quantization helps cues and loops land where DJs expect them. Next Picks brings another dimension to track selection, weighing musical compatibility, energy, mood and recent play history, then explaining why each suggestion could work.

"The next track has to do more than match the BPM. It has to fit where the set is going," said Ryan Sherr, PCDJ Director. "DEX 4.1 gives DJs more useful information about their music, tighter timing and better ways to work with individual parts of a song. We want the software to handle more of the preparation so DJs can concentrate on the room."

14 new and improved features in DEX 4.1

• AI-powered beat mapping: A new engine detects tempo, beats and downbeats, with meter and phrase detection to help align the beat grid with the music.
• More precise quantization and sync: Improved cue and loop placement, beat/bar/phrase alignment and smoother phase correction support tighter transitions and performance moves.
• Next Picks track suggestions: Recommendations consider key, tempo, energy, mood, similar sound, available mix room and recent play history. Each suggestion explains its selection.
• Track energy ratings and mood labels: Energy scores from 1 to 10 and descriptive mood labels give DJs more context for building or easing the intensity of a set.
• Improved musical-key detection: More accurate key analysis, Camelot notation and matching colors help DJs identify harmonic relationships while browsing their music.
• Song structure and automatic cues: Detected intros, builds, drops, breaks and outros appear visually. Automatic hot cues populate tracks without existing cues, preserving the DJ's own markers.
• Higher-quality AIUnmixEQ stems: An improved separation option produces cleaner vocals and instruments, with additional processing time compared with standard separation.
• Stem FX and rebuilt effects: Four hold-down pads provide vocal echo, drums echo, instrumental echo and instrumental brake. Rebuilt effects offer cleaner, beat-locked processing.
• LRC and AI-synced lyrics: DEX reads timed LRC lyrics and supported lyric tags, offers optional online lookup, and can align matching unsynced lyrics to vocals using AI.
• Karaoke Mode and guide vocals: Eligible tracks can use stem-based vocal removal with key lock, optional quieter guide vocals, and lyrics displayed on the audience screen and deck waveform.
• DVS and motorized-platter support: Supported timecode records and CDs, expanded controller compatibility and refined platter behavior give DJs more hands-on mixing and scratching options.
• A new playback engine: Updated time-stretching and key shifting improve key-locked sound, bass handling and transients while reducing CPU demands compared with the previous engine.
• RGB waveforms and visual guidance: Frequency-colored waveforms, song-structure information and latency-compensated displays provide a clearer view of playback and transition points.
• Backup and recovery tools: A dedicated Storage & Backup area adds data-folder relocation, automatic backups and database recovery, alongside safer library-saving behavior.

The release also addresses practical performance issues, including audio-interface reconnection, CoreAudio and ASIO stability, and TIDAL playlist loading. Improvements span music mixing, video performance and karaoke hosting within the same application.

Lyric lookup depends on availability, and AI alignment requires text that matches the recording. Karaoke Mode depends on stem availability. Higher-quality stem separation takes longer to process than the standard setting.

Availability

DEX 4.1 is available for Windows 10 or newer and macOS 12 or newer. DJs and karaoke hosts can review the complete release notes, view screenshots and access Windows and Mac downloads through the official DEX 4.1 release announcement. PCDJ

About PCDJ

PCDJ is a brand of Digital 1 Audio, Inc., based in Clearwater, Florida. Since 1999, PCDJ has developed live-performance software for DJs and karaoke hosts, with products for mixing music, performing with video and managing karaoke shows. PCDJ

Media Contact

Ryan Sherr, Digital 1 Audio, Inc., 1 7277993828 402, rsherr@pcdj.com, www.pcdj.com

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SOURCE Digital 1 Audio, Inc.