The DJ world, digested weekly. Gear, software, trends. One email.
The Big Story
Engine DJ 5.0 brings on-board stems to the Rane System One
The System One is now the first standalone DJ hardware that can split tracks into 4-part stems without a laptop in the chain. RGB waveforms also roll out across the Engine DJ ecosystem. The update everyone expected from standalone gear — Denon got there first.
via DJ TechTools
Software
Spotify integration broken across Rekordbox, Serato, and djay for nearly a week
Playlists show up empty in every major DJ app with Spotify support. Still unresolved at time of reporting. If you're prepping sets around Spotify playlists, you're stuck until further notice.
via Digital DJ Tips · May 18
Komplete 26 ships under new ownership
The first major Komplete update since inMusic acquired Native Instruments. Attack Magazine's review landed the same week as the acquisition news — new instruments, new name, new questions about where NI goes from here.
via Attack Magazine · May 14
Gear
Roland Zenology GX arrives on iPad — free for a limited window
Roland's flagship ZEN-Core synth engine with thousands of sounds, fully unlocked at no cost during the launch period. If you produce on iPad at all, grab it now before the paywall goes up.
via MusicTech · May 18
The Feed
Playhead: a free, open-source waveform music player for local files
Built by a DJ who wanted BPM analysis, waveform seeking, and modern design for local FLACs and WAVs. No subscription, no account. Worth a look if you organize music outside your DJ software.
via DJTT Forum · May 13
NYC's phone-free rooms are becoming a nightlife thesis
Dancing Astronaut profiles the venues enforcing no-phone policies — Raw Cuts, House of Yes, Signal. Less a trend piece, more a case study in what happens when you design a room for presence instead of content.
via Dancing Astronaut · May 12