Serato has released the public beta of Serato DJ 5.0, led by a completely rebuilt beatgrid system designed to handle tracks with changing tempos more accurately.
The new Lucid Beatgrids engine automatically detects tempo changes and downbeats across both fixed and fluctuating-BPM tracks, potentially reducing the amount of manual grid correction needed for music recorded with live drummers, older disco and funk tracks, and productions with deliberate tempo changes.
The update also introduces Open Streaming, allowing DJs to stay logged into multiple streaming platforms simultaneously, alongside a new Cue Loops feature for Serato DJ Pro.
Lucid Beatgrids is the most significant change. Accurate beatgrids underpin features including Sync, quantized cue points, loops and tempo-synced effects, so unreliable grids can quickly become a practical problem when working with tracks that fluctuate in BPM.
Serato DJ 5.0 adds a new Flexible analysis mode for tracks with changing tempos, while the existing Fixed mode has also been improved. DJs can see BPM changes directly on the waveform and have access to updated beatgrid editing controls when manual adjustment is still required. Existing tracks need to be re-analysed to generate the new Lucid Beatgrids.
Early testing by Digital DJ Tips found that Lucid Beatgrids successfully followed tempo changes across several deliberately difficult tracks, although some beta-stage issues were also identified with downbeat detection, BPM display and manual grid editing.
Open Streaming and Cue Loops
The other major workflow change is Open Streaming. Serato DJ can now connect to multiple supported streaming services at once, allowing DJs to search and mix between different providers and their locally stored music without signing in and out of different accounts.
Individual streaming platforms now appear as separate crates, while a new provider dropdown lets DJs switch between services when searching their library. BPM and key information can also be displayed for streaming tracks before analysis on Beatport, SoundCloud, TIDAL and Spotify, although Serato says the feature is not currently supported by Apple Music.
Cue Loops, meanwhile, allow a saved loop to be attached directly to a Hot Cue. Triggering it jumps playback to that cue point and activates the loop in a single action, making regularly used looped sections quicker to access during a set. Cue Loops are exclusive to Serato DJ Pro, while Lucid Beatgrids and Open Streaming are available in both Pro and Lite.
Serato DJ 5.0 is available to test now through the public beta, with Serato inviting DJs to try the new features and provide feedback ahead of the full release.
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