VirtualDJ has released another major update to its software, adding AI-generated visuals, improved lyrics detection, and – most interestingly for us – a long-teased “Fluid BPM” system with a BPM Stabiliser designed specifically for DJs who mix without the sync button.
Truly reliable auto beatgrids
Reliable variable beatgrid analysis has been a hot topic since Algoriddim introduced a flawless version in Djay last year, and quite rightly so – their take blew away pretty much everyone who used it. Beatgridding for tracks with unsteady or shifting tempos has been a bugbear for DJs who’ve had to struggle with imperfect systems in their software up until recently, so this matters.
VirtualDJ has been teasing its own take on this for a while, and the new Fluid BPM feature is their take on an AI-powered variable BPM grid that is billed as handling perfectly old rock, disco, warped vinyl rips, megamixes, and anything else with a wandering tempo.
Temporary grids for manual beatmixing
There’s also a surprise in the form of the BPM Stabilizer, which lets you lock a variable-tempo track to a fixed BPM during a transition so you can pitch and nudge manually without going all in on sync.
Of course, once a DJ ditches sync, they’re clearly serious about the craft – and arguably smoothing out BPMs for them isn’t quite in the spirit of that. But hey, time will tell if this finds an audience or a use case.
Video AI in DJ software
The update also adds an AI visual engine. Shaders generate audio-reactive patterns from text prompts, while AILoops generates beat-synced video loops (see main pic).
How many DJs actually want AI-generated visuals baked into their DJ software is a fair question, but VirtualDJ has a long track record of being first to incorporate technology that other software eventually follows. Some of the built-in examples do look like fun, and DJs with more of a visual flair than myself will no doubt see more merit in this than I do.
The update also brings improvements to VirtualDJ’s AI-powered lyrics detection, which now handles multiple languages more accurately. This feeds into the software’s existing word-play and karaoke features.
• As ever, the update is free to existing customers, and VirtualDJ is available as a one-off purchase or on a monthly subscription from the VirtualDJ website.
