djay Pro 5.3 Update: GRV6 Support, Neural Mix Crossfaders & Workflow Upgrades

Algoriddim has just dropped a major update to djay Pro, and it’s packed with new features that DJs of all levels will actually use. Version 5.3 brings plug-and-play support for the AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6, big updates to the Neural Mix stems tools, more flexible FX, and a bunch of small but meaningful workflow improvements. 

Here’s everything that’s new, broken down by category so you can quickly find what’s relevant to your setup.

New Hardware Support

The big announcement that came with this latest update and the thing that will interest a lot of DJs is that djay now officially supports the AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6. It’s got plug-and-play functionality for Windows, Mac and iOS, which means that all you have to do is simply plug it into your computer or iPhone running djay, and everything will be recognised and all the functions are mapped automatically. On top of that, if you’re using a GRV6, you’ll also gain access to new Manual FX, specifically added to work with this controller integration. 

It’s not just GRV6 users who are looked after, though. There’s now also:

• Improved pad and MIDI mappings for DDJ-XP2 and Reloop RP8000MK2
• Fixed inverted pitch slider on Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV1
• Resolved waveform display issues on Pioneer DJ CDJ-2000
• Improved FX BPM support on Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV7
• Enhanced assist light support for Hercules Inpulse controllers: 200, 200 MK2, 300, 300 MK2, 500, and T7
• Updated mappings for RANE SEVENTY and Pioneer DJ DJM-S9

Neural Mix & Stems Control

Neural Mix, djay’s term for its stem isolation features, is one of the software’s standout attractions. This new update makes a few big changes to Neural Mix to help keep its position as one of the best DJ stems tools out there. 

Now, you can use Neural Mix Crossafders to seamlessly blend and swap individual stems – this also supports Crossfader FX per stem.

There are also new Mute FX that let you add echo tails when muting or soloing stems. This helps create a smoother, more natural mix rather than the jarring sound of a track element suddenly disappearing.

There are now also more options when it comes to FX and loop routing. You can now select multiple stems to apply FX to and dynamically change the channel configuration from 2 to 4 stems.

Crossfader FX and Automix 

Crossfader FX and Automix have long been a couple of djay’s most popular features, especially with beginners after a super accessible way to start mixing. The most exciting thing is that now there are a couple of new effects – Neural Mix Echo Out and Neural Mix Fade – which use its stems isolation to create more seamless transitions. 

On top of this, you also get:

• Support for Crossfader FX with 4 decks
• Support for applying Crossfader FX to individual stem crossfades
• Visible FX menus even when the crossfader bar is hidden (macOS/Windows)
• Visible FX menus in 4-deck hardware mode (iOS)

For Automix, this now works with external controllers and mixers, such as the RANE One, and it now uses Crossfader FX for these transitions. 

DVS Updates

DVS DJs will also be excited about this new update as there are a couple of key additions here that bring djay in line with some of its big competition in the digital vinyl world. 

The big thing is that there’s now a THRU mode, which lets you play regular vinyl records, instead of just using the specific control vinyl for the software.  

There are also improvements to sync when scratching, as well as tempo linking and adjusting DVS tempo in smaller increments. 

Cue, Loop, and FX Improvements

djay 5.3 introduces several new FX that can be triggered either instantly or manually. These additions give DJs more flexibility when building transitions or layering performance tricks into their sets.

There are now more Instant FX to choose from, including:

• Echo Out (1 and 3/4 beats)
• Vinyl Stop (4 and 8 beats)
• Loop FX (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 beat)
• Beatmasher
• Neural Mix Echo Out

Looping and beat jumping also get a small but useful upgrade. The maximum length is now 128 beats, which is great if you’re doing really long build-ups and transitions.

The way cue points are handled has also been slightly tweaked. Now, when you long press to set a cue on a touchscreen or controller, it snaps to the nearest beat, so you don’t have to worry about setting any more dodgy off-beat cues.

Media Library & Track Management

Version 5.3 of djay brings in some new library features designed to make managing and finding tracks smoother across both mobile and desktop.

On iOS, there’s now an extended song info popup that shows the full title and artist, plus detailed metadata and an option to analyse individual tracks. Long titles now wrap to two lines, making playlists easier to scan through on smaller screens.

On macOS and Windows, you can now see a playlist track number column and quickly jump to the currently playing song using Cmd/Ctrl + L. The scroll position of each playlist is now remembered too, which is especially handy when navigating large collections.

There are also various fixes for metadata issues and Beatport/Beatsource offline libraries, plus general performance improvements when searching big playlists.

Audio

There are a few subtle but important changes to the way audio behaves in djay 5.3. First, there’s now a mono output option. This is a pretty vital change for a lot of DJs working in environments where the sub-par speaker setups don’t play well with stereo mixes. 

EQ behaviour has also been improved with smoother curve transitions, while the limiter now also applies to the pre-cue mix as well as the main output FX – something that will make a noticeable difference when DJing on headphones.

The way the Auto-gain works has been changed, too. Manual gain on hardware is now separated from auto gain in software, so adjustments on one won’t override the other. If you’re using auto gain, a double tap on the gain knob now resets it to the auto level – and tapping it again resets it to zero.

User Interface, Light Mode & Accessibility

Finally, djay 5.3 brings a fresh coat of paint and some quality-of-life upgrades to how things look and feel, especially on iOS.

The most obvious visual update is the brand-new light mode – a clean, all-white UI that makes a pleasant change to the all-black themes we’re used to seeing in most DJ software. Portrait and landscape video modes have also been improved on iPhone, and 4-deck mode now features updated loop controls and waveforms in portrait view.

Other interface tweaks include:

• Drag & drop support to rearrange cue points and saved loops (macOS/Windows)
• Clickable artwork on macOS to load tracks
• New dark and tinted iOS app icons

For accessibility, VoiceOver support has been enhanced across macOS and iOS, and there are smoother animations when switching between portrait and landscape views. Android and Chromebook users also get improved touchpad and mouse controls.