Denon Engine DJ 4.2: Now With Stem Separation!
A Cappella, Instrumental, Bass or Drums – Now You Can Decide What You Want to Use
[26 November 2024] With the release of Denon Engine DJ 4.2, Denon DJ is finally bringing an expansion of the Stems functionality to users of PRIME 4+ and other Engine DJ-compatible hardware. The new Stems feature allows you to precisely separate tracks into their component parts, such as vocals, bass, drums and melody. This gives you new creative options to make your sets more dynamic and flexible. While PRIME 4+ users will enjoy this feature immediately and free of charge, it will be available on other Denon DJ and Numark products for a small one-time license fee beginning December 11, 2024.
All About Denon Engine DJ and Software Updates
Tracks Can Now be Split Into Stems
Engine DJ 4.2 also features a new desktop rendering solution. This allows you to pre-process your tracks on your computer and optimize them for stems playback. This process ensures that you can use the new feature on a wide range of hardware while maintaining consistent sound quality. PRIME 4+ users will be able to use stems directly on their hardware, while others will be able to use the desktop software to prepare their tracks in advance for playback on their devices.
Advanced Features for More Creativity
The Stems feature allows DJs to isolate or remove individual elements of a track. This opens up a wide range of creative possibilities, such as creating a cappella or instrumental versions directly on the hardware. But you need to prepare your tracks or entire playlists for the Stems feature using the new desktop software. These pre-rendered files can then be exported to USB sticks, SD cards or internal drives for immediate use on compatible devices.
Special controls on the hardware, such as the Stems Pad mode, allow for intuitive control of the function. Trigger pads allow you to switch between a cappella, instrumental and full versions in real time. The focus is on seamlessly integrating Stems into your existing workflow without the need for complicated extra steps or software. That’s how it should be.
Time and Licensing Model
While PRIME 4+ users will benefit from free access immediately (see here), all other users of Engine DJ hardware can unlock the feature by purchasing a license starting December 11. This one-time license costs $9.99 (can be used on four devices) and can be purchased via the personal inMusic profile page. With the update to Engine DJ 4.2, Denon DJ shows a good way to further develop the platform. It’s just a shame that you can’t extract stems directly on the end devices.
Engine DJ Upgrades to 4.1, Gains Bluetooth, More
[22 October 2024] Denon Engine DJ gets upped to 4.1 with Bluetooth speaker support at the top of the new functionality list.
Denon Engine DJ Upgrades to 4.1
Just a few days ago we told you about Denon DJ Prime Go+, the refresh of the popular portable standalone DJ controller. Now the DJ company has dropped an update to Denon Engine DJ for hardware and laptops, bringing it up to number 4.1 and adding a clutch of enhancements.
Chief among the new functionality is Bluetooth speaker support. The Prime Go+ has it, and now a number of other hardware units can too, including Denon DJ Prime 4+, the original Prime Go, and SC Live 2 and 4, as well as Numark’s Mixstream Pro, Mixstream Pro+ and Mixstream Pro Go.
Other new parameters include Smart Headphone Cue, which automatically switches the cue to the most recently loaded track, new Engine Lighting changes, FLAC support for Beatport/Beatsource streaming, and more.
Note that because of database performance enhancements added with this release, Collection Databases used in Engine DJ 4.1.0 are only compatible with version 4.0.1 or later.
See the Denon Engine DJ 4.1 release notes page for more.
Denon Engine DJ Revs Up to Version 4.0
[13 June 2024] Version 4 of Denon Engine DJ gets new performance view and effects parameters plus bolstered search functions. Start your engines!
Denon Engine DJ 4.0
Denon DJ is a real Cinderella story. While everyone was focused on Pioneer DJ/AlphaTheta and fancy rotary mixers, Denon DJ has been quietly building a reputation as a leading manufacturer of DJ gear. Now, following recent updates to DJ performance software platforms rekordbox and Serato, Denon follows suit with Denon Engine DJ 4.0.
What Is Denon Engine DJ?
Denon Engine DJ is the company’s proprietary DJ performance and library management software. There are two components, one for your computer and the other the OS for Denon DJ equipment like Prime 4+ and SC Live 2 and 4. You can also find it in a few Numark standalone DJ controllers.
What’s New in Denon Engine DJ 4.0?
Version number four of Engine DJ is all about consistency and clarity, bringing features and workflow in line across compatible devices. This includes new Performance View feature, improved library and search capabilities, additional effects parameters and stability and performance enhancements.
New Performance View
The first thing you’ll notice with Engine DJ 4.0 is the refreshed Performance View. This includes convenient custom view options in the Layout Manager, making its debut here. This allows you to view waveforms in horizontal or vertical orientations in deck combinations of two or four, resulting in over 100 different combinations plus the ability to save and recall up to three custom layouts. Album art is also now featured next to track names, essential for quick song identification.
The update makes performance features consistent across all devices too, such as Beat Phase/Beat Keeper, Deck Swap and Trainspotter Mode for track privacy. It’s the modern-day equivalent of steaming off record labels.
Improved Library Layout and Search Bar
The best performance features in the world are useless if you can’t find your songs. With this in mind, Engine 4.0 improves its search functions with a new search bar. It allows you to swap between searching your full library or just your current playlist. The search bar’s position is also consistent across modes now.
Effects and Fixes
Denon’s engineers have also done some tinkering under the effects hood, adding amount sliders to Touch FX Filter Echo and Filter Dub Echo. Additionally, FX buttons now flash when engaged for visual feedback. There’s a Reset FX parameter to quickly snap all effects back to default while filter and noise sweep are now audible in the Pre-Fader Listen (PFL) mix.
Engine DJ 4.0 also includes a number of general improvements plus bug fixes for stability, including enhanced recording volume consistency across hardware units, improved Beatport/Beatsource search functionality and fixes for various bugs and performance issues.
Denon Engine DJ 4.0 is now available on the Engine DJ product site for free download. Most compatible devices should be able to download the update directly.
More Information
- Denon Engine DJ product page
- Denon DJ home page
- All about Denon
- All about DJing
2 responses to “Denon Engine DJ 4.2: Now With Stem Separation!”
Very nice but we need a new Prime Go ! 😉
” PRIME 4+ users will be able to use stems directly on their hardware, while others will be able to use the desktop software to prepare their tracks in advance for playback on their devices.” This is not correct, you can’t render it stems with Prime 4+, all users have to use the desktop app to prepare. Only difference is that it’s free for Prime 4+ users and available today, the rest have to wait to dec and pay.