How to use CortexDJ

Two ways to mix: let the AI build a full set from a folder in one click, or take the wheels yourself on the live decks. This guide covers both, plus controllers, recording, streaming and the creative transition controls.

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The whole workflow in 90 seconds — real footage of CortexDJ mixing. Everything below goes deeper.

1. Install & first launch

1. Download the installer and run it. On first launch Windows may show a SmartScreen notice — click More info → Run anyway. The installer is safe; code-signing is in progress.
2. A free-forever license key is emailed to you automatically. Every key — free or Pro — works on up to 2 of your computers.
3. CortexDJ auto-updates itself, so you always have the latest build. Everything runs and analyzes locally on your PC; nothing is uploaded.

2. The two ways to mix

CortexDJ is both an AI auto-mixer and a pair of live decks. Pick whichever fits the moment — they share the same analyzed library.

• AI set — point it at a folder, choose a length and a vibe, and it selects, orders, beatmatches and mixes a full set for you. Great for streams, background/venue music, prep, or just hearing your library mixed.
• Live decks — two virtual turntables you play by hand or with a controller: cue, beat-sync, EQ, filters, effects, hot-cues and loops, VirtualDJ-style.

3. Build your first AI set

4. Render vs Perform

In Perform mode you can grab any control at any time — nudge a deck, ride an EQ, drop a loop — and hand it back to the AI. Everything the AI does is shown on the decks so you can see every move.

5. Blend & Creativity controls

Open Settings → MIXING to shape how the AI mixes:

Blend length

How long two tracks ride together, in beats (default 24 bars). Longer blends keep both tracks playing together for more of the mix — the incoming track builds in gradually under a top-down EQ carve so there’s only ever one bassline. Shorten it for quicker, punchier switches.

Creativity

How bold and frequent the AI’s moves are:

The moves are all beat-safe (they ride filters, echo and the master bus, never the beat grid). You’ll hear filter-into-the-drop sweeps, an accelerating gate-roll, echo throws, a tension slam, real double-drops, and a mid-blend breakdown — all beat-safe, and never a hard mute.

6. The live decks

Load a track to a deck (double-click in the library, drag it, or use the LOAD button), then mix by hand:

• Play / Cue — start, stop, and set a temporary cue point.
• Sync — beat-match this deck to the other: it matches tempo and locks the bar “one,” and holds the lock through the blend.
• Keylock — change tempo without changing pitch (so a sped-up track doesn’t sound chipmunky).
• 3-band EQ + Filter — low/mid/high knobs plus one filter knob (left = low-pass, right = high-pass) — the classic move for swapping basslines cleanly.
• Effects — echo, flanger and a cut/kill, one button each.
• Jog wheel — drag to scrub through the track, or nudge it to fine-tune the beat. (It’s a scrub/nudge platter, not a scratch surface — there’s no scratching in CortexDJ.)
• Hot-cues & loops — set cue points on the pads (they survive restarts) and drop beat-locked loops.
• Crossfader + channel faders + master — blend the two decks and set the overall level.

7. MIDI controllers Pro

Plug in a supported controller and it’s auto-detected and fully mapped the moment you launch — zero setup:

• Pioneer / AlphaTheta: DDJ-FLX4, FLX2, 400, REV1, FLX6, 1000, FLX10
• Hercules: DJControl Inpulse 200 / 300
• Numark: Mixtrack Pro FX, Mixtrack Platinum FX, Party Mix II

Any other class-compliant controller works via MIDI-learn: open Settings → MIDI, click a control in the app, then move the knob/button on your gear. You can import/export your mapping to share it, and reset to a controller’s factory map anytime.

8. Library, crates & mashups

• Analyzed tracks, crates and cue points persist between sessions. Sort by key, BPM or energy; drag to reorder by hand; delete straight from the list.
• Tracks you’ve already played this session get marked in the library, so you can see at a glance what’s been used. Inside a single generated set every track is picked once; across a long multi-set night the marks are what keep you from doubling back.
• Mashups: load a track and the MASH column scores every other track 0–100 for how well it layers — sort to find the best partners instantly, or run “Best Mashups” across the whole library. Build a vocal-over-instrumental mashup, beatmatched and in key.

9. Recording & streaming Pro

• Record your set to an audio file, or capture HD video of the decks.
• Live-stream straight to YouTube, Twitch or Facebook — paste your stream key in Settings → Broadcast.
• Audio is tapped straight from CortexDJ’s own engine, so Windows notification sounds and other apps never enter the recording or the stream. Video is rendered by the app itself (the Broadcast Scene), so the picture doesn’t depend on the window being visible — minimize it or cover it, and other windows or pop-up notifications never enter the frame. Only if the scene can’t start does CortexDJ fall back to capturing the screen, and it warns you on screen when that happens.

Free stays free forever: the AI mix still plays live and still renders to a file. Recording, video, streaming and MIDI control are the Pro features.

10. Keyboard shortcuts

11. Free vs Pro

Pro is $7.45/month or $127 lifetime. See pricing.

12. Troubleshooting

• SmartScreen on install — click More info → Run anyway. Code-signing is in progress.
• No sound — check the output device in Settings; make sure the crossfader isn’t all the way to a silent deck and the master isn’t at zero.
• First analysis is slow — a large folder takes a while the first time (it’s doing full pro analysis). Results are cached, so it’s instant afterward.
• Controller not detected — some units need to be switched to “computer/MIDI mode” on the device itself; then use MIDI-learn if it isn’t auto-mapped.
• Didn’t get your license email — check spam, then contact hello@cortexdj.com.

New features ship constantly and the app auto-updates — see the changelog for what’s new.