Version 1.8 of the software also includes support for hardware mapping.

Serato has announced version 1.8 of its DJ software, which though only an incremental update includes useful features that have been requested for a while.

The first is support for key detection. Serato has developed its own software for the process, and uses the Serato DJ Offline Player to detect the key and tag your tracks appropriately. Once tagged, they’ll appear colour-coded in the browser.

While there’s already existing software like Mixed In Key to do the job, Serato is now offering it free with the 1.8 update. If you’re willing to shell out an extra $29 for the Pitch ‘n Time app, you’ll get access to further features including key shift, key match, and key sync.

The second key feature is hardware remapping. If you’ve got a MIDI controller you’d rather use over the official Serato hardware, you can now create your own custom controls, though Serato notes that the official accessories are not supported for this feature.

Serato DJ 1.8 is released at the end of October, but if you’re using OS X El Capitan you might want to hold off – according to Serato this release will not be compatible with Apple’s newest operating system.

You can find out more about the update at the Serato DJ website.