AlphaTheta Halts CDJ-3000 Firmware Rollout After DJs Report Vanishing Playlists

The company recommended users downgrade to the previous firmware version until a solution is reached.

AlphaTheta, the company behind the industry-standard CDJ-3000 DJ players, has suspended distribution of its latest firmware after users reported their playlists and tracks disappearing post-update.

The Version 3.30 update, released on October 21st, was meant to introduce OneLibrary, a new cross-platform format developed with Native Instruments and Algoriddim to unify music libraries across software ecosystems. Instead, DJs around the world found themselves staring at blank USB drives when they plugged in, the latest snafu in AlphaTheta’s tech.

Polish techno artist VTSS shared her frustration on social media after plugging in a drive that appeared “fully empty,” while Modestep called the rollout “the dumbest thing on earth,” warning peers to hold off on updating. What So Not was among the first to publicly flag the issue, later celebrating AlphaTheta’s decision to suspend the rollout.

In a statement, AlphaTheta (formerly known as Pioneer DJ), acknowledged “issues such as playlists not being displayed” and recommended users downgrade to Version 3.20 until a fix is released. The company emphasized its commitment to providing “the most reliable and seamless experience possible.”

For now, DJs are advised to skip the update or rebuild their drives in Rekordbox’s Device Library Plus format, a temporary workaround until AlphaTheta drops an update befit for the countless DJs, clubs and festivals who rely on its equipment.