NexaDeck User Guide

Getting Started

NexaDeck is a professional desktop application for karaoke DJs. It runs natively on Mac, Windows, and Linux with full CDG+MP3 and video karaoke support.

Download & Install

1. Log in to your Abydonian customer portal and download the installer for your platform.
2. Mac — Open the .dmg file and drag NexaDeck to your Applications folder.
3. Windows — Run the .msi installer. NexaDeck will appear in your Start menu.
4. Linux — Install the .deb or .AppImage package for your distribution.

First Launch

When you open NexaDeck for the first time, the setup wizard walks you through initial configuration: audio output selection, theme preference, and library import. You can skip any step and return to it later in Settings.

Your first step should be importing your karaoke library. See the Managing Your Library section below for details.

Running a Show

NexaDeck is built around the concept of a show — a single karaoke session with a rotation of singers. You start a show, add singers, queue songs, and NexaDeck handles the rest.

Starting a Show

Open Settings → Show Control and click Start Show. This activates the rotation queue and begins tracking show statistics. You can also configure duplicate prevention rules and singer marquee themes from this panel.

The Rotation Queue

The rotation is the heart of your show. It cycles through singers in order, looping back to the top when it reaches the end.

• Add singers — Click the + Add Singer button to add someone to the rotation. You can create a new singer on the spot or pick from your singer directory.
• Reorder — Drag and drop singers to change their position in the rotation.
• Mark as away — If a singer steps out, mark them as “away” and NexaDeck will skip them until they return.
• Song queues — Each singer has their own song queue. Click a singer to expand their list and see what songs they have lined up, with “NEXT” and “UP NEXT” badges showing who’s coming up.

Buffer Music

Buffer music plays automatically between singers to keep the energy up. Add tracks to your buffer playlist from the library, and NexaDeck will crossfade between singers and buffer tracks seamlessly.

Managing Your Library

Your karaoke library is where all your songs live. NexaDeck supports CDG+MP3, MP4, and other common karaoke formats.

Importing Songs

Go to the Library tab and select Import from the sidebar. Point NexaDeck at a folder and it will recursively scan for karaoke files, extracting artist, title, and format metadata automatically. Large libraries (50,000+ songs) import in minutes.

Searching & Browsing

The Quick Search bar at the top of the library lets you find songs instantly. Filter by artist, title, or file type. Results update as you type.

Library Sidebar

The library sidebar gives you quick access to different views and tools:

• All Songs — Browse your complete library
• Playlists — Create and manage song playlists
• Import — Add new songs from folders
• Songbook Import — Import from external songbook files
• Download — Download songs from connected services
• Metadata Lookup — Auto-fill missing artist/title info
• Maintenance — Find duplicates, missing files, and cleanup tasks
• Cloud — Manage your cloud-synced library via NexaLive

Singer Management

NexaDeck keeps a directory of all singers who have performed at your shows. This lets you track regulars, recall their favorites, and personalize the experience.

Singer Directory

The Singers tab shows every singer in your database. Each singer profile includes:

• Visit history — Every show they've attended
• Total songs — Lifetime song count across all shows
• Preferences — Favorite songs, preferred key adjustments

Adding Singers

Singers are added automatically when you put them in the rotation during a show. You can also create singer profiles manually from the Singers tab if you want to set up your regulars in advance.

Audio Controls

NexaDeck gives you precise control over audio playback so you can accommodate any singer's range and keep the show sounding great.

Pitch Shifting

Adjust the key up or down by up to 12 semitones. Fine-tune with cents for precise pitch correction. Pitch changes happen in real time without affecting tempo.

Tempo Control

Speed up or slow down playback from 0.5x to 2.0x without affecting pitch. Useful for rehearsal or for matching a singer's pacing preference.

Per-Song Settings

Pitch and tempo adjustments are saved automatically for each track. The next time that song is played, NexaDeck restores the previous settings — no need to re-adjust for regulars who always want the same key.

Volume & Routing

Control master volume from the player bar. Audio output device and routing options are configured in Settings → Audio.

Settings & Configuration

The Settings page uses a sidebar navigation with the following sections:

• Show Control — Start/stop shows, configure duplicate prevention rules, set singer marquee themes, and view active show information.
• General — Language, display preferences, and application behavior settings.
• Audio — Output device selection, DSP settings, and audio routing configuration.
• Appearance — Theme customization and visual preferences for the DJ interface.
• NexaLive — Cloud sync connection settings. See the Connecting to NexaLive section for details.

Statistics & Analytics

NexaDeck tracks detailed statistics about your shows, singers, and library so you can understand your audience and improve your performances.

Statistics Dashboard

The dashboard gives you an at-a-glance view of your current show stats and overall library metrics — total songs played, unique singers, average songs per show, and more.

Leaderboards

See which songs, singers, and artists are most popular across your shows. Leaderboards update in real time during active shows.

• Top Songs — Most-requested tracks across all shows
• Top Singers — Your most active performers
• Top Artists — Most popular artists in your rotation

Show History

Review past shows with full performance logs. See which songs were played, who sang them, and identify trends over time.

Connecting to NexaLive

NexaLive is the cloud platform that extends NexaDeck with audience engagement features. When connected, your audience can browse your songbook, submit song requests, and interact with your show from their phones.

Setting Up the Connection

1. Open Settings → NexaLive in NexaDeck.
2. Click Connect to NexaLive. You'll be prompted to sign in with your Abydonian account.
3. Once authenticated, NexaDeck establishes a persistent connection to the NexaLive cloud service.

Syncing Your Library

After connecting, sync your song library to NexaLive so your audience can browse it. Go to Library → Cloud to manage which songs are available online. Only metadata is synced — your audio files stay on your machine.

Receiving Song Requests

When audience members submit requests through NexaLive, they appear in the Requests view in real time. You can accept requests directly into the rotation or dismiss them.

Connection Status

The NexaLive status indicator in the header bar shows your current connection state. Green means connected and syncing; gray means disconnected. Click it to view connection details or reconnect.

Keyboard Shortcuts

NexaDeck supports keyboard shortcuts for fast, hands-free operation during shows.

Shortcuts are customizable in Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts. You can remap any action to your preferred key combination.

Need Help?

If you run into issues or have questions not covered here, visit our Contact & Support page. Beta testers also have access to direct developer support through the beta feedback channels.