diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 561294a..bf328f4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,14 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
+      - name: Enforce stable releases target main
+        if: ${{ !github.event.release.prerelease && github.event.release.target_commitish != 'main' }}
+        uses: actions/github-script@ffc2c79a5b2490bd33e0a41c1de74b877714d736 # v3.2.0
+        with:
+          script: core.setFailed('Non-prerelease releases must target the main branch (got: ${{ github.event.release.target_commitish }}).')
+
       - name: Merge main into release branch
+        if: ${{ !github.event.release.prerelease }}
         run: |
           git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
           git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
@@ -88,7 +95,7 @@ jobs:
           packages/flac-encoder/dist/mediabunny-flac-encoder.d.ts
 
       - name: Publish Mediabunny to npm
-        run: npm publish --access public
+        run: npm publish --access public ${{ github.event.release.prerelease && '--tag beta' || '' }}
 
       - name: Publish workspace packages to npm
-        run: npm publish --access public --workspaces 
+        run: npm publish --access public --workspaces ${{ github.event.release.prerelease && '--tag beta' || '' }}
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 1479b74..7475d31 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "mediabunny",
-  "version": "1.40.1",
+  "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "mediabunny",
-      "version": "1.40.1",
+      "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
       "license": "MPL-2.0",
       "workspaces": [
         "packages/*"
@@ -7751,9 +7751,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/mediabunny": {
-      "version": "1.40.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mediabunny/-/mediabunny-1.40.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-UztWnjkA15yYxqq7AC8MSsU4U6FIFIBHvHV94pouvjxQa0y2pGvi1HPmrFcaYrRZAuSKTrdw45VXUIe3gEEpsA==",
+      "version": "1.40.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mediabunny/-/mediabunny-1.40.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-HU/stGzAkdWaJIly6ypbUVgAUvT9kt39DIg0IaErR7/1fwtTmgUYs4i8uEPYcgcjPjbB9gtBmUXOLnXi6J2LDw==",
       "license": "MPL-2.0",
       "peer": true,
       "workspaces": [
@@ -12077,7 +12077,7 @@
     },
     "packages/aac-encoder": {
       "name": "@mediabunny/aac-encoder",
-      "version": "1.40.1",
+      "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
       "license": "MPL-2.0",
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/emscripten": "^1.40.1"
@@ -12092,7 +12092,7 @@
     },
     "packages/ac3": {
       "name": "@mediabunny/ac3",
-      "version": "1.40.1",
+      "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
       "license": "MPL-2.0",
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/emscripten": "^1.40.1"
@@ -12107,7 +12107,7 @@
     },
     "packages/flac-encoder": {
       "name": "@mediabunny/flac-encoder",
-      "version": "1.40.1",
+      "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
       "license": "MPL-2.0",
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/emscripten": "^1.40.1"
@@ -12122,7 +12122,7 @@
     },
     "packages/mp3-encoder": {
       "name": "@mediabunny/mp3-encoder",
-      "version": "1.40.1",
+      "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
       "license": "MPL-2.0",
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/emscripten": "^1.40.1"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 027388e..7a6148c 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "mediabunny",
   "author": "Vanilagy",
-  "version": "1.40.1",
+  "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
   "description": "Pure TypeScript media toolkit for reading, writing, and converting media files, directly in the browser.",
   "type": "module",
   "workspaces": [
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@
     "append-namespace": "echo 'export as namespace Mediabunny;' >> dist/mediabunny.d.ts",
     "bump-patch": "npm version patch --no-git-tag-version --workspaces --include-workspace-root",
     "bump-minor": "npm version minor --no-git-tag-version --workspaces --include-workspace-root",
-    "bump-major": "npm version major --no-git-tag-version --workspaces --include-workspace-root"
+    "bump-major": "npm version major --no-git-tag-version --workspaces --include-workspace-root",
+    "set-version": "npm version --no-git-tag-version --workspaces --include-workspace-root"
   },
   "license": "MPL-2.0",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/packages/aac-encoder/package.json b/packages/aac-encoder/package.json
index d86abd2..3b57f73 100644
--- a/packages/aac-encoder/package.json
+++ b/packages/aac-encoder/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@mediabunny/aac-encoder",
   "author": "Vanilagy",
-  "version": "1.40.1",
+  "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
   "description": "AAC encoder extension for Mediabunny, based on FFmpeg.",
   "main": "./dist/bundles/mediabunny-aac-encoder.mjs",
   "module": "./dist/bundles/mediabunny-aac-encoder.mjs",
diff --git a/packages/ac3/package.json b/packages/ac3/package.json
index c7e957b..a4f1493 100644
--- a/packages/ac3/package.json
+++ b/packages/ac3/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@mediabunny/ac3",
   "author": "Vanilagy",
-  "version": "1.40.1",
+  "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
   "description": "AC-3 and E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital) decoder and encoder extension for Mediabunny, based on FFmpeg.",
   "main": "./dist/bundles/mediabunny-ac3.mjs",
   "module": "./dist/bundles/mediabunny-ac3.mjs",
diff --git a/packages/flac-encoder/package.json b/packages/flac-encoder/package.json
index 8e7dc28..c5422bb 100644
--- a/packages/flac-encoder/package.json
+++ b/packages/flac-encoder/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@mediabunny/flac-encoder",
   "author": "Vanilagy",
-  "version": "1.40.1",
+  "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
   "description": "FLAC encoder extension for Mediabunny, based on libFLAC.",
   "main": "./dist/bundles/mediabunny-flac-encoder.mjs",
   "module": "./dist/bundles/mediabunny-flac-encoder.mjs",
diff --git a/packages/mp3-encoder/package.json b/packages/mp3-encoder/package.json
index 029ede2..c03f7d2 100644
--- a/packages/mp3-encoder/package.json
+++ b/packages/mp3-encoder/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@mediabunny/mp3-encoder",
   "author": "Vanilagy",
-  "version": "1.40.1",
+  "version": "1.42.0-beta.1",
   "description": "MP3 encoder extension for Mediabunny, based on LAME.",
   "main": "./dist/bundles/mediabunny-mp3-encoder.mjs",
   "module": "./dist/bundles/mediabunny-mp3-encoder.mjs",