How to · Serato DJ

Analyze tracks in Serato DJ.

Serato analyzes tracks one session at a time. Vibes can batch-analyze your entire library before you open Serato, using neural-net key detection and BPM detection, then export the results straight into your Serato crates.

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Vibes showing BPM and key analysis for a DJ library

Vibes detects BPM and key across your whole library, then exports into Serato.

Analyze tracks in Serato DJ, step by step.

Serato DJ Pro and Serato DJ Lite both include a built-in analysis engine. You can analyze tracks automatically on import (Serato DJ 4.0 and later) or run a dedicated offline analysis pass before your set.

Add your tracks to Serato

Drag a folder of audio files into the Serato sidebar, or let Serato scan your music folder on first launch. Tracks appear in your library with no BPM or key values and no waveform overview until the engine processes them.

Run offline analysis

In Serato DJ 4.0 and later: right-click a track, a selection, or an entire crate and choose Analyze Files from the context menu. In earlier versions (3.x and below), disconnect your DJ hardware first so the Analyze Files button appears above the library, then drag files, a crate, or your whole library onto it. Either way, Serato will detect BPM and key and build beatgrids according to your Analysis settings. Analyzing a large library runs sequentially and can take significant time.

Review BPM and key results

Once analysis is complete, BPM and key values appear in the library columns. Check for tracks with unusual BPM readings, as Serato occasionally halves or doubles the detected tempo when a track's tempo sits near a BPM range boundary. You can set a BPM Range in Analysis Settings to limit detection to your library's typical tempo range and re-analyze affected tracks.

Lock beatgrids you trust

Load a track into a deck and verify the beatgrid is aligned to the downbeat. If it is correct, go back to the library, hold Ctrl and click the track's Status column to set a blue lock icon. Locked tracks will not have their beatgrid overwritten by future analysis passes. To lock multiple tracks at once, highlight the selection and then click (no Ctrl modifier needed) in the Status column; Serato will prompt you to confirm the change.

The catch

Serato's analysis runs tracks sequentially. Key detection is included in the standard offline batch analysis pass and does not require loading each track to a deck. If Serato's built-in key accuracy is not sufficient for harmonic mixing, a dedicated tool such as Mixed In Key can write key values directly to your files before importing.

Track 001

Artist A

128

Afterhours

Mysterious

Introspective

Track 001

Artist A

128

Afterhours

Mysterious

Introspective

Track 002

Artist B

124

Cozy Floor

Peaceful

Home

Track 002

Artist B

124

Cozy Floor

Peaceful

Home

Track 003

Artist C

132

Rave

Aggressive

Festival

Build & Release

Track 003

Artist C

132

Rave

Aggressive

Festival

Build & Release

The faster way

Batch-analyze your library before you touch Serato.

Vibes analyzes BPM and key across your entire imported library in one pass, using its own neural-net key detection (Skey, Camelot-aware) and downbeat-locked beatgrid detection. When you are done, it exports crates directly into Serato so the results are waiting for you.

See how it works

Batch BPM and key detection across your full library, not just the tracks you load in a session

Neural-net key detection (Skey) with Camelot notation, tuned for DJ use rather than general music theory

Downbeat-locked beatgrid and energy curve generated per track during analysis

Results exported directly into Serato .crate files, organized by vibe, key, or BPM range

Organize in Vibes, export to Serato DJ.

Your playlists, tags, ratings, and cue points travel back to the gear you play on, so nothing you do in Vibes is locked away.

Track 001

Artist A

128

Afterhours

Mysterious

Introspective

Track 002

Artist B

124

Cozy Floor

Peaceful

Home

Track 003

Artist C

132

Rave

Aggressive

Festival

Build & Release

Playlists

Vibes

Mood

Aggressive

Euphoric

Melancholic

Mysterious

Peaceful

Playful

Tense

Function

Arrangement

Sets

Club Night 12/28

NYE Closing Set

Rooftop 01/04

Frequently asked questions

The honest answers, including the trade-offs.

For pre-session library preparation, yes. Vibes runs BPM and key detection across your whole library in one batch pass and exports the results into Serato crates. Serato still does its own analysis when you load a track into a deck, but if Vibes has already processed the file you can verify and trust those values before you ever open Serato.

Vibes stores analysis data in its own database and writes to Serato via .crate files for organization. It does not directly overwrite BPM or key fields in Serato's internal library database, so your existing Serato analysis is not at risk.

Vibes uses Camelot Wheel notation (e.g. 8A, 8B) via its Skey neural-net detector. Serato displays keys in standard musical notation by default. You can cross-reference the two: 8A in Camelot corresponds to A minor, for example. Vibes also shows the Camelot neighbors of any track with its Find Compatible feature, which speeds up harmonic mixing prep before your set.

Methodology