How to · Rekordbox

Build a DJ set in Rekordbox.

A good set has an arc: a warm-up, a build, a peak, and a landing. Here is how to plan one in Rekordbox, and how to design that arc visually before you play it.

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Design the journey from warm-up to peak before the booth.

Planning a set in Rekordbox.

Rekordbox does not have a dedicated set planner, so you build the set as an ordered playlist and shape its flow by hand using Export Mode.

Create a set playlist

Make a new playlist for the gig (right-click Playlists in the sidebar, choose Create New Playlist) and drag in candidate tracks from your Collection and any existing playlists or playlist folders.

Order for flow

Drag tracks into a running order, sorting by BPM and energy so the set builds and breathes rather than jumping around.

Check the transitions

Set Preferences > View > Key display format to Alphanumeric to see Camelot codes alongside each track. Use those codes and your memory cues or hot cue points to sanity-check that neighboring tracks mix in compatible keys and at workable tempos. The Dual Player in Export Mode lets you audition individual handovers.

Export to USB

Once the order feels right, right-click the playlist and choose Export Playlist, then select your USB drive. Wait for the progress bar to finish and eject from within Rekordbox before removing the drive.

The catch

It is a flat list. There is no visual canvas, no energy-flow view, and no way to preview the full set arc in sequence, so you are holding the shape of the set in your head. The built-in Dual Player does let you audition individual transitions, but that is one handover at a time, not the whole set.

Opening

Energy Flow

Ascendingslow→fast

Descendingfast→slow

Arcpeak in middle

Shufflerandom order

Reverseflip order

4 tracks

Track 002

Artist B

124

Track 004

Artist D

126

Track 001

Artist A

128

Track 003

Artist C

132

The faster way

Design the set on a canvas.

Vibes' Set Designer lays your set on a visual canvas with chapters and connections, ranks the next track by BPM, key, and vibe, and lets you audition the whole arc before you export it to Rekordbox.

See how it works

Lay the set on a visual canvas with chapters for each phase

Next-track suggestions ranked by BPM, key, and vibe

Audition the energy flow end to end before the gig

Export the finished set straight into Rekordbox

Organize in Vibes, export to Rekordbox.

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.

Not a dedicated one. You build a set as an ordered playlist and shape the flow yourself by sorting on BPM, key, and energy. There is no visual canvas or energy-flow view.

Set Designer is a visual canvas where you group tracks into chapters, connect a flow, and get next-track suggestions by BPM, key, and vibe, then audition the whole arc before exporting to Rekordbox.

Yes. A designed set is a strong spine, not a script. Because every track is keyed and tagged, you can pivot live and still land a compatible transition.

Methodology