How to · Engine DJ

Build a set list in Engine DJ.

Engine DJ lets you build playlists on your standalone hardware or in the desktop software. Prep your set in Vibes first and it arrives in Engine DJ already ordered by BPM, key, and feel.

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Vibes Set Designer canvas showing a set ordered by BPM and key

Vibes Set Designer exports a finished, ordered set directly into Engine DJ as a playlist.

Build a set list in Engine DJ, step by step.

Engine DJ lets you create playlists from your collection in the desktop software, then sync them to compatible standalone hardware like the SC6000 or Prime 4.

Open your collection in Engine DJ

Launch Engine DJ on your desktop and make sure your music files are indexed in your collection. If tracks are missing, drag the folder containing them into the collection pane to add them.

Create a new playlist

In the left sidebar, right-click on Playlists and choose to create a new playlist. Give it a name that reflects your set, such as the event name or date.

Add tracks and order them

Drag tracks from your collection into the playlist. Use the BPM and key columns to manually sort and arrange them into a logical flow. You can reorder tracks by dragging rows up or down within the playlist.

Sync to your hardware

To export to a USB drive or hard drive: connect the drive (formatted FAT32 or exFAT), then open Sync Manager in Engine DJ desktop and select the playlists to transfer. To sync directly to connected hardware such as an SC6000 or Prime 4: connect the device via USB and put it into Computer Mode first - it will then appear in Sync Manager and you can push the playlist to it the same way.

The catch

Engine DJ gives you no tools to suggest what track should come next: ordering by feel, energy arc, and harmonic flow is entirely manual.

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

Let Vibes plan the set, then send it straight to Engine DJ.

Vibes Set Designer builds your set for you using BPM, key, vibe, and sound profile weights, then writes it directly into the Engine DJ database as a ready-to-play playlist.

See how it works

Set Designer recommends the next track by BPM range, harmonic Camelot key, vibe tags, and Sound Match so every transition has a reason

Save Track Pairs for transitions you know work, and add chapters to mark energy shifts across the set arc

Export writes the finished set directly into Engine DJ's m.db database, so it appears as a playlist on your hardware with no manual dragging

Your vibes and categories carry over too, so you can browse by feel on the night if you want to go off-script

Organize in Vibes, export to Engine 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.

Vibes handles the prep and planning side: it builds and orders the set using BPM, key, and vibe data, then exports it into Engine DJ as a playlist. Engine DJ (and your hardware) is still where you perform the set. Think of Vibes as the prep layer that removes the manual work before you get to the decks.

Yes. Vibes writes directly into Engine DJ's database file (m.db), so after you sync your drive from Engine DJ desktop, the playlist appears on your SC6000, Prime 4, or other Engine DJ hardware exactly as you built it.

Yes. Vibes imports directly from Engine DJ's m.db file, so your existing collection, playlists, and cue points come in without any manual export step.

Methodology