How to · Serato DJ

Set and save loops in Serato DJ.

Serato DJ's loop controls let you lock onto any phrase and save it for instant recall. Knowing your track structure beforehand makes every loop placement intentional.

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Serato DJ deck view showing loop controls and waveform

Serato DJ's loop controls sit directly on the deck for fast, in-performance access.

Set and save loops in Serato DJ, step by step.

Serato DJ lets you create manual or auto loops on the fly and save them to loop slots that persist across sessions. Here is the exact workflow.

Set a loop start point

While a track is playing, press the Loop In button (labeled IN in the software) at the moment you want the loop to begin. Serato marks that position on the waveform. To fine-tune the in point, hold the Loop In button and move the platter on your controller or turntable, or use the left/right arrow keys on your keyboard. Holding Shift while pressing the arrow keys moves the point in larger increments.

Set a loop end point and activate

Press the Loop Out button (labeled OUT in the software) at the end of the phrase you want to loop. Serato immediately activates the loop and the deck repeats that region. If you use Auto Loop instead, click the desired bar length button and Serato calculates the out point from the beatgrid automatically, then activates the loop.

Save the loop to a slot

With a loop active, open the Loops tab in the virtual deck area. Click the '+' button next to the numbered slot you want to save to. The '+' changes to an 'x' once the loop is saved, confirming it has been written. Serato stores the loop points in the audio file's own metadata, so they reload the next time you open the same file.

Recall a saved loop

Load the track and open the Loops tab. Click any filled slot to jump to that loop and activate it instantly. On supported controllers you can also trigger saved loops from performance pads in Saved Loop mode. You can store up to 8 saved loops per track and toggle between them during a set.

The catch

Saved loops are written into the audio file's own metadata tags, so they travel with the file. This means loops are not lost if you move or rename the file, and they can be read by other software that parses the same tags. They are not siloed exclusively to Serato's database.

bass

mids

highs

lead

intro

verse

buildup

drop

breakdown

outro

Where Vibes fits

Know your loop points before you open Serato.

Vibes does not perform live loops. What it does is analyze every track's structure during prep so you arrive at Serato already knowing exactly which phrases are worth looping.

See how it works

Auto-detects intro, buildup, drop, breakdown, and outro sections on every track so high-value loop regions are visible before you perform

Displays a color-coded waveform with energy curve so you can spot the densest, most loop-worthy phrases at a glance

BPM and downbeat-locked beatgrid analysis means section boundaries align to real phrase starts, not just rough time positions

Exports analyzed tracks back to Serato via .crate so your prepped, organized library is ready to open right in Serato DJ

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.

No. Vibes is a prep and library tool, not a performance mixer. You still set, save, and trigger loops inside Serato DJ during your set. Vibes helps you prepare beforehand by showing you each track's section structure so you already know where the best loop points are.

Serato stores saved loops in its database files, typically inside the Serato folder in your Music directory. Backing up that folder preserves your loop data. Moving the database to a new machine alongside your music files should restore your saved loops.

Yes. Auto Loop lets you dial in a bar length on the fly, while Saved Loops store specific start and end points you set manually. You can drop into a saved loop for a rehearsed moment and still punch in an auto loop over the top, depending on your controller mapping.

Methodology