How to · Rekordbox

Use keylock (Master Tempo) in Rekordbox.

Keylock lets you change the tempo of a track without changing its key. Here is how to enable it in Rekordbox 7 and how to build a prep workflow that makes it less necessary.

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Rekordbox deck view showing the Master Tempo (keylock) button

Rekordbox Performance mode deck with Master Tempo active.

Use keylock (Master Tempo) in Rekordbox, step by step.

Rekordbox calls keylock Master Tempo and abbreviates it as MT in the software deck UI. It is a deck-level toggle in Performance mode and on CDJs, and it works independently on each deck.

Open a deck in Performance mode

Launch Rekordbox and switch to Performance mode using the pull-down dropdown in the top-left corner of the screen. Load a track onto Deck 1 or Deck 2 by dragging it from the browser or double-clicking. The deck controls will appear including the pitch fader and key display.

Locate the MT button

Look for the MT button (short for Master Tempo) on the deck, typically positioned above the tempo slider. On CDJs and XDJs the equivalent button is labeled MASTER TEMPO or KEY LOCK and appears in the same area of the hardware. Click or press MT once to enable it; it illuminates red to confirm it is active.

Adjust the pitch fader

With MT active, move the pitch fader up or down to change the BPM of the track. The key display will remain at its original value rather than shifting with the tempo. The amount of pitch-time stretching increases with larger adjustments, so wide offsets can introduce audible artifacts.

Monitor key and pitch range together

Watch the key indicator on the deck and the pitch percentage to stay aware of how far you have stretched the track. Rekordbox displays the current key in Camelot or standard notation depending on your Preferences. Artifacts typically become noticeable beyond about 8 percent pitch offset, so staying within that range preserves sound quality while still giving useful tempo flexibility.

The catch

Master Tempo uses time-stretching algorithms that can introduce audible artifacts, particularly beyond about 8 percent pitch offset. It works best when the tracks you are mixing are already close in tempo.

Find compatible

8A120–136 BPM

Where Vibes fits

Prep your set so keylock does less heavy lifting

Vibes does not perform live or control Rekordbox decks. What it does is help you build a library and plan sets where adjacent tracks are already harmonically and tempo compatible, so you reach for keylock less often and with smaller offsets.

See how it works

Analyze every track for accurate key using the Skey neural network, displayed in Camelot notation so compatible keys are obvious at a glance

Use the Camelot key filter and BPM range filter together in All Songs to find tracks that will mix naturally without heavy pitch shifting

Set Designer weights BPM and key compatibility in its recommendation engine, nudging you toward transitions that need minimal tempo correction

Export playlists directly into your Rekordbox library with analyzed key and BPM already embedded, so the data is ready before you step into Performance mode

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.

No. Keylock is a live performance feature on Rekordbox decks and CDJ hardware. Vibes is a library prep and export tool that runs before your set. It cannot control deck pitch or toggle Master Tempo during a performance.

Yes, at larger pitch offsets. Master Tempo applies time-stretching which can introduce slight artifacts, particularly on tracks with transient-heavy content like drums. Keeping offsets within plus or minus 4 to 6 percent usually keeps the effect inaudible on a dancefloor.

Yes. CDJs and XDJs have a dedicated MASTER TEMPO button on the hardware that works the same way as in Rekordbox Performance mode. Tracks exported to USB from Rekordbox carry their analyzed key data, which the CDJ displays while Master Tempo is active.

Methodology