Cue points to set on EVERY track you play: DJ Fundamentals

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Setting great cue points is a fundamental part of DJ song prep. In this video, Ean shares the cue points that he thinks every DJ should be setting on tracks they're planning on mixing. The second part of the video - which starts at 11:30 - talks more about advanced looping cue point ideas. Want to suggest an idea for a future DJ fundamentals video like this one? Speak up in the comments below.
More of this DJ Fundamentals series: • DJ Fundamentals 2019

[@pt1467]

When it comes to illustrating and explaining a concept you are the bomb. Clearest most understandable breakdown of concepts I've found on the youtube! Thanks for the channel!

[@annafedorova_sf]

That advanced cueing at the end there is getting me even more excited about mixing - it’s far more, basically playing and creating new sound. Great for making original tracks, I imagine. Thanks for sharing this ♥️

[@RionPhotography]

I’m just starting to play around with Traktor/DJing for fun and this is SO helpful!

[@valeriederbaudrenghien]

Great video, you're such a good teacher; I'm an amateur DJ and this was super helpful. Thank you!

[@morgantomcho]

Best dj instruction on KZbin, so glad I stumbled upon you. Thanks!!

[@Turtleboykid]

hyped to see ya bring back that ozzy jam video. that was one of the first videos I saw of you when I first started djing and still inspires me after all these years.

[@chaz-e]

And also Phenomena routine.. My first DJ vid is Phenomena routine! Very inspiring

[@SuperPussyFinger]

Absolutely exquisite tutorial. Best I’ve found anywhere. Thank you.

[@Gitiffan]

AWESOME TUTORIAL! I have been slacking on my cue points and to get them tightened up. I am going to try the loop cues, I like that idea. Yes, I am still very green on the DJ scene and trying to soak up every video I can to learn!

[@deaddreamer66]

I practice this things for more than a year. This is working very well.

[@futuregootecks]

bro when the fischerspooner hit, my mind was blown! i've watched a bunch of your old videos years ago, and this is the first one i've seen since getting back into DJing several months ago. it really makes a difference when the teacher has the same taste as you. so thanks so much for all the hard work AND having great taste. i dunno if you've considered doing a udemy/skillshare course, but i would buy it in a heartbeat.

[@SlayerDarkRaver]

I love watching these dj tips from Ean. They are so insightful, inspiring and Golden ;)

[@heydarwinj]

love this video, thanks for posting. I’m a proud supporter of djtt

[@sterakmusic2000]

Traktor is perfect! Thank you Ean Golden!! ♥

[@surenoblack2658]

What a superb video, Iv dj’d for years and didn’t think of some of these points🙏🏼

[@djpepper8814]

Ean, you're so easy to understand and cover some pretty in-depth content. Keep it up! LOVE THAT HAIR! 12:08

[@vishnuvaid7465]

Respect for tabla instrumental ~ that’s my main instrument before I got into dj turntablism!

[@MrMangoo]

You were the reason why I decided to buy a Traktor Kontrol s4 thanks to your videos for native instruments! I'm still rocking it! Thank you so much

[@harrysearia1784]

That last mix was Siiiiic!

[@sashabeep]

Great advice! Thank you for this video. Many years ago when cd players didn't have wave display i've saw some djs marked outro timecode on the cd labels

[@disfu96]

that's wild! amazing how far technology has come

[@DJSolitone]

Excellent Video. I appreciate your time explaining these important mixing aspects

[@sylwiaa6361]

Natural born teacher, pleasure to watch and of course - great tips

[@MaksKrivesko]

Thanks for sharing an amazing track - Planetary!

[@djdamienconnolly]

Thanks for sharing Ean!! Great content

[@morin1997]

Thank you so much for helping with the beginning! :D

[@ashkanrmp7442]

You talk very peacefully and nice! You got great voice as well

[@ThomStanton]

Nice video. Great tips. Learning to DJ now, so watching lots of tutorials. This one on cues and loops was unique. Great info and great reason to subscribe. Thanks for sharing! :)

[@adamkinetic]

Very true, I've been recording my mixes I make to upload to my KZbin channel and there is a lot of preparation going into creating a set that you want to record similar to a live set.

[@skateboardkid420]

in export mode you can save a loop as a memory cue or hot cue, then click the little orange icon next to that memory or hit cue and it will automatically loop on a CDJ, or any rekordbox driven hardware or software.

[@lbonf1911]

Thank you! I’m beginning with Traktor just to play with music and this is pretty good. Thanks

[@spacemant4482]

haha Ean....good morning. Love that you think your base audience of DJ's/Producers are early morning risers ...primed and ready for work tips to kick start their day :) ROCK N" ROLL

[@chaz-e]

+1 for fundamentals Ozzy routine also reminds of Phenomena routine.. Both sick! 🤘🏻

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

i usually have a choice of starting cue points depending on the set i am doing .Sometimes a long soft or gradual intro with no beats is good especially if i want a change of bpm or mood.Other times starting on the first downbeat might be right.I almost always have a starter cue and then a second one where the beats start unless of course the tune starts right away with the first beat.

[@itsamedjmario]

anyone ever tell you, you look like the dude from Netflix's >> YOU

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

my red cues are usually the starter blue is where i usually jump from or to or mix out from.Sometime i am drumming beats ,vocals or both and that might involve most of the cues.Then i might improvise or i might practice earlier to get the exact way i want it right.

[@doowopshopgal]

Damn you’re good. Great idea loops as cues!!!

[@constantinomorales2594]

😐😆

[@tresporros]

another good idea is to make your own edits of the songs; open the song in DAW of your choice and create the edit by adding intro/outro, etc..

[@djjammindave]

I ALWAYS DO MY OWN EDITS, BASICALLY I SHORT THE TRACK. I USE ABLETON TO DO THAT.

[@djmikio]

If a song has 3 breakdowns and maybe the first of the 3 isn't that engaging, I'll edit it right out and have the initial parts of the tune seg right into the second breakdown.

[@denesglavatity2645]

Great video Ean! The load markers are quite useful, however if the track has a commercial intro (lets say 16 bars) I usually just make sure that cuepoint 1 (grid marker) is set on the first downbeat. What I also do is put hotcues at the beginning of drops, or 8 measure after them to be able to jump around and make quick live edits by switching up drops, lengthening or shortening them, etc. Lastly, it is quite handy to have a hotcue for the last impact on the track, this way if I counted wrong, I can fix my error by jumping there and it will transition nicely with the breakdown of the new track being mixed in. Cheers!

[@johnnychipello919]

Awesome vid!!!

[@ARM_DM]

I used to have hot cues that marked the drops and vocals, but I've been suggested by a DJ that I shouldn't be relying on cue points, ONLY the beginning cue, he said phrasing should take care of the rest.

[@Netsuko]

Setting loops on the fly can work, but more often than not I find myself setting a loop that has a trailing off reverb from a crash or a vocal in the beginning, especially on shorter songs and once that happens you really start losing precious time finding a clean loop towards the end. Having mix in and mix out CUE points set in advance made mixing much less stressful.

[@mcpeko5773]

Fire Ozzy mix! 👊

[@akinkunmicook2977]

Great tutorial! Curious; Why do you use the grey color scheme for the file wave?

[@LeakyBliss]

Great tips! NIce song celection too 😎

[@DjMarcos1972]

Nice advice ❤

[@zeenuf00]

Well explained 👍

[@cityxstar]

thanks for this!

[@sebanetchannel]

Awesome tips as always DJ Teacher Ean !

[@danwiddison]

I knew nothing about load points.. Thanks!

[@shullln]

Just my style, and the only place I DJ is in my basement, but I "always" (usually) set Cue #1 on the first down beat. But 90% of the time that's not where I want to start playing. People don't want to listen to 16/32 bars of intro/outro beats. So, usually, where I personally want my starting cue point is 4 beats before the end of the intro. At that point, you can do a 4 loop on that bar, get the beat grids aligned and be ready to release the loop so the meat/drop of the next song comes in right on time. To me as a beginner, that's easier and less stressful than trying to "Drop it on the 1". If I screw up, and I do often, I have 4 beats to get things back on track before the next song comes in. Yes, I know this concept has the issue of not being able to jump back to the start of the phrase, but in my mind it's worth it. I play "everything" but mostly Funk/Disco/Soul and 70's-80's-90's pop/alt. Also in serato, you can label your cue points and give them names, that is awesome if you haven't played the track in a while.

[@OlaOla-so3il]

I would of paid for this video in course! :) It's so good! :)

[@ohaya1]

awesome!

[@annoybot]

Yay, a Golden tip : D

[@cdhtwo]

Super video! I applauded for $2.00 👏

[@antoinenioi6863]

Great lesson ! Thanks 🙏 ! What do you think about the software Mixing in Key … it’s really a good tools to prepare Cue point ? Thanks

[@Flightcoach]

Nice! The thing i took away from this is setting up the loop cue, never thought of that! Am wondering though, i play house mainly, do you believe in setting cue points not on the drop but like 24 bars before?

[@gosouthmusic]

Great cue point philosophy, thanks for the tutorial. How do you use hot cues and memory cue (rekordbox)?

[@Yandrakel]

DJM v10 please! Thank you for the work!

[@michaw7038]

nice!! thanks!

[@Ghedion92]

Ian! please do a video on Traktor's remix/stem decks!

[@wadekettell2626]

good job your doing

[@djITALYLaChanceDeGonza]

Ean need more on T-S-Pro-3 the 5 knows haha salute Ean & TechTools

[@proteinpapi__]

thank you.

[@RaquelFoster]

I spent a lot of time getting 8 perfect hot cues on everything when I was using a controller, but when I started using CDJs it seems like stopped using them, and I got annoyed real fast at all the useless cues that take time to load. Using Memory Cues is nice because then you get the beat countdown. Maybe I'll just turn off Hot Cue Auto Load and keep using them for the colors.

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

i have a variety of options for points to mix out.Again it depends on what version im using ,what kind of set im doing and how much i want of each tune.

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

i sometimes have more than one version of a tune with different cue points so that i can choose the right one for that set.My cues are coloured so i often know just by colour where i will jump just by looking at the colours.

[@SoniaAnastasiaaa]

how do you create cue points that are not beat gridded to the track? I turned the quantize and snap mode off but that didn't work. I want more creative freedom

[@auraglasswerks4900]

Killer beard bro🤙🏽

[@crwn_munkz]

Are traktor updates free? I bought a s2 mk2 years ago and it came with the software but it looks so different now!🤯

[@scroez]

Wow Last time I mixed was with 1210's, DJing has changed so much from days of Vinyl man, I'd love to get back into it, I still love underground House-Techno, Great video man

[@snooze92]

Two ideas for future videos: - How do you manage files so that it plays well within Traktor? Do you let files be imported by iTunes? Do you use the file browsers? Do you use external playlists? Do you favor Traktor playlists? How do you back-up files? Do you back-up all the Traktor metadata as well? How do you manage external drives and the like... I constantly get in a state where the whole "Collection" section of traktor becomes a mess, and I can only manage to use my most recent filesystem folders or Traktor playlists. I had tried Beatport Pro without much success... - Any content about Ecstatic Dance specifics would be very original and of great interest to me!!

[@sykesybwoy]

There should be old articles on the website covering this. I personally use Smart Playlists in iTunes to filter tracks by Genre which I rate at 4 stars and above, or create normal playlists with tracks I want to play in a set. Then in Traktor these can be assigned to the Shortcuts and Import as you see fit. I also allow Analysis on Import.

[@Red-gl2cb]

tip. do not rely on your itunes library. get 1 harddrive with loads of space. preferably ssd. create your own folders within. in traktor. set your track collection location to that hard drive. its just better and more user friendly. u can use the folders within traktor to plan sets.

[@Red-gl2cb]

also. key label your tracks manually! its better than smart playlists.

[@sykesybwoy]

@@Red-gl2cb in your opinion... Personally for me, listening to tracks in iTunes and simply rating them puts them in the correct folder structure based on Genre. Track management is then more straightforward, as is easy to amend id3 tags, this is all imo of course.

[@djstretchtone9851]

@@Red-gl2cb I like your idea !! Would you happen to know how to do that or where I could go find out how to do that for record box?

[@kevinjuliakim2939]

Yes! your need to have “CUTE POINT” for Djing

[@terrypeden6792]

What is the best editing software for long mixing sets(2hrs) in your opinion?

[@Alvaro_93]

What's the difference between a load marker or the regular white cue point?? Thank you

[@folacoool]

good stuff...hey i'm working on some special songs that requires more than 8-cuepoint and i've already got the hotcue-16 extension but i'm using DJC INP. 300 with 8 cuepoints buttons one each deack, how can i use it's 8 buttons for hotcue-16 extension? Thanks in advance.

[@benfoss9968]

can you do a vid on other basic traktor skills

[@Lasstmichinruh]

How did you get the two tracks under each other in preparation?

[@jackinjack7936]

Thx

[@jorgecarvalho5577]

Can you do all of thiago tricks with pioneer?

[@StanzAmor]

Pioneer DDJ-400, shift and spin the jog wheel. Easy! It’s all down to preferences. I don’t think I’ll ever use them :0

[@muxima2004]

Can u tell me if the midi fighter works with the Denon prime 4?

[@Jenia_Clouzer]

Is there any way to copy/paste cue points data? For instance I have same track in a several directories and I don't want to set cue points twice. Is there any way to copy it from one track to other (same) track?

[@abiyoya]

Regarding the Ending Loop 5:48 . I have tried this great tip but the End Loops I am saving as cue points are "Active". My question is: how can save End Loops as cue points without those being saved as "Active". During the video at 6:01 , the End Loop is already saved and de-Activated. So I am not sure if he de-Activated after saving it or if there is a way to saved End Loop as a cue points in de-Activated state. When I set an End Loop and click on a number to save it as a cue point, it saves it Activated. I tried to set an End Loop, de-Activate it and save it as a cue point but it only saves it as a regular cue point, not a loop. Reason for this question is that I may not always want to use End Loops but would need to always de-Activate them is they are saved as Activated (hope this makes sense!).

[@tybo8107]

or just know by looking at the waveform where to cue up, mix in,out. im to the point now where i dont even have to look at it. can just listen n know when to

[@tigerkloff]

hi is there a way to add playlist to automix and have every song load at 1st cue point. i am not a professional Dj, i just play songs at small parties

[@DaDudeClub]

Would I be able to use/map a MF3D with a Denon Prime 4 /EP? Thank you

[@native-nature-video]

Is there any shortcut to change cuepoint\hotcue color or type?

[@davidreynaud7614]

Do you use the kontrol S3 for that ?

[@d-jemme]

That midi thingie at the end brings out my inner-six-year-old-in-an-elevator so hard.

[@DKAYOfficial]

How did you get the extra menus to show up on the bottom where it shows the hot cue markers? For me, all it shows is "cue, cup..." etc, but doesn't show the extra menus that you have. How do I make Traktor give me options like that to show for me, is it in settings? if so, where?

[@cristianangheluta9643]

Hello Mr how do we analyze and modify if the tempo song is not a correct when import a track in rekordbox please? Which is the simplest method please? Let me know ASAP please Thx

[@alexcarrazzone7281]

Dude where do you dj this type of music?

[@EM-sv5wu]

hello, my timecode does not respond correctly in traktor pro, scratch problem, can you help me use mixer tracktor z2

[@ALXROGUE]

Haha, We - Traktor users are really addicted to cue points, i dunno why but we are! unlike Pioneer users, when i look into their playlists, they dont have placed single cue point

[@thomaskeaveny9820]

Hey, I use beatport link and rekordbox for all my music and can't find a software that will input cue points automatically (I've tried lexicon and Mixed in key neither of these work) does anyone know how I can do this? So I don't need to go through 100's of tracks and put memory cues in and hot cues.

[@mj_nooker]

Snx! Great!

[@DanoSuits]

How did you get the colored dots/bars on the tracks? thank you Ean.

[@Djmarcuslott]

Green a loop cue points I believe.

[@over-educated-sp]

So, what if you’re working with vinyl???????

[@calebkent7981]

so.. the ending Loop Cue: does the track save as active or do you have to activate it after you load the track and of so how without going directly to the Cue rather than it automatically looping when the track arrives at that loop cue?

[@tunerr1]

Depends. At least in Rekordbox it can be set both ways.

[@marco_mouse]

I know this is a really newbie question, but why are your cues most of the time, off the beat grid?

[@PaulD7nil]

Did you work it out

[@MyTwistable]

@@PaulD7nil yeah lol I wanna know too

[@kevindeguzman4763]

6:00-8:05 is an example in the video

[@select24]

You need to listen to the beat and not always look at the grid. The beat grid is not always lined up on beat that is why the cue points will be off the beat grid.

[@paulc8269]

@@select24 Is there any way the software can lock cue point on the beat grid so it's exact?

[@AlienShine]

If only Traktor would save them if I update my playlists.