Set Your Cue Points The RIGHT WAY - DJ Tips

[@NickSpinelli]

Anyone color code their cues? I've been thinking about it lol #OCD

[@allanotieno6872]

I color code mine. The first two red are for 8bar and 4bar intros respectively and I name them as 8B and 4B. The first orange is where the vocal starts. Purple are for choruses. Any other color is for different verses or breaks.

[@Ziggy_v2]

I use Red for the first 4 or 8 bar intro - Orange for a music intro, Yellow for the first vocal, green for the chorus or my mix out point, and purple for outro.

[@djmattdodge]

Yeah like a stop light red is 8 yellow is 4 and green is start the. Purple is like a flip

[@theshutout]

I always have my START cue as GREEN Then 16 beats as RED, 8 as ORANGE, 4 as YELLOW. It might be OCD, but it’s easier to pick out in a hurry than having to read tiny fonts (at least with my eyes anyways) lol!

[@mexikanman]

Red first beat; lighter red 1/2 way to the first verse; orange first verse begin, blue chorus begin// Green (below the red) very start of the song. Anything else gets a "text" label. I also label any "manual" beat jump that you described - "Jump up" & "Jump land"

[@staviiboyyy778]

That fact that this guy put this video for free is crazy this has more step by step tutorial than any video I’ve seen on hip hop for DJ’s . Bro killing it keep dropping these type of videos.

[@alessioscrocco8844]

He's generous; it's the Italian way 😜

[@zacharyphillipspharmd]

Yooo, no-nonsense knowledge for free is so dope. I never would have followed this behind a paywall because how could I know it was so good? And here we are. Thanks!

[@selloutmc]

Thanks for the love bro! An honour to get a mention from a legend like yourself 🙏🏼

[@NickSpinelli]

Bro thanks so much for watching! Keep that fire coming 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@Positive_Tea]

Dope remix. Yee!

[@cgentertainment2370]

Bro, this guide is so good. This is like when the math teacher actually shows you examples of every type of equation before giving you the homework. Easy work.

[@MISTERx_oPOOKIE]

I got 40 seconds in and I must comment, you are the guy that gave me the green light to quick mix. Fast forward a few years I'm now having people assuming that my mixes are premade and insinuating I'm fake mixing 😂 It's all about the CUE POINT SYSTEM!! You absolutely nailed it.

[@luuvision]

What a Treasure Tips! I think this is the legendary tutorial for every Dj

[@alainchristian]

Been down a rabbit hole of looking at different cue point systems for the past hour. I think this is making the most sense to me. I definitely was doing it wrong before having random points on songs that didn't work together. Whatever system you guys decide on, HAVE ONE! Don't just set random points! I haven't implemented a system but in my head I already see this will improving my progress tremendously.

[@NickChiodo]

Loving the new YT content Nick! Also, for newer DJs (or idiots like myself) -- it helps to add 1 or 2 cue points at the end of the track. If there is an outro do a beat jump 8 bars before the first beat of the outro and that is your last "mix-out" point.

[@SimmDawg]

Great tips as Always Nick, greatly appreciated!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@DJFLōST8-j8v]

It’s crazy how many DJ’s I’ve seen that don’t know how to count music…yet, they think their mixes are great. I am a musician first before DJing, so counting music is just the basics. However, I’ll always be a student to the game. Thanks for all the gems that you drop!

[@jacobclark6219]

Hearing Nick always talk about "No Hands" as his bathroom song and then hearing him play it live as he ran to the bathroom was hilarious. Nice breakdown of how you set cue points!

[@djAXCESSmusic]

Added this to my “beginner dj must watch” playlist. Some of the best info out here! Great job nick!

[@68evr]

MASTERCLASS 🔥🔥🔥

[@MrLugofe]

Thanks for these tips. One or two months ago I try to mark all my tracks and you're right, we need time to put marks on tracks for mixing in the correct moment. And I see the mix is mucho better. It's costing me a bit but I see that mixing by musical phrases keeps the energy in the dance zone. 😊

[@davidjoelstephens]

Nick! I'm sitting here and the two count came in for Candi Staton, and I totally heard THE GEATOR saying over my left shoulder "My MAN! SpinoPhonic Nick! GIVE "ER THE WOOD!" - He is very missed - and you killed it at Memories. Thank you for your talent, and for sharing with our community your expertise. Just goes to show, you GET what you GIVE! That is all.

[@NickSpinelli]

@@davidjoelstephens thank you so much my friend 🙏🏼 it was an honor spinning with you at memories!

[@rawdiggs]

Thank you so much! I am a beginner, and was just saying to myself that i needed to set up que points. I think i will like your system. I also appreciate the pointer of not letting the beginning of verses sneak in. I've been that dude in the crowd you talked about.

[@krayzee1227]

Best Cue Point Video Ever! Great explanation. Thanks!

[@DutchBigTwinLover]

😃👍🏻 Wow!! This is by far one of the best tutorials for me as a beginner DJ. All the time and afford he put in the vid. Shappo for you man. 🙏🏻

[@AnouarSighaoui]

this was crisp and clear, thanks alot!

[@sotosoul]

Another suggestion for cue point labeling is to use negative numbers. I'm a fan of beats, so my cue points would be labeled -32, -16, 0, where 0 is a "point of interest" (start of the song or otherwise). I couple this with stored loops, e.g., 32-beat (8-bar) loop between cue point -32 and cue point 0. I set matching cue points, i.e., cue points I can jump to from another cue point without messing with the energy of the music, using the same colour.

[@NickSpinelli]

I like that!

[@RealQuickComics]

I hope you don't get flagged because this is stellar information!

[@MeettheCreatives]

I mean this in the best way possible..these videos are giving 2020 Nick Spinelli KZbin and I am here for it. It's like when Casey Neistat went back to new york...the world is healing lmao

[@simonjagassar]

I learned how to curate songs like this a few years ago. It takes time for sure. I use your method quite often. I'm just surprised when I see so many mobile DJs still not using cue points. They are dinosaurs IMHO.

[@KamalMuziq]

Great video! ESP. The hack so we don’t forget while smoking pot! Love it

[@jojorilu]

Great vid, I'm a DJ of 15 years and actually use all of those methods. No one taught me that, i kind of figure it out through out the years, so it's nice to see established DJs confirming those Hot Cue methods. The only thing is why didn't u have the grids before hand? it would have made it easier for new DJs to follow along the waveform and the bars. Another thing is to explain why the 8 and the 4 are important. I'll explain, it's because those are the most common bar counts in traditional intros/outros/bridges and so forth. Meaning that that you can use either an 8 or 4 depending of the need. House music have 16 and 32 bar counts as standard. I would like to know how you do it when you have an intro and the vocals doesn't start at the one, or having vocals beginning off count. Also when you don't have a traditional 4 or 8 count intro, but have a 3 or 6. I usually cut them down to 2 and 4 so its logical in my brain.

[@jacksspinza.k.adjlilg8343]

WELL SAID! It’s one thing to share Great techniques and ideas as he does very well. But it’s a totally different thing to explain it so that whether the viewer is a new or experienced dj it’s simple enough to understand. Again he’s done a very great job in presenting these techniques and he should be commended and appreciated for sharing his time and knowledge..,

[@jmoak311]

Same! Usually I set a cue to the vocal even if it’s not on the 1 in case you want to scratch the vocal etc. I also usually set the cue points so I have 8, 16, or 32 beats for those songs that have a 24 beat intro like the og I wanna dance with somebody if I’m missing. If I’m going to cold start it that then I let the whole intro play out

[@jackmono]

I always find it funny how different djs use cute points. I like your system. I do think that depending on what type of dj you are, you might do it differently. I actually have a strategy for house, it works for tech house, deep house and bass house with mostly no difference in those types of genres. The genres are different but my cut points are similar for each. But I also play Drum & Bass where my strategy is modified to account for doing double drops or drop swaps. One thing I do in common with all of them is mark intro, bass change, which is similar to your “starts” it’s the place in a EDM track where if you do not already have the bass up, you will need to swap or turn the bass up. This is the first drop coming out of the transition. I also have chorus and drops marked and use beat jump to get behind those to ensure two drops happen at the same time. Finally in house I have wind downs and outros. Those mean something to me in each genre. I think a good dj can get tons of ideas from how others do it. But ultimately, will come up with their own strategy. Check my sets out…

[@DJHEV]

I have a coloring system for my cues. I typically just keep some sort of mental metronome when counting bars so cue points just act as a visual marker. Where GREEN = either beginning of track/verse or also end of verse RED = Chorus/Known Point of interest/Hot spot of song BLUE = A change is occurring/anticipating change (mashup or transition song) PINK = Avoid/Abandon part of song. I usually would mix out if I’ve reached to this

[@Aiden-ei9un]

Great video Nick bring back the Tuesday shows!!! Please!

[@NickSpinelli]

I've been thinking about it! 🙏🏼

[@PSmidi]

Beginner home DJ here… great clear & easy to follow video on cue advice and rationale 💯🙏🏽😁👍🏽

[@razor_ramon]

Your counting on the "Young Hearts Run Free" song was very helpful! Thank you Nick!

[@jmoak311]

I’ve been preaching this to guys in my crew! Cue points are the most important part of my workflow. Probably even more than crates. My cue points are setup by beats themselves instead of bars because when I adopted this strategy back in the day I had no idea about beats/bar etc. lol

[@PanjiDhanasaputra]

great tricks nick! 🎉

[@Aespinosadj]

Great tips, Nick! Setting cue points properly has been a game changer for my mixes. Thanks for breaking it down so clearly definitely going to apply this to my next set!

[@xaviermiranda5529]

To avoid bleeds, I actually MIDI-mapped a "Vocal Echo Out" button so that right before I do the transition I hit it and I avoid those bleeds. I used the dedicated "Instrumental" button om my T7 so that the vocal out sounds cleaner than just muting it

[@NickSpinelli]

Great use of stems!

[@scyllaproducer]

You sir always have fantastic timing for me with videos. I literally started to undertake setting cue points on my entire library in this same fashion. Excellent video. Only critique I'd like to mention is that phrasing is super important and if there are lyrics that lead into the "1" then those need to be heard as well so setting the cue point so the lyrical phrase being heard makes sense is crucial so I make a note either with the lyric or the actual count. (ex: and 3 and 4 and) so that I know when to push it. Fantastic stuff as always Nick. Gonna be keeping busy during the off season with things like this and this is helpful

[@emanherdz3594]

Great tips Nick and thank you for sharing your knowledge/skills…it’s always nice to see great minds at work! 👏🏽

[@StevieRayEntertainme]

great video Nick. I typically do. My First cue is typically Where I start my mix, 2nd is the beginning of the track that nothing should be mixed over, 3rd, 4th, 5th are chorus starts so I can shorten any song by skipping any point. 8th cue is my mix out point (where I want to start mixing my next track) sometimes this is the bridge, sometimes the start of the last chorus, etc. Cue 6/7 I use for special jump points...aka where a bride wants the song playing as she comes in during intros. or an instrumental portion i can loop to make my own intro/outro, or just to talk over.

[@DJPADRE3000]

You have one of the best “explaining dj stuff “ ever. I subscribe to shit ton of videos and have to say 100% you are the best. Most are either duchey in their deliver or act like they are doing the video for Yale or Harvard. You understand the audience. Please keep it up. I subscribed and will check out your other videos. Thank you KZbin. This video helps with my BS traffic ride home .

[@DrD4n]

So nice to have you back on teaching your Ways. So much to learn here

[@dman2010az]

Thanks for sharing, this gave me more ideas to work with. Keep up the great work, I love your mixes.

[@TheRickysee]

Nick. You seriously rock. So good at communicating

[@GarciaJoseph2014]

Gret video very detailed! Very helpful going to doing this to all my crates 🤞🍻 cheers brother!

[@DJDennisProductions]

Nick, thank you for keeping it simple! Looking at mixing and song setup in a whole different light. Getting excited 😂

[@nyingjea6837]

This was great Nick! I like this way of labeling. I am going to try it. Thanks!!

[@chrisc8343]

Been djing 33 years now and still and going strong 💪💪love your tutorials though Nick. Some of the best ive seen online 👌

[@NickSpinelli]

@@chrisc8343 thanks so much!

[@mmoran972]

This video is DJ Gold!

[@nesentertainments]

Great video, NICK. I always used the color of the waves to set my points but never thought to label them. This past weekend djed a surprise 60th where I played a ton of disco from the 70s. By labeling my cue points came in so clutch to cut through 8 mins tracks. Thanks

[@Stu_Penduss]

Super helpful, thanks. Love your style Nick!

[@soppliger]

This is a great video! I normally play house/tech house but got hired for a disco party recently (70’s disco) where my usual method for setting cues didn’t translate. Don’t even get me started on the crazy tempo drift of those older tracks that took ages to grid. I had to old-school beat match because so many tracks weren’t on the grid (didn’t have time to grid them all and nothing set correct grids: Traktor Pro 4, Lexicon, EDJ, etc.)

[@fdksdk4843]

What an amazing video as I'm a beginner and you covered so many different scenarios and how a beginner would think, thank you for putting so much effort into this. You got a new subscriber.

[@Crump1980]

You can make edits with serato flip to skip different parts of the track. All you do is have the track on the first cue from where you want to jump, start the flip recording then hit the next cue point, turn the flip loop icon off and hit save. You can label the flip whatever its doing eg "Short Edit" and the track doesn't need to be playing for this to work. Aside from making short edits you can use it for intro edits if the song ends on an instrumental. I usually leave the cue points from making the flip and mark them IN and OUT so I know when the jump is coming.

[@NickSpinelli]

Yes you can! I stopped using flip though. I like manually going through cues and scratching them etc. Gives me something to do haha

[@Crump1980]

@@NickSpinelli You make a great point about short edits, I never see the point as you can just mix out wherever and unless all gigs are ADD teens in a club you might need to let it ride out. I only really need to jump if the end has a vital part or I want to jump to an acapella out.

[@RolandoLopezDJ]

This is one of your best videos man. keep it up!

[@NickSpinelli]

Stoked you enjoyed it!

[@jaysoniq]

Thanks SO much for not having disruptive background music "score" to your vid! 🤓 Why do so many videos have that?! 🥵 It's usually just a distraction and makes what would be a fine tutorial seem like an infomercial for an education course or something 😓

[@Wrongway351]

Nick, thank you so much for this video. I've been waiting for this, and glad it came from you. I'm just starting out in the DeeJay game, lol more like a Hobby. I've been setting cue points I guess kinda blindly, where I thought I would like to mix in or out or jump to. But this makes so much more sense. I've heard DJ's talk about phrasing but never really got it. You totally explained this awesomely. Thanks man. Keep up the great work.

[@NickSpinelli]

Stoked you enjoyed it! Keep at it!

[@kalanajayasekara7080]

This is great info for a beginner DJ like my self. Thanks mate for your time. Respect :)

[@JemelNegronProductions]

Thank you for this. As a new dj well getting back into it after a few years but this has helped me tremendously.

[@alainreyes4388]

So good advices ! Thanks so much for That from France ! You'r the One Nick

[@rodneymcdaniel2482]

Spinelli is a genius with his djing 🙌🏽

[@dadjbig]

This dope .. great video.this will definitely help DJs who need it.

[@BernardoTheDJ]

Nice man, love seeing how other DJs prep their workflow. I use the same colors as my 8, 4, and start so I don’t have to label it (but maybe now I should start labeling as well) In addition to this, I like to at times cue my outros the same way. Set a cue where I want to exit, then 4 or 8 before (again always use the same set of colors for my outros).

[@danielgannon8835]

Great video man! Cue points are essential for me to quickly get to where I need to be absed on the audience.

[@TimSchalch]

Love this, Nick! I've been doing this for 8+ years but it's always great to see how other pro's do it. Keep it up with these great videos! GO BIRDS!!!

[@NickSpinelli]

Appreciate the support bro! 🦅

[@alfredoacostabeneficiaryak3239]

OMG talk about a flashback...Tape on a record...I'm a house DJ mostly but I use cue points like a bandit...I'm a non program user. I use colors as my cue points and I know where to go. Cue points are a personal thing to me...I use Denon SC6000s btw....I'm old school, no software...I love cold ending tracks....My style does not fit today's DJ. But Iknow some of the elements that I use can be applied to others because, let's face it, it is the beginning of spinning. Disco/Househead..... Love the Video!

[@justinseymour1249]

Great video 👍🏼 thanks

[@Positive_Tea]

26:52 yessireee 🥵

[@paulhinsky]

😂

[@NickSpinelli]

😂😂

[@johnespinoza6171]

Amazing video .. will definitely go back through the library... I have also been using stems as well to blend after the chorus ... pioneer ddjrev5.... hit the vocals off... and bring in the next song with melody and bass off... then bring them back in...

[@djgaz33]

That was your best damn video ever!!!

[@NickSpinelli]

wow thank you!

[@fitnesstorresflores6477]

Super love it. Im going to do it like that look really helpfull.

[@ShoDj]

Nice Work Nick!!

[@Bynbrooke]

The short edit part is something you learn 100% Ive definitely been fucked by a short edit before. I remember gasolina being requested figured why not, its gonna fit the vibe anyway, but decided to short edit it as it wasnt fully in the space of where i wanted to be. Dear god did this crowd go wild. Turns out it was the groom + groomsmen "battle song" from college

[@NickSpinelli]

Exactly!

[@coreysingletary5322]

First off Nick. Great video 👍🏾 Secondly, damn you, for making even more crate work for me ‼️ 😂😂😂 Salute 🫡

[@Joaquin77]

Great video, I do the same principle.. on lower bpms most are 8 bar intro 1st beat, start if 5th bar, start of 9th bar. When is a higher bpm things change where I do 1st beat, start of 9th bar start of 17th bar and another at the 33rd bar.. they work flawlessly for me.

[@eternalsoundschicago]

Since you can label your cues, I drop a cue as a marker on the first chorus and label it DROP “whatever cue #” place the next chorus cue point lands so I can create short edits or leave the long play if desired. Pretty much the same as you illustrated but I’ll include a cue on the chorus I may opt to skip. Hope that makes sense.

[@lucparadis9575]

So clear instructions, very thanks to you. I’m in my first day hobby DJ 😎

[@djnvision]

Great video! I'm surprised you didn't mention phantom/ghost cues as well for dropping songs on the one. Not sure alot of people know about it.

[@NickSpinelli]

I actually forgot about that! damnit

[@NickSpinelli]

You make a cue at the end of the song where nothing is playing. Then you keep your platter rotating and you can trigger the song by any cue. Mainly for anyone using turntables

[@menegaux]

SOLID content, as usual. Posted to Bar Bangerz landing page!

[@NickSpinelli]

@@menegaux yooo thanks so much bro!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@NickSpinelli]

@@menegaux yoooo thanks so much bro! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@bbqsaucedj]

Nice! This is what I teach my DJ students

[@djarjay129]

Thank you very informative! God bless you🙏

[@phaelnobeat]

entregando todo o jogo, sem enrolação e segredos!!! parabens

[@DJOWEOfficial]

we have the same systems BUT I LABEL 1 AND 2 intro & HC then start, love your videos.

[@Djtonetx]

Exactly how my workflow is as well. The best way to mix all genres when your out in these streets!!

[@slopiijoe]

I always enjoy your vids. But i especially love these prep (and execution) type of vids. Also worth noting what you were saying about playing long versions vs short edits....one of my favorite things about Stem mixing is being able to on the fly get creative in making the song shorter just by STEMing

[@NickSpinelli]

Yeah stems are a game changer!

[@jpaul0826]

Great vid! No Hands snare cue is actually the 4. Either way great vid!!

[@ScojoDak]

Again, great advice from the goat.

[@NickSpinelli]

Appreciate it bro!

[@KevonialJemonathoy]

Awesome video! Mandatory algorithm comment! 🎉

[@NickSpinelli]

Appreciate you!

[@DennisBosseCCT]

I had seen a video from you previously, along with a few others.... I do similar, but use beats in lieu of bars... Color coded is my label... I also do the out - hidden cue points (marker only) with color coded labels for beats... Include a cue point for the main chorus (have done sporting events and you just want the 10, 20, 30 seconds of a chorus...) No matter what - it takes time, planning and preparation to get this ... and it changes over time. Lol.. have don / re-done / repeat many times.. Great video.!

[@Hautecosplay]

Excellent video. You really broke down how to set and use cue points in a live set.

[@Ekid20]

Very helpful video, thank you Nick

[@NickSpinelli]

You're welcome 🙏🏼

[@GregoryGioia]

I do things about the same. I'll label some as "jump out" and "jump in" on songs where I almost always jump from one point (out) to another (in). Besides DJ'ing weddings, I also DJ breaks for MCs to rap over, and any song with an open drum break I color code with green for where the break starts and aqua for where it ends. Often I have only 1 or 2 bars of time to throw in the new song, cue it up, and scratch it in, so I need to know immediately which cue point to select.

[@DJRonChannel]

Great video, in the case of Mr. Brightside I prefer to use Serato Flip its more accurate and you have the option to use either the original or the Flip, plus you don't have to be waiting for the bridge to jump lol, thanks for the videos

[@planetmusicsamos]

great video! really 100% true advise !

[@TheRealDJake]

What ive found that works for me is marking every chorus and bridge so i can skip around. I focus on the first and last ones though. I don't mark how many bars before it starts, i haven't had an issue. I typically just label it "Intro" but i guess adding a number of bars won't hurt. A weird thing i do is have the upper pads (1-4) as my chorus and bridge skips And ill use the lower pads (5-8) as my secondary marks like where a verse or breakdown is. 5 is always where the intro/start is for me. So the left pads are the beginning of the song and the right pads are the ending. It makes sense visually for me.

[@xaviermiranda5529]

Another trick I use when labeling is instead of putting 1 or 3, I actual put "clap prior" or "-1 bar" so I can capture the lead in vocal properly when the vocal doesn't start right on the 1

[@TheBlockOutpodcast]

Great video. Two things. 1. How do I open this cue point screen you're on? Mine doesn't look like yours. 2. Does the automatic cue grid work for older songs like (non quantized beats) like older bands Barkays, Duran Duran etc.

[@stevenyork9144]

Yo brother! Can I come to one of your gigs to learn from you? Ive been doing it for about two years but I still watch your videos repeatedly to learn and I just want to watch the master at work!!

[@NickSpinelli]

All my public gigs are pinned on my Instagram @djnickspinelli - come out!

[@frystar106]

I never use short edits i create them on my own like you…. But i learned something today. Thank you

[@djhoodedwolf]

If a song doesn’t have a “cold ending”, I’ll make my own. Wait for the last four bars of the chorus and make one on the fly with stems. Bar 1 play as usual, Bar 2 mute melody, bar 3 mute bass, last half of bar 4 mute drums and then reverb or echo out on the last word.

[@MacDibs]

What's a stem

[@djlala]

serato has option to reset bear grid.. that may have helped also .. that and beat jump makes it perfect to get right cue point

[@DJDamien42]

Knowledge is king. Experience is king.