Essential Cue Points For EVERY track

[@EricBishard]

Ok, this is a good start, but 30 year DJ here. I've been mixing Electro, Tech, and deep house for 20 years. There are 5 essential memory cue points I have on every track. 1. intro 2. bass-change 3. drop (not as important we typically know where this is) 4. wind-down (typically comes 128 beats after the drop and is where the track has a change in overall energy 5. outro (this typically is another bass change or the point where the bassline ceases to exist). With those memory cues, you will always know when to perform bass swaps or transitions. The basic algo is... Has the previous track reached its wind-down and if so when does the incoming track reach its "bass-change" or when does the bass line kick in. This will typically be the optimal place for a bass swap. Sometimes the incoming track will reach its bass-change before your bass swap, and so long as you know where the outgoing track ends its wind down and where its outro begins you will be able to pick a great place to do that bass transition. When understanding house music and transitions, IMHO the most important thing to track is the bass. The basslines can t step on each other and typically determine how your transitions work.

[@djkarlthomas]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@brian_mcevoy_]

Really helpful! That's all I needed to know! Thank you

[@sammymarcus8981]

Very nice hot cues lesson simple basics but very informative! Thank you!!!

[@djkarlthomas]

That was the aim! Thank you for the kind words and for watching

[@shannoncrezel8035]

Thanks for the tips. Setting up cue points has always overwhelmed me

[@djkarlthomas]

Glad this was useful!! Happy cue setting!

[@edwardpearce1418]

Interesting how you do it. Some useful tips there.

[@djkarlthomas]

Glad you found it useful mate x

[@Me-tp6ll]

so i put the *A* Cue point at The beggining of the song 0:00, then cue point *B* 8 Bars Before Intro right? Why on other channel they said i need to put *B* cue point on the first start of the Lyric in the Intro

[@djkarlthomas]

Everyone has their own opinion- there is no right or wrong approach. This is just how I choose to set my hot cues

[@Matthew-qe2wq]

Thanks, just started out and this was really helpful, would be interested to see it in action. Also what does spinning it back mean? I assume it means going back to that specific point in the track but it needs to be done seamlessly.

[@djkarlthomas]

I’m glad that it was helpful thank you for watching! A spin back is when you pull back on the platter very quickly in vinyl mode. Sometimes when I work with MC’s they will get you to do this and restart tracks that get a big reaction. Very common in drum and bass and garage sets. When doing this- it’s ideal to start the track from a cue point rather than playing the full intro all over again.

[@qcsphenniessymaadhypesound8271]

after i change the bpm and grid to my preference can i lock it , so if i scan that file to analyze for bpm etc it do not go back to factory settings bpm and grid Virtual dj 2023

[@djkarlthomas]

As I use rekordbox and not virtual DJ you will need to find out from someone that uses this platform. Sorry!

[@1augh0utL0UD]

Wish Serato had some of these features. I want to be able to visually mark the phrases without having to use cue points.

[@djkarlthomas]

Such a shame it doesn’t! I honestly didn’t realise it didn’t!

[@projectresonate5142]

Great video

[@djkarlthomas]

Glad it was useful, thank you for watching

[@projectresonate5142]

@@djkarlthomas pleasure, thanks Karl

[@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

[@djkarlthomas]

You can adjust the beat grid and tempo in rekordbox in the settings

[@hardcorehouse]

Thanks!

[@djkarlthomas]

Glad it was useful!

[@sharinganlou12]

Hi quick question, the first cue should always set at the first beat even if the track has "negative bars" before it starts the actual 1st bar？

[@djkarlthomas]

I edit the beat grid so the first cue is always the first beat. There is no right or wrong answer- that's just how I choose to set my cue points for mixing :)

[@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) 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.

[@djkarlthomas]

It might be down to beatport link being a streaming platform and as you don’t own the files it may be a compatibility issue.

[@TYMCERQUEIRATCIMAGEM]

Top10

[@gonzacastellvi]

Is there a fastest way, I have almost 6000 tracks to hotcued

[@djkarlthomas]

Unfortunately not…I just set up the hot cues when I get new tracks but your existing catalogue will take time. Maybe start with the tracks you play the most first

[@daz1000]

Yes - you can get Mixed in Key - it’s a program costing about $30 and it’s sets up all your tunes with hot cues in the obvious places.

[@djkarlthomas]

Then it wouldn’t be your way of doing things….

[@daz1000]

Correct but it would save you a hell of a lot of time and of course you can also amend - but at least it will put in the essential places intro, drop etc