DJ GUIDES
Straight answers to the questions DJs and producers actually ask, written by the team that builds MixGoat.
Back up & move
Keep every cue, loop and playlist safe, and move them to a new machine.
How to Back Up Your Rekordbox Library (Database, Cues and Playlists)
Back up Rekordbox with File → Library → Backup Library (a zip of master.db, optionally with music), export rekordbox.xml as a portable copy, or automate it.
How to Back Up Your Serato DJ Pro Library (Crates and Cues)
Back up Serato by copying the _Serato_ folder in Music (database V2 and Subcrates), plus master.sqlite on Serato 4, to another drive, or automate it with MixGoat.
How to Back Up Your Traktor Pro Library (collection.nml and Cues)
Back up Traktor by copying collection.nml from Documents/Native Instruments/Traktor 4.x.x to another drive (Traktor keeps dated copies in Backup), or automate it.
How to Back Up Your VirtualDJ Library (database.xml and Playlists)
Back up VirtualDJ by copying database.xml and the MyLists folder from Documents/VirtualDJ, plus the VirtualDJ folder on each external drive, or automate it.
How to Move Your DJ Library to a New Laptop Without Losing Cue Points
Move a DJ library to a new laptop without losing cues: copy music to the same relative paths, move the database (master.db, _Serato_, collection.nml), then relocate.
Switch DJ software
Change apps without losing a single cue point.
How to Switch DJ Software Without Losing Cue Points, Loops or Playlists
Convert the old app's database (master.db, _Serato_, collection.nml, database.xml) to the new app's format with a migration tool, then check cue slots and ratings.
Camelot vs Open Key vs Traktor Key Notation, and How to Convert
Camelot 8A and Open Key 1m are both A minor: Open Key 1 = Camelot 8, A = m, B = d. Full 24-key conversion table, mixing rules and each DJ app's key display setting.
Prepare tracks
Formats, loudness, cues and loops, ready for the club.
How to Match Loudness Across Your DJ Tracks (LUFS Guide)
Match loudness across a DJ library the right way: measure integrated LUFS, pick a target (around -9 to -11 LUFS for club, -14 to -16 for streaming), apply gain with true-peak limiting, and never touch the gain knob mid-set again.
Which Audio Formats Do Pioneer CDJs and XDJs Play? (and the E-8305 Error)
Every modern CDJ and XDJ plays MP3, AAC, WAV and AIFF; FLAC and ALAC only on CDJ-3000, CDJ-2000NXS2, XDJ-RX3 and a few more. E-8305 is a WAV header fault.
How to Prepare Tracks for a CDJ USB Stick (Formats, Loudness, Cues)
Fix WAV headers and convert FLAC for the player, match loudness to one LUFS target, set cues and loops, export from Rekordbox to FAT32 or exFAT, test on hardware.
How to Auto-Set Cue Points in Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor and VirtualDJ
Set cue points automatically: a local detector scores cue positions, you pick sensitivity and up to 8 hot cues, then save to Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor or VirtualDJ.
How to Find Seamless Loops Automatically (Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor)
Find seamless loops automatically: test 4, 8, 16 and 32-bar windows at each phrase boundary, keep the one that tiles cleanly, save into Rekordbox, Serato or Traktor.
Add Cue Points to Your Whole DJ Library in Bulk (Thousands of Tracks)
Bulk cue points: no DJ app sets them for you, so run a cue detector over a folder or playlist and save into Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor or VirtualDJ in one pass.
AI Cue Points: How Automatic Detection Works (and What Goes Wrong)
AI cue points come from a model that scores positions where a DJ would drop a cue and returns each with a confidence. What it hears, what it misses, how to check it.
Manage the library
Metadata, folders, analysis: a collection you can actually find things in.
How to Fix Messy DJ Library Metadata (Artist, Title, BPM, Key, Genre)
Fix DJ library metadata in bulk: back up first, fetch artist, title, label, genre, release date, BPM and key from a music database, review every change before writing, then re-analyze in Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor or VirtualDJ.
How to Organize a DJ Music Library: Folders and File Names That Work
Organize a DJ library with one root, folders by genre then year or label, files named Artist - Title, then relocate the tracks in Rekordbox, Serato or Traktor.
How to Analyze a DJ Library: BPM, Key, Loudness and Format in One Pass
Analyze a DJ library in one pass: BPM, key, integrated LUFS and true peak, WAV/FLAC compatibility, genre, label and release date, with stackable filters. Free.
Discover & promote
Tracklists, what DJs play, planning sets, getting played.
How to Find the Tracklist of Any DJ Set
Find the tracklist of a DJ set in seconds: search the DJ and the event on Mixpedia, check 1001Tracklists and the comments on the SoundCloud or YouTube upload, then ID the gaps with Shazam or the r/trackid community.
How to See Which DJs Play Your Track
Find out which DJs play your track: search it on Mixpedia to see every set it appears in with dates and venues, set up alerts for new plays, and use the DJ-support data in your promo and label pitches.
How to Plan a DJ Set: Track Order, Energy and Key Flow
Plan a DJ set in six steps: know the slot, draw an energy arc, pick a BPM range and a Camelot key path, place a key moment every 15-20 minutes, bring 3x the tracks.
How to Find New Music for DJ Sets (Digging in 2026)
Find new music for DJ sets: read tracklists of DJs you rate, run co-play recommendations on your playlists, then check labels, promo pools, radio shows and Shazam.
How to Get DJs to Play Your Track: Promo That Actually Works
Get DJs to play your track: master it, send it 6-8 weeks pre-release to DJs already playing similar tracks, private link plus WAV, radio first, then track the plays.
Rekordbox
Cues, library files, relocating, exporting: Rekordbox-specific how-tos.
How to Set Cue Points Automatically in Rekordbox (Hot and Memory Cues)
Rekordbox 7 sets no hot cues by itself: analysis gives a grid and phrases, Auto Cue only picks a load point. MixGoat detects cues and writes them into master.db.
How to Relocate Missing Files in Rekordbox (Fix the Greyed-Out Tracks)
Greyed Rekordbox tracks with an exclamation mark are files not at their stored path. Fix them from File → Display All Missing Files with Auto Relocate; cues survive.
Where Rekordbox Stores Your Library: master.db, XML and Analysis Files
Rekordbox 6 and 7 keep cues, playlists and tags in master.db (~/Library/Pioneer/rekordbox on Mac, %APPDATA%\Pioneer\rekordbox on Windows); waveforms are ANLZ files.
How to Export Rekordbox Playlists, Your Whole Library and a USB Drive
Rekordbox 7 has three exports: Export mode writes a USB for CDJs, Export Collection in xml format writes rekordbox.xml, Backup Library zips master.db. Which to use.
How to Match Loudness in Rekordbox: Auto Gain vs Matched Files
Rekordbox Auto Gain trims each track in the software mixer only; CDJs playing a USB ignore it. To match loudness everywhere, measure LUFS and fix the files.
How to Organize Your Rekordbox Library: Playlists, My Tags and Files
Organise inside Rekordbox with playlist folders, Intelligent Playlists, My Tag and Colour; organise files on disk only with the app closed, then Auto Relocate.
How to Export a Rekordbox USB for CDJs (Export Mode and Formats)
Format the stick FAT32 or exFAT, switch Rekordbox to Export mode, drag playlists to the device or use Sync Manager, and check formats and loudness before the gig.
How to Find and Remove Duplicate Tracks in Rekordbox (Safely)
Rekordbox has no duplicate finder. Sort Collection by Title and Artist, compare path and bitrate, keep the row with cues and playlists, then remove the other.
Rekordbox Library Corrupted or Missing? How to Recover master.db
Quit Rekordbox, copy master.db with its -wal and -shm out, then restore via File → Library → Restore Library, a master.backup.db copy, a USB stick or Cloud Backup.
Serato DJ
The _Serato_ folder, crates, cues and exports, step by step.
How to Set Cue Points Automatically in Serato DJ (Cues That Travel)
Serato has no automatic hot cues. Run a cue detector and write the result into each file's Serato Markers2 tag: Serato reads it on load and the cues travel with it.
How to Relocate Lost Files in Serato DJ (Fix the Yellow Tracks)
Fix yellow missing tracks in Serato: open the Files panel, click Relocate Lost Files, or drag the new music folder onto it. Cues survive: they live in the files.
Where Serato Stores Your Library: _Serato_, database V2, master.sqlite
Serato keeps its library in Music/_Serato_ (database V2 for tracks, Subcrates for crates), plus master.sqlite on Serato 4.x. Cues live in the audio files themselves.
How to Export Serato Crates, Playlists and Your Whole Library
Serato has no XML export. Copy the _Serato_ folder, drag crates to a USB drive in the Files panel, or migrate to Rekordbox, Traktor or VirtualDJ free with MixGoat.
How to Set Gain and Match Loudness in Serato DJ (Auto Gain vs Files)
Tick Use Auto Gain in Serato's Setup (Mixer tab, 92 dB default) for a quick fix, or match the files to one LUFS target so the level holds on CDJs and in every app.
How to Organize Your Serato Library: Crates, Subcrates, Smart Crates
Organize Serato with crates for sets, subcrates for detail and Smart Crates for rules. Crates are not folders: after moving files on disk, run Relocate Lost Files.
How to Play Serato Tracks on CDJs: Build a Rekordbox USB from Serato
Serato cannot write a CDJ USB. Move the library into Rekordbox (MixGoat's Serato to Rekordbox migration is free, crates and cues included) and export from there.
How to Find and Remove Duplicate Tracks in Serato DJ Pro
Serato has no duplicate finder. Sort All by Song with the Location column visible, keep the copy your crates use and remove the rest; cues stay in the files.
Serato Library Missing or Corrupted? Recover Crates and database V2
Quit Serato and copy _Serato_ aside. Restore from _Serato_Backup or a cloud snapshot to get crates back; re-adding the music rebuilds tracks and cues from tags.
Traktor
collection.nml, cue types, relocating and exporting in Traktor Pro.
How to Set Cue Points Automatically in Traktor Pro (Hotcues and Loops)
Traktor sets only the Grid marker and the load position automatically; hotcues are manual. Run a detector over your files and write the cues into collection.nml.
How to Relocate Missing Tracks in Traktor (Fix the Exclamation Mark)
Select the tracks with the red exclamation mark, right-click → Relocate and pick the folder that now holds the files; Traktor searches subfolders. Cues survive.
Where Traktor Stores Your Library: collection.nml, Stripes and Backups
Traktor keeps everything in ~/Documents/Native Instruments/Traktor 4.x.x/: collection.nml holds tracks, cues, grids and playlists; Stripes and Transients are caches.
How to Export Traktor Playlists, Your Collection and Tracks to a USB
Right-click a playlist → Export Playlist, tick Copy Tracks To Destination, and Traktor writes an .nml plus the music to a USB. Whole library: Export the Collection.
How to Match Loudness in Traktor Pro: Autogain vs Matched Files
Turn on Preferences → Mixer → Set Autogain When Loading Track and Traktor presets each channel gain from analysis. For CDJs or other apps, match the files instead.
How to Organize Your Traktor Collection: Playlists, Folders and Tags
Build the tree with playlist folders and smart playlists in Traktor's browser, use Comment 2 and rating as tags, and keep the disk folders in step with Relocate.
How to Play Traktor Tracks on CDJs: Rekordbox USB from Traktor
Traktor cannot write a CDJ USB. Migrate the collection into Rekordbox (MixGoat does it free with hotcues, loops and playlists), then use Rekordbox Export mode.
How to Find and Remove Duplicate Tracks in Traktor Pro
Traktor has no duplicate finder. Sort Track Collection by Title and Artist, compare Filename and Import Date, keep the entry with cues, and Delete from Collection.
Traktor Collection Corrupted or Empty? How to Recover collection.nml
Quit Traktor, copy the broken collection.nml aside, then restore the newest dated copy from Backup/Collection, an older version's Traktor folder, or a cloud backup.
VirtualDJ
database.xml, POIs, MyLists and exports in VirtualDJ.
How to Set Cue Points Automatically in VirtualDJ (POIs and Loops)
VirtualDJ sets automix points and the beatgrid on its own but never hot cues. Detect cues with MixGoat and save them as POIs into database.xml with VirtualDJ closed.
How to Fix Missing Files in VirtualDJ (Red Tracks and the Wrong Drive)
Red tracks in VirtualDJ mean database.xml points at a path that no longer exists. Restore the path or drive letter, or repoint the FilePath, and the POIs come back.
Where VirtualDJ Stores Your Library: database.xml, MyLists and More
VirtualDJ's library is database.xml (tracks and POIs) plus MyLists and Folders, in Documents\VirtualDJ or ~/Library/Application Support/VirtualDJ, and one per drive.
How to Export VirtualDJ Playlists, Your Database and Tracks to a USB
Export VirtualDJ playlists from MyLists, carry cues on a USB via the per-drive database.xml, or migrate free to Rekordbox, Serato or Traktor before a CDJ gig.
Set Gain and Match Loudness in VirtualDJ: Auto Gain vs Matched Files
VirtualDJ's autoGain levels tracks inside VirtualDJ only, from a Volume value in database.xml. For CDJs or other apps, match the files themselves to one LUFS target.
How to Organize a VirtualDJ Library: Folders, Filters and Playlists
Organise VirtualDJ with virtual folders, filter folders and MyLists playlists; none move files. Reorganise disk folders only with VirtualDJ closed, or POIs detach.
Play VirtualDJ Tracks on CDJs: Build a Rekordbox USB from VirtualDJ
VirtualDJ cannot write the Rekordbox USB a CDJ reads. Migrate to Rekordbox free with MixGoat, cues and playlists included, then export from Rekordbox's Export mode.
How to Find and Remove Duplicate Tracks in VirtualDJ
VirtualDJ duplicates are usually two database.xml entries for one file reached by two paths. Search the whole database, keep the entry with POIs, remove the other.
VirtualDJ Database Corrupted or Empty? How to Recover database.xml
Quit VirtualDJ, copy database.xml out, then repair the truncated XML, restore a copy (VirtualDJ's own, MixGoat's .bak, a drive database or Cloud Backup) or rebuild.
Compare DJ software
Head to head: library, cues, hardware, price, and what moves between them.
Rekordbox vs Serato DJ Pro (2026): Library, Cues, Hardware and Price
Rekordbox is for DJs who play club CDJs from a USB stick; Serato DJ Pro is for controller, mixer and DVS DJs. Cues, loops, playlists and ratings convert either way.
Rekordbox vs Traktor Pro 4 (2026): Library, Cues, Hardware and Price
Rekordbox suits club DJs playing CDJs from USB; Traktor Pro 4 suits Kontrol users who want Remix Decks, Stems and a one-time licence. Cues convert either way.
Rekordbox vs VirtualDJ (2026): Library, Cues, Hardware and Price
Rekordbox is the club app for CDJs and USB sticks; VirtualDJ is the mobile DJ's app with video, karaoke and the widest controller list. Cues convert either way.
Serato DJ Pro vs Traktor Pro 4 (2026): Library, Cues, Hardware, Price
Serato DJ Pro suits controller and DVS DJs with cues stored in file tags; Traktor Pro 4 suits Kontrol users who want Remix Decks and Stems. Cues convert either way.
Serato DJ Pro vs VirtualDJ (2026): Library, Cues, Hardware and Price
Serato DJ Pro suits scratch and controller DJs on Serato-enabled gear; VirtualDJ suits mobile DJs who need video, karaoke and any controller. Cues convert both ways.
Traktor Pro 4 vs VirtualDJ (2026): Library, Cues, Hardware and Price
Traktor Pro 4 suits Kontrol and CDJ-HID DJs who want Remix Decks, Stems and a perpetual licence; VirtualDJ suits mobile DJs needing video, karaoke, any controller.
Migration, direction by direction
Step-by-step for every direction, with cue points, loops, beat grids and playlists preserved. Overview
- Rekordbox to Serato
- Serato to Rekordbox
- Traktor to Rekordbox
- Rekordbox to Traktor
- Serato to Traktor
- Traktor to Serato
- Rekordbox to VirtualDJ
- VirtualDJ to Rekordbox
- Serato to VirtualDJ
- VirtualDJ to Serato
- Traktor to VirtualDJ
- VirtualDJ to Traktor