SonodexWhat types there are
The Main Cue is the spot where the track starts when you press Cue. Memory cues (in Rekordbox) store positions that you jump to via the list. Hot cues are jump markers on pads that you trigger spontaneously while playing.
Where to set cues
Useful markers: the first beat of the track (mix-in), the start of the first drop, the breakdown and the point where you want to leave the track (mix-out). Set them on the start of a bar of a phrase so that jumps stay in time.
A clean beatgrid matters: cues follow the grid. If the grid is wrong, every cue is wrong.
Stay consistent
Give the same places the same pads and colours, for example pad 1 for intro, pad 2 for drop, pad 3 for breakdown. After a few weeks you find what you are looking for blind. Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor and Engine DJ store cues differently, so after switching between programs, check that all of them arrived.
In practice: don't overload cues
More cues are not better. If you set twelve markers per track, you search longer during the gig than without. Set only what you really use and delete the rest. After setting, check that the marker sits on the start of the bar and not a beat off.
Before a gig it is worth a quick run through the playlist: play each track, listen to the mix-in and mix-out cue, and correct anything odd. That takes a few seconds per track and saves you surprises.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How many cue points do I need?
Three to four are enough to start: mix-in, drop, breakdown, mix-out. You can add more at any time.
Are cues lost when switching programs?
They can often be carried over, but each program stores them differently. Spot-check after a switch.