The Complete Guide to Tagging Tracks in Rekordbox for Better DJ Sets

Your track tags are the fuel that powers SetFlow's set generation algorithm. The better your Rekordbox library is organized, the more accurate your generated sets will be. This guide walks you through exactly what to tag, how to tag it, and why each field matters.

How SetFlow Scores Transitions

Before diving into tagging, it helps to understand what SetFlow actually looks at. Every potential transition between two tracks is scored across multiple dimensions:

• Harmonic compatibility (35%) — Analyzed using the Camelot wheel. Same key scores highest, adjacent keys (±1 on the wheel) and relative major/minor transitions score nearly as well.
• BPM matching (25%) — “Perfect” if the BPM difference is ≤2%, “good” if ≤4%, acceptable up to 8%. Beyond that, transitions get penalized.
• Energy flow (15%) — Tracks are matched to the target energy curve for your chosen profile (Journey, Peak Time, Warm-Up, etc.). Since Rekordbox has no native energy field, SetFlow derives energy from BPM and genre metadata.
• Genre compatibility (15%) — Same genre family scores highest. Cross-family mixing is scored based on real-world DJ practices.
• Rating bonus — Higher-rated tracks get priority for the opening position of your set.

Every tag you set in Rekordbox directly influences one or more of these scoring dimensions. Let's go through each one.

Step-by-Step Rekordbox Tagging Guide

1. Analyze BPM

BPM is the backbone of any DJ set. Rekordbox's auto-analysis handles most tracks well, but it's worth spot-checking:

1. Select all tracks in your collection
2. Right-click → Analyze Track
3. After analysis, sort by BPM and look for outliers
4. Manually correct any tracks where the BPM is clearly wrong (e.g., a house track showing 65 BPM is likely detected at half-speed — double it to 130)

Pro tip: Rekordbox sometimes detects BPM at half or double the actual tempo. A drum & bass track at 87 BPM is probably 174. A techno track at 260 is probably 130. Always sanity-check.

2. Analyze Key

Key analysis enables harmonic mixing — the single most impactful factor in SetFlow's scoring (35% weight). Rekordbox displays keys in both standard notation (Am, C, F#m) and Camelot notation (8A, 8B, 2A).

A quick Camelot reference:

SetFlow understands both notation systems and converts between them automatically. You don't need to change anything in Rekordbox — just make sure key analysis has been run on all your tracks.

3. Set Genre

Genre is used for both the 15% genre compatibility score and to help derive energy levels. SetFlow normalizes whatever genre string you use in Rekordbox to its internal genre system. Here are the most common mappings:

SetFlow recognizes over 150 genre variations and maps them automatically. If you use a genre string that isn't recognized, the track still works — it just won't benefit from genre-based scoring.

4. Rate Your Tracks

Rekordbox supports 1–5 star ratings. SetFlow uses these ratings to influence which track gets selected as the opening track of your set. Higher-rated tracks are more likely to be chosen as starters.

A simple rating system that works well:

• 5 stars — Absolute bangers, guaranteed crowd reaction
• 4 stars — Strong tracks, reliable in any set
• 3 stars — Good supporting tracks
• 2 stars — Situational, good for specific vibes
• 1 star — Needs more testing / unsure about

5. Use the Comments Field

Rekordbox's Comments field is parsed by SetFlow for energy hints. Keywords like high energy, opener, peak,chill, and build help the algorithm understand track characteristics beyond what BPM and genre alone can tell it.

6. Add MyTags

Rekordbox MyTags are preserved when you import into SetFlow. While they don't directly affect set generation scoring, they're invaluable for Smart Crate filtering (Pro feature). You can create dynamic crates that auto-populate based on tags like “festival”, “warm-up”, or “after-hours”.

Exporting for SetFlow

Once your library is tagged, export it from Rekordbox:

1. In Rekordbox, go to File → Export Collection in xml format
2. Save the XML file somewhere accessible
3. In SetFlow, go to Library → Import from Rekordbox
4. Select your XML file and import

During import, SetFlow reads every field we've discussed: BPM, key, genre, rating, comments, and MyTags. It normalizes genres, converts keys to Camelot notation if needed, and derives energy levels. Your tracks are ready for set generation immediately.

Quick Reference Checklist

That's it! A well-tagged library is the difference between generic playlists and professionally-flowing DJ sets. Take an hour to clean up your tags, export to SetFlow, and hear the difference in your next generated set.