How to Record a DJ Mix in Serato, rekordbox or Through Your Mixer

You just played a great set and you want to listen back, send it to a promoter or put it online. First you have to record it. Sounds simple, but a lot of first recordings go wrong: too quiet, distorted, or the file is simply gone afterwards.

In this guide you'll learn how to record a DJ mix in Serato DJ Pro, in rekordbox and through your mixer with an audio interface. Then you'll see how to check, export and upload your recording without it getting taken down.

Short answer: three ways to record your mix

  • In your DJ software. Serato DJ Pro and rekordbox both have a recording feature. Hit REC, play your set and save the file. For most beginners this is the easiest route.
  • Through your mixer and an audio interface. Send your mixer's record or booth output to an audio interface and record in a program like Audacity or your DAW. Handy if you play without laptop software.
  • On your phone in a DJ app. The rekordbox mobile app has a recording feature too. Check in the app what your version and plan include.

Whichever way you pick, your recording level decides whether the recording is usable. More on that below.

How to record a DJ mix in Serato DJ Pro

According to Serato's support page, this is how it works with most mixers and controllers:

  1. Connect your controller or mixer over USB and launch Serato DJ Pro.
  2. Click REC to open the recording panel.
  3. Set the record source to Mix. That records everything coming out of your mixer or controller.
  4. Play a loud part of your set and check the meter. If it hits red, turn down the record input gain.
  5. Press REC in the panel and start mixing.
  6. Done? Type a file name and click Save. Don't skip this. Serato warns that an unsaved recording can be lost if you press REC again.

A few things to know:

  • Serato records in 24-bit by default.
  • Your recordings go to the Music/_Serato_/Recording folder and show up in Serato in the Recorded crate. Use Rec Location to pick another folder, for example on an external drive.
  • Long recordings are split automatically: at 1 hour 50 minutes in 24-bit, and at 3 hours in 16-bit.
  • For some mixers, like certain Pioneer DJM and Allen & Heath XONE models, Serato has a separate guide. Check it if you use one of those.

How to record a DJ mix in rekordbox

In rekordbox for Mac and Windows you record your mix in PERFORMANCE mode. Heads up: according to the rekordbox FAQ, recording DJ mixes with your DJ equipment requires a paid subscription or a Hardware Unlock device. That's a controller or mixer that unlocks those features for you. Check the rekordbox site to see if your gear qualifies before you pay for a plan.

Otherwise the idea is the same as in Serato: open the recording panel, check your level, record, save. rekordbox's own tip is to set the recording level so the meters don't all hit red. If your recording comes out distorted, that's almost always why.

Recording through your mixer and an audio interface

Playing on standalone players with a mixer, or don't want to load your software with it? Then record the mix outside your DJ setup.

  1. Find a free output on your mixer. Many mixers have a REC output or a booth output. Avoid the master output that already feeds the speakers.
  2. Connect it to the line input of your audio interface. Use a line input, not a mic input with lots of gain, or it will distort quickly.
  3. Open a recording program. Audacity is free, but any DAW works. Create a stereo track and pick your interface as the input.
  4. Set your level with the gain on your interface or the booth output level. More on that below.
  5. Hit record, play your set and save the project right away.

The upside: your record or booth output is separate from the room volume, so you can turn the room up or down without changing your recording. Check your mixer's manual for exactly how its outputs work.

How to set your recording level

This step makes or breaks most recordings. A recording that's too hot clips: the peaks get chopped off and you can't remove that distortion later. A recording that's a bit too quiet is easy to turn up afterwards. Serato puts it the same way: it's easier to turn something up than to remove distortion.

  • Test with your loudest part. Play the drop or the busiest moment of your set before you start.
  • Stay out of the red. Green and yellow on the meter are fine. Red means clipping.
  • Keep an eye on it during your set. If your mixer creeps up during peak time, your recording goes with it. Watch your master and don't push everything when the party takes off.
  • Do a short test recording. Record a minute and listen back on headphones before your real set.

After recording: trim, check and export

  1. Make a copy of your raw recording first. Always work on the copy.
  2. Trim silence and noise at the start and end, and add a short fade in and fade out. Audacity or any DAW can do this.
  3. Check your loudness and peaks. Drop your export into the free Master Checker. It measures LUFS and true peak in your browser with no upload, and shows how much Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music turn your track up or down. A true peak above 0 dB is a sign something is clipping.
  4. Export in the right format. Keep a WAV as your archive. For uploading or sending, a 320 kbps MP3 is often easier: one hour of stereo WAV at 16-bit and 44.1 kHz is over 600 MB, while a 320 kbps MP3 is about 145 MB per hour.

Converting a short mix or a promo clip? Use the free audio converter, which handles files up to 150 MB. In 16-bit WAV that's roughly 14 minutes of audio. For a full one-hour set, exporting the MP3 straight from your recording program is the easier option.

Upload your mix without getting it taken down

If you play other people's music, the rights holders decide what can happen with your mix. Mixcloud is one of the few platforms built for DJ mixes, and it says it takes care of the licensing and royalties for the music in your mix. That comes with rules, the Featured Artist Rules. For shows longer than 15 minutes:

  • Up to 3 songs from one release (EP, album or compilation), with no more than 2 in a row.
  • Up to 4 songs from one artist, with no more than 3 in a row.

Break those rules and your mix may become unavailable to some or all listeners, or get moved back to your drafts. Uploads shorter than 15 minutes that contain music you don't own the rights to are not accepted on Mixcloud. Other platforms have their own rules, so check them before you upload.

Tip: always add a tracklist to your mix. Listeners can see what they're hearing, and it helps the platform identify the tracks correctly.

Use your recordings to get better

A recording isn't just something to post. It's also your best practice material. Listen back and pay attention to:

Prep your next set with the free Batch BPM & Key Finder. Drop your tracks in and you'll see the BPM, key and Camelot code of each one, plus which tracks match in tempo and key. Your files are not uploaded.

FAQ

Can I record a DJ mix without extra gear?

Yes, if your DJ software has a recording feature that supports your controller. In Serato DJ Pro you choose Mix as the record source. In rekordbox you need a paid subscription or a Hardware Unlock device for it.

Why does my recording sound distorted?

Almost always because the recording level was too high. The meter hit red and the peaks got chopped off. You can't fix that afterwards. Set the level lower next time and do a test recording first.

WAV or MP3 for my mix?

Record and archive in WAV. For uploading and sending, a 320 kbps MP3 is often easier because it's much smaller. Always check which format the platform or promoter asks for.

Where does Serato save my recording?

In the Music/_Serato_/Recording folder on your computer, and inside Serato in the Recorded crate. You can change the folder with Rec Location in the recording panel.

Can I put my mix on YouTube or SoundCloud?

That depends on the music and the platform's rules. You can't just share other people's music. Mixcloud is built for DJ mixes and has clear rules. On other platforms your mix can be blocked if the rights holders want that. This isn't legal advice.

Recorded your mix? Check it in the Master Checker before you share it, or browse all our free music tools.

Sources: Serato Support, "Recording Your Set with Serato DJ"; Serato, "Recording your sets with Serato DJ"; rekordbox FAQ (Plans and rekordbox 7); Mixcloud Help Center, "What are the Featured Artist Rules" and "What type of content can I upload to Mixcloud?".

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