How to Prepare Tracks for DJing with Rekordbox

Have you bought music on Bandcamp and want to get it into Rekordbox? Here's a practical guide to converting and preparing your tracks so they're ready to be mixed.

Why Buy Music on Bandcamp?

Bandcamp is one of the best platforms for supporting artists directly. When you buy music on Bandcamp, the artist receives a much larger share of the money compared to streaming services. Additionally, you get access to high-quality files like FLAC and WAV, which sound significantly better on a club sound system than compressed MP3s.

But when you download from Bandcamp, you often get files in formats that don't always play nicely with Rekordbox. Let's look at how to get them ready.

Step 1: Download Your Tracks in the Right Format

When you buy music on Bandcamp, you can choose between several formats. For DJing, we recommend:

• FLAC – Lossless compression with high quality. Takes up less space than WAV but sounds just as good.
• WAV – Uncompressed audio in the highest quality. Takes up more space but guarantees compatibility.
• AIFF – Apple's equivalent to WAV. Also uncompressed and high quality.

Avoid MP3 320kbps for serious DJ work if you have the option for better formats. The difference can be heard on a good sound system.

Step 2: Convert FLAC to a Rekordbox-Friendly Format

Rekordbox can actually import FLAC files directly in newer versions, but some DJs prefer to convert to AIFF or WAV for maximum compatibility with USB export to CDJs.

Free tools for conversion:

• XLD (Mac) – A fantastic free audio conversion tool for Mac.
• fre:ac (Windows/Mac/Linux) – Open-source and easy to use.
• dBpoweramp (Windows/Mac) – Paid but very powerful.

In the video above, Ras walks through the entire process step-by-step so you can easily follow along.

Step 3: Organize and Import in Rekordbox

When your files are converted, it's time to import them into Rekordbox:

1. Open Rekordbox and go to Collection.
2. Drag your converted files into the library.
3. Rekordbox will automatically analyze BPM, key, and waveform.
4. Set cue points and loops while listening through the tracks.

Pro tip: Use Rekordbox's "Auto Analysis" feature to analyze all new tracks at once. It saves time when you've bought a lot of new music.

Step 4: Set Cue Points and Prepare Your Tracks

A good DJ prepares their tracks before using them live. This means:

• Set Hot Cues at important points (intro, drop, breakdown, outro).
• Check BPM – Rekordbox is usually accurate, but double-check tracks with complex rhythms.
• Adjust beat grid – Especially important for tracks with live drums or tempo variations.
• Add tags and comments – Make it easy to find the right track in the moment.

Export to USB

When you're ready to play at a club, export your tracks to a USB stick:

1. Create a playlist with the tracks you want to bring.
2. Right-click and select "Export Playlist to Device".
3. Select your USB stick and wait for the export to finish.

Now you have your Bandcamp purchases ready to play on Pioneer CDJs at the club!

Want to Learn More About DJing?

When you have your music sorted, the next step is to learn about what DJ equipment you need [see our complete equipment guide]. On our DJ Level 1 course you'll learn everything from beatmatching to building a complete DJ set. You'll get hands-on experience with professional Pioneer equipment and finish by playing a live DJ set at a real nightclub.