How to Record Your DJ Sets: Complete Setup Guide

Why Record Your Sets

Recording your DJ sets serves multiple purposes. Listening back reveals timing issues, bad transitions, and track selection mistakes you miss in the moment. Recordings become promotional material for bookings and social media. They document your development as an artist. There is no downside to recording every session.

Recording via DJ Software

The simplest recording method uses the built-in recording function in rekordbox, Serato, or Traktor. These applications record the master output directly within the software, capturing your mix at full quality without additional hardware.

To record in rekordbox: Enable recording in the menu, set the recording destination, and click the record button. The output is saved as a WAV file.

To record in Serato: Click the REC button in the master output section. Serato records to WAV format at CD quality.

Recording from a Mixer

Standalone mixer setups connected to CDJs can record directly through the mixer's booth or master output. Connect a recorder (Zoom H6, Tascam DR-40, or a laptop interface) to the booth output. The booth output is preferable to the master because it operates at fixed levels independent of the master volume control.

For high-quality digital recording from a DJM-900NXS2, use the USB audio output to record directly to a connected laptop in audio recording software. This captures a clean digital signal without additional converters.

Hardware Recording Options

Dedicated recording devices provide reliable, standalone recording without requiring a laptop. The Zoom H6 with its high-quality preamps and XLR/TRS inputs handles professional-quality recording in a compact unit. Connect it to your mixer's booth output and record to a high-speed SD card.

Streaming While Recording

If you want to simultaneously record and stream to Twitch or YouTube, use OBS Studio. Configure your DJ software or audio interface as the audio source in OBS, set your resolution and bitrate for the platform, and start streaming. OBS also creates a local recording simultaneously.

Post-Recording Workflow

After recording, listen to the entire mix. Note timestamp ranges where you want to improve. Export edited clips for social media promotion. Normalize the overall loudness to around -14 LUFS for streaming platform compatibility. Add metadata to your recorded files so they remain organized.