How To Grid Impossible Tracks

Easily tame the tracks you've been avoiding

Hi there Jog Jugglers,

To close out 2024 I want to help answer one of the most common and annoying problems DJ’s face when prepping their tracks in Rekordbox.

It’s how to set an accurate grid on a track where the BPM changes mid-way.

Instead of avoiding these rebellious tracks, it’s time to finally force them to obey your vertical lines like a predictable Tech House tune.

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What’s the problem?

Aside from being the basis for everyone’s favourite controversial function, the grid is essential for keeping FX and loops in time, setting accurate cues and helping you read and prepare your tracks effectively.

Most algorithms, including Rekordbox’s, are designed primarily to analyse tracks that have a nice consistent BPM throughout the whole track.

So when you want to mix in something like Drumstep, which can vary from 140bpm-174bpm, the algorithm can have a meltdown and your grid ends up like an undercooked waffle.

My solution to this used to be: “I won’t play it then”. But this meant my sets missed out on some proper bangers. And it made me realise I talk out loud too much.

Fortunately with a single button that you may not know about, gridding these tracks becomes easy, and even fun. No, not fun. Tolerable.

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The offending track

This track by DJ Mike Hunt is a classic example.

Section A (Intro): 174BPM
Section B (Breakdown): 140BPM
Section C (Drop): 174BPM

Because it starts at 174bpm Rekordbox will typically just slap a 174bpm grid over the whole track after it analyses it and be happy with its day’s work.

The grid works for a time, but as soon as we get to the breakdown and the BPM change it falls apart.

To fix this we need to deal with the track in sections.

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Fixing the breakdown

Let’s sort out our first problem, the first BPM change from 174bpm to 140bpm at the breakdown.

I recommend doing this in Export mode because the waveform preview is bigger, but you can do it in performance mode too if you want. Use the waveform zoom buttons on the left to help.

1. Move the playhead to the start of the breakdown (or BPM change)

2. Enter grid mode by clicking the ‘Grid’ on the left

3. Click the ‘Make adjustment from the current position’ button

• Everything before the playhead will not be affected (you’ll see the vertical lines disappear).

• Everything after the playhead will be affected.

4. Type in 140bpm in the BPM field and press enter

Hooray, the grid lines up on the breakdown!

But Mike Hunt isn’t done playing with us. The BPM goes BACK to 174bpm after the breakdown is finished. What a hunt.

If we take a look at the drop section, the grid is battered again because Rekordbox thinks it’s 140BPM now.

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Fixing the drop

You know what to do now right?

1. Move the playhead to the start of the drop

2. Click the ‘Make adjustment from the current position’ button

3. Type in 174 in the BPM field and press enter

Everything from this point onwards is now back to a 174bpm grid.

BOOM. Track fixed - take that you stupid Drumstep.

This is really only scratching the surface of gridding and I’ll be doing a more in depth tutorial soon. This will include the new high precision gridding mode in Rekordbox (I did a short on it here - early results promising!).

But hopefully this newsletter will add a few more tunes to your armoury in the meantime.

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To my PC friends

Typical PC user

Ok PC users, I heard you! You want to be able to use my DJ tools (like AutoCue) too.

I want you to be able to experience the general smugness us fruit loving Mac owners enjoy on a daily basis.

But.. I don’t have a PC. And I’m not a developer - just a guy that likes tinkering. So to make that happen I need some help from the community porting a few of my tools over to your world.

If you are a code wizard and can help in 2025, please drop a reply to this email or leave a note in the comments!

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In other news

• I’ll be taking a little break over the festive period and finding some Glühwein in Europe. But I already have some fun content lined up for the new year. I also plan to start scoping out something quite big and exciting!

• I tried indoor skydiving the other week. It wasn’t quite as adrenaline fuelled as the real thing (which I did after a night of clubbing and no sleep) but still good fun!

All that remains to say is thank you for your support in 2024 and I hope you manage to have some fun with friends and family over the festive period. The best way to do that is to avoid Rekordbox.

See you in 2025!