Customizing Your DnB Tracks with My Tags

Hello! Welcome back to your second lesson in the "DJing for DnB release" course.

In our first lesson, we configured your Rekordbox environment for a stable and efficient workflow, establishing a solid technical foundation. We set up your audio, optimized track analysis for DnB, and customized the library view—including adding the My Tag column, which we'll be focusing on today.

This lesson addresses the next learning outcome: Utilize the 'My Tag' feature to create a personalized track classification system for DnB subgenres, energy levels, and mix compatibility.

Think of your music library as a database. The default fields like Artist and BPM are a start, but they don't capture the nuanced information needed to build a compelling DJ set. The My Tag feature allows you to define your own schema, adding rich, queryable metadata to every track. For a software engineer, this is the equivalent of moving from a simple flat-file system to a relational database, enabling complex and powerful queries to find the exact track you need, instantly.

Today, we will design and implement a multi-layered classification system covering:

1. Subgenres: To capture the specific style of a DnB track.
2. Energy Level: To manage the flow and intensity of your set.
3. Vibe & Components: To identify tracks with specific sonic characteristics for creative mixing.

1. Understanding the 'My Tag' Feature

First, let's get a clear overview of what 'My Tag' is and how it functions within Rekordbox. It's a flexible system that lets you assign multiple, custom labels to your tracks, which you can then use to filter your entire collection.

The following video from Crossfader provides an excellent introduction to the mechanics of track tagging.

As you saw, the process is straightforward:

1. Open the 'My Tag' panel on the right side of the library.
2. Rename the default categories and add your own tags using the '+' icon.
3. Select one or more tracks and click the checkboxes next to the tags you want to apply.

For a detailed, step-by-step reference, you can consult the official Rekordbox manual. It's a useful document to have on hand for specifics.

2. Designing Your DnB Classification System

Now for the core of the lesson: designing a system that works for you and the specific demands of mixing Drum and Bass. A well-designed system will allow you to think about your music in multiple dimensions. We'll build a three-tiered system.

This approach is clearly articulated in the following video by DJ Chris M. We'll use his framework as our guide.

Tier 1: Subgenre

The default Genre field in Rekordbox is limiting because it only allows a single value. A track can often fit into multiple subgenres. My Tag solves this.

Action:

1. In the My Tag panel, rename one of the categories to "Subgenre".
2. Add tags for the DnB styles you play. This is a personal list, but a good starting point is:
   • Liquid
   • Neurofunk
   • Dancefloor
   • Jump Up
   • Rollers
   • Jungle
   • Minimal / Deep
   • Halftime

Tier 2: Energy Level

Managing the energy curve of your set is fundamental. While you could use a tag for this, a more effective, visual method is to use the track's star rating. This makes energy levels instantly recognizable and sortable in your library.

Action:
Adopt a rating system for energy. Make sure the Rating column is visible in your library. A standard mapping is:

• ★☆☆☆☆: Warm-up / Cool-down. Low energy, atmospheric.
• ★★☆☆☆: Building. Early set material, holds a groove without being too intense.
• ★★★☆☆: Mid-set. Solid energy, keeps the floor moving.
• ★★★★☆: Peak-time. High intensity, driving tracks.
• ★★★★★: Anthems / Bangers. Maximum impact, signature tracks for the height of a set.

You can set the rating directly in the playlist view by clicking on the stars.

Tier 3: Vibe & Mix Components

This is where your classification system becomes truly personalized and powerful for mix compatibility. This category describes the feel and the specific sonic ingredients of a track.

Action:

1. Rename another My Tag category to "Vibe/Elements".
2. Add tags that will help you find tracks for specific mixing purposes. This is highly dependent on your style, but here are some powerful suggestions for DnB:
   • Vocal (Male)
   • Vocal (Female)
   • Rap/MC
   • Instrumental
   • Melodic (strong musical theme)
   • Heavy Bassline
   • Reese Bass (classic neuro sound)
   • Amen Break (for jungle/old-school feel)
   • Long Intro/Outro (good for extended blends)
   • Good for Double Drop
   • Tool/Acapella

3. Putting It All Together: Filtering Your Library

With your classification system designed and your tracks tagged, you can now leverage the Filter panel to find exactly what you need. The ability to combine filters using AND/OR logic provides a query system that is much more powerful than simple sorting.

This final video demonstrates how to use the filter panel to combine different tags and attributes.

Practical Exercise (15-20 minutes):

1. Implement the Schema: Set up your Subgenre and Vibe/Elements categories in the My Tag panel. Populate them with the tags we discussed, plus any others you can think of.
2. Tag a Sample Set: Choose 10-15 of your favorite DnB tracks.
3. Apply Your System: For each track, apply the relevant Subgenre and Vibe/Elements tags. Also, assign an Energy Level using the star rating.
4. Practice Filtering: Open the filter panel (click the icon to the left of the search bar). Now, try to answer the following questions using only the filter:
   • "Show me all my Liquid tracks."
   • "Show me all my Peak-time (4-star or 5-star) Neurofunk tracks."
   • "I need a track with a Female Vocal that is also tagged as Melodic."
   • "Find all my tracks suitable for a Double Drop that are rated 4 stars or higher."

Experiment with combining different criteria. This hands-on practice is the best way to internalize the power of this system.

Conclusion

Today you've moved beyond simple library organization and built a sophisticated, multi-dimensional classification system. This is a skill that separates amateur and professional DJs. A well-tagged library is a performance instrument in itself, enabling you to be more creative, responsive, and confident in your track selection.

Key Takeaways:

• 'My Tag' for Multi-Dimensionality: Use the My Tag feature to assign multiple, custom attributes to a track, overcoming the limitation of the single-value Genre field.
• A Three-Tiered System: A powerful classification model for DnB includes Subgenre (via My Tag), Energy Level (via star Rating), and Vibe/Elements (via My Tag).
• Personalization is Key: The system is yours to design. The tags should reflect how you think about your music and what information you need during a mix.
• Filtering is Your Query Tool: The Track Filter panel is where your tagging efforts pay off, allowing you to instantly find tracks that meet complex criteria for any mixing scenario.

Next Lesson Preview

Now that you have a robust system for describing the what (the content of your tracks), the next lesson will focus on the where and why. We will implement an advanced playlist management strategy. You'll learn how to combine the tagging system you built today with Intelligent Playlists to automatically group your tracks for different set intentions (e.g., warm-up, peak-time), creating a dynamic library that practically organizes itself.