Use the Cue Channel for DJing in tinytunes DJ

Cue lets you listen to a deck in headphones without the audience hearing it. This guide shows how to enable the cue channel, set a cue output, and use it for clean transitions.

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What the cue channel does

• Lets you preview the next track while the audience hears the master mix.
• Helps you line up beatmatching, phrasing, and levels before you mix in.
• Keeps mistakes private so transitions sound intentional.

What works (and what does not)

• Local tracks: full cue support.
• YouTube tracks: cue routing is not supported. The cue button appears but stays disabled.

If you need cue for practice, use local tracks.

Quick setup (headphones + speakers)

Minimum gear:

• Headphones (for cue)
• Speakers or laptop output (for master)

Steps:

1. Open tinytunes DJ.
2. Load a local track to Deck A and Deck B.
3. Open Deck Settings (after Deck B).
4. Turn Enable cue channel ON.
5. Choose your Cue output device (headphones).
6. Play Deck A to the master output (speakers).
7. Turn Cue ON for Deck B (headphones icon).

You should now hear:

• Deck A on speakers.
• Deck B in headphones.

How to mix with cue (simple workflow)

1. Preview Deck B in headphones (cue ON).
2. Match tempo and phrasing with the crossfader still on Deck A.
3. Adjust EQ or gain so Deck B sounds balanced in headphones.
4. Bring Deck B in by moving the crossfader or raising its gain.
5. Turn off cue for Deck B once it is on master.

Cue best practices

• Keep one deck cued at a time when you are learning.
• Listen for kick alignment and phrase starts.
• Keep cue volume comfortable to avoid rushing.
• Practice short 20-30 second blends.

Troubleshooting

Cue button is disabled

Possible reasons:

• Cue channel is OFF in Deck Settings.
• Your browser does not support output device selection.
• The track is a YouTube track (cue routing is not supported).

I only have one output device

If you only have one output, cue and master will use the same device. For true cueing, connect headphones plus speakers or use an audio interface.

I do not see device names

Some browsers hide device names until you grant audio permission once. Enable cue, allow the permission prompt, and reopen the device dropdown.

Audio plays from the wrong device

Re-select the cue device in Deck Settings and try Retry cue output. If the device was unplugged, plug it in again and select it.

FAQs

Why is cue disabled for YouTube tracks?

YouTube audio does not go through the Web Audio engine, so it cannot be routed to a separate cue device.

Does cue affect recording?

No. Recordings capture the master mix only, not the cue channel.

What browsers support cue routing?

Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge) support selecting output devices. Other browsers may not support cue routing yet.

Next up

• Start mixing: Start Here: Make Your First Mix in tinytunes DJ
• Fix audio issues: Fix Audio Not Playing in tinytunes DJ
• Practice transitions: Simple Transitions Without EQ in tinytunes DJ

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