> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.soundchecklive.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Building Setlists

> Create professional, organized setlists for your performances

Soundcheck's intuitive setlist builder lets you organize songs into sets, track durations in real-time, and connect your performance plan to gigs with just a few clicks.

***

## Getting started

### Navigate to setlists

<Steps>
  <Step title="Access Setlists">
    Click **Setlists** in the main navigation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="View Existing">
    You'll see your existing setlists (if any).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create New">
    Click **+ Create Setlist** to start a new one.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Choose your approach

**Start Fresh**
Create a new setlist from scratch, adding sets and songs as you go.

**Duplicate Existing**
Copy a previous setlist and modify it for a new event.

**From Template**
Use a saved template as your starting point.

***

## Creating a new setlist

### Step 1: Name your setlist

Give your setlist a clear, identifiable name:

* ✓ "Smith Wedding - March 15, 2024"
* ✓ "Friday Night Standard Set"
* ✗ "setlist1" or "new setlist"

### Step 2: Add sets

Sets are the major sections of your performance. Click **+ Add Set** to create each one.

**Common set structures:**

| Event Type    | Typical Sets                             |
| ------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Club Gig**  | Set 1, Set 2, Set 3, Encore              |
| **Wedding**   | Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, Dinner, Dancing |
| **Corporate** | Background, Performance, Dance           |
| **Festival**  | Main Set (often single set)              |

**For each set, enter:**

* **Set Name** — "Opening Set," "Main Set," "Acoustic Set," etc.
* **Set Notes** — Transitions, announcements, special instructions

### Step 3: Add songs to sets

Within each set, add songs from your library:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Add Song">
    Click **+ Add Song** within a set.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Browse Library">
    **Browse Library** — Search or scroll through your songs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Song">
    Select the song you want.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Song Added">
    Song is added to the set.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Repeat until your set is complete.

### Step 4: Arrange song order

Drag and drop to perfect your setlist flow:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click and Hold">
    Click and hold any song.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drag">
    Drag to new position.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Release">
    Release to drop.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Drag songs:**

* Within a set (reorder)
* Between sets (move to different set)

### Step 5: Review and save

Before saving, verify:

* Set names are clear
* Songs are in desired order
* Duration totals make sense
* Notes are added where needed

Click **Save Setlist** to finalize.

***

## The setlist builder interface

### Overview panel

* Setlist title and total duration
* Quick stats (sets, total songs)
* Save and action buttons

### Set panels

Each set displays:

* Set name (editable)
* Set duration (calculated)
* Song list
* Add/reorder controls
* Set notes

### Song items

Each song shows:

* Song title
* Artist name
* Duration
* Key (if entered)
* Drag handle

***

## Working with sets

### Adding a set

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add New Set">
    Click **+ Add New Set**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name Set">
    Enter set name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Appears">
    Set appears at the bottom.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reorder">
    Drag to reorder if needed.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Renaming a set

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Title">
    Click the set title.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit">
    Edit inline.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Press Enter or click away to save.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Reordering sets

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Handle">
    Click the drag handle on a set header.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drag">
    Drag up or down.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Release">
    Release to place.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Adding set notes

<Steps>
  <Step title="Expand Set">
    Click on a set to expand.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Notes">
    Find the **Notes** field.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Notes">
    Add transitions, announcements, cues.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Auto-save">
    Notes save automatically.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Deleting a set

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Menu">
    Click the menu icon (three dots) on the set.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Delete">
    Select **Delete Set**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    Confirm deletion.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Deleting a set removes all songs within it from this setlist.
</Warning>

***

## Working with songs

### Adding songs

**From Library:**

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Add Song">
    Click **+ Add Song** in any set.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Browse">
    Search or browse your library.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add">
    Click to add.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Quick Add (New Song):**

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Add Song">
    Click **+ Add Song**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create New">
    Select **Create New**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Details">
    Enter song details.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Added">
    Song is added to library AND setlist.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Removing songs

<Steps>
  <Step title="Hover">
    Hover over the song.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Delete">
    Click the **X** or delete icon.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Removed">
    Song is removed from setlist (remains in library).
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Song details

Click a song to view:

* Full metadata
* Media links
* Performance notes

### Reordering songs

**Within a set:**

* Drag and drop to new position

**Between sets:**

* Drag a song from one set
* Drop into another set
* Song moves to new location

***

## Duration management

### Automatic calculations

Soundcheck automatically calculates:

* **Per Set:** Sum of all song durations in the set
* **Total:** Sum of all sets

### Duration display

```
Set 1: Opening (42:30)
├── Song A (4:30)
├── Song B (5:15)
└── Song C (6:45)
    ...

Setlist Total: 2:15:30
```

### Missing durations

If songs don't have durations entered:

* Duration shows as "--:--"
* Set and total calculations are incomplete
* Add durations in Song Library for accuracy

<Tip>
  Set a default duration estimate for songs without timing (e.g., 4:00) until you can measure accurately.
</Tip>

***

## Linking to gigs

### Attach setlist to gig

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Gig">
    Open the gig detail page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate">
    Navigate to **Setlist** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select">
    Click **Select Setlist**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose">
    Choose from existing setlists.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Linked">
    Setlist is now linked.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Create setlist from gig

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate">
    On gig detail page, go to **Setlist** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create New">
    Click **Create New Setlist**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build">
    Build setlist in the builder.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save—automatically links to this gig.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Benefits of linking

* Team sees setlist when viewing gig
* Easy access on performance day
* Keeps everything organized in one place

***

## Duplicating setlists

Save time with similar events:

### Duplicate Process

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Setlist">
    Open an existing setlist.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Actions">
    Click **Actions** (three dots menu).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Duplicate">
    Select **Duplicate**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name">
    Enter new name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Modify">
    Modify as needed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save new setlist.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### What gets copied

* All sets and their order
* All songs and their order
* Set notes
* Setlist settings

### What doesn't copy

* Gig associations
* Usage history

***

## Setlist templates

### Creating a template

Build a setlist you'll reuse:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Setlist">
    Create setlist with standard structure.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name Template">
    Name it clearly: "Template - Wedding Standard".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save for future duplication.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Template ideas

**Wedding Template:**

* Pre-ceremony music set
* Ceremony set (processional, recessional)
* Cocktail hour set
* Dinner music set
* Dance sets (first dance, open dancing)

**Three-Set Club Template:**

* Opening set (warm up the room)
* Main set (peak energy)
* Closing set (wind down)

**Corporate Event Template:**

* Background/arrival music
* Dinner music
* After-dinner entertainment

***

## Best practices

### Plan your flow

Consider the energy arc:

* **Opening:** Medium energy, get attention
* **Build:** Increase energy progressively
* **Peak:** High energy moments
* **Break:** Allow reset between sets
* **Close:** End strong or wind down

### Account for reality

* Songs often run longer live (solos, crowd interaction)
* Include buffer time in your planning
* Note which songs can be cut if running long

### Use set notes effectively

Good set notes:

* "Open with full band intro"
* "Lead guitar solo extended"
* "Transition directly to next song"
* "Crowd interaction moment"

### Keep setlists updated

* Mark final versions clearly
* Update if last-minute changes occur
* Keep a final version for reference

### Share before the gig

* Link to gig at least a day before
* Ensure all team members can access
* Communicate any special notes

***

## Troubleshooting

### Can't find a song?

* Check spelling in search
* Verify it's in your Song Library
* May need to add it first

### Duration totals seem wrong?

* Check all songs have durations entered
* Songs showing "--:--" aren't counted
* Update Song Library entries

### Lost changes?

* Setlist saves require clicking Save
* Refresh may lose unsaved work
* Save frequently during building

***

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Song Library" icon="music" href="/features/setlists/song-library">
    Managing your songs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Setlist Overview" icon="list-music" href="/features/setlists/overview">
    Understanding setlists
  </Card>

  <Card title="Gig Overview" icon="calendar" href="/features/gigs/overview">
    Linking setlists to events
  </Card>
</CardGroup>