How to create a cloud database for rekordbox (beta)

 

 

Before you start, make a backup of your database. Go do it now. I'll wait. If you need instructions on how to make a backup from within rekordbox, you won’t have the know-how to follow the rest of this guide, so stop now, close the browser, and go mix some tunes. It's not worth the support I'll have to provide later, mopping up your database.

 

The instructions here are if you are using a cloud sharing system that places a synchronized folder within your operating system, such as Dropbox or Google Drive. If you want to use a network share or NAS, I’ll assume that you’re tech-savvy enough to alter the instructions to suit your situation.

 

These instructions also don’t allow you to “merge” databases from two computers. Pick one to be the master database moving forward and ditch the other one.

 

One caveat (or bonus?) is that the layout preferences and some settings are not copied from computer to computer. This is a good thing, especially if you have a customized view or preference because of a specific hardware set on one computer.

 

If you're using iTunes to sync your database in any way, shape, or form, please be advised that I have not tested this method with a rekordbox library that is linked to iTunes - there may be unintended consequences if you do. I'm happy for you to try this and share your results, but consider this your warning in advance. I'll say it again - backup, backup, backup!

 

Now that you have a backup of your database, we’ve established you know (somewhat) what you’re doing, you understand the risks ... you may begin.

 

1) Ensure both computers have users with the same username and path to the user’s files. For example:

 

Windows: C:\Users\<username>

Mac: /Users/<username> 

 

Note that this procedure does NOT work between two different operating systems; both computers must be Windows OR Mac, not one of each.

 

2) In your cloud folder, create a folder for rekordbox; I chose the simple and obvious rekordboxsync folder in my Dropbox folder.

 

3) Put your music in a folder in that same cloud system to ensure it will be available for both computers. I placed mine in rekordboxsync/music but yours could simply be in music at the root of the sync folder. If that music is already in rekordbox, before moving to the next step, be sure to do a mass-relocation of your songs.

 

The alternative here is that you could use an external drive you move between computers (it would need the same mount name (Mac) / drive letter (Windows) on each computer), but the point here is for it to be a cloud-based experience - if you're using an external drive, why not just move the database there and be done with it?

 

4) Here comes the tricky business. You’ll need to edit the setting file, so be sure to make a copy as a backup before you start. You will need to do this step on both computers, or you can simply copy the settings file to the other machine and do it once, provided the user accounts are identical and the paths are the same. Unfortunately the location of this file can't be shared, it's in a default installation path and the software will look for it in this location by default.

 

Open the following file with a text editor:

 

Windows: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Pioneer\rekordbox\rekordbox3.settings

Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Pioneer/rekordbox/rekordbox3.settings

 

Before you go make any edits, if you’re on a Mac and using TextEdit to do this, you must first go into the TextEdit preferences and uncheck the Use Smart Quotes checkbox, otherwise you will end up with the fancy quote marks, which would ruin the code.

 

Locate the following line:

 

 

…and replace the VAL contents with the absolute path to your cloud sync directory. For example, mine is: /Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/Pulse/Dropbox/rekordboxsync/database - I added the database folder because I also have the music folder within and wanted to keep it separate.

  

You can also locate this line and modify its VAL to a location common to the two computers:

 

 

This is the sampler file save location - if you want the samples to be available on both computers, change this for sure. For mine, I used: /Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/Pulse/Dropbox/rekordboxsync/music

 

For the VAL of:

 

This is the recording save directory - I don’t recommend using a cloud-based folder as the software may try and continuously upload the ever-changing recording file. I set mine simply as /Users/Pulse/Desktop to have the files easily accessible and on the local drive.

  

You will also notice there is another line with a path:

 

 

DO NOT modify this line! Doing so will result in rekordbox effectively resetting itself and deleting your database.

 

5) After you’ve completed the settings edits, it’s time to move the files on the computer you’ve designated as the MASTER.

 

Open the following folder:

 

Windows: C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Roaming\Pioneer\rekordbox

Mac: ~/Users/<yourusername>/Library/Pioneer/rekordbox

 

...and copy these files to your new cloud folder (as above, mine is in Dropbox/rekordboxsync/database):

 

 

…and any “backup” files can be copied as well. rekordbox automatically creates a backup every time you launch the application, and keeps 3 copies for roll-back purposes.

 

Leave these files behind:

 

 

…as well as the Crashes and ExtDriveBackup folders. Moving those files will wipe your settings and you’ll also need to login to your Pioneer DJ account again. You may also run the risk of deactivating your installation.

 

6) Before you go and open rekordbox to see if it worked, open the parent cloud folder of the database (in my case, the rekordboxsync folder) and make a copy of the database folder. For some weird reason, on more than one occasion when testing these instructions, I experienced an issue where the first time I try and launch rekordbox after making these changes, it will freak out, say it can't find the database, and delete everything in the database folder. If that happens, at least you have a backup (see, it's a running theme with me), simply copy those .edb files back into place in the database folder and it should launch properly.