I've done some digging online and here on this forum and have not found any answers to my questions. I'm a noob with Rekordbox so I apologize for my 101 questions.
The obvious/suggested workflow is not working for me. I have a huge Itunes library and while the metadata of my tracks imported into my library is very well organized, my file system in my finder/external hd is a bit of a mess.
As a result when I import playlists that I have built in itunes into rekord box I get lots of broken links/"!". The most common problem according to the RekordBox log is "The File Path is longer than 255 Characters"
With my large library it is not reasonable for me to move offending files into folders that are not sub folders of subfolders which seems to be what is causing the problem. It would take me weeks to fill out all of the missing files on something as small as a 2200 file import into RekordBox.
So I have been trying to find a workaround but wanted to clarify if this would work or if another, better way exists. On my USB sticks I have created folders representing playlists and copied files to them. When I import into rekord box from the USB sticks they are all read no problems. So I have solved the issue RekordBox has reading Itunes playlists by importing from a loaded USB stick instead of from Itunes.
Here is my issue? If I export from rekordbox to an external HD (Not USB Sticks) can I then erase my imports from my USB sticks and replace them with my new RekordBox ready exports that I copied into a folder on an external HD? Will these copied files still work as Rekordbox when I dump them onto the USB?
What I'm saying is I'm basically erasing the root library I just built so I can copy all of the exported RekordBox filles into said USB stick. I am having to Import from the USBs initially because it's the only way I can get RekordBox to read all of my imports with out giving me lots of missing files. I realize this is not ideal, I can't manage off of the program any more because I just erased the root library. But I'm hoping I will at least have loaded USB sticks that work with RekordBox on a CDJ.
My other question I think I know the answer to but wanted to check. When RekordBox exports it creates it's own system of folders that are not conducive to playing on a CDJ with out Rekordbox. I'm a working DJ and some booths don't have CDJ's that are Rekordbox ready. It would be nice to have my own folder system that mirror playlists available so I could navigate and select tracks properly. I did find some old threads on this issue, but nothing from the past couple of years. Was wondering if a solution ever got flushed out.
Thanks for any help in sorting my noob issues out
Publicação fechada para comentários.
I'm not going to suggest you try to do what you're asking -- when you move / delete files, it's just going to make it difficult.
Deleting the source files off the USB drives will keep the files on the export HD, but you won't have them in the collection (they'll be marked as missing).
I don't understand what you're asking about exporting then copying ... again, this sounds like you're making it much more difficult than you need to.
The USB's are not big enough to hold both the original imports and the rekordbox ready exports. As I understand it the USB would be full of doubles if it was done this way. So I'm saying I would erase the original imports off of the USB so I could copy over the new rekordbox ready exports that I exported to an external HD, Basically I'm trying to avoid having doubles of files everywhere. I get that I will loose my collection and it's not ideal but at this point I don't want to start another library full of doubles just so I can import them into rekordbox. This goes back to the issue rekord box has reading my library that is imported into Itunes. So while I understand you would not suggest this would this work?
USB#1 (Filled with files) ---> Imported into Rekordbox / Export these files out of Rekordbox ---> External HD / Erase files on USB#1 to free up space (lose collection in RB Library) / Copy Rekord Box Ready/Exported Files on External HD ---> USB#1
It's my understanding that there is no way not to double up on files if the import and the export is the same. You can't just turn imported files into Rekordbox ready files with out creating doubles, new ones.
What I'm hoping and trying to clarify is that you can move around exported rekordbox files from one HD to another, from and HD to a USB and they will still be rekordbox ready. Or do the files have to stay in the place they were exported to?
Sorry for how crazy this explanation is. I will say it definitely mirrors how I feel trying to sort it all out. It's very cumbersome. Of course none of this would be an issue if Rekordbox cold read imports from Library's that have file paths longer that 255 characters. A common issue with any large library. Itunes is a drag but it's still what the majority of people use to manage master libraries. Any professional DJ is going to be managing well over 1TB of music. It would be nice for the integration between Rekord Box and Itunes to be a smoother affair on playlists imports. The missing file thing is what is creating this nightmare for me.
If you want to make it easier on yourself, try moving your iTunes media folder further up the directory tree to cut out the unnecessary additional path length of the filename. Personally, I have everything stored on an external drive, so it's all located at:
/Volumes/Pulse/Music/
...instead of where iTunes stores them:
/Volumes/Vertex4/Users/Pulse/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/
You can see the difference is 21 characters vs. 55, a decent savings.
And again, your method seems to be more cumbersome than you need to make it. Put all your music in one place where the path+filename isn't going to exceed 255 characters and keep it there, then export to your USB drives.
I have everything stored on an external HD. Irregardless can you confirm if I can copy/move exported rekord box files around with out loosing the rekordbox compatibility?
Why are you even doing that? Why not export them to the right place the first time?