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DJ Workflow Guide

✅ Status: Phase 4 complete! All metadata editing features are implemented and available now.

auxbox doubles as a powerful DJ preparation tool, allowing you to rate, tag, and organize tracks while listening - perfect for preparing your music library without opening heavyweight DJ software.

Table of Contents

Overview

As a DJ, you often need to:

  • Preview new tracks and rate them for energy level
  • Categorize tracks by genre/style
  • Track which labels produce your favorite sounds
  • Organize massive libraries efficiently
  • Sync metadata with professional DJ software (rekordbox)

auxbox aims to provide a lightweight CLI interface to accomplish all of this during casual listening sessions, without the overhead of launching rekordbox or other DJ software.

Star Rating System

✅ Status: Implemented - Phase 4 Complete

Rate tracks on the fly while listening to build your energy-level system:

# Preview new tracks
auxbox play -f ~/new-tracks-pack/

# Rate the current track (1-5 stars)
auxbox rate 5    # Peak-hour banger
auxbox rate 4    # High energy, main set material
auxbox rate 3    # Solid track, versatile
auxbox rate 2    # Good opener/breakdown track
auxbox rate 1    # Low energy, intro/outro material

# Skip to next track and continue rating
auxbox skip
auxbox rate 4

# View rating in detailed status
auxbox status -d

Rating Strategy

Energy-level system (recommended):

  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars) - Peak hour bangers, maximum energy
  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars) - High energy main set tracks
  • ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars) - Versatile, mid-energy tracks
  • ⭐⭐ (2 stars) - Warm-up, openers, breakdown tracks
  • ⭐ (1 star) - Intro/outro, ambient, low energy

Alternative strategies:

  • Personal preference - How much you like the track
  • Crowd response - Historical response from crowds
  • Track quality - Production quality rating
  • Mixing difficulty - How easy it is to mix

Choose a consistent system and stick with it across your library.

Metadata Editing

✅ Status: Implemented - Phase 4 Complete

Edit complete track metadata while listening. All changes write to ID3v2 tags (MP3 files only currently):

# Complete metadata workflow
auxbox play -f ~/new-tracks/

# Set all metadata
auxbox rate 5                    # 1-5 star rating
auxbox label "Drumcode"          # Record label
auxbox genre "Techno"            # Genre
auxbox title "Peak Hour Tool"    # Track title
auxbox artist "Adam Beyer"       # Artist name
auxbox album "Drumcode EP"       # Album name
auxbox year "2024"               # Release year

# View everything
auxbox status -d

Supported Metadata Fields

Command ID3 Frame Description
auxbox rate <1-5> POPM Star rating (Popularimeter)
auxbox label "<label>" TPUB Record label (Publisher)
auxbox genre "<genre>" TCON Genre (Content Type)
auxbox title "<title>" TIT2 Track title
auxbox artist "<artist>" TPE1 Artist name
auxbox album "<album>" TALB Album name
auxbox year "<year>" TYER/TDRC Release year

Safety Features

  • Atomic writes - Backup created before each edit
  • Auto-restore - File restored if write fails
  • Format validation - Only MP3 files supported (AIFF planned)
  • Error handling - Clear error messages for invalid input

Genre Tagging

✅ Status: Implemented - Phase 4 Complete

Organize your library by genre during casual listening:

# Tag genres while listening
auxbox genre "Deep House"
auxbox genre "Tech House"
auxbox genre "Progressive Trance"
auxbox genre "Melodic Techno"
auxbox genre "Minimal Tech"

# Skip and continue tagging
auxbox skip
auxbox genre "Peak Time Techno"

Genre Organization Benefits

  • Style-based playlists - Quickly find tracks matching the vibe
  • Set preparation - Filter by genre for specific gigs
  • Library discovery - Understand your collection's diversity
  • Trend tracking - See which styles you're collecting most

Common Electronic Music Genres

House:

  • Deep House, Tech House, Progressive House, Electro House, Future House, Tropical House

Techno:

  • Peak Time Techno, Melodic Techno, Minimal Techno, Industrial Techno, Acid Techno

Trance:

  • Progressive Trance, Uplifting Trance, Psytrance, Tech Trance

Other:

  • Drum & Bass, Dubstep, Trap, Future Bass, Garage, UK Bass

Label Tracking

✅ Status: Implemented - Phase 4 Complete

Track the source/label for discovery and organization:

# Tag record labels while listening
auxbox label "Defected Records"
auxbox label "Anjunadeep"
auxbox label "Drumcode"
auxbox label "Hot Creations"
auxbox label "Toolroom"

# Skip and continue
auxbox skip
auxbox label "Afterlife"

Label Tracking Benefits

  • Source discovery - Know which labels produce tracks you love
  • Release tracking - Follow your favorite labels for new music
  • Style consistency - Labels often have consistent sound aesthetics
  • Networking - Identify labels to send demos or collaborate with

Rekordbox Integration

✅ Status: Implemented - Phase 4 Complete

All metadata written by auxbox uses industry-standard ID3v2 tags that Rekordbox reads natively.

Metadata Field Mapping

auxbox Command ID3v2 Tag Rekordbox Field Status
auxbox rate POPM Rating (stars) ✅ Implemented
auxbox genre TCON Genre ✅ Implemented
auxbox label TPUB Label ✅ Implemented
auxbox title TIT2 Track Name ✅ Implemented
auxbox artist TPE1 Artist ✅ Implemented
auxbox album TALB Album ✅ Implemented
auxbox year TYER/TDRC Year ✅ Implemented

How Integration Works

  1. auxbox writes to MP3 files - Metadata is embedded directly in ID3v2 tags
  2. Rekordbox reads on re-import - Re-import tracks to sync metadata
  3. Ratings appear as stars - 1-5 rating displays as ⭐ to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  4. Labels and genres populate - All metadata fields sync automatically

Rekordbox Database Challenge

Important Technical Note:

rekordbox stores star ratings in two places:

  1. ID3v2 POPM frame - In the audio file itself (portable)
  2. rekordbox database - In rekordbox's internal SQLite database (fast access)

auxbox can write to ID3v2 tags, but directly writing to the rekordbox database poses challenges:

  • Database schema is proprietary and undocumented
  • Risk of database corruption if schema changes between versions
  • Database locking issues when rekordbox is running
  • Loss of portability (ratings tied to one rekordbox installation)

Integration Strategy

Currently implemented:

  • ✅ ID3v2 tag writing (POPM, TCON, TPUB, etc.)
  • ✅ Re-import workflow with Rekordbox 6.x/7.x
  • ✅ All metadata fields supported

Workflow:

  1. Rate and tag tracks in auxbox (writes to ID3v2)
  2. Re-import tracks in Rekordbox (File → Import Tracks)
  3. Rekordbox reads all metadata from ID3v2 tags
  4. Ratings, genres, labels appear in Rekordbox interface

Limitations:

  • MP3 files only (AIFF support planned for Phase 4.5+)
  • Requires re-import (not real-time sync)

Mixxx Integration

✅ Status: Implemented - Phase 4 Complete

Mixxx reads ID3v2 tags directly from files, making integration seamless.

Setup

Enable file tag syncing in Mixxx:

  1. Open Mixxx Preferences
  2. Go to Library section
  3. Enable "Sync track metadata to file tags"

Workflow

# Rate and tag in auxbox
auxbox play -f ~/music
auxbox rate 4
auxbox genre "Techno"
auxbox label "Drumcode"

# Sync in Mixxx
# Right-click track → "Reload from File Tags"
# Or restart Mixxx to pick up changes

Supported Fields

All auxbox metadata commands sync with Mixxx:

  • Rating (1-5 stars)
  • Genre
  • Title, Artist, Album, Year
  • Label (Publisher field)

Complete DJ Workflows

✅ Status: All workflows now fully functional!

New Promo Pack Evaluation

# Load new promo pack
auxbox play -f ~/promos/december-2024/

# Listen and rate each track
auxbox status                    # Check current track
auxbox rate 4                    # Rate it
auxbox genre "Deep House"        # Tag genre
auxbox label "Hot Creations"     # Tag label

auxbox skip                      # Next track
auxbox rate 2                    # Opener material
auxbox genre "Minimal Tech"      # Tag genre
auxbox label "Percomaniacs"      # Tag label

auxbox skip 3                    # Jump ahead
auxbox rate 5                    # Peak hour material!
auxbox genre "Peak Time Techno"  # Tag genre
auxbox label "Drumcode"          # Tag label

# When done (✅ Available now)
auxbox exit

Large Library Organization

# Load entire library with shuffle (✅ Available now)
auxbox play -f ~/Music/complete-library/ -s -r

# Rate tracks as they play randomly - 🚧 Phase 4
# Perfect for background work while organizing
auxbox stars 3
auxbox skip     # ✅ Available now
auxbox stars 5
auxbox skip

# Progress through thousands of tracks over multiple sessions

Style-Specific Crate Preparation

# Load specific style folder (✅ Available now)
auxbox play -f ~/Music/techno/ -s

# Rate and tag for sub-genre classification - 🚧📋 Phases 4-5
auxbox stars 5
auxbox genre "Peak Time Techno"
auxbox skip     # ✅ Available now

auxbox stars 4
auxbox genre "Melodic Techno"
auxbox skip

# Build up detailed genre metadata
# Creates organized sub-crates in rekordbox

Pre-Gig Track Selection

# Load recently downloaded tracks (✅ Available now)
auxbox play -f ~/Downloads/new-tracks/

# Quickly rate for tonight's gig - 🚧 Phase 4
auxbox stars 5    # Definitely playing this
auxbox stars 3    # Maybe if vibe is right
auxbox stars 1    # Not for tonight

# Later in rekordbox: filter by 4-5 stars
# Instant shortlist for your set

Energy Level Organization

🚧 Status: Phase 4 - Conceptual guide for planned feature

Note: This section describes how to use the star rating system once Phase 4 is implemented.

Building Your Star Rating System

Session 1: Initial Pass

  • Listen through collection casually
  • Rate instinctively: Would I play this at peak hour? (5 stars)
  • Don't overthink, trust your gut

Session 2: Refinement

  • Filter by unrated tracks
  • Use shuffle to randomly discover forgotten gems
  • Compare similar tracks, adjust ratings for consistency

Session 3: Context Rating

  • Think about specific gigs/venues
  • Adjust ratings based on:
    • Time of night (warm-up vs. peak hour)
    • Venue type (club vs. festival)
    • Crowd demographics

Using Ratings in rekordbox

Once synced, you can:

  • Smart playlists - Auto-generate playlists by star rating
  • Preparation playlists - Filter 4-5 star tracks for gigs
  • Discovery - Find high-rated tracks you haven't played recently
  • Crate organization - Create energy-level based crates

Example Rating Guidelines

5-Star Peak Hour Techno:

  • 128-132 BPM
  • High energy, driving basslines
  • Crowd-tested, guaranteed floor fillers
  • Limited quantity (only your absolute best)

4-Star Main Set Material:

  • Solid production quality
  • Versatile, works in multiple contexts
  • Good for building energy

3-Star Utility Tracks:

  • Good for transitions
  • Mixing tools, doubles, edits
  • Genre-flexible tracks

2-Star Warm-Up:

  • Lower energy, groovy
  • Good for building atmosphere
  • Opening sets, early night

1-Star Ambient/Outro:

  • Low energy, atmospheric
  • Closing tracks, comedown material
  • Special moments, not for dance floor

Tips for DJs

🚧📋 Status: Best practices for planned features

Note: These tips will apply once Phase 4-6 features are implemented.

Efficient Metadata Sessions

  • Time-box sessions - 30-60 minute focused rating sessions
  • Use shuffle - Discover forgotten tracks randomly (✅ shuffle available now)
  • Background rating - Rate while working/coding (🚧 Phase 4)
  • Batch processing - Rate entire genre folders in one go (🚧 Phase 4)

Consistency is Key

  • Document your system - Write down what each star level means
  • Regular calibration - Periodically review and adjust ratings
  • Compare tracks - When uncertain, compare to already-rated tracks
  • Trust the process - Initial ratings may be rough, they'll improve

Integration with Existing Workflow

📋 Aspirational workflow - shows how phases 4-6 will fit into DJ prep

auxbox will complement your existing DJ workflow:

  1. Download tracks (Beatport, Bandcamp, promos) - ✅ Current
  2. Preview in auxbox (rate, tag, organize) - 🚧📋 Phases 4-6
  3. Import to rekordbox (metadata appears automatically) - 🚧 Phase 4
  4. Analyze in rekordbox (beatgrids, waveforms, cue points) - ✅ Current
  5. Create playlists (use ratings for smart playlists) - 🚧 After Phase 4
  6. Prepare sets (filter by rating and genre) - 🚧📋 After Phases 4-5
  7. Play gigs (refined, organized library) - ✅ Current

Future Features

See ROADMAP.md for planned DJ features:

  • BPM detection - Automatic tempo analysis
  • Key detection - Harmonic mixing support
  • Crate management - DJ-style folder organization
  • Smart playlists - Auto-generated based on metadata
  • rekordbox XML export - Alternative sync method

Next Steps

  • Start rating your library with Phase 4 (coming soon)
  • See USER_GUIDE.md for basic playback features
  • Check ROADMAP.md for Phase 4 progress