What Is Rekordbox XML? How to Export, Backup and Transfer Your DJ Library

Rekordbox XML is a metadata export format used to move information from a Rekordbox DJ library to other software and tools. It can preserve important library data such as track metadata, playlists, cue points, BPM, key information and other DJ preparation data, depending on what the importing application supports.

If you have spent months or years organizing a Rekordbox collection, the “Export Collection in xml format” option may be one of the most useful features you've overlooked.

Rekordbox XML does not contain your actual music files. Instead, it acts as a portable map of your DJ library — making it useful for library migration, metadata backup and external DJ analysis workflows.

In this guide, you'll learn what Rekordbox XML is, what it contains, how to export a Rekordbox library to XML, how XML import works, what it can and cannot preserve, and how to use it as part of a modern DJ preparation workflow.

What Is Rekordbox XML?

A Rekordbox XML file is an exported representation of your DJ library metadata and organization data.

The simplest way to think about it is:

Rekordbox XML is a map of your DJ library, not a copy of your music collection.

An XML export can contain information associated with your tracks, playlists and DJ preparation workflow, including:

• Track title
• Artist
• Album metadata
• File path
• BPM
• Musical key
• Cue points
• Hot Cues
• Memory Cues
• Loop information
• Beat grid data
• Playlists
• Playlist folders
• Ratings
• Color tags
• Other track metadata

The exact data available to another application depends on how that application handles Rekordbox XML imports.

Does Rekordbox XML contain music files?

No.

A Rekordbox XML export does not contain the actual MP3, WAV or AIFF audio.

Instead, it stores references to where those files are located.

For example, an XML file may reference a track at a path such as:

C:\Music\DJ\House\Track.mp3

If that file is moved after the XML export, another application may no longer be able to locate it.

This distinction is critical:

XML = library metadata and organization

Audio files = the actual music

You need both if you want to fully migrate or restore a DJ library.

What Information Does a Rekordbox XML File Contain?

The main advantage of Rekordbox XML is that it can preserve a significant amount of the preparation work you've accumulated inside your DJ library.

Imagine you've spent months preparing a track:

• You added three Hot Cues.
• You created Memory Cues.
• You marked a useful loop.
• Rekordbox analyzed its BPM.
• A musical key was detected.
• You added the track to several playlists.
• You assigned a rating.

The XML export can provide a portable representation of much of that information.

However, XML should not be treated as a complete Rekordbox database backup. The level of data preserved and restored depends on the importing workflow.

Does Rekordbox XML Include BPM and Key Information?

Rekordbox XML can export existing track metadata and analysis-related information such as BPM and key.

But there is an important distinction:

Exporting Rekordbox's analysis results is not the same as asking another application to re-analyze the track.

For example, Rekordbox may have analyzed a track as:

124 BPM — 8A

An importing application may:

1. Use the existing BPM and key metadata.
2. Convert the key into its own notation.
3. Re-analyze the track independently.
4. Use a combination of imported and newly generated data.

This behavior varies between applications.

For a large or performance-critical library, it's therefore worth spot-checking:

BPM → Key → Beat Grid → Cue Points

after importing your XML.

Rekordbox XML and Camelot Key Notation

Key notation is one of the most common sources of confusion when moving a DJ library between applications.

DJ software can display musical keys using different systems, including:

• Traditional / Classic notation
• Alphanumeric / Camelot notation
• Open Key

For example, a key may appear as:

8A

in Camelot notation while being displayed using a traditional musical key name elsewhere.

That does not necessarily mean the key has changed.

It may simply mean that the target software is using a different key notation system.

This is particularly important if you rely heavily on harmonic mixing.

If imported keys suddenly look "wrong," check the notation system before assuming that the underlying key analysis is incorrect.

Why Use Rekordbox XML?

There are three particularly useful reasons to use Rekordbox XML.

1. Transfer a DJ Library Between Applications

If you've spent years building a Rekordbox collection, starting from scratch when testing another DJ platform can be extremely inefficient.

An XML export can help transfer parts of your existing library structure and preparation data to another application.

Depending on the importer, this may include:

• Playlists
• Cue points
• Hot Cues
• Ratings
• BPM
• Key
• Track metadata

However, not every application supports every piece of Rekordbox data.

Cue points, loops, beat grids, playlist structures and ratings may not transfer with identical behavior.

Always treat XML migration as a supported-data transfer rather than a guaranteed one-to-one clone of your Rekordbox database.

2. Back Up Your DJ Library Metadata

Your music files are only one part of your DJ library.

The other part is the preparation work you've built around them:

• Cue points
• Playlists
• Ratings
• Tags
• Organization
• Track metadata

That work can take years to recreate.

A Rekordbox XML export provides a lightweight snapshot of important library information that can be stored separately from your main music collection.

However, XML should complement your audio backup, not replace it.

Keep your MP3, WAV or AIFF files backed up separately.

3. Feed Your Library Into External DJ Analysis Tools

One of the most interesting uses for Rekordbox XML is connecting an existing DJ library to an external analysis workflow.

You may want to analyze an established collection for:

• BPM
• Musical key
• Energy
• Track structure
• Beat grid
• Transition compatibility
• Other preparation metrics

Instead of manually rebuilding your library from scratch, XML can provide a bridge between your existing Rekordbox organization and another preparation system.

For large collections, MixPilotLab's DJ music analysis tools can be used to analyze tracks in bulk and build a more data-driven preparation workflow.

How to Export Your Rekordbox Library to XML

The general Rekordbox XML export workflow is straightforward.

Step 1: Clean Your Rekordbox Library

Before exporting, check for:

• Missing files
• Duplicate tracks
• Incorrect metadata
• Unfinished cue points
• Unorganized playlists

An XML export reflects the state of your library at the time you export it.

Cleaning first can save significant cleanup work later.

Step 2: Export the Collection as XML

In Rekordbox, use:

File → Export Collection in xml format

Choose a location that is easy to find and back up.

Treat the XML file as a snapshot rather than a live database.

If your Rekordbox collection changes afterward, the previously exported XML does not automatically update.

Step 3: Keep Your Audio File Paths Stable

Try to keep your music folders in the same location between export and import.

If the target application cannot resolve the paths stored in the XML, tracks may appear as missing or require manual relinking.

This becomes particularly important when migrating thousands of tracks.

Step 4: Verify the Imported Data

After importing your XML, don't immediately assume everything transferred perfectly.

Spot-check:

• BPM
• Key
• Beat grid
• Cue points
• Playlists
• Ratings

A small verification sample can reveal compatibility problems before you build an entire workflow around the imported library.

Common Rekordbox XML Mistakes

Mistake 1: Treating XML as an Audio Backup

XML does not contain your actual music files.

You still need a separate backup of your MP3, WAV or AIFF collection.

Mistake 2: Moving Your Music After Export

If the XML references old file locations, your target application may not be able to find the tracks.

Mistake 3: Assuming Imported Analysis Is Always Correct

A library that was analyzed years ago may contain inaccurate BPM or key values.

XML generally preserves existing information; it does not magically improve it.

Mistake 4: Expecting Every Application to Import Everything

Different applications support different portions of Rekordbox XML.

Playlist structure, cue points, loops, beat grids and ratings may behave differently after migration.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Key Notation

A key that looks different after import may simply be displayed using another notation system.

Always check whether the application is showing Camelot, Classic or Open Key notation before changing the underlying metadata.

What Rekordbox XML Cannot Fix

Rekordbox XML is a transport format, not a library-cleaning system.

If your collection contains:

• Incorrect BPM values
• Wrong key detection
• Missing cue points
• Duplicate tracks
• Poor playlist organization
• Inconsistent metadata

exporting it to XML will not automatically fix those problems.

In some cases, especially with very large or old libraries, it can be more efficient to run a fresh analysis pass rather than spend hours manually repairing inherited metadata.

That's where a modern workflow becomes useful:

Import → Analyze → Filter → Score → Build Set

For a deeper approach to rebuilding a large collection, see How to Organize a Large DJ Library.

Using Rekordbox XML for Faster DJ Preparation

The real value of Rekordbox XML isn't the XML format itself.

It's what you can do after the data becomes portable.

A modern workflow might look like:

Rekordbox → XML Export → MixPilotLab → BPM + Key + Energy + Structure Analysis → Transition Scoring → Set Preparation

This approach is especially useful for large collections where the main problem isn't finding music — it's finding the right track at the right moment.

Once a library reaches 500, 1,000 or even 5,000+ tracks, traditional folder-based organization becomes increasingly difficult to manage.

A combination of metadata, energy analysis, harmonic compatibility and transition scoring can turn a large collection into a searchable preparation system.

In that context, Rekordbox XML is best understood as a metadata bridge between DJ software and modern preparation workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rekordbox XML a backup?

It can serve as a backup of important DJ library metadata and organization information, but it is not a complete backup of your music collection.

Your audio files should be backed up separately.

Does Rekordbox XML contain MP3 or WAV files?

No. XML contains metadata and file references rather than the actual audio.

Can I import Rekordbox XML into another DJ software?

Potentially, yes. Compatibility depends on the target application's XML importer and which Rekordbox fields it supports.

Does Rekordbox XML include BPM?

Rekordbox XML can contain BPM-related track metadata. The importing application may use that information or perform its own analysis.

Does Rekordbox XML include Camelot keys?

Key information can be transferred, but the way it is displayed may change between applications. Camelot, Classic and Open Key are different notation systems.

Does Rekordbox XML preserve cue points?

Cue point support depends on the importing application. Some applications can read certain cue information while others may only support part of the Rekordbox cue structure.

Does Rekordbox XML automatically update?

No. An exported XML file is a snapshot. Changes made to your Rekordbox collection afterward do not automatically update an older XML export.

How often should I export my Rekordbox library?

Consider creating a new XML export after major library changes, especially after substantial playlist organization, cue-point work or before migrating to another DJ platform.

Final Takeaway

Rekordbox XML is one of the most useful ways to make your DJ library metadata portable.

It can help you migrate playlists and preparation data, create metadata snapshots, and connect an established Rekordbox collection with external DJ analysis tools.

But it is important to understand its limits:

XML does not contain your audio files, does not automatically fix bad metadata, and does not guarantee a perfect one-to-one migration between DJ applications.

For a modern DJ workflow, the strongest approach is to combine XML portability with automated BPM, key, energy, structure and transition analysis.

That turns Rekordbox XML from a simple export option into something much more useful: a bridge between the library you've already built and a faster way of preparing the sets you actually want to play.