In this live session, the Crate Hackers team—Jim, Austin, and Glenn, later joined by Jamie and Jack Christian—sat down for an open “Ask Us Anything” regarding the Crate Hackers software, DJ library management, and recent updates.
Here are the key takeaways and highlights from the discussion.
Software Updates: Version 1.1.3.1 & Serato 4.0
The team discussed the release of update v1.1.3.1, which specifically targets issues arising from the new Serato 4.0 update.
- Serato Integration: Serato changed how they process crates and track additions, which initially disabled the previous M3U export method. The new update includes a more direct integration to fix metadata population and track ordering issues.
- Bug Fixes: The update irons out random bugs users reported regarding metadata not populating correctly.
Managing Large Music Libraries
A recurring topic was the performance of the software when dealing with massive libraries (e.g., hundreds of thousands of tracks).
- The “Elephant” Analogy: The team advised against trying to scan an entire massive library at once (“shoving an elephant through a donkey-sized door”). Instead, they recommend breaking the library into smaller folders (“donkeys”) and scanning them in batches to prevent the software from choking.
- Performance Realities: While the software can handle 200k+ files on high-end machines, it will inevitably slow down due to the sheer volume of data.
- External Drives: Users with large libraries on external drives should ensure they are using high-speed SSDs and quality cables to avoid bottlenecks.
Troubleshooting Duplicates
Several users had questions about the “Duplicate Killer” feature and persistent duplicate files.
- Ghost Duplicates: If the system shows duplicates that won’t resolve, it may be a display glitch or an issue with how the code reads the files.
- Wipe and Rescan: For major library changes or persistent issues, Glenn recommended a “nuclear option” that he personally uses: completely removing all files from the Crate Hackers app and rescanning the library. This often provides a cleaner slate than repeated partial updates.
- Serato Duplicates: It was noted that Serato itself often creates duplicates when it sees files in multiple locations or backup drives. The team is working on better handling for these scenarios.
DJ Best Practices: Keep It Lean
The team strongly advocated for a “lean library” philosophy.
- Quality over Quantity: There is rarely a need to carry 74 versions of the same track. DJs were encouraged to keep their active gig library around 10,000 to 20,000 tracks.
- The Archive Method: Move older, rarely played tracks to an archive folder on an external drive or cloud storage (Dropbox/Google Drive).
- Streaming vs. Local: While streaming services are great for taking requests, the team advised never relying on them for critical moments like First Dances or Parent Dances due to potential internet or service failures.
Future Features & Community
- Folder Flattener: A “folder flattener” feature is in the works to help users organize their file structures better.
- Workflow Automation: The team teased an upcoming feature that will allow users to define their own workflows (e.g., “When I download this file, do X, Y, and Z”).
- Support: Users experiencing specific bugs were encouraged to email help@cratehackers.com with screenshots and system specs, or post in the Facebook group for community assistance.
Watch the full Q&A session here: