Music Library Doctor
Playlist migration

Mixxx → Rekordbox

One-pass migration from Mixxx mixxxdb into encrypted master.db. Nested playlist folders preserved end-to-end, format gotchas handled on both sides, nothing leaves your machine.

The problem

Moving from Mixxx to Rekordbox normally means an XML round-trip: export from Mixxx, hope Rekordbox parses it correctly, manually rebuild nested playlist folders, discover cues didn't translate. Mixxx versions store the database in different locations on Mac, Windows, and Linux — auto-detection has to know all three. And on the destination side: Writes require atomic transactions, and Rekordbox must be closed or it will overwrite your edits when it next saves.

How Music Library Doctor does it

  1. 1 Install Music Library Doctor on the machine with Mixxx and Rekordbox. MLD detects both libraries automatically.
  2. 2 MLD opens Mixxx mixxxdb directly without needing Mixxx to be running.
  3. 3 Select the Mixxx playlists or folders you want in Rekordbox. MLD maps crates and folder-based browsing into nested playlist folders sensibly.
  4. 4 Choose Rekordbox as the destination. MLD writes encrypted master.db natively — encrypted master.db included.
  5. 5 Open Rekordbox — playlists are already there with hierarchy intact, paths pointing at the right files.

Supported today

Rekordbox · Serato DJ · VirtualDJ (incl. Favorite Folders) on Windows 10+ and macOS (Apple Silicon + Intel).

Why native integration matters

Mixxx and Rekordbox speak completely different languages: Mixxx mixxxdb (Mixxx is open source and free, so it's often the destination for DJs leaving paid apps — but the migration tooling around it is thin) versus encrypted master.db (Rekordbox stores rich metadata (cues, beatgrids, hot cues, colored playlists) but XML export drops nested folder structure and is lossy on cue points). XML export-import is the usual bridge — and it's lossy on both ends. MLD treats both formats as first-class, reads Mixxx's structure natively, and writes Rekordbox's native format directly, so nested playlist folders survives and the target app doesn't re-import anything. A timestamped backup of each app's library is taken before any write.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install Mixxx and Rekordbox on the same machine?

Yes. MLD reads both libraries locally, so both apps (or at least their library files) must be accessible on the same computer. Nothing uploads anywhere — all scanning is local.

Does it work with encrypted Rekordbox 6+ master.db files?

Yes. MLD supports Rekordbox's encrypted database key format, so you don't have to downgrade or export anything to read or write playlists.

What if my music files moved after I built the Mixxx library?

Run Fix Missing Tracks for Mixxx first. MLD scans your drives, matches moved/renamed files, and repairs links in Mixxx before the transfer — so Rekordbox receives a clean library.

Does it back up my libraries before writing?

Yes. Mixxx and Rekordbox libraries are both copied to timestamped backups before any write. Rollback is always one folder away.

Can I go the other way, Rekordbox back to Mixxx?

Yes — see the Rekordbox to Mixxx guide. MLD supports every direction between supported apps.

Does this work with the latest Mixxx version?

Yes. MLD tracks Mixxx version compatibility and updates with each new release. See the changelog for the version matrix.

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