Folder Library mode opens MLD's quality scoring, acoustic duplicate detection, and Smart Upgrade to any music collection. No DJ software required.
Music library management software splits cleanly into two camps. Either it's a media player with rudimentary cleanup (iTunes/Apple Music, Plex, Roon) — useful for playback, weak for library hygiene. Or it's DJ software with deep library tools (Rekordbox, Serato, Lexicon) — powerful, but built around playlists, crates, and live mixing concepts you don't need. For a music collector who just wants a clean library — no duplicates, no fake-320s, organized folders — neither camp fits. Music Library Doctor's Folder Library mode is built specifically for this gap.
Supported today
No DJ software required — Folder Library mode audits plain music folders, NAS shares and media-server libraries (Navidrome, Plex, Roon, Subsonic). Rekordbox, Serato DJ and VirtualDJ are supported natively too. Windows 10+ and macOS (Apple Silicon + Intel).
Folder Library mode treats a generic music folder as a first-class library. No DJ database is required, no playlist concept is forced on you. The same quality scoring, acoustic fingerprint duplicate detection, and Smart Upgrade engine that DJs use is available the moment you point MLD at your Music folder. The features that don't apply to non-DJ users (cross-DJ path repair, playlist conversion) are hidden — you see a clean interface focused on library hygiene. Everything runs locally on your Mac or PC; nothing about your collection is uploaded. *Smart Upgrade is a Pro feature; you are responsible for ensuring you have rights to obtain replacement content.*
No. Folder Library mode is built specifically for users without DJ software. On first launch, pick Folder Library mode in the setup dialog and MLD treats your music folders as the library — no Rekordbox, Serato, or VirtualDJ installation needed or assumed.
Duplicate detection (filename, metadata, and acoustic fingerprint), Audio Quality Score (FFT-based, including fake-320 and fake-FLAC detection), Smart Upgrade (swap low-quality files for cleaner versions in-app), Consolidation Wizard (merge scattered folders), and the overall Library Health Score.
Cross-DJ path repair and playlist conversion are DJ-specific (they need a DJ database). Folder Library users don't see these — the interface stays focused on what applies.
Yes, if you choose the lifetime licence: $39 once, all current and future versions, no recurring charges. There is also a $9.99 monthly plan for people who only need it for a job. The free tier is permanently free and includes scanning and detection.
Yes. Add the music folder Plex / Navidrome / Roon scans, and MLD audits it directly. See the audiophile library tools guide for media-server-specific tips.
No. MLD reads the audio files in your iTunes Media folder but never modifies the iTunes/Music app's own library database. Your library in Apple Music stays untouched; only the underlying files are scanned and optionally cleaned up.
Free tier covers scanning and detection. Pro is a one-time lifetime license, or a monthly plan if you prefer. Current pricing is on the homepage.
It finds Rekordbox, Serato and VirtualDJ on its own, and reads plain music folders when you use none of them. Nothing to configure before the first scan.
macOS 10.15+ or Windows 10+. Notarized and code-signed. See pricing
