Music Library Doctor
Playlist migration

Rekordbox → Mixxx

One-pass migration from encrypted master.db into Mixxx mixxxdb. Crates and folder-based browsing preserved end-to-end, format gotchas handled on both sides, nothing leaves your machine.

The problem

Moving from Rekordbox to Mixxx normally means an XML round-trip: export from Rekordbox, hope Mixxx parses it correctly, manually rebuild crates and folder-based browsing, discover cues didn't translate. Rekordbox 6+ encrypts master.db with a vendor key that most third-party tools can't open at all. Many older migration tools simply don't work post-6.0. And on the destination side: Mixxx supports its own crate format that doesn't map 1:1 with playlists — writers have to choose which model is the target.

How Music Library Doctor does it

  1. 1 Install Music Library Doctor on the machine with Rekordbox and Mixxx. MLD detects both libraries automatically.
  2. 2 MLD opens encrypted master.db directly — including encrypted Rekordbox 6+ databases without needing Rekordbox to be running.
  3. 3 Select the Rekordbox playlists or folders you want in Mixxx. MLD maps nested playlist folders into crates and folder-based browsing sensibly.
  4. 4 Choose Mixxx as the destination. MLD writes Mixxx mixxxdb natively.
  5. 5 Open Mixxx — 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

Rekordbox and Mixxx speak completely different languages: 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) versus 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). XML export-import is the usual bridge — and it's lossy on both ends. MLD treats both formats as first-class, reads Rekordbox's structure natively, and writes Mixxx's native format directly, so crates and folder-based browsing 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 Rekordbox and Mixxx 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 Rekordbox library?

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

Does it back up my libraries before writing?

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

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

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

Does this work with the latest Rekordbox version?

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

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