It feels like an eternity since Rekord Buddy 2.0 was first announced. The software that promised to sync metadata (cue points, beat grids, loops, ect.) between the top three current DJ platforms (Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor) has been eagerly anticipated for years. After a private beta earlier this year, Next Audio Labs has this week released a public beta version of Rekord Buddy 2.0 that anyone can download – assuming you’re ready to buy.
What Can Rekord Buddy 2.0 Do, Again?
Rekord Buddy 2.0 is music management software with a few special features:
- Sync metadata between Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor
- Sync playlists between Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor
- Organize your library thoroughly using smart lists, filters, and tags
- Rekord Buddy library file ensures Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor library files will not be corrupted
DJ Software Freedom Of Choice
Rekord Buddy 2.0 is quite a big deal for digital DJs. This is the first and seamless method of syncing your library’s metadata across multiple platforms. Say you feel like playing on Traktor for one gig then you for your next gig you feel like using Rekordbox on flash drives, with Rekord Buddy 2.0 this isn’t an issue at all. Gone are the days of having to analyze your library more than once, setting beat grids and cue points multiple times, just to have the flexibility to move between different platforms.
The new version of Rekord Buddy makes this process as effortless as possible. Your entire DJ library is imported and all of your metadata is synced across Rekordbox, Serato, and Traktor.
As a DJ who has taken the time previously to analyze my library multiple times, just to have it available in more than one software, this saves a tremendous amount of time. With this software, DJs can be more prepared to play on any of the three major DJ platforms without more investment in library prep time.
Beta: What’s The Catch?
While Rekord Buddy 2.0 is in public beta, it’s a paid public beta. You have to purchase the software before being able to download the beta version. The software license for the beta will extend into the full release version. Cleverly, the current purchase price is discounted to try and entice more people to join the beta.
This will certainly prevent some DJs from joining the beta – but that’s also the point. Next Audio Labs wants beta users that are serious about using the software and willing to actively report on any issues while still in a testing phase. The thinking is: users willing to pay the cost of the software up front are more likely to be invested in the beta process.
First Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
I’ve purchased the beta license for Rekord Buddy 2.0 and have spent some time with it. Unfortunately as part of the terms of the beta I am not able to give many details on the software in its current state.
The software does do exactly what it advertises, and I am completely satisfied with my purchase. Particularly if you’re an organizational nut like myself and/or really into trying all sorts of software, I can confidently say that Rekord Buddy 2.0 is worth checking out.
Editor’s Note: We’ve reached out to Next Audio Labs to see what they’ll allow us to show / tell you all about in the new software and we’ll update this article or create a new one when we get details.
Need a Windows version and I’m waiting more than one year because the say that the windows version will be available soon. But no news.
If they are to slow, I will buy SpinTools, all-in-one solution for Tag Editing, Song Duplicate Management, Playlist
Creator, and DVS Management platform for tools such as Serato, Traktor,
and RekordBox
https://spintools.io/
Windows version is coming along, it the number one priority right now.
I’m sure spintools will be a great app too, I don’t think it will be an either/or as Rekord Buddy will do things that spintools doesn’t and vice-versa.
Is it let me deal with key system. Mean they different at traktor than the one in Rekordbox
Not sure I understand what you mean but Rekord Buddy will let you sync the keys between programs. It can read the Traktor Key or the Key text or the Key calculated by Rekordbox. It can store those in any notation you want.
Hi Damien, Can you tell me how I should make contact for support matters? I have a support ticket outstanding.
support@next.audio is the best bet. I’m on the road right now so I will catch up with all the emails this week.
How about being to transfer to iOS platforms. I use Traktor Pro 2 and then DJ Pro on the iPad ?
It will sync to Traktor Pro 2. Not sure what happens after that for iOS as it is out of my hands at that point.
If you buy a beta license, does that also give you a license to the full version when it comes out?
Yes absolutely. The license will still be valid for any 2.x versions.
How about a new way to sync metadata between the “Traktor DJ” from the ipad to “Traktor Pro” and the other 2 platforms . It was nice to set cue points,loops,…… on the Ipad before Itunes 8 stopped it .
I’d be up for adding Traktor DJ support. You should tell NI to let me do it 🙂
Would love to do it. Will add it to the roadmap at http://roadmap.next.audio and you can vote on it.
After getting my music either by individual tracks/ albums at a time like most people do, I must admit record pools are way more useful (especially from a DJ perspective) in terms of finding all kinds of new and interesting tracks or remixes that I probably wouldn’t have come across otherwise. There’s simply just way too much content being released to sift thru it all, not to mention having access to essentially unlimited tracks for a set monthly fee is way more economical after the 1st 15-20 songs than good ole iTunes. Too bad iTunes doesn’t offer a similar service or at least bulk discounts…
Anyone have any idea how much it costs? I saw some stuff saying $60, but it looks like you have to join the beta to get the price??
Beta is currently $54.99. Final release will be $59.99 with a discount for version 1 users.
Thanks!
Seriously 54.99$ for beta and not even link for purchase in article… i say this is like i just re-analyze my collection and forget about this crap
Seriously. I demand the firing of the people responsible for the lack of link AND the idiot who decided on that price. Oh wait…
As keen as I am for this application — simply for the purpose of migrating my Serato library to Rekordbox — I don’t think this is cooked enough, just yet. I will wait for the actual release.
It’s out now 🙂
Is this available for windows? .
OS X only currently.
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If you feel like it’s been an eternity you should see how I feel 🙂 thanks for the kind words!