Frequently asked questions

boots.list is a Mac app for DJs who use Rekordbox. It reads your Rekordbox XML export, lets you filter by genre and set duration, and generates an ordered playlist following a natural energy arc — intro, build, peak, and resolve. The result exports as an XML file you can import straight back into Rekordbox.

It's designed for DJs who want to spend less time manually sorting tracks before a gig and more time on the music itself.

You need a Mac running macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later, and an existing Rekordbox library with tracks that have BPM values and genre tags set. boots.list doesn't connect to Rekordbox directly — it reads an XML file you export from Rekordbox yourself.

In Rekordbox, go to File → Export Collection in XML format. Save the file anywhere on your Mac, then open boots.list and select that file when prompted. Your full library — tracks, BPM values, Camelot keys, and genres — loads instantly. No cloud sync or internet connection needed.

Yes, boots.list uses Sign in with Apple or Sign in with Google to manage your account. There's no password to create or remember. Your sign-in is used only to associate your playlist history and any future features with your account — your music library data never leaves your Mac.

boots.list divides your target set duration into four stages: intro, build, peak, and resolve. It selects tracks from your library and sequences them so BPM rises through the build, stays elevated at the peak, and eases back down through the resolve. The BPM chart in the app lets you see the full arc before you export.

Yes. boots.list reads the genre tags from your Rekordbox library and lets you select which genres to include before generating. You can narrow to a single genre lane or mix several — whatever matches the vibe of the set you're planning.

boots.list has a built-in scanner for tracks missing BPM or Camelot key data. After you import your XML, if any tracks are missing values, a banner appears with a Scan tracks button — boots.list reads the audio files directly and detects tempo and key for each one, then merges the results back into your library. Genres still have to come from Rekordbox, so if a track has no genre tag, it won't appear when a genre filter is active. You can fill that in using Rekordbox's track metadata editor and then re-export the XML.

boots.list reads the first 60 seconds of each audio file and runs two analyses locally on your Mac: onset-strength autocorrelation to detect BPM (folded into the 60–180 range to resolve octave ambiguity) and short-time FFT chroma analysis with Krumhansl-Schmuckler key profiles to detect the Camelot key. Nothing is uploaded — the audio stays on your machine. You'll need to point the scanner at the root folder of your music library so it can reach the files.

Yes — just hit Generate again. Each run picks a different arrangement from your available tracks within the same genre and BPM constraints. You can generate as many times as you like until you find an arc that works, then export that version.

You can set any target duration. In practice, results depend on how many tracks in your library match the genre and BPM range you've chosen — if you ask for a four-hour set from a small genre with tight BPM limits, boots.list will use whatever it can find. Broader filters give the algorithm more to work with.

Hit Export in boots.list and save the XML file. In Rekordbox, go to File → Import → rekordbox xml, then navigate to the file you saved. The playlist will appear in your Rekordbox library with all the original track references intact — including cue points, loops, and hot cues you've already set.

Yes. boots.list exports a playlist that references your existing tracks by their original file paths. Rekordbox reads those references and matches them to the tracks already in your library — all your cue points, loops, hot cues, and memory cues stay exactly as you set them. boots.list doesn't modify your tracks or their metadata.

boots.list itself is Mac-only. However, because it works with the standard Rekordbox XML format, the exported playlist file can be imported into Rekordbox on any platform — so if you prep on a Mac but also use a Windows machine or DJ controller, the playlist will still load correctly.

Yes. Every playlist you generate is saved to your history automatically. You can reopen any previous session, rename it, and re-export it as XML without needing to regenerate. This is handy if you want to archive playlists for specific gigs or revisit an arrangement you liked from a previous session.

No. Your Rekordbox XML file and all track data are processed entirely on your Mac. Nothing from your music library is sent to any server. The only information stored externally is your account identifier (used for sign-in) and your generated playlist history. See the Privacy Policy for full details.

Yes. You can request deletion of your account and any associated data at any time by contacting support. Your locally stored data can be removed by deleting the app from your Mac.

boots.list is a one-time purchase for $99.99 — available on the Mac App Store or as a direct download. There are no subscriptions, no recurring fees, and no in-app purchases.

The app is identical in both versions. The Mac App Store version goes through Apple's review process and is managed through your Apple ID, which some users prefer. The direct download is delivered as a standard macOS .app file. Both are $99.99 and receive the same updates.

Not at the moment. If you have questions before purchasing, feel free to reach out via the support page and we'll do our best to help.