Use cases
Surco for the job you came to do
Recipes for the everyday jobs. First, the settings you change once. Then, the steps you repeat each time.
Add tags and artwork to a whole folder, without making copies
You have a folder of music with missing tags or no artwork. You want Surco to fill them in on its own, in the same files, with no copies and no format change.
Set it up once. After that, every folder takes four steps.
Settings, just once
Open Surco's Settings (⌘ , on Mac) and find each option by its name.
SettingsSearchAuto-match on importOn
When you drop your tracks, Surco looks each one up and adds its details and artwork when it is sure.
SettingsFormatDefault formatSame as source
Every file keeps its format. An MP3 stays an MP3.
SettingsOutputWhere converted tracks goOverwrite original
Surco saves the changes into the same file instead of making a new one.
SettingsOutputBackupsWhat gets keptAlwaysOptional
So you can go back to the old file if you don't like something.
Then, each time
- 1
Drag the folder into Surco
Tracks in its subfolders come in too. Surco starts looking them up on its own.
- 2
Wait for the lookup to finish
At the top you'll see “Auto-matching…” with a counter. Wait for it to finish.
- 3
Check the ones left to confirm
In the list filter, pick “To confirm”. These are the ones Surco wasn't sure about. Review them or leave them as they are.
- 4
Click “Convert”
It's the button in the top bar. Surco asks before touching your files. Click “Overwrite and convert”.
- The sound doesn't change. Only the tags and artwork are written, which is why it's so fast.
- Tracks you leave unconfirmed keep the tags they already had.
- Traktor cue points stay where they were.
More in the guide Auto-match · Tag without re-encoding · Convert every track
Swap a track in your library for a better copy
You have a track as an MP3 in your library and you get hold of the AIFF or the WAV. You want the new copy to take the old one's place, without ending up with two and without adding it to every playlist again.
It only works on a Mac, because the swap goes through Apple Music. The old track has to be in your Apple Music library.
Settings, just once
Open Surco's Settings (⌘ , on Mac) and find each option by its name.
SettingsOutputWhere converted tracks goApple Music
That way Surco checks whether the track is already in your library.
SettingsFormatDefault formatAIFF
Apple Music doesn't take FLAC. AIFF sounds the same as WAV and keeps the artwork too.
SettingsFormatKeep MP3 and M4A files as they areOnOptional
If the new copy is a better MP3 (320 instead of 128), it stays an MP3 instead of becoming an AIFF.
SettingsOutputrekordbox collectionUpdate the rekordbox collection when convertingOnOptional
If you use rekordbox. The track stays in its playlists and keeps its cue points.
SettingsOutputEngine DJ libraryUpdate the Engine DJ library when convertingOnOptional
If you use Engine DJ. The track stays in its playlists and keeps its cue points.
Then, each time
- 1
Close rekordbox and Engine DJ
Only if you use them. While they are open Surco can't touch their libraries, and it offers to close them.
- 2
Drag the new copies into Surco
The better ones, for example the AIFF of a track you have as an MP3.
- 3
Check that the button says “Replace”
That tells you Surco found the track in your Apple Music. If the new copy is worse than the one you have, it warns you.
- 4
Click “Replace”
When it's done, Surco offers to move the old file to the Trash.
- In rekordbox and Engine DJ the track stays in its playlists and keeps its cue points.
- In Apple Music, smart playlists pick it up on their own. If it was in a regular playlist, you'll need to add it again.
- In rekordbox, check the beatgrid the first time you load the track. Seeing a different file can make it recalculate.
More in the guide Take it to your decks · Convert the track
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