The way you format your USB drive determines the speed of your Rekordbox export and if your drive is recognized by DJ controllers and CDJs like the CDJ 2000. So, choosing the right settings is crucial for convenience and compatibility. In this article I’ll dive into the right settings and how to format your USB drive for Mac and Windows the right way.
Can CDJs read exFAT / NTFS?
Rekordbox is a music management App for Pioneer DJ products. You can transfer music files from your Mac/Windows to this App to prepare for your DJ performance such as creating playlists, setting cue points, and so on. Changes and settings that have been made on your Android device can be written back to rekordbox on your Mac/Windows for further editing and playback.
Rekordbox is a music management App for Pioneer DJ products. You can transfer music files from your Mac/Windows to this App to prepare for your DJ performance such as creating playlists, setting cue points, and so on. Changes and settings that have been made on your Android device can be written back to rekordbox on your Mac/Windows for further editing and playback. You can also play music.
Rekordbox is a music management App for Pioneer DJ products.You can transfer music files from your Mac/Windows to this App to prepare for your DJ performance such as creating playlists, setting.
Rekordbox for Mac is a music management App for Pioneer DJ products. You can transfer music files from your Mac/Windows to this App to prepare for your DJ performance such as creating playlists, setting cue points, and so on. Take your DJ dreams to the next level with rekordbox! It’s packed with functions to give you more ways to manage.
Nov 01, 2017 Pioneer DJ just released an update to its Rekordbox software. Now at version 5.0.2, it brings compatibility to Apple’s latest macOS High Sierra operating system. A raft of minor tweaks accompany it, along with bug fixes related to Interface 2, the DDJ-RZX, and the XDJ-RX.
No, CDJs can’t! They only read FAT32 and HFS+. Which format is best and step-by-step format instructions you can read in this article.
Best format for CDJ USB
The Pioneer CDJ machines support three types of file system formats: • Microsoft FAT • Microsoft FAT32 • Apple HFS+ Below you can find my recommended file system, pros and cons of each file system. Later in this article I will give you step-by-step instructions to format your USB drive on Mac and Windows the right way.
You probably noticed that the supported standards are replaced by newer more reliable ones with less (storage) limitations. FAT32 is replaced by NTFS in 1993, HFS+ is replaced by APFS in 2017. I can only guess to why Pioneer choose to support these older standards instead of the newer standards, probably licensing issues. For now, we have to work with the limitations.
Formatting USB drive on Mac for Rekordbox
Make sure Rekordbox is closed!
Insert the USB drive
Start “Disk Utility” by pressing Command+Spacebar and type “disk”, select the first item in the list or press Enter.
Select the USB drive in the drive list on the left. Make sure you select the drive, not the partition below (otherwise you will miss vital setting later).
Click on “Erase” (translation: format) at the top of the screen.
The Erasewindow will appear.
Choose a name for you dive in Name
Format: select “OS X Extended Journaled” for HFS+ or “MS DOS FAT” If you choose FAT, you only can use 32GB of your drive if your drive is larger than 32 GB.
Scheme: select “Master Boot Record”. IMPORTANT!! (you will miss this option if you selected the partition instead of the drive in the previous step).
Now click on the “Erase” button below the formatting options.
Wait a few seconds, your drive is now being formatted.
Click “Done” and close the Disk Utility.
You drive is now ready to use in Rekordbox.
Formatting USB drive on Windows for Rekordbox
We can’t format drives larger than 32GB with the Windows built-in tools. So we need third party software called “Fat32 Format” (download: http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm ) We can also format smaller drives with Fat32 Format, so this is the method I’m going to use for this tutorial.
Before we start, make sure Rekordbox is closed
Insert your USB drive
Make sure all your Explorer windows are closed, otherwise you can’t format the drive
Start Fat32 Format
Select the drive letterof your USB drive. NEVER choose C:
Select allocation size: 4096
choose a name for your USB drive in “Volume label”
Click Start
Select OK
Your drive is being formatted, this takes a few seconds
Your drive is now finished formatting
select Close
Pioneer Rekordbox Download
If you want to know how to export tracks from Rekordbox to USB read this article.
Rekordbox Pioneer For Mac High Sierra
If you are serious about Djing and want take it to the next level, check out my CDJ 2000 course or my Rekordbox course.