Updating Metatags back and forth from macOS to iOS?

Questions
1

Hi! In version 5.5, is it possible to import djay playlists from my MacBook to my iPhone, edit Tags (Grouping, Comments, Label, Rating, etc.) on the road, and then import them back to the MacBook with all the iPhone edits reflected in djay?

Does this feature automatically detect and update only the changes when syncing back and forth between MacBook and iPhone/iPad? Are there any caveats to be aware of?

Thanks!

2
  1. App metadata like Hot Cues, Saved Loops and Playlists can be updated in djay iOS and synced to macOS using iCloud.
    • the Refresh command seems to be designed specifically for updating iCloud sync.
    • Beat Grids and BPM are not included in the iCloud sync.

  1. File tags like Genre, Grouping, Comments, Genre, Label, and Rating, are severely restricted by Apple in iOS and generally can only be edited in macOS/Windows.

  2. To Sync files from macOS/Windows back to iOS use OneLibrary (5.5) or Apple Music. The main benefit of using OneLibrary is that it transfers all the metadata/tags and beatgrid information to the iOS device!

Notes:
My personal workaround is to create playlists in iOS for each Tag and then bulk edit the files when the playlist syncs back to macOS.

1 Like
3

Hi Michael,
If I use OneLibrary, is it possible to do a two-way sync (Tags, comments, genre, cues/loops ect..) between laptop and iphone? Ideally I’d like to take my laptop Djay collection with me on the iphone, make changes on the road and sync the changes back to the laptop.

4

For iPhones/iPads, OneLibrary only works in one direction: Macbook → iPhone/iPad.

Screenshot 2025-10-22 at 6.37.03 PM
Screenshot 2025-10-22 at 6.37.03 PM685×114 17.6 KB

2 Likes
6

For me DJAY was a ‘mobile first’ app. I got the iPad app first and did everything there. I never pair much attention to the Mac Desktop app. Messing around with the Mac app this morning and to be honest, it’s great, got a couple of features i’m missing in the iPad app (editing metadata, automatic folder watching/importing) I also noticed when I move a file from one folder to another (in the finder), it actually found the file on it’s own and re-linked it.

My new workflow will be Desktop for file management, and then move over files/playlists with OneLibrary. Only downside for me is going through a usb drive, but I guess the ios file system restrictions prohibit hooking up your iPad and treating it like an usb drive.
And yeah, would be great if the sync was 2 way, but i guess the same ios restrictions apply here.

2 Likes
7

Hey there, on your iPad can you see the USB Library icon in Sources? I can see it on my iPhone but not iPad. I don’t have a usb stick to try but was just asking whether you can see.

8

yes, i can see it on my iPad. Did not try it on my iPhone yet

9

One thing that annoying though is that if you update a playlist (put a new track in it), and then try to sync to the usb drive, it just adds the playlist next to the existing. So now you have two of the same playlists.

Scherm­afbeelding 2025-10-22 om 19.08.59
Scherm­afbeelding 2025-10-22 om 19.08.59878×512 123 KB

The same on the iPad, if you import an updated playlist again, that’s exactly what it does: it does not update, it imports the playlist again. It does not duplicate the local tracks in the library though.

So in that case it’s kind of a hassle, you have to delete the playlist, and then copy it again. And then do the same thing on the iPad again; delete the first version, then copy the 2nd version.

1 Like