MP3 - Dr Ron

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Retrieve old mp3s

You can pull your old iTunes playlists straight into rekordbox by having iTunes/Music export its library, then telling rekordbox to read that file and link to your existing MP3s.[1][2]

Step 1 – Make sure the audio files are available

On the machine with the 20‑year‑old library, open iTunes (or the modern “Music” app on macOS).
In iTunes Preferences > Advanced, note the “iTunes Media folder location” so you know where all MP3s live.[3]
If the files are on an old drive, copy that whole iTunes Media folder to a stable location you’ll also use in rekordbox (same machine or an external drive you keep mounted consistently).[3]

Step 2 – Export your iTunes library / playlists

On an older iTunes:

In iTunes, go to File > Library > Export Library (or Export Playlist if you want only some lists).
Choose “XML” as the format and save as something like iTunes Music Library.xml in an easy‑to‑find folder.[2]

On newer macOS “Music” app:

Open Music, select File > Library > Export Library.
Save the exported XML file (this replaces the old auto‑generated iTunes XML).[2]

This XML holds references to every track and playlist, not the audio itself.[2]

Step 3 – Point rekordbox at the iTunes XML

In rekordbox 5/6 on Mac or Windows:

Open rekordbox, go to Preferences > Advanced (or Library) and make sure “iTunes” integration is enabled.[4]
In the iTunes section, click “Change File” (or similar) and select the XML file you just exported.[1][2]
In the tree on the left, expand “iTunes” and you should now see your imported playlists and tracks listed via that XML.[1][2]

If you don’t see the playlists immediately, restart rekordbox and refresh the iTunes node.[5][1]

Step 4 – Bring playlists into the rekordbox collection

To make the playlists “native” rekordbox playlists (so they work even if you later stop using iTunes):

In rekordbox, under the iTunes node, drag each iTunes playlist onto the main “Playlists” area or right‑click and choose “Import Playlist”.[6][3]
rekordbox will import all those tracks to its Collection and create regular rekordbox playlists with the same names.[6][3]

Example: Drag “House Classics” from the iTunes node to Playlists; rekordbox will create a “House Classics” playlist containing all those MP3 references.

Step 5 – Fixing missing files or moved drives

If this is a 20‑year‑old library, some file paths may no longer match:

If rekordbox shows “missing file” icons, use its “Relocate” feature, point it to the top of your copied iTunes Media folder, and let it batch‑resolve paths.
If many tracks are still missing, double‑check that the drive letter / volume name and folder structure match what the XML expects (sometimes keeping the same folder structure when copying avoids issues).[3][2]

Optional – Third‑party helpers (if XML is messy)

If your iTunes XML is corrupt or you want to migrate between multiple DJ apps, tools like MIXO or Lexicon can ingest an iTunes library and then export a rekordbox‑ready XML with playlists preserved.[7][5]

If you tell me:

What OS you’re on now (macOS version or Windows),
Whether you still have the original iTunes machine or just its drive,
I can give you a precise, step‑by‑step set of commands tailored to your setup.

Sources
[1] How to Use Rekordbox with Apple Music and iTunes File – DRmare https://www.drmare.com/apple-music/apple-music-to-rekordbox.html
[2] How to use Apple’s Music with rekordbox? – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Rekordbox/comments/rqgp1y/how_to_use_apples_music_with_rekordbox/
[3] Moving from iTunes for Rekordbox collection management – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Rekordbox/comments/h09e76/moving_from_itunes_for_rekordbox_collection/
[4] Syncing iTunes Playlist to rekordbox & Playlist Track Order https://forums.pioneerdj.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/208563166-Syncing-iTunes-Playlist-to-rekordbox-Playlist-Track-Order
[5] iTunes to Rekordbox via XML – Move your entire DJ library with MIXO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lljOzZRqMHE
[6] Can I use iTunes/Apple Music app playlists in rekordbox for iOS? https://support.alphatheta.com/en-US/articles/8840851679257
[7] Best way to import an iTunes library synced to Rekordbox … – Lexicon https://discuss.lexicondj.com/t/best-way-to-import-an-itunes-library-synced-to-rekordbox-itunes-date-aded-playlists-rekordbox-grids-cues/1323
[8] Importing from iTunes to Rekordbox : r/Beatmatch – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Beatmatch/comments/1ixdag1/importing_from_itunes_to_rekordbox/
[9] How to import iTunes music into rekordbox? – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/crisangelmusic/posts/1456048985108250/
[10] How To Link rekordbox with Apple Music – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GXga-iHkEgg
[11] Rekordbox importing w/ iTunes encoding system..? – Pioneer DJ https://forums.pioneerdj.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360048279452-Rekordbox-importing-w-iTunes-encoding-system
[12] How to Import Apple Music to Rekordbox [Windows/Mac … – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWXXKLlM2VQ
[13] iTunes not seeing all tracks on my playlist – Apple Support Community https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253709411
[14] Moving music and playlists from iTunes to DJ Software – Crossfader https://wearecrossfader.co.uk/blog/moving-music-and-playlists-from-itunes-to-dj-software/
[15] How to Add Apple Music to Rekordbox DJ Software? – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfBwYUNdNHs

Getting the files

You can use the Music app on current macOS to export your old iTunes library as XML, then point rekordbox at that XML so it can see and convert your playlists.[1]

1. Confirm where the old library lives

On your current Mac, put your original iTunes library folder (usually named “iTunes” and containing “iTunes Media” or “iTunes Music”) into ~/Music/.
In the Music app, go to Music > Settings > Files and check “Music Media folder location” so you know where macOS expects your audio.[2]
If needed, Option‑launch Music, choose “Other Library…”, and point it at your old iTunes Library.itl file inside that old iTunes folder; this will “adopt” your 20‑year‑old library in the modern Music app.[1]

2. Export the library / playlists from Music

In the Music app (latest macOS), choose File > Library > Export Library.
Save the file as iTunes Music Library.xml (or similar) in an easy‑to‑find folder such as ~/Music/Exports/.[1]
This XML contains your playlists and track locations; it does not copy audio, so your MP3s must stay where Music expects them.[1]

If you only want a subset of playlists, you can also:

Select a playlist in the sidebar, then File > Library > Export Playlist, choose XML, and save it; repeat for other key playlists.[1]

3. Link this XML inside rekordbox on macOS

Open rekordbox, go to Preferences > Advanced (or Library) and enable the iTunes/Music integration option.[3][1]
In that section, choose the XML file you exported (iTunes Music Library.xml).
In the left sidebar, expand the iTunes/Music node; you should now see your Music library structure and playlists listed there.[4][1]

If nothing appears, restart rekordbox, then re‑open the iTunes node after confirming the XML path is correct in Preferences.[5][3]

4. Convert them into native rekordbox playlists

Under the iTunes/Music node in rekordbox, drag any playlist you care about into the main “Playlists” section, or right‑click and choose an “Import Playlist” option if available.[3][5]
rekordbox will add those tracks to its Collection (if they aren’t there already) and create standard rekordbox playlists with the same names.[1]

At that point, your playlists are fully usable in rekordbox, independent of the Music app.

5. Handle broken paths (if some MP3s moved)

With such an old library, some file paths may not match:

If you see missing‑file warnings in rekordbox, use its “Relocate” feature and point to the top of your MP3 folder (your old “iTunes Media” folder); let rekordbox scan and automatically re‑link tracks where possible.[5][1]
Try to keep the folder structure the same as it was in iTunes (for example, don’t rename the parent drive/folder) so the XML references line up cleanly.[5]

If you get stuck at a particular step (e.g., Option‑opening Music or finding the .itl file), tell me the exact path of your old iTunes folder and I can walk you through precise clicks and paths for your Mac.

Sources
[1] Moving music and playlists from iTunes to DJ Software – Crossfader https://wearecrossfader.co.uk/blog/moving-music-and-playlists-from-itunes-to-dj-software/
[2] How to download and install macOS – Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/102662
[3] Can I use iTunes/Apple Music app playlists in rekordbox for iOS? https://support.alphatheta.com/en-US/articles/8840851679257
[4] How to Use Rekordbox with Apple Music and iTunes File – DRmare https://www.drmare.com/apple-music/apple-music-to-rekordbox.html
[5] Moving from iTunes for Rekordbox collection management – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Rekordbox/comments/h09e76/moving_from_itunes_for_rekordbox_collection/
[6] How to revert to an older version of macOS – Apple Community https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256204449
[7] How would i revert back to an older version of MacOS if i don’t have … https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenCoreLegacyPatcher/comments/1o54hpb/how_would_i_revert_back_to_an_older_version_of/
[8] Safely Downgrade macOS to Any Version [Full Guide] – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAK15Z59a2Y
[9] How to revert macOS to the previous version – AppleInsider Forums https://forums.appleinsider.com/discussion/235495/how-to-revert-macos-to-the-previous-version
[10] How to Downgrade macOS to an Older Version (Step-by … – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBQLhe5ZwoQ
[11] How to downgrade macOS update: Rollback Tahoe to Sequoia https://www.macworld.com/article/671318/how-to-downgrade-macos-revert-back.html
[12] Restoring a Macbook to previous OS version…a learning experience https://community.spiceworks.com/t/restoring-a-macbook-to-previous-os-version-a-learning-experience/1245143
[13] Does anyone know how to update on a MacBook I just keep getting … https://www.facebook.com/groups/690732052938220/posts/942572971087459/