What PreSpin Does to Your Files
What PreSpin Reads
| Source | What | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Audio files (.mp3, .aif, .flac, .wav) | Audio data | Beat detection, energy analysis, vocal separation, key detection |
| Audio files | Existing ID3 tags | Display metadata, detect existing cue points |
| Audio files | Serato GEOB tags | Read existing Serato cue points, loops, colors |
| ~/Music/_Serato_/ | Serato database and crates | Import Serato library and playlists (read-only) |
| ~/Library/Pioneer/rekordbox/ | rekordbox database | Import rekordbox library and playlists (read-only) |
| Audio files (when opted into Cloud Backup) | Audio data + PreSpin metadata for backed-up tracks | Read once per backup, encrypted on device, then uploaded as ciphertext |
What PreSpin Writes
| Target | What | When |
|---|---|---|
| Audio file ID3 tags | BPM, key (Camelot), energy, comment, grouping | During processing |
| Audio file GEOB tags | Serato cue points (positions, colors, labels) | During cue placement |
| Audio file TXXX tag | PreSpinAnalysis JSON (analysis results, version) | During processing |
| Audio file name | Rename per template (e.g., “Artist - Title.mp3”) | If rename is enabled |
| USB export directory | Pioneer/rekordbox export structure | During USB export (experimental) |
| ~/Music/_Serato_/ | Crates and playlist entries for your tracks | Opt-in only — your Serato library is backed up first |
| ~/Library/Pioneer/rekordbox/ master.db | Tracks, cue points, and playlists | Opt-in only — your rekordbox database is backed up first |
| PreSpin Cloud Backup storage (when opted in) | Encrypted blobs only — never plaintext audio or playlists | When a backup runs; US region |
What PreSpin Leaves Alone
- Your original audio— PreSpin never modifies the audio itself, only metadata tags. Edits made in Cut Room are always written to new files; your originals stay exactly as they were.
- Serato & rekordbox libraries, by default— out of the box, PreSpin exchanges data through tags embedded in your audio files and doesn't touch Serato's crates or rekordbox's
master.db. Writing directly into them is an opt-in setting — and when you turn it on, PreSpin backs the library up first and always keeps your original files.
Backup and Recovery
Before modifying any file, PreSpin automatically:
- Creates a vault snapshot— the first time PreSpin touches a file, the original is copied to a secure vault (
~/.prespin/backups/originals/) - Creates a session backup— a .bak copy is made before each processing session
To restore a file to its original state:
- Use the Restore Original button in the track detail panel
- Or use the API endpoint
POST /file-safety/restore-original
Backups are retained based on your settings (default: 30 days, with a 25 GB vault pressure threshold that warns rather than deletes your protected originals).