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).