8.4. Playlist Exchange

Use playlists to bring a local track selection from DJ software into Harmonic DJ and return the finished track order. Import accepts UTF-8 .m3u and .m3u8 files, including relative paths and local file URLs. Export writes a UTF-8 .m3u containing absolute paths to the original audio. The audio must remain accessible on the importing computer; foreign Windows/macOS paths require relocation before import. Native Traktor NML is not supported.

Library → Import Playlist adds or reuses the referenced audio and uses the selected Library group. Choosing a group explicitly assigns existing imported tracks to that group too. Mix → … → Import Playlist creates a new named Mix in the playlist’s order and keeps existing Library groups. Both queue analysis for new or changed audio and reuse successful analysis of unchanged files.

An imported Mix starts with unlocked tracks and retains the complete imported candidate pool when you remove or reorder rows. The toolbar source control displays Imported Playlist. Click it to switch to Library Groups, or return to the imported source later. Generation and alternative-track choices use the selected source; tracks you explicitly lock remain included. The usual BPM, key, and transition rules still apply. The source pool and selection are saved in the Mix document and its undo history.

Mix → … → Export Playlist writes the current authored order. Library export offers either selected rows or the current filtered view, in displayed order. Exports retain authored repetitions and require every track to have an available local audio file; missing files and path-free shared collection entries block the export. Import keeps the first occurrence of each file and reports duplicates, missing files, and unsupported entries before asking whether to import the available tracks.

Playlist exchange transfers file references and order. It does not transfer cue points, beat grids, HDJ analysis, playback processing, or Mix settings. Keep a .hdjmix file when preserving HDJ planning state. Playlist import/export is available in Community; imported saved Mixes remain readable there, and Pro enables durable editing and full-length generation. Playlist audio import runs in the standalone application, where the Library is managed.

In DJ software that supports M3U exchange, export a playlist, import it into HDJ, refine the Mix, then export an M3U for import into that software. Accepting M3U8 input in HDJ does not establish M3U8 support in another application.