Why put BPM and key in the filename
- The filename travels with the track. Copy it to a USB stick, open it on another computer, play it on gear that ignores tags: the filename still shows everything.
- Listing by name groups your keys. Every 8A track sits together, so picking the next one is a glance up or down.
- No software lock-in. Every program reads the key tag its own way; a filename looks the same to everyone.
The trade-off: longer filenames, and if a key changes later you rename again. It works best for folders you play straight from USB.
Pick a filename pattern
| Pattern | Example | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Camelot - BPM - Track name | 8A - 128 - Track name.mp3 | You choose by key first, tempo second |
| BPM - Camelot - Track name | 128 - 8A - Track name.mp3 | Your set follows tempo, like a rising warm-up |
| Key - BPM - Track name | Am - 128 - Track name.mp3 | You think in musical key names |
| Track name - Camelot - BPM | Track name - 8A - 128.mp3 | You want the name first, numbers for reference |
For DJs, Camelot (8A, 11B) beats key names: same number or one step away means they mix, no music theory needed. See what the Camelot wheel is.
The "Track name" part works best as Artist - Title from your tags, if the tags are clean. If they're a mess, clean them first: batch tag editing without syntax.
Before you rename
- Get BPM and key right. Downloaded tags are often missing or wrong. Re-detect the whole folder with software instead of trusting the numbers that came with it. See how to find BPM and how to find the key.
- Watch other DJ software's library. DJ software remembers tracks by file path. After a rename, tracks in its playlists show up as missing. Rename before importing, or re-import after.
- One pattern for every folder. Switch halfway and listing by name stops lining up.
- Preview, then rename. Two tracks ending up with the same name, or characters that aren't allowed in filenames, should be flagged before anything touches your drive.
FAQ
Why does 10A show up before 1A?
Computer file browsers usually order numbers by value, so 1A, 2A… 12A line up correctly. Some players and older devices compare character by character, so 10A, 11A, and 12A jump ahead of 1A. Check on the gear you play before renaming your whole library.
Will renaming twice give me "9A - 8A - …"?
Not with Taxonomy DJ. Run a group that puts Camelot or key at the start again, and the old code is replaced instead of stacked.
What about tracks with no BPM or key yet?
Any empty piece is skipped along with its separator. Unanalyzed tracks keep their name; you never end up with something like "- -.mp3".
Does renaming lose labels or analysis?
No. Taxonomy DJ updates the track's path, so labels, analysis results, and playlists in the app stay as they are.
Do it fast with Taxonomy DJ
- In the Music Library tab, click Add music folder, choose Analyze waveforms, and click Scan. Every track gets BPM, key, and Camelot, free, with no track limit.
- In the Tags tab, click Choose from library and pick the folder you just scanned.
- Click Action groups ▸ New group, then Add action ▾ ▸ Set tag. Under Write to, choose Filename. Under New value, click Camelot, BPM, and Filename in the track info list, and pick the "a - b" separator. The Try on a sample track card shows "8A - 128 - Track name" right away.
- Click Done, select tracks (select none to apply to every track shown), click Apply group ▾, check the before and after, then click Apply to N tracks.
Want Camelot in the key tag too, for DJ software to read? Add another Set tag step to the same group. Existing files are never overwritten.
Batch renaming in the Tags tab needs Premium. The Free plan still detects BPM and key for your whole library and renames single files: right-click a track ▸ Rename file. Download Taxonomy DJ and try it on your own folder.