Crate Hackers Support

The Folder Flattener helps DJs clean up scattered music folders by copying selected tracks into one cleaner destination folder.

What this article covers

This article explains how to use the Folder Flattener inside Crate Hackers.

Use it when your music is spread across too many folders and you want one cleaner place for Crate Hackers and your DJ software to scan.

The goal is simple: fewer missing tracks, faster scans, cleaner exports, and less laptop archaeology.

Why folder organization matters

Many DJs have music scattered across too many places.

Common examples:

• Downloads
• Desktop
• Music folder
• External drives
• Record pool folders
• Old backup folders
• DJ software folders
• Random folders named things like NEW MUSIC FINAL

That gets messy fast.

When music is scattered, your DJ software can have a harder time finding files. Crate Hackers may also have to scan more locations, which can slow things down.

A cleaner folder setup makes your library easier to trust.

What the Folder Flattener does

The Folder Flattener helps gather music from selected source folders and copy it into one clean destination folder.

Think of it as creating a cleaner working music collection.

Instead of music being buried in dozens of places, you can create one organized folder that is easier to scan, manage, back up, and use.

Before you start

Back up your music library first.

Do not skip this.

Any time you are organizing music files, make a backup before making large changes.

You can use:

• An external hard drive
• A cloud backup
• A second safe folder
• Another trusted backup location

The Folder Flattener is designed to help organize your library, but you should always protect your music before changing folder structures.

Best practice

Use an empty destination folder.

This makes the final collection easier to review.

Good destination folder examples:

• Crate Hackers Clean Library
• DJ Music Clean
• Main DJ Library
• Flattened Music Library

Avoid choosing a folder that already has a lot of music inside it.

That defeats the point.

Very DJ behavior. Still a bad idea.

Step 1: Open Tools

In Crate Hackers, go to:

Tools

Then open:

Folder Flattener

This is where you choose the folders you want to clean up.

Step 2: Select your source folders

Your source folders are the folders where your music currently lives.

Choose the folders you want Crate Hackers to pull from.

Examples:

• Downloads
• Music
• Record pool download folders
• External drive folders
• Old DJ music folders
• Genre folders
• Event folders

Only choose folders that contain music you actually want in your cleaned-up library.

You do not need to flatten your entire computer.

Please do not make your laptop relive every bad download decision since 2009.

Step 3: Choose an empty destination folder

Next, choose the folder where you want the cleaned-up collection to go.

This should be an empty folder.

Your destination folder is where the flattened collection will be created.

Examples:

External Drive > DJ Music Clean

Music > Crate Hackers Clean Library

Make sure the destination has enough space for the files you are copying.

Step 4: Run the Folder Flattener

Once your source folders and destination folder are selected, click:

Run

Let the process finish.

Do not disconnect drives, rename folders, or close the app while Folder Flattener is running.

Large libraries may take time. That is normal.

Step 5: Review the destination folder

After the process finishes, open your destination folder and review it.

Check that:

• Music files appear in the folder
• The folder contains the songs you expected
• The destination folder is easy to find
• Your original music backup is still safe

Do not delete your old folders immediately.

First, confirm the new folder works.

Step 6: Re-sync your library

After flattening, go back to:

My Music

Then click:

Re-sync

This tells Crate Hackers to refresh your library and read the updated folder structure.

If you want Crate Hackers to use the new clean folder moving forward, make sure that folder is added in My Music.

Step 7: Check duplicates before deleting anything

Flattening can reveal duplicates.

That is normal.

Before deleting anything, use the AI Duplicate Killer to review duplicate groups carefully.

Do not mass-delete files just because they look similar.

You may want to keep:

• Clean versions
• Explicit versions
• Extended edits
• Short edits
• Intro edits
• Remixes
• Instrumentals
• Acapellas
• Higher quality versions

Delete only true duplicates.

If you are unsure, keep the file.

Recommended library size

For best performance, keep your scanned music library under about:

1 TB

Larger libraries can take longer to scan, sync, and manage.

If your library is larger than that, start with your main DJ folder first instead of scanning everything you own.

When to use Folder Flattener

Use Folder Flattener when:

• Your music is scattered across too many folders
• Your DJ software struggles to find files
• You want one cleaner working music folder
• You are preparing for a better library scan
• You are seeing too many missing file issues
• You want exports to be more reliable
• You want your library easier to back up

When not to use Folder Flattener

Do not use Folder Flattener if:

• You have not backed up your library
• You do not know where your music is stored
• You are about to leave for a gig
• You are unsure which folders contain your main music
• You do not have enough drive space
• You are too tired to review the results carefully

Folder cleanup is not a great 2 AM activity.

That is when bad file decisions happen.

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake 1: Using a messy destination folder

Always use an empty destination folder.

If you choose a destination folder that already contains a lot of music, you may create more confusion instead of less.

Start clean.

Mistake 2: Deleting old folders too soon

After flattening, do not immediately delete your original folders.

First:

1. Open the new destination folder.
2. Add or scan it in Crate Hackers.
3. Re-sync your library.
4. Open your DJ software.
5. Confirm your tracks load.
6. Confirm your crates and exports work.

Only clean up old folders once you are confident everything is safe.

Mistake 3: Flattening too much at once

If your library is large or messy, start small.

Flatten your main music folders first.

You can always do more later.

A smaller clean folder is better than one giant folder full of everything you forgot you downloaded.

Quick checklist

Before moving on, make sure you have:

• Backed up your music library
• Opened Tools
• Selected Folder Flattener
• Chosen your source folders
• Chosen an empty destination folder
• Clicked Run
• Let the process finish
• Reviewed the destination folder
• Re-synced your library
• Checked duplicates carefully before deleting anything

The main idea

The Folder Flattener helps turn scattered music folders into one cleaner working collection.

Back up first. Choose your source folders. Send the cleaned collection to an empty destination folder. Re-sync after it finishes. Then review duplicates carefully before deleting anything.

Cleaner folders mean faster scans, fewer missing tracks, and more reliable exports.

Need more help?

Crate Hackers changes fast, so some screens or buttons may look slightly different than the examples here. The core workflow should still point you in the right direction.

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https://www.youtube.com/@cratehackers

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Email help@cratehackers.com