All About Playlists

Playlist Overview

In this article, you'll learn about: 

1. Playlist basics 
2. Adding and arranging tracks in a playlist
3. Playlist settings
4. Presentation and design
5. Sharing functionality
6. Browsing and editing existing playlists

What is a Playlist?

Playlists are DISCO’s most basic folder structure for storing, organizing, and sharing files.

Playlists offer many functions:

• Flexible design templates
•  Searchability
• Multiple sharing methods
• In-depth playlist access stats, which link to the contact database
• Security features
• Organization systems

Playlist features vary across different DISCO plans.

A Playlist can contain one file:

… or many files - like a sync pitch or mixtape using the Default design template:

…or an album, EPK, or press release using the Pages design template:

Create a Playlist

All uploads start in the Playlist Creator, where you can work on multiple playlists at the same time.

Click the plus (+) sign at the top right to create a new playlist.

Add files to the Playlist Creator by searching or dragging from within DISCO, your computer, or Dropbox:

Divide the Playlist into Sections

Sections can expand and collapse in the share URL view:

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Rearrange tracks or sections by dragging and dropping:

Playlist Settings

Playlists offer many options for internal organization and customizing the recipient’s experience.

Playlist settings can be updated at any time by editing and re-saving a playlist.

Playlist Info

The Playlist Info tab is the control center a range of features and settings:

• Name, which refers to the playlist title you see inside DISCO and on shared playlists
• Playlist Tags for storing additional information about  playlists internally
• Add to Channel option for additional organizational structure
• Watermarking for tracing leaks of sensitive pre-release material
• Streaming only optionality

• Client Version, an internal flag to show that a playlist has been shared:

• Add to my Starred lists, ensuring a playlist appears in the Browse and Starred areas
• Viewable only by me, which restricts who can see a playlist
• Show Lyrics (if you’ve added them to the metadata), allowing recipients to read as they listen

Make sure you've filled out the Lyrics metadata on each track first!

Albums Toggle

Albums are another content type that improve presentation and organization in DISCO Libraries and in Browse. 

• The Album toggle classifies a playlist as an album.

• Adding a release date can improve search results both in your own DISCO as well as in DISCO Libraries.

Streaming Only Toggle

This removes an options to download or save to DISCO.

• Toggle on “Streaming only” in the Save Playlist area:

• Save the playlist and open the Share URL.
• The download and Save to DISCO options will be hidden:

Want to make the playlist downloadable again?

• Find it in Browse.
• Click the Edit Playlist pen to send it to the Playlist Creator, then click Save.

• Un-toggle the Streaming only option.
• Save changes and ask your recipients to refresh the Share URL.

Presentation

Open the Presentation tab to choose a design template and customize your playlist.

Learn more about fancy EPK design options using the Album page template.

Formats

Since uploaded high-res (WAV & AIFF) files automatically create an MP3, you can select whether the originally uploaded format or the optimized format is available as the default download option.

The Formats tab (on the Save Playlist popup) provides these options.

• Including original formats in the main playlist download will set the original high resolution version (WAV, AIF, FLAC) as the default download option (if they are available).
• Sending only optimized formats restricts the download to only include MP3s or original files that were not transcoded, like M4As.
• The Formats tab is not accessible if MP3s are the only file type present in the playlist.

Alias Metadata

Alias Metadata allows you to edit track metadata on a specific playlist without altering the original metadata anywhere else in your DISCO.

Save & View the Playlist

• Open the URL to check that everything looks right:

Sharing Playlists

• Access the Playlist Share options from the playlist menu:

Browse Saved Playlists

• Browse is “Home” in DISCO and contains four view filters: Playlists, Tracks, Albums, and Artists.
• Browse organizes playlists in chronological order by default.

View Playlist Content in Explorer

Selecting a playlist or track opens a column to the right in the middle of DISCO - this is called the Explorer.

• Hover over a playlist to access its menu, the Edit Pen icon, and to Star/favorite it.
• When a track is selected, the next column shows tags, metadata, and all of the other playlists that feature it.

Edit a Playlist

• Find and hover over a playlist.
• Select the Pen icon to open it for editing in the Playlist Creator:

• Rearrange track order by dragging and dropping according to preference.
• Remove tracks by hovering over them and clicking the “X.”
• Add new tracks.
• Click “Save” above the Playlist Creator to access and update the playlist settings (i.e. switch from “streaming only” to downloadable, change themes. etc.).
• If the playlist has already been shared, the recipient simply needs to refresh the link to see your edits after saving again.

Wrap-Up

DISCO playlists are a versatile and powerful tool for organizing and sharing files.

Whether you're a new artist looking to share your music or an established music industry professional, DISCO's playlist features will anchor your workflow.