How to Merge Duplicate Tracks

Merging Duplicate Files

In this article, you'll learn:

1. The purpose of the merge function
2. How to merge duplicates
3. Common merging scenarios

What is the Purpose of the Merge Function?

The merge function makes it very simple to select multiple duplicated tracks, choose which version to keep (the “parent”), and merge the others (the “children”) into it. The parent track will replace each of its children tracks in the playlists and Channels previously containing them.

Merging duplicate children files effectively deletes them, and they can only be restored on the back-end by our Support Team. 

Note: Restored files will NOT reappear in the playlists they were in prior to the merge.

How to Merge

Start by gathering all the duplicate files and organizing them next to each other. It can be simplest to drag them all into the Playlist Creator, or to search for them by track title.

• Select multiple files by holding down Shift or Command and selecting them with the cursor. (They will highlight green.)
• The multi-select actions menu will appear at the bottom of the screen
• Click the Merge icon:

• Switch between tracks (MP3s) to view their metadata on the left.
• Select the MP3 that you want to keep.
• Select the WAV or AIFF that you want to keep.
• Click "Merge tracks" in the bottom right.

Common Merging Scenarios

Merge an MP3 with a WAV

In this scenario, an MP3 is first uploaded. Later on, a WAV file with matching audio is uploaded, effectively creating a duplicate track of the MP3. (As in every case, the WAV is automatically transcoded to create a matching MP3 - one that does not contain metadata.) 

Here, we want to merge the original MP3 (containing metadata) with the WAV:

• Highlight both files and open merge from the Actions menu.
• Click on each MP3 to look at the existing metadata.
• Select the MP3 with best metadata.
• Select the WAV, and merge.

Merge an AIF and a WAV

AIF and WAV files were uploaded separately, creating duplicates. In this case, we want to keep the AIF with its MP3 (containing metadata): 

• Select both tracks and open the merge area
• Choose the AIF and its MP3
• Merge

Merge three or more files: AIFF, WAV and MP3

• Select all the files and open the merge area.
• In this scenario, there are multiple ways to combine the MP3 with high-res files.

It is usually safest to keep the high-res file that is already matched with an MP3.

• Check the metadata on each MP3 in case there is important info that would be lost after a merge.
• In this scenario, we keep the AIFF and its MP3:

• In this scenario, we keep the AIFF and the stand-alone MP3:

• In this scenario, we keep the WAV and the uploaded MP3:

Wrap-Up

The Merge tool helps keep your DISCO free of duplicate files, while retaining useful metadata and each track's position across playlists and Channels.