Quick Recap
How to download a .crate file for Serato
To export a .crate file from Vibo, the DJ must be in Prep mode. Prep mode is accessible from the top navigation bar inside any event.
Here are the steps:
Open the event and click Prep mode in the top navigation bar.
Select the section you want to export.
Click the Download playlist button in the top-right corner of the screen.
In the "Export to Serato" dialog, configure the export options:
Playlist title — This is auto-generated based on the event and section name. It can be edited.
All selected files or Only flagged songs — Choose which songs to include.
Playlist order — Choose from Most liked, Newest, Oldest, or Custom order.
Flag unmatched songs — Toggle on or off depending on preference.
(Critical) Enable the "Download as .crate file for Serato" toggle. This toggle is labeled as Beta and is located at the bottom of the Export to Serato dialog. Many DJs miss this toggle — if it is not enabled, the .crate file will not be generated.
Once the toggle is enabled, a "Pick Serato folder" option appears. What happens next depends on the operating system (see below).
If Serato was opened before exporting, make sure to Restart/Relaunch Serato after doing the crate export.
Windows vs. macOS
On Windows
When the .crate toggle is enabled on Windows, the DJ can click "Pick Serato folder" and select the Serato Subcrates folder directly — including folders on an external hard drive. The default path shown is:
C:\Users\UserName\Music\_Serato_\Subcrates
If the DJ stores music on an external drive, they should navigate to the Subcrates folder on that drive instead (e.g., E:\Serato\Subcrates). After selecting the folder, the .crate file downloads directly to that location. Relaunch Serato and the crate should appear.
On macOS
On macOS, there is no folder picker. The .crate file is automatically downloaded to the Downloads folder. The DJ must then manually move or drag and drop the .crate file from Downloads into the correct Serato Subcrates folder.
For music stored on the Mac's internal drive, the typical path is:
/Users/YourName/Music/_Serato_/Subcrates
For music stored on an external hard drive, the Subcrates folder is inside the Serato folder on that drive.
What if the Subcrates folder does not exist?
If the Subcrates folder does not exist on the hard drive (internal or external), Serato has not created it yet. To generate it, drag and drop any song from that drive into Serato. Serato will automatically create the necessary folder structure, including the Subcrates folder. This may take about a minute. Once the folder appears, place the .crate file inside it and relaunch Serato.
This feature is currently in Beta
The "Download as .crate file for Serato" option is a Beta feature. DJs can access it through the Beta environment here: https://beta.web.vibodj.com/. If the DJ is not using the Beta environment, they will not see the .crate toggle in the Export to Serato dialog.
Still not working after following these steps?
If the crate still does not appear in Serato after following all steps above, offer to connect the customer with a team member who can walk them through it on a short call.