BroadcastLabs · Library clean-up

Find duplicate music without sending the library anywhere.

BroadcastDeDuper scans station folders locally, groups likely duplicates using four levels of evidence, and gives the operator linked A/B listening before any file is removed.

Scan locally

Keep the library on the station computer

Scan one or more folders recursively. Hashing, audio decoding, and acoustic fingerprint comparison all run locally, without a hosted recognition service or per-track lookup charge.

Review evidence

See why files were grouped

Separate tiers identify straight copies, retagged or re-muxed files, re-encoded copies of the same recording, and optional metadata-only matches.

Remove safely

Choose the keeper before acting

Compare candidates at the same playback position, mark proposed removals, export a review list, and use quarantine with an undo manifest as the default clean-up action.

Start with exact evidence, then look deeper when the encoding has changed.

Every duplicate group shows its weakest linking evidence. That makes it clear which groups are straight copies and which deserve a more careful listening comparison before the operator approves a change.

01

Identical file

A SHA-256 hash of the complete file identifies straight copies with confidence 1.00.

02

Same audio, different tags

A SHA-256 hash of the encoded audio payload ignores supported tags and artwork, catching retagged or re-muxed copies with confidence 0.99.

03

Same recording

A local acoustic fingerprint compares the recording itself across formats and bit rates with confidence 0.90.

04

Same song metadata

An optional artist, title, and duration match provides lower-confidence leads. It is switched off by default and reported at confidence 0.65.

Local analysis, audible comparison, and a recoverable clean-up workflow

  • Recursive scanning across one or more music folders
  • No hosted fingerprint service and no track data uploaded
  • Whole-file SHA-256 matching for exact copies
  • Tag-independent audio-payload matching on supported containers
  • Local acoustic matching across formats and bit rates
  • Optional metadata matching, disabled by default
  • Confidence labels based on the weakest link in each group
  • Analysis cache for faster re-scans of unchanged files
  • Optional local Chromaprint fpcalc acceleration with no AcoustID lookup
  • Optional local ffmpeg fast decoding with automatic fallback
  • Configurable decoder threads and bounded candidate comparisons
  • Linked two-deck comparison player with instant A/B monitoring
  • Decoded waveforms, level meters, duration, and bit-rate comparison
  • HTML and CSV reports plus M3U proposed-removal playlists
  • Quarantine, recycle-bin, and deliberately confirmed deletion choices

Review first, quarantine by default, and keep an undo path.

  1. Nothing changes during scanning or review.Files are touched only after the operator selects Remove.
  2. Every group keeps a survivor.BroadcastDeDuper refuses a selection that would remove every copy in a group.
  3. Quarantine is the default.Removed files retain their relative folder structure and a JSON manifest records every move.
  4. Undo restores the previous clean-up.Tools > Undo Previous Clean-up returns quarantined files to their original paths.
  5. Permanent deletion is explicit.It must be chosen deliberately and confirmed a second time.
Merged libraries

Reconcile folders collected over time

Scan music imported from older playout systems, presenter drives, backups, and supplier deliveries without first forcing every file into one folder.

Retagged and re-encoded music

Find more than matching filenames

Catch tracks whose tags, artwork, container, format, or bit rate changed while the underlying recording remained the same.

Auditable clean-up

Review the proposal before removal

Compare the keeper with each candidate, export a report or playlist, and retain a recoverable quarantine record for the approved clean-up.

Scan locally, compare carefully, and clean up with an undo path.