From your first record to your next listening session

GUIDE · RECORD PICKER

Record Picker supports the whole life of your collection: catalogue vinyl records and CDs, find useful information, choose an album and keep track of your listening. Start with a few records and build your collection at your own pace.

1. Build your record collection

Add an album manually or using its barcode, then check the artist, title, format and edition before saving it. Keep albums you want to buy in the wish list, separate from records you own.

Already using Discogs or MusicBuddy? Export a CSV file and use Record Picker’s import. Check the destination — collection or wish list — and the column mapping, then review the import report. Try a small file before transferring your entire collection.

2. Make your records useful and reliable

Complete the fields that help you search: genres, year, format, label and physical location. Check duplicates before resolving them: two editions of the same album may be two separate records.

Look up missing metadata and artwork, or choose your own image. Data quality tools help identify incomplete records. Review enrichment suggestions: your own information remains the reference.

3. Choose what to play for the moment

• Random Pick: let chance choose from the collection, or narrow the selection by genre, period, format or favourites. Temporary exclusions set an album aside without deleting it.
• Mood Pick: describe the mood you want, then review the suggestion. Local Apple features are used when available; local metadata-based processing provides a fallback.
• Record of the day: discover an album you own linked to music news or a notable date. Read the explanation and sources rather than treating the suggestion as a universal recommendation.

Mark records you actually listened to so the history reflects your habits. Picking a record or opening a music service does not necessarily mean you listened to the album.

4. Explore further with Pro

Build a listening journey from albums you own, adjust its order and return to it later. The “Listen later” queue keeps your next choices handy; it remains separate from your shopping wish list.

On Mac and iPad, the collection graph reveals documented links between works, artists and editions. Advanced statistics and the timeline offer other ways to rediscover forgotten albums. These tools depend on your version and Pro entitlement.

5. Keep your collection available and protected

On Apple devices, check iCloud sync status before switching devices. Keep an exported backup too: sync and backup serve different purposes. JSON backs up data; CSV makes it easier to view in a spreadsheet.

To move to another platform, check the formats offered by both versions and keep the original file. Availability on Windows does not imply identical Apple iCloud synchronisation. Music service subscriptions remain separate from the app.

6. Choose the right edition

Start free with up to 100 records. Light removes that limit and includes the catalogue, imports, favourites and all three selection modes. Pro adds listening journeys, the graph and advanced collection tools. Light and Pro are one-time purchases with no subscription; your store price is displayed before purchase.

All Record Picker features · Organise your collection · Choose your next record · Record Picker support