Hfs+ on Prime 4

DjMarcoMarco · January 8, 2024, 5:23pm

Hi, prime 4+ reads hfs+ usb drives but not the Prime 4.

Rekordbox is hfs+ fully compatible… so our device is not fully rekordbox compatible ?

Please upgrade this in next update. The Sc6000 is compatible

Frank_Thepass · January 8, 2024, 9:11pm

So you want to use a rekordbox usb on the P4? Isn’t it time to say goodbye to RB?

Pasha · January 8, 2024, 9:20pm

It’ll be interesting to see how many votes this gets, or not.

DjMarcoMarco · January 8, 2024, 11:08pm

I wish. But clubs only use Pioneer cdj devices.

STU-C · January 8, 2024, 11:19pm

Use both, it’s not that difficult to manage multiple libraries in multiple software.

0ddw0rld · January 8, 2024, 11:34pm

HFS+ is a Mac file system, it has nothing to do with being Rekordbox compatible. Windows, Mac, Pioneer and the original Prime 4 can all read exFat. Use exFat for full compatibility.

DjMarcoMarco · January 9, 2024, 8:12am

With big usb keys hfs+ is way faster

And the P4+ reads it, why the P4 not ? (So as sc6000which are old too)

STU-C · January 9, 2024, 8:45am

If i was comparing generations of Prime products, id bundle the Prime 4+ and SC-6000s together, with the old Prime 4 being more comparable to the SC-5000s.

If you’re looking for speed, buy a good 3D Nand supported SSD and install it in the Prime 4, far faster performance than any USB stick all around.

0ddw0rld · January 9, 2024, 9:20am

But he cannot install the SSD into the Pioneer.

STU-C · January 9, 2024, 9:22am

Correct, but with this being the Engine forum, im only interested in suggesting the best way of getting the most out of gear using Engine OS

Zimmermann · January 9, 2024, 6:50pm

Rekordbox/Pioneer recommands Fat32 that Prime 4 also can read. And yes its not time to say goodbye - but hello - to rekordbox because its much better than Engine DJ at the moment.

STU-C · January 9, 2024, 7:18pm

It’s an opinion, that I strongly disagree with, Rekordbox is a clunky annoying mess of a program that makes organising and adding music a chore.

XAU33 · March 10, 2025, 11:51pm

My prime 4+ doesn’t read it

AIRVince · March 11, 2025, 8:14am

There’s an feature request for this here. Please add your vote to this if you would like HFS+ support on non SC6000 units:

https://community.enginedj.com/t/allow-the-hfs-file-format-on-non-sc600-m-products/54561/2

I’ll also repost my reply from that topic here:

On another topic

I also want to take this time to say a few things about HFS+. This is a file system that was created in 1998, back when the largest drive you could get was around 6 Gb. It is an aging protocol, which has already been replaced with AFP by Apple out of necessity in 2017. It lacks a few important things that other modern file systems have, notably error handling/correction. This leaves it more vulnerable to data loss from power loss or drive removal than other formats.

I would recommend using a modern format like EXFAT (which is specifically designed for flash media in mind). This is the default format for many drives these days and is the official format for large capacity SD drives.

I do realize that not everyone has the luxury of being able to move data around to be able to re-format drives, however, I would recommend that everyone retire their HFS+ drives by Feb 8th 2040 - which is the highest file date that the format is capable of showing.