Batch Rename Audio Files with ‘A Better Finder’

Clean Up Your File Names Instantly with ‘A Better Finder Rename’

A Better Finder Rename by publicspace.net is a powerful MacOS batch renaming tool that has revolutionized my audio file workflow.

If you’re a producer, mixer, or musician working in a home studio, you’ve probably run into the chaos of messy file names after exporting tracks. Long, cryptic names like Vox_09.cm.dup_01.wav can clutter your sessions, slow down your workflow, and create confusion when sharing files with clients or collaborators.

That’s where A Better Finder Rename becomes a game-changer for music professionals like us.

I recently shared a YouTube video walking through how I use A Better Finder Rename to streamline my file management. Let’s break down why this app is so useful and how you can use it to keep your sessions organized.

A Better Finder Rename is a powerful Mac utility that extends the basic file renaming capabilities of macOS. It allows you to perform batch renaming on multiple files with flexible options, making it a perfect tool for music producers and audio engineers handling large numbers of exported tracks.

Key Features for Music Producers:

•Batch Renaming: Rename multiple audio files simultaneously, saving you valuable time.

•Flexible Renaming Options: Add prefixes, suffixes, replace text, change capitalization, and more.

•Regular Expressions Support: Handle complex renaming tasks using advanced pattern matching.

•Preview Pane: See a live preview of renamed files before committing to changes.

•Undo/Redo Functionality: Safely reverse renaming actions if needed.

In my studio work, exported tracks from Pro Tools often have filenames like Vocal_09.cm.dup_01.wav — not ideal for sharing with clients. That’s where A Better Finder Rename steps in. Here’s how I use it in my daily workflow:

1. Batch Cleaning Pro Tools Exports: I remove unnecessary characters like .dup_01 and .cm from multitrack exports.
   
   
2. Consistent Naming Conventions: I rename all files with a format like: SongTitle_STEM_Tempo.wav
   
   
3. Automation with Presets: Once I’ve set my renaming preferences, I save them as presets for future use. This means I only need to set it up once for all future projects.
   
   
4. Instant Results: After setting up my actions, I can preview the results, hit “Perform Renames,” and the entire batch is cleaned up in seconds.

This tool helps me stay consistent across projects and makes it easier for my clients and collaborators to identify files quickly.

I can hear some of you asking:

What About The ‘Batch Rename’ Option In My DAW?

The ‘Batch Rename’ option in my DAW, Pro Tools, is excellent and I’m constantly utilizing it to quickly rename tracks as well as audio files.  However, there are times when it’s faster and easier to Commit, Consolidate and Export 100 tracks to a folder in my Mac Finder and run those files through one of my presets in A Better Finder Rename.  Perfectly renamed audio files in a single batch process — Booyah!  I’m telling you … that instant gratification feeling seeing hundreds of files exquisitely renamed never gets old. 

Another big advantage to using A Better Finder Rename is you can:

Use It For More Than Just Music

That’s right — A Better Finder Rename is a goldmine for all kinds of routine tasks outside of the recording studio.  I find myself using it to quickly rename batches of photos ‘Airdropped’ to me by a friend.  Or a batches of poorly-named files downloaded from the internet.  

Here are some practical ways you can use A Better Finder Rename in your music production workflow:

•Adding Prefixes for Version Control: Use prefixes like V1_ or Mix3_ to keep track of different mix versions.

•Adding Suffixes for File Types: Automatically append _kick.wav or _vocal.aiff to files for easier identification.

•Replacing Unwanted Characters: Remove symbols like #, . or extra spaces that might confuse DAWs or streaming platforms.

•Renaming with Sequential Numbering: Perfect for organizing drum samples (e.g., Snare_01.wav, Snare_02.wav).

•Embedding Song Details: Add tempo, key, or BPM to filenames for quick reference during collaboration.

•Consistent Capitalization: Convert filenames to lowercase or uppercase for a uniform look.

If you work with complex file renaming needs, A Better Finder Rename also supports regular expressions, a powerful pattern-matching language. For example:

•Removing unwanted characters like _dup or -01.

•Reordering filename components to swap track names and numbers.

•Stripping extra characters for a cleaner, professional appearance.

This feature is especially useful when handling large sample libraries or organizing live multitrack recordings.

Beyond the built-in options, you can explore or create batch renaming scripts tailored for music production. Here are a few ideas:

•Add BPM Information: Automatically append tempo data to filenames for easier project recall.

•Rename Using ID3 Tags: Rename files based on embedded metadata like artist name, track title, or album info.

•Convert to Lowercase/Uppercase: Standardize capitalization across all your exported tracks for a polished look.

These additional scripts can be found online or created with tools like AppleScript if you want to automate even further.

The Outro: Tidying Up

File management might not be the most exciting part of music production, but it makes a massive difference in keeping your sessions efficient and professional. A Better Finder Rename has saved me countless hours, and I highly recommend it to any music professional dealing with large numbers of files.

👉 Ready to streamline your file management? Explore A Better Finder Rename here and try it for yourself!

Have your own file management tips? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear how you stay organized in the studio!