DDEX and Bulk File Upload

Bulk File Upload (DDEX)

By utilizing the DDEX (Digital Data Exchange) standard, uploading a full catalog of digital releases to Single is simple!

This feature can be best utilized by artists/labels that need to upload a large digital catalog without going through each release one at a time. However, anyone can use it if you have your catalog in DDEX format.

Bulk Uploading in the Single App

Bulk Uploading via a SFTP Client

• Requesting FTP Access
• Setting Up Your SFTP Client
• Uploading Files With the SFTP Client
• Editing and Publishing Your Release

What you'll need...

A catalog formatted for DDEX ingestion - including a ZIP file containing the DDEX message .xml file and resource file (album artwork, lossless [WAV or FLAC] audio files). The DDEX file contains all of the information needed for the release and tells the system how to use it, where to put it, and how to organize the files.

For reference, this is what the folder hierarchy should look like when uploading using the DDEX standard:

Note: You should have one folder/zip file per album. Folder and file names will vary based on your individual content.

Once you have your folder/ZIP file, you can start uploading it to Single using one of two methods: direct upload within the Single app or via an SFTP client.

 

 

Direct Upload Within the Single App

The most commonly used method to upload your DDEX standard files is to do so directly within the Single app. 

Go to the Digital Delivery section of the Single app and select “Bulk Import." 

Here, you can drag and drop ZIP files or uncompressed folders containing your DDEX standard contents into the upload field. Additionally, you can click the upload field to bring up the file browser.

Upon dropping in or selecting your ZIP file/folder, you will see an upload progress bar appear. Once the upload is complete, click the “Manage Bulk Uploads” button.

On this page, you will see the processing status of your upload as it goes through each step. Click the drop down icon next to the file name to see more detail.

Once processing is complete, if successful, the release will be moved down into the “Completed” list. Here, you can select the drop down menu to see the details of the release.

Select “View Release” to be taken to the album edit screen, where you can review the release information and make any adjustments before publishing.

Note: If the album processing fails, it will be moved to the “Failed” section. You can click the drop down icon next to the file name to see details as to why it failed. Once you have corrected any issues, go ahead and re-upload your file.

 

SFTP Client

Using an SFTP client of your choice, you can essentially create a direct link between your computer’s desktop and Single’s server, allowing you to easily upload your releases via DDEX.

 

Requesting FTP Access

The first thing you will need to do is get a login for Single’s server. You can do this by going to the settings tab on the left hand side of the Single app, then clicking Advanced. 

Click the FTP "Request Access" button to be brought to the request form. 

Fill out all fields of the form, either type in OR attach your public key file, hit the "Submit" button and our Support team will provide you with the login information you will need.

Note: If you do not already have a SSH key pair generated and need assistance in doing so, please check out this helpful article on the process. For security purposes, we are unable to generate and provide a key pair for you.

 

Setting Up Your SFTP Client

After you have your login information, you can enter it into your SFTP client of choice. There are plenty of options out there, but a free SFTP client that we like and will use in this example is FileZilla.

Download the software for either Mac or Windows. Once the software is installed, open the program and click the Site Manager button in the top left of the window.

You will see the Site Manager tab open. Here, enter the following info into the fields:

1. Click the "New Site" button.
2. Change the "Protocol" dropdown menu to: SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol.
3. Set the "Host" field as: sftp.singlemusic.com
4. Leave the "Port" field empty.
5. Change the "Logon Type" dropdown menu to: Key File.
6. Set the "User Name" field to what you were provided via email by the Single team.
7. Use the "Browse" button to find and select your private key (this one doesn't end in ".pub").
8. Leave the "Background Color" dropdown as "None."
9. Leave the "Comments" field blank.
10. Click the "Connect" button.

Note: You may get a couple of popups at this point. One asking if you want to save passwords and another asking if you want to trust the server. You can select any option for the password popup. For the server popup, check the "always trust" box and select to continue and allow the connection.

See the below video for an example:

Click connect, and after the process completes, you should see a read out on the top of the window that shows the connection was successful.

 

Uploading Files With the SFTP Client

At this point, you can start dragging your folders/ZIP files into the bottom right pane of the window. You’ll see the content begin to upload on the bottom. 

Once that is complete, it is now ready for review in Single! Go to the Digital Delivery section of the app and you will see your uploads under the “Saved” list. You can then click on a release to review and make any adjustments before publishing.

 

 

Editing and Publishing Your Release

After uploading a ZIP file or folder using one of the above methods, your release will be put in a saved/draft state in the Digital Delivery tab of the Single App. From here, you can double check the release’s info and make any adjustments. Once you have done so, you will be ready to publish it to your store!

Note: The processes of making changes and publishing your release are the same as when creating or editing any other digital release. You cannot edit a published album by uploading an altered DDEX file containing that same album. For more information on the process of editing and publishing your releases, please check out these helpful support articles:

 

How Do I Edit My Release?

What Are the Different Publishing Options?