The NodeTree
The far-left sidebar — the command center for organizing, filtering, and recalling everything in your library. There are 10 main nodes with more on the way, and how you use them is mostly a matter of preference.
The NodeTree gives you flexibility — there are no hard rules about how it should be used. Pick the nodes that fit your workflow.
You can keep up to 6 NodeTree snapshots by clicking the three-dot icon in the upper right.
Imports
Imports are subdivided sections of your database. Every folder or group of files you drag to the Results List or import with Ctrl+I / Cmd+I creates an Import. Some editions can rescan or merge them.
You can Explode Folders to see every folder structure inside an Import. Ctrl / Cmd + click any folder to create a Filter Block to search against.
Click the left-side icon next to any Import to bring it In or Out of searches. If your edition supports it, you can Rescan to update for changes.
Folder Blocks
Ctrl/Cmd+click any exploded folder to spin it into a Folder Block — a search-bar pill that scopes results to just that folder. Stack multiple folder blocks to search across several at once.
Auto-Rescan with the Watcher
Keeps each Import in sync with your filesystem. The rescan runs at app shutdown — not continuously — and reports anything that needed attention on the next launch.
Watch Level Standard, Ultra
Click the flyout button on an Import row, or right-click → Watch Level:
| Off | Auto-Rescan disabled. |
| Low | Rescan when ≥ 10% of files have changed. |
| Medium | ≥ 5% change. |
| High | ≥ 1% change. |
| Maximum | Any single file change triggers a rescan. |
Root-menu rescans
Right-click the root Imports node:
| Rescan All Imports Premium | Every Import, regardless of Watch Level. |
| Rescan Watched Imports Standard, Ultra | Only Imports with a Watch Level set. |
Deletion-cap safety net
Watch Level decides when a rescan runs — it doesn’t decide how many deletions get applied. That’s a separate safety net, the same at every level:
| 5% cap | More than 5% of files missing → deletions skipped, flyout asks before anything is removed. |
| 50% cap | More than half missing → rescan aborts entirely. Almost always a missing volume or dropped network share. |
Aborted rescans show a flyout on next launch with the Import name, missing-file count, and cap. Click Rescan to retry.
Groups Standard+
Groups are database-level tags created from the NodeTree, with custom colors. Drag records from the Results List into any Group, or use the Details Panel to assign multiple Groups to a single record.
Right-click any record in the Results List or Details Panel to modify or swap its Group assignments.
Click the left-side icon next to any Group to bring it In or Out of searches. Ctrl / Cmd + click any Group to create a Filter Block to search against.
CloudPacks
CloudPacks are streamable SFX packs included free. Some packs may ask for your email to unlock — small price to pay for some killer free SFX.
Click the three-dot icon at the top of the node for additional CloudPack functions.
Extra CloudPack options →Collections Ultra only
Collections are virtual folders for the SFX you reach for constantly. Think of them as a holding tank that’s always available regardless of which database is active.
- Collections are not attached to any database — they stay visible across DB switches. This is by design.
- Build any folder structure, or import a template via Import Folder Structure (folders only, or folders with files).
- Show Collections Folder reveals where Collections are saved on disk — useful for sharing or syncing between machines.
- Export a Collection to hand off pulled sounds to someone else.
Collection options
Right-click a Collection file, folder, or the root node to see context-appropriate options. The three-dot icon on the root reveals the menu shown here.
Show Contents is the most important one. Since the Results List can only show records bound to the current database, you’ll only see records from that DB when clicking a Collection folder. Individual files always click through fine.
When a Collection has been exported and transferred, transferred files appear dimmed. Right-click and mark them Un-Transferred to copy them again on next export.
Favorite & Recent Searches
Favorite Searches Standard+ — your go-to searches in one place. Add a search by clicking the yellow star icon on any entry in Recent Searches.
Recent Searches — lists previous searches and recalls them on click. The green Block icon on the right recalls the search with the Filter Blocks that were active when it ran, not just the search text.
Play History
Shows recently auditioned files so you can quickly jump back to the ones you liked.
Paths
Hot-swap and add common transfer destinations. Turn on Follow Session Folder to auto-switch the active path to the open DAW project’s audio folder.
Xfers
Lists every file recently transferred — both source and destination. Useful when your DAW crashes before saving and you need to retrace which sounds you sent.
Stores Non-FREE editions
Browse 3rd-party SFX stores from inside basehead. The first integration is with Pro Sound Effects.
Log into your PSE account and you can search, browse, and transfer your purchased PSE libraries and subscriptions. Files stream from PSE’s servers, similar to how CloudPacks work.
Bonus: after logging in once, the PSE FREE Library appears in your CloudPacks node — adds 1,500 SFX (~30GB) to your collection.
Toggling a store on/off
Each store row has two icons. Once you’re logged in, they have different jobs — clicking them no longer means the same thing.
- Left-side store-logo icon — toggles Exclude from Search for that store. Click it once and the store stays signed in but its results are skipped during searches; click again to fold it back in. No more “DEACTIVATED” label, no more cleared library list, no more Store Connected toast on toggle-back.
- Right-side activate icon (visible only while logged in) — full sign-out. This is the only way to actually log out of the store account.
The exclude state is persisted and shared with the search bar’s Exclude PSE / SES from Search toggle — flip it in either place and both stay in sync.
UCS Categories
UCS (Universal Category System) Categories live in their own tab by default — there are too many of them to share space with other nodes, plus the dedicated tab gives you a Filter search.
During import, files with a matching UCS category code get an automatic Category / Sub-Category assignment. There are LOW and HIGH options — LOW respects iXML metadata already in the file, HIGH respects a CatID_ prefix on the filename.
Tagging files with UCS
Apply UCS tags by selecting files in the Results List and dragging them into a UCS category or sub-category.
Hover any sub-category to see its description and synonyms — helpful when deciding which tag fits.
UCS options
Strict UCS Browsing — only show files that exactly match the category / sub-category. With this off, partial matches inside a category appear in the Results List.
Add CatID to [filename] — adds the UCS CatID prefix to the filename (renames the file). The database [filename] updates automatically.
Burn into Metadata — writes the new UCS data into the file’s iXML chunk. With this off, UCS data lives only in the database.
Dragging files onto a main category assigns only the category. Dragging onto a sub-category assigns both category and subcategory.
A confirmation dialog appears to prevent accidental tagging. Hold Shift while dragging to skip the dialog.
UCS functions
Show UCS Records Only — filters the Results List to UCS-compliant files only (those with a valid UCS CatID at the start of the filename). Affects the current view; resets when selecting a new category or running a search.
Show Non-Compliant UCS Records — opposite of above. Lists files without a valid UCS CatID prefix.
Walkthrough video
Older video, but still relevant — importing UCS-tagged files, auto-populating category info, and re-tagging existing files.