Need some advice from others organizing the music collection

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 9:15 am

Jacca5660 wrote:
CapnHook wrote:I was able to do a test setup for Epcot using iTunes. And it had an unexpected side effect in that if I set up the folders sequentially, I can choose from any level and play everything below. Example: I have Folder Disneyworld, inside that is folder EPCOT, inside that is folder Futureworld, then folder East, then folder Open Attractions, and so on. So If I want to hear things like Mission Space, I can go in and just select the playlist for it. If on the other hand, I want to hear everything in Futureworld East, I select that folder and everything filed under it will be there, backgrounds, queues, ride audio for that entire "land" will be played. Or I can click EPOCT and play every thing I have for EPCOT. Or even DisneyWorld and play everything for that.

So I am thrilled. Have a good plan now.

One question that occured to me this morning. Does anybody do anything special to back up those dedicated hard drives? (I'm not eve sure where the legal line is drawn for that) But for downloads I pay for such as iTunes, or even WalMart, on that hard drive is the only place I have them. Others, well I'm just thinking of the considerable amount of work that goes into the setting of of the files.
Burn disk!!

Be quick to put on DVD.... Do you compress files? what about the playlists etc through your player? that too?

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 9:53 am

You can burn the files to DVD in mp3 format and the playlists should be saved on your computer in m3u format, those can be burned too.

Post by **horizons1** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 12:15 pm

I have my collection in a master folder called Disney and subfolders for each park.

The filename format is PARK - LAND - ATTRACTION_TRACKDESCRIPTION.
For example: DL - Tomorrowland - Space Mountain_Flight Sounds.mp3

The MP3 tags are:
Title: Attraction_TrackDescription
Artist: Land
Album: Park
Album Artist: Various Artists-Disney
Genre: Disney

With this I can play tracks in folders or in groups or group tracks by tag without having to create playlists.

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 12:33 pm

horizons1 wrote:I have my collection in a master folder called Disney and subfolders for each park.

The filename format is PARK - LAND - ATTRACTION_TRACKDESCRIPTION.
For example: DL - Tomorrowland - Space Mountain_Flight Sounds.mp3

The MP3 tags are:
Title: Attraction_TrackDescription
Artist: Land
Album: Park
Album Artist: Various Artists-Disney
Genre: Disney

With this I can play tracks in folders or in groups or group tracks by tag without having to create playlists.

That is interesting. That would be something on an MP3 player too. Make it easy to pick songs.

But since I want to know what and where everything came from originally, I'd have to have two copies of each thing. Unless you have an idea of what to do with the album, artist, etc info, I want to keep that.

I can see setting up iTunes with the folders and another player with the changed information. And I must say I do like your layout.

Post by **js3901** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 2:59 pm

CapnHook wrote: One question that occured to me this morning. Does anybody do anything special to back up those dedicated hard drives? (I'm not eve sure where the legal line is drawn for that) But for downloads I pay for such as iTunes, or even WalMart, on that hard drive is the only place I have them. Others, well I'm just thinking of the considerable amount of work that goes into the setting of of the files.

I, personally, back up all my files (MP3s as well as videos, pictures, documents, program files) on data DVDs (using Nero) about once a year or so. I have only 100GB external HD (which equals about 93 GB of usable space), and with the amount that I download, if I don't clear it out regularly, I'll be forced to buy another, and I don't want to do that unless I buy a new laptop first (or get my current one fixed).

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 4:30 pm

horizons1 wrote:I have my collection in a master folder called Disney and subfolders for each park.

The filename format is PARK - LAND - ATTRACTION_TRACKDESCRIPTION.
For example: DL - Tomorrowland - Space Mountain_Flight Sounds.mp3

The MP3 tags are:
Title: Attraction_TrackDescription
Artist: Land
Album: Park
Album Artist: Various Artists-Disney
Genre: Disney

With this I can play tracks in folders or in groups or group tracks by tag without having to create playlists.

What software do you use to convert WMA and WAV files? I've also noticed the even though a file is an MP3 it's doesn't mean it's the same codec as other MP3s. This is also true for AVI's. When it comes to video, I find MKV's provide a much better picture and sound. I've used both on my home videos and I have started using MKV exclusively.

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 5:20 pm

OK, so I'm going to give WinAmp a try. iTunes looked good and did what I wanted, but it won't do something important. and that is load up my plain ol MP3 player which isn't apple...

Post by **js3901** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 5:29 pm

the newest Winamp is nice in that you can sync up any MP3 player (including Apple iPods) with your playlists. When you plug your MP3 player in while Winamp is opened, it will ask you in you wish to manage it with Winamp.

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 8:45 am

I installed it first last night, tried out a few songs, sounded just as good if not a bit better than WMP. A real shame about itunes, that would have been perfect. But I'm not rewarding their behavior with a purchase.

I made a copy file of all of my disney recordings. so I could start the filing process. Saved everything else under regular WMP, so I can finish loading up the MP3s for our Walt Disney World trip next week. Nice to be able to still access my music until I get this completed.

Started with Disneyland, didn't quite make it through all of Adventureland. I found that the rename function that Horizons mentioned did seem to help me to know which files I had already handled and finished. I have not addressed the issue with the MetaData as of yet.

One bonus of this is that it is helping me to locate duplicate files under different names, and I can delete one without worrying if I am destroying my only copy of something. I have not yet begun to look and see how I'm going to connect them in Winamp so that I can find things quicker. But this process is going to take a while... I've got time to think.

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 9:10 am

Also I have found two progams that may help. Both are free. Have not tried either one, but found reference to them on the iTunes site. First is mp3 gain, supposed to be a better way of equalizing the volumes. Second is called iTunes agent. It will supposedly allow transfers of files to things that aren't ipods. I'll give them a try and report back

djginsberg · Post by **djginsberg** » Jan Tue 27, 2009 8:23 pm

To back up your hard drive, the easy solution is to use Windows Backup and Restore Center! Try backing up an entire drive to a separate drive!

Also, try using a free program called MP3Tag for editing metadata for mp3s -- its' easy to use and requires very little space on your PC's hard drive. To find it, just Google-search "MP3tag"!

Enjoy!!!

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Jan Tue 27, 2009 9:50 pm

Personally I want to go to a raid (I believe that's the term) system. After all the hard drive failures I've seen, this seems like a great way to go. The way I understand it, In a raid system say you have 5t of hard drive space it would use about a third to half as redundant space to back up the system. This way if you do have a failure, your files are backed up automatically.

Gymfan15 · Post by **Gymfan15** » Jan Fri 30, 2009 4:11 pm

I use RealPlayer, and I'm really happy with the way it works and organizes things. Plus the playlists are very easy to use.

horizons1 wrote:I have my collection in a master folder called Disney and subfolders for each park.

The filename format is PARK - LAND - ATTRACTION_TRACKDESCRIPTION.
For example: DL - Tomorrowland - Space Mountain_Flight Sounds.mp3

The MP3 tags are:
Title: Attraction_TrackDescription
Artist: Land
Album: Park
Album Artist: Various Artists-Disney
Genre: Disney

With this I can play tracks in folders or in groups or group tracks by tag without having to create playlists.

Now that is brilliant. I've got a cellphone that plays MP3's; the only problem is that it organizes based on internal information and I can't alter it or make new playlists once in the cellphone. If I organized my Disney music this way, it would be SO easy to find stuff.

I hear ya on wanting to keep the original information, though. What I would do is copy all the original files onto a CD, burn it, and then stash it away somewhere safe. Then you have the originals for reference, and your altered tracks for listening!