Need some advice from others organizing the music collection

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 9:19 am

So after a few years of intense collection... Buying as many CDs as I can afford, Checking thrift shops, using my park spending money, and asking for soundtracks for holidays and birthdays, I have started to get it all put onto my computer at home.

Problem....

I want to organize the songs so that I can decide hey, I want to listen to world showcase today... and listen to everything I have in sort of a virtual walk around the park.

Complication...

I still want to retain the album information. Also sometimes songs appear in more than one park, especially as I have a decent collection from Disneyland. And as we all know both Magic kingdoms share some music.

So unless I copy the same song a couple of times, and rename it I am having difficulty deciding how to proceed.

Questions...

(1) What have you found to be the most helpful method of organizing a collection?
(comment)I was thinking of simply breaking into Park/Land/Area and Movie/song/catagory. Movie, TV music would be Aladdin/Whole New World/ Radio. Park music would be EPCOT/WorldShowcase/Mexico and not sure if I wanted to separate rides and Background music or lump it together.
May I have suggestions?

(2) Method of organizing music... Currently, I have Windows Media Player and iTunes installed. I am willing to change software. I am not sure which method to set this up so I can select by a category without making huge changes to the metadata. (I'd like to preserve it if possible) I thought that I could set up playlists, but I find with WMP anyway that After I created the 6th or 7th list that the first ones were disappearing and I couldn't find them anymore. I may be missing the obvious here. Does anyone have suggestions on which program to use and the method to add the songs into categories for play like I described?

thanks!

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 9:35 am

Playlists would probably be the easiest way to do it. I use WinAmp for its ease of use. WMP and itunes tend to be annoying when compiling playlists. I don't know why the playlists would disappear, they should be saved as a .m3u file on your computer. You could try searching for .m3u files. WinAmp can be downloaded at http://www.winamp.com, but you should be able to do it with WMP or itunes.

Post by **js3901** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 9:37 am

personally, my collection is stored using multiple folders/subfolders on my external HD. But, my collection is all WDW-based, so there's no cross-contamination trying to sort by WDW/DLR/etc. so, sorry I can't help in that respect.

my folder system is very simple. I create a main folder (like EPCOT), then move all Epcot files there. inside, I'll create a couple of subfolders (Futureworld, World Showcase, Parades & Shows), then separate the files into the respective areas. from there, I go into each subfolder, and create more folders based on pavillion/attraction (The Land, Test Track, Mexico, Germany, etc).

as for players, I like winamp, personally. You can create custom playlists (I have about 10 right now for my various musical tastes). iTunes is also good, as you can also create playlists there based on the ID3 info of the tracks.

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 10:11 am

So so far I'm seeing WinAmp reccomended. Ok there's a start. Maybe there is good documentation on it. (edit) Also found a better explanation of the iTunes software on a non Apple webpage.

Question: The folder system looks good. with the folder system how do you use that to help in building the playlists?

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 1:31 pm

It really doesn't help in building the playlist except that it organizes the music so you can easily find it. That way you aren't scrolling through 1000+ songs to find that ONE song you want; for "Impressions of France" I would go to wdw/epcot/world_showcase/france/impressions_of_france.mp3 instead of going to disney_music/[scroll....scroll....scroll....scroll...scroll...ah hah!]impressions_of_france.mp3

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 1:37 pm

Ah, ok. Yeah that Scroll Scroll thing can be a pain. Especially when I'm sure it should be with one group and it isn't.

I also just found another article that says iTunes will go as many playlists as I want. Very cool.

I'll se about scheduling some playtime with Winamp this weekend too

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 2:06 pm

It all depends by what you mean by organize. Right now I have over a 160 gig (I have a 250 gig hard drive just for music) of music on my computer. My collection is very far flung. I use winamp as my player and I do have different play list.

The biggest way I keep my music organized is with folders and sub folders. For example I have a folder that is called albums, in this folder are sub folders for each band or type of audio (what I mean by audio is Audio books (which also has sub folders for different types), Comedy, Christmas, Patriotic and so on). In these folders are also sub folders defining if it's live or studio, and also who the artist is with. Example: Eric Clapton has 13 different sub folders because of all the different people he has played with. Inside these folders you'll find each individual album he has produced and if the album is live or studio.

This may seem complicated and labor intensive but once you get it set and working it runs itself. With as much music as I have it's the only way I could be able to find anything. I also have an intimate knowledge of the music on my computer (I still have albums from when I was 12 or so), if I have a song and you want to hear it I can find it very easily. I find being very specific with folder names really helps. It's of no use to just have music if you don't know what you have.

PS I have 15 different folders for just Disney music.

I hope this helps. Remember setting it up may seem hard, but once done it's very easy to keep on top of.

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 3:30 pm

Jacca5660 wrote:It all depends by what you mean by organize. Right now I have over a 160 gig (I have a 250 gig hard drive just for music) of music on my computer. My collection is very far flung. I use winamp as my player and I do have different play list.

The biggest way I keep my music organized is with folders and sub folders. For example I have a folder that is called albums, in this folder are sub folders for each band or type of audio (what I mean by audio is Audio books (which also has sub folders for different types), Comedy, Christmas, Patriotic and so on). In these folders are also sub folders defining if it's live or studio, and also who the artist is with. Example: Eric Clapton has 13 different sub folders because of all the different people he has played with. Inside these folders you'll find each individual album he has produced and if the album is live or studio.

This may seem complicated and labor intensive but once you get it set and working it runs itself. With as much music as I have it's the only way I could be able to find anything. I also have an intimate knowledge of the music on my computer (I still have albums from when I was 12 or so), if I have a song and you want to hear it I can find it very easily. I find being very specific with folder names really helps. It's of no use to just have music if you don't know what you have.

PS I have 15 different folders for just Disney music.

I hope this helps. Remember setting it up may seem hard, but once done it's very easy to keep on top of.

I started thinking this morning after reading the first two replies that Maybe I should think of a hard drive just for music.

Another vote for winamp. Ok. That looks like the program I should really consider.

For me Organize (my Disney Music anyway) means setting it all up so I can play what I want fairly quickly. And in my case that is by "lands." and in using the playlist I can do half a park or the whole thing if I want. Now that I'm seeing that the playlist will indeed be up to the task. So I guess I was more worried about music access than actually where the file was located. But, I think I'm seeing that the file location is important too. Have to factor that in.

And it looks like a huge job. Something like 3500+ counting everything including non disney music. I wasn't aware I even had that much. But I was thinking once it's organized, that It will be much easier to handle, and be way more enjoyable.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 4:17 pm

CapnHook wrote:
Jacca5660 wrote:It all depends by what you mean by organize. Right now I have over a 160 gig (I have a 250 gig hard drive just for music) of music on my computer. My collection is very far flung. I use winamp as my player and I do have different play list.

The biggest way I keep my music organized is with folders and sub folders. For example I have a folder that is called albums, in this folder are sub folders for each band or type of audio (what I mean by audio is Audio books (which also has sub folders for different types), Comedy, Christmas, Patriotic and so on). In these folders are also sub folders defining if it's live or studio, and also who the artist is with. Example: Eric Clapton has 13 different sub folders because of all the different people he has played with. Inside these folders you'll find each individual album he has produced and if the album is live or studio.

This may seem complicated and labor intensive but once you get it set and working it runs itself. With as much music as I have it's the only way I could be able to find anything. I also have an intimate knowledge of the music on my computer (I still have albums from when I was 12 or so), if I have a song and you want to hear it I can find it very easily. I find being very specific with folder names really helps. It's of no use to just have music if you don't know what you have.

PS I have 15 different folders for just Disney music.

I hope this helps. Remember setting it up may seem hard, but once done it's very easy to keep on top of.
I started thinking this morning after reading the first two replies that Maybe I should think of a hard drive just for music.

Another vote for winamp. Ok. That looks like the program I should really consider.

For me Organize (my Disney Music anyway) means setting it all up so I can play what I want fairly quickly. And in my case that is by "lands." and in using the playlist I can do half a park or the whole thing if I want. Now that I'm seeing that the playlist will indeed be up to the task. So I guess I was more worried about music access than actually where the file was located. But, I think I'm seeing that the file location is important too. Have to factor that in.

And it looks like a huge job. Something like 3500+ counting everything including non disney music. I wasn't aware I even had that much. But I was thinking once it's organized, that It will be much easier to handle, and be way more enjoyable.

Just a side note. After reading this, I had to giggle a little. When I was a teenager (I'm 48) bragging rights was being able to say you had 15 or 20 albums. Now I know people (me included) with hundreds if not thousands! Unlike in the day, now you can set up play list with thousands of songs and have it play for days on end without having to lift a finger once it's started. I mean we used to stack (how bad was that on your vinyl?) maybe 4 0r 5 albums on the post of a turntable and think wow that will hold the party for 2 or 3 hours! Now it'll hold the party for weeks! We have come a long way!

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 4:24 pm

Jacca5660 wrote:
CapnHook wrote: Just a side note. After reading this, I had to giggle a little. When I was a teenager (I'm 48) bragging rights was being able to say you had 15 or 20 albums. Now I know people (me included) with hundreds if not thousands! Unlike in the day, now you can set up play list with thousands of songs and have it play for days on end without have to lift a finger once it's started. I mean we used to stack (how bad was that on your vinyl?) maybe 4 0r 5 albums on the post of a turntable and think wow that will hold the party for 2 or 3 hours! Now it'll hold the party for weeks! We have come a long way!

LOL, I know what you mean. I am too young to remember vinyl, but I do remember how excited I was the first time my parents purchased a five-disc CD player in I think 1988. And now I have my music set up so that the entire playlist takes one working month without a song repeating. I of course stop it when I leave and go to lunch, so no it isn't 720 hours of music.

Post by **js3901** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 5:41 pm

CapnHook wrote:Question: The folder system looks good. with the folder system how do you use that to help in building the playlists?

agingerbugg wrote:It really doesn't help in building the playlist except that it organizes the music so you can easily find it. That way you aren't scrolling through 1000+ songs to find that ONE song you want; for "Impressions of France" I would go to wdw/epcot/world_showcase/france/impressions_of_france.mp3 instead of going to disney_music/[scroll....scroll....scroll....scroll...scroll...ah hah!]impressions_of_france.mp3

I actually find it very useful. With winamp, I open the folders within the program, which will put them in the playlist in the order in which I open them, instead of adding them in one track at a time. I have a playlist where everything is in alphabetical order, and another where I go "clockwise" around each park, attraction by attraction.

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 7:55 pm

I'm playing with iTunes now using the information from that tutorial earlier. Using the folders, I can do exactly what I wanted. I think I may start off using that.

I think that I'll also use the folder system for the files themselves.

Wish me luck

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Jan Wed 07, 2009 8:36 pm

I also use the folder system for my disney music files as well. It's just very easy to find files or when I want to listen to EPCOT World Showcase background music, I know exactly where to find them. I also have the loops seperated in a different folder too so that way when I have winamp playing on Shuffle mode...I won't end up with a 60 minute loop played between regular shorter tracks.

Sometimes, I'll spend time going through my files to see if I some aren't worth keeping due to crappy audio especially with the outstanding quality I can find of certain tracks on the internet nowadays.

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 8:28 am

agingerbugg wrote:
Just a side note. After reading this, I had to giggle a little. When I was a teenager (I'm 48) bragging rights was being able to say you had 15 or 20 albums. Now I know people (me included) with hundreds if not thousands! Unlike in the day, now you can set up play list with thousands of songs and have it play for days on end without having to lift a finger once it's started. I mean we used to stack (how bad was that on your vinyl?) maybe 4 0r 5 albums on the post of a turntable and think wow that will hold the party for 2 or 3 hours! Now it'll hold the party for weeks! We have come a long way!

I thought about that after you brought it up and for a couple years as a teenager I only owned about three LPs (that's vinyl records for those too young to remember) and a couple of cassettes.

It was a big thing to get those 6 8-tracks (joined some record club) for my car! Now it is amazing like you said. look at the top of the library and see how much music I have in counts of Days. I feel fortunate!

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.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 9:01 am

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!!