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Support => Questions => Topic started by: ankor on February 25, 2016, 08:15:08 PM
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How are your music files organized? With cover.jpg or any other generic filename, the cover will be applied to all files in the same folder, and will be over written when you save a new cover for that folder
I've seen cover.jpg and folder.jpg but never understood. I see cover.jpg in same folder as music files. So it holds 1 image? Is that the image used when no other is available? What's the approach for saving the appropriate covers based on the separate albums? Do they have to be stored in the same music files folder?
In Preferences | Tags(1) | artwork storage, the 3 checkboxes under downloaded album cover storage are unchecked. Artist pictures & soundtrack pictures have valid folder paths. There are images in Artist pictures but soundtrack folder is empty.
Why don't you start a new thread, with screenshots of your artwork settings, and maybe the artwork files on your drive?
is there a secret to embedding images in a post like this? Can't paste in here.
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is there a secret to embedding images in a post like this? Can't paste in here.
Here are two links for help with posting screenshots in the MB Forums:
http://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=16499.0
http://musicbee.wikia.com/wiki/Posting_Screenshots
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@psychoadept Thanks for the instructions.
Artwork storage settings in Preferences:
http://imgur.com/2wIqfO1
Is that helpful or need something else? And what is the purpose of cover.jpg & folder.jpg when it comes to storing album covers for all tracks?
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@psychoadept Thanks for the instructions.
Artwork storage settings in Preferences:
http://imgur.com/2wIqfO1
Is that helpful or need something else? And what is the purpose of cover.jpg & folder.jpg when it comes to storing album covers for all tracks?
Thank phred for the instructions. :)
Right now you have no artwork storage options selected. Is that intentional?
Any of the filenames like Cover.jpg and Folder.jpg assume that you have your audio files organized with each album in its own folder. So if you want to continue using that option, just have MB arrange your files. You don't have to turn on auto-organize; you can use the Organize Files command in the File menu.
Alternately, you could use a template for your artwork names. Instead of Cover.jpg, you could change it to (for instance) <Album Artist> - <Album>.jpg. Then you would want to change your settings under "which pictures are displayed" to prioritize that filename (which will appear in the list when you change the template).
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@psychoadept Thanks for the instructions.
No problem. Our handles are so similar that we all get confused sometimes. :)
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Sorry thanks phred :)
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Sorry thanks phred :)
Not to worry ankor. I knew what you meant originally. Just the fact that you offered thanks is enough. With or without a name. There are some folks who forget to do that.
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Right now you have no artwork storage options selected. Is that intentional?
Any of the filenames like Cover.jpg and Folder.jpg assume that you have your audio files organized with each album in its own folder. So if you want to continue using that option, just have MB arrange your files. You don't have to turn on auto-organize; you can use the Organize Files command in the File menu.
Alternately, you could use a template for your artwork names. Instead of Cover.jpg, you could change it to (for instance) <Album Artist> - <Album>.jpg. Then you would want to change your settings under "which pictures are displayed" to prioritize that filename (which will appear in the list when you change the template).
I've got all audio files in one folder and that works great for my purposes. Working with 1 folder (compared to 1 album per folder) is very handy and more important to me than the album cover images. Right now I'm leaning away from embedding them into the audio file (but you never know).
Where "Cover.jpg" is shown right now (textbox) on Tags(1) page...does that only apply to "copy to the same folder as the music file and name as:"?
So can the audio files remain in one folder and the album cover images get directed to a different folder using a naming convention as you suggested? Is that what soundtrack pictures location is for (folder remains empty so far)? And would I need to check any of the 3 checkboxes for artwork storage options for this approach and if so which one?
Now I understand why the album images would sometimes seem to change "randomly". Thanks so much for the help.
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Where "Cover.jpg" is shown right now (textbox) on Tags(1) page...does that only apply to "copy to the same folder as the music file and name as:"?
Yes. If you want to keep all your files in one folder, and you don't want to embed, that's your only option. Click on the ... at the end of that box, it will give you the template creator pop-up.
So can the audio files remain in one folder and the album cover images get directed to a different folder using a naming convention as you suggested? Is that what soundtrack pictures location is for (folder remains empty so far)? And would I need to check any of the 3 checkboxes for artwork storage options for this approach and if so which one?
Yes, you need to check the third artwork storage option if you're going to go this route. You could try sending the artwork to a subfolder using the template (ie Album Art\<Album Artist> - <Album>.jpg); I don't know if will recognize that or not. If you don't include a folder structure, it will just go in the same folder as your audio files.
The Artist Pictures location and Soundtrack Pictures location are irrelevant for Album Art. Those are for the rotating art in the compact player, etc.
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Thanks again. I'll give some of these options a try and see how it works out and come back with feedback. Awesome, Awesome help!!!!
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I decided to try using the same folder as the audio files and use "?<Artist>-<Album>" as the template. This way the picture files will sort to the bottom of an ascending list. And I moved that template to the top of the list for "which pictures are displayed".
"Search Internet for Picture" - is this the best option I should use to download covers?
With regard to album covers, I'd like to start from scratch (made somewhat of a mess) and clear any album covers I've got right now. Is there a way to remove pics that may have been embedded in audio files or at least check if any are embedded? I deleted files in AppData\Roaming\MusicBee\Internal Cache\Album Covers\5 but they just seemed to reappear in the same folder. Is it possible to clear whatever MB holds about associated album covers and get a fresh start?
Many thanks in advance.
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I've been taking a closer look by switching to Album and Tracks view. Album covers are showing up where I've made some downloads. But here's the weird part...On one row, I've got no album cover, an artist named and 6 tracks listed. None of the 6 tracks have an album identified (not uncommon for me). However 2 of the tracks belong to the named artist (Lady Antebellum) and the other 4 tracks belong to a different artist (Lady Gaga). How's that for a combo? The tags look fine for all six. The Sort is Artist/Album. The next row down is with Lady Gaga and a track that does have the album named and it looks fine with it's own album cover. Nothing I do will cause the 2 artists and the 6 tracks to separate unless I change the sort (ie Genre/Album Artist/Album) and then they have their respective rows. In these 6 tracks, artist and album artist happen to be the same on each track. Artist/Album sort should still split the 6 tracks but isn't.
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I've been taking a closer look by switching to Album and Tracks view. Album covers are showing up where I've made some downloads. But here's the weird part...On one row, I've got no album cover, an artist named and 6 tracks listed. None of the 6 tracks have an album identified (not uncommon for me). However 2 of the tracks belong to the named artist (Lady Antebellum) and the other 4 tracks belong to a different artist (Lady Gaga). How's that for a combo? The tags look fine for all six. The Sort is Artist/Album. The next row down is with Lady Gaga and a track that does have the album named and it looks fine with it's own album cover. Nothing I do will cause the 2 artists and the 6 tracks to separate unless I change the sort (ie Genre/Album Artist/Album) and then they have their respective rows. In these 6 tracks, artist and album artist happen to be the same on each track. Artist/Album sort should still split the 6 tracks but isn't.
Check your grouping setting (Preferences> Sorting/grouping). Probably you have selected album name only. That's why no album name tracks gather and form a single album regardless of their artist values. If you include album artist too to the setting, they will split.
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I've been taking a closer look by switching to Album and Tracks view. Album covers are showing up where I've made some downloads. But here's the weird part...On one row, I've got no album cover, an artist named and 6 tracks listed. None of the 6 tracks have an album identified (not uncommon for me). However 2 of the tracks belong to the named artist (Lady Antebellum) and the other 4 tracks belong to a different artist (Lady Gaga). How's that for a combo? The tags look fine for all six. The Sort is Artist/Album. The next row down is with Lady Gaga and a track that does have the album named and it looks fine with it's own album cover. Nothing I do will cause the 2 artists and the 6 tracks to separate unless I change the sort (ie Genre/Album Artist/Album) and then they have their respective rows. In these 6 tracks, artist and album artist happen to be the same on each track. Artist/Album sort should still split the 6 tracks but isn't.
Check your grouping setting (Preferences> Sorting/grouping). Probably you have selected album name only. That's why no album name tracks gather and form a single album regardless of their artist values. If you include album artist too to the setting, they will split.
It's buried in the middle of the paragraph...The Sort is Artist/Album. I also tried sort by Album Artist/Album...same problem.
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I meant grouping setting, not sorting.
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Oh I don't use any Grouping. Plus this is Album and Tracks view. Grouping is not a user option which makes sense since grouping needs to be forced with artist and album.
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This is what I said:
Check your grouping setting (Preferences> Sorting/grouping).
Not the grouping setting for the main view (BTW album & tracks view too can group tracks if you open configuration pane).
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Sorry about the confusion. In Preferences | Sorting/Grouping under Grouping...I have "the following fields define an album" checked. Position 1 is blank and position 2 is locked in at Album Name and the rest are blank. "detect iTunes compilation and treat as Album Artist" is unchecked. Appreciate the help.
Right after sending this post, I selected "Album Name" for position 1 (the only allowed pick) instead of leaving it blank. That fixed the Album and Tracks view, separating the tracks between the 2 artists. Maybe position 1 should not be allowed to be blank or clear position 2 if position 1 is Album Name. But position 1 can only be blank or Album Name so why lock position 2 with Album Name? Weird but it's good now.
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Again, this is what said:
Check your grouping setting (Preferences> Sorting/grouping). Probably you have selected album name only. That's why no album name tracks gather and form a single album regardless of their artist values. If you include album artist too to the setting, they will split.
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Maybe an image would help here:
(http://i.imgur.com/AAd4Jst.png)
The first item is not locked to Album Name, it's locked to Album Artist, which is what redwing has been telling you to add. It sounds like you may have worked it out now.
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Soooooooooo sorry. Not sure the image is enough. A new set of eyes may be necessary. Staring right at the screen and ????????
Yes position 1 is filled with Album ARTIST. Do I feel stupid!!!!
Thank you Thank you Thank you for putting up with me....even got a good night sleep...I'll need to read more carefully and less multi-tasking