Messages

1

Questions / Re: Managing single file .flac files with .cue file providing track breakdown

« on: July 29, 2023, 03:46:56 AM »

Better use Musicbee or if you want something external, use CUEtools

Thanks for the previous thread links. Yes, I think I will use Musicbee to do the splitting, or CUEtools if I find using an external program somehow makes the process easier/more convenient.

I did give MediaHuman AudioConverter a quick try - the separated tracks seemed to have a slightly lower volume, but that may have just been perceived.

I guess I simply want to get things right the first time, so I don't have to revisit the task again in 10 years time.

Should I go back and re-split the single file Flac cue files that I did with Medieval splitter 5+ years ago? Probably won't have time, but it is a good thing that I kept the original single file (and why I will continue to keep the original single file).

So when I started this thread I was thinking of putting the 'extracted' single files into a subfolder that MB ignores. I think what I will do now is instead put the cue related files into a subfolder that MB ignores purely for the purpose of keeping it. Hopefully there will not be a reason for me to have to refer to it again, but one never knows.

Summary: single tracks will allow full access externally from Windows file explorer while providing better MB track level tagging.

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Questions / Re: Managing single file .flac files with .cue file providing track breakdown

« on: July 29, 2023, 02:08:28 AM »

You are of course aware of this last caveat, but for other readers who would consider using CUE sheets:
With a global file + CUE, the only tags that one can define at track level are:

• TRACK,
• TITLE and
• PERFORMER (which maps to ARTIST within MusicBee).

I wasn't aware of this restriction, but suspected there would be some limitations such as this.

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Questions / Re: Managing single file .flac files with .cue file providing track breakdown

« on: July 29, 2023, 02:04:29 AM »

I have used MediaHuman AudioConverter so far, but I will give Medieval CUE splitter a try. These words in its home page caught my attention: "without decoding/re-encoding the data stream".

While I have not noticed a fault with the single tracks produced by Medieval Cue Splitter, i would probably avoid it if your existing Cue splitting program/process is working Ok.

Yes, no 'decoding/re-encoding' does sound ideal, but I believe it is this feature that results in the reported issues. It is not a bug in the program itself, but rather a limitation of what the program is trying to do.

Cue splitters that do re-encode (it is reported) overcome the issue, and providing that the source is lossless to begin with, the re-encode should not result in any degradation.

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Questions / Managing single file .flac files with .cue file providing track breakdown

« on: July 28, 2023, 02:52:46 AM »

I know there are plenty of posts relating to single file .flac files with .cue file providing track breakdown.

I probably have a hundred or so of these.

In the past I have broken these into individual track files using a third party app called Medieval Cue Splitter. I recently read that this can result in some minor damage to the individual files (resulting in clicks etc during playback).

The logical solution to this would be to just leave the single file as is, and let MB work out the tracks on the fly using the cue file.

I do, however, like to search for tracks directly within Windows.

So I am just wondering, if I was to keep the single flac cue file for MB to use, and have a subfolder (say called "separate tracks") for my Windows searching to find, would this work?

If so, would there be a way for me to setup the sub folder "separate tracks", so that MB ignores this?

(I guess my other option would be to find another cue splitter that does not result in individual tracks with issues, but then I would have to make sure it handles automatic renaming correctly etc).

Any thoughts appreciated.

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Questions / Queue track file to MB using right click in Windows File Explorer

« on: July 28, 2023, 02:38:39 AM »

I recently replaced my default music player to MB from VLC (due to VLC demonstrating slight playback speed issues, and also introducing minor clicks that I initially thought were ripping errors - MB resolved these 2 issues).

I am wondering if there is a way to be able to select a music file (or multiple music files), to then add them to the music playing queue in MB.

At the moment I have found that the closest option is to select the track or tracks, and drag them to MB in the taskbar.

Not a big issue, but was handy when I could do this with VLC.

(I am using Windows 11)

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Questions / Creating a flash drive of mp3 songs for in car use

« on: July 26, 2020, 01:35:20 PM »

Not needing to do this yet, but wondering if MB has the ability to create a flash drive of songs for use in a car radio that supports a flash drive?

If the answer is yet, does it also have the ability to convert flac to mp3 (should the car only support mp3 or to keep size down).

And also, is would MB be able to handle single file album files + cue (be able to create separate mp3 files from these).

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Questions / Duplicate Artist Groupings under "Album Artist" left hand pane

« on: July 26, 2020, 01:31:02 PM »

I am in the early stages of setting up MB.

Under the "Album Artist" left hand pane, I should only have an artist appear once.

I have an artist appearing twice, and each instance has 2 albums within it.

Underlying file structure is right, so I am guessing this is a tagging issue.

I have looked at the tagging, and the artist appears to be correct in each.

Any suggestions welcomed.

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Questions / Re: Thread on common naming conventions for files & folders

« on: July 13, 2020, 04:19:15 AM »

This is what I was looking for.

https://musicbee.fandom.com/wiki/File_Organization

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

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Questions / Re: Artwork Question

« on: July 13, 2020, 03:41:13 AM »

I think I will adopt the folder naming convention: Artist Name/Album Name/Artwork

Artwork having broader scope than covers (which some use).

I will stick with the picture types of 'Album Cover', 'Album Cover (back)", and 'Leaflet Page', as I do not know of an advantage of creating new picture types. Perhaps I will come up with a naming convention at file level to keep things neat as (eg. to include photos of the CD, and other items).

 

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Questions / Re: Thread on common naming conventions for files & folders

« on: July 13, 2020, 03:08:59 AM »

I understand personal preference comes into this, but I was thinking that some common conventions may have been adapted by the majority.

I did try searching for "common naming conventions", but the only thread that comes up in the search is mine.

11

Questions / Removing unknown album showing in Musicbee

« on: July 13, 2020, 12:30:43 AM »

An "[Unknown]" album has appeared in Musicbee, whose source file(s) cannot be be found.

How do I remove this from MB?

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Questions / Re: A question of lyrics

« on: July 12, 2020, 12:53:06 PM »

I still haven't started after 12 months, so for those with big collections that started some time ago, what would you do differently if starting again from scratch?

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Questions / Thread on common naming conventions for files & folders

« on: July 12, 2020, 12:07:24 PM »

I am sure there is a thread covering common naming conventions for files & folders.

Any links appreciated.

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Questions / Re: Naming Convention For Multiple Disc Albums

« on: July 12, 2020, 12:05:49 PM »

So your double album would have 2 folders named 'Artist/Album Name (Disc 1)' & 'Artist/Album Name (Disc 2)'?

If so, I thought there may have been a way to keep both discs in a single folder that it shows as one album in the Musicbee library.

15

Questions / Artwork Question

« on: July 12, 2020, 09:30:04 AM »

To add or change artwork, I right click on the album cover (while in Music Explorer), go edit > artwork > and then select the artwork and save to apply.

In this process it has the matching picture types of 'Album Cover', 'Album Cover (back)", and 'Leaflet Page'.

I am linking, rather than embedding, so as not to bloat each track (and save space).

Some albums have the whole booklet scanned - for these I am thinking of using 'Leaflet Page', and the order this is done in Musicbee, will allow easy access of the booklet in order.

For images such as scanned CD etc etc, is there any benefit in creating new picture types or just using the blank picture type.

Also, for artwork, is it recommended to put this in a subfolder named 'Artwork'?

I know a lot of this comes down to personal preference, but if there are logical reasons for doing something in a particular way, I would like to do it from the start, rather than having to start again.