Music not in library but in library folder

[golgothagecko]

Hi,

I am perplexed why Musicbee is missing SOME songs in the Library folder.   I have a folder on my drive named K:/Mp3 (added to musicbee library), and under the folder, I have each album in sub-folders.  Roughly 16,000 MP3 in total in multiple album folders.

Musicbee seems to have imported most of the MP3 into the library, but not all.  For example,  I have an album sub-folder where only 7 of 10 songs are imported.

In an attempt to resolve this, I've taken several steps. I've rescanned all folders, tried locating the missing files, and even deleted a folder from the library before re-adding it. However, despite these efforts, the files are still not appearing in the library.  

I searched the support error log for one of the missing MP3 in question and didn't see any errors.  

What else should I try?

[sveakul]

Have you tried individually importing one of the problem files (File->Add Files to Library-> select the file)?  What happens exactly when when you do?

The files could be corrupted.  Open one into MediaInfo (https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo) and post the results of its analysis here.

[golgothagecko]

The files aren't corrupted.  The work fine everywhere else.  Here's an example:

General
Complete name                            : K:\MP3\Satriani - The Extremist\Joe Satriani - Summer Song.mp3
Format                                   : MPEG Audio
File size                                : 6.73 MiB
Duration                                 : 5 min 0 s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 187 kb/s
Album                                    : The Extremist
Album/Performer                          : Joe Satriani
Track name                               : Joe Satriani - Summer Song
Track name/Position                      : 06
Track name/Total                         : 10
Performer                                : Joe Satriani
Encoded by                               : Exact Audio Copy   (Secure mode)
Genre                                    : Instrumental Rock
Recorded date                            : 1992
Writing library                          : LAME3.96r
Cover                                    : Yes
Cover MIME                               : image/jpeg
Comment                                  : Track 6

Audio
Format                                   : MPEG Audio
Format version                           : Version 1
Format profile                           : Layer 3
Format settings                          : Joint stereo / MS Stereo
Duration                                 : 5 min 0 s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 187 kb/s
Minimum bit rate                         : 128 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Sampling rate                            : 44.1 kHz
Frame rate                               : 38.281 FPS (1152 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 6.71 MiB (100%)
Writing library                          : LAME3.96r
Encoding settings                        : -m j -V 2 -q 3 -lowpass 19 --vbr-old -b 128

Image
Format                                   : JPEG
Width                                    : 300 pixels
Height                                   : 300 pixels
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 14.7 KiB (0%)

ReportBy                                 : MediaInfoLib - v24.05.1
CreatedOn                                : UTC 2024-06-17 01:35:49

[golgothagecko]

It doesn't add it to the library when I do this: File->Add Files to Library-> select the file)?

The song does play in Musicbee though

[Zak]

Unrelated, and not clear if you've encoded these files yourself, but these LAME settings are a bit odd:

Encoding settings                        : -m j -V 2 -q 3 -lowpass 19 --vbr-old -b 128

Joint stereo is enabled by default, so -m j won't do anything.

Variable Bit Rate is enabled with -V 2, but then -b 128 sets the minimum to 128 kbps.
(-V 2 would give a bitrate around 192 kbps, so the only thing dropping lower than 128 is probably silence, though I haven't tested this)

I'm not sure if there's a reason to be using --vbr-old in 2024, and using it with -q 3 may create sub-optimal results.

Of course, at ~192 kbps, anything the other settings do probably won't affect transparency anyway, so... [shrug]

[sveakul]

It doesn't add it to the library when I do this: File->Add Files to Library-> select the file)?

OK but what HAPPENS exactly when you do this?  Do you get some kind of confirmation message, or what?

Have you checked your Inbox to see if anything went there instead?

You said the files "play in MusicBee though"--if they don't appear in the MusicBee library, how are you playing them in MusicBee?

[golgothagecko]

When I try to add a file that is missing to the library I receive No confirmation, no pop-up, nothing.   
They are not in the Inbox. 

Musicbee will happily play MP3 files from the filesystem that are not part of the library, which is what it appears to be doing. 

This does feel like some sort of database/filesystem scan issue. 

[psychoadept]

I recommend using the Computer node within MusicBee to locate the missing files in your file structure. Then you can right click on one, go to "Send To" and see if MusicBee thinks it's already in a particular section (based on what's greyed out in the list).

[golgothagecko]

If I click on "Send to", Music Library is greyed out.  If I click on Send to Inbox, it says the file is a duplicate. 

[phred]

If I click on "Send to", Music Library is greyed out.  If I click on Send to Inbox, it says the file is a duplicate.

If the Music Library is greyed out, it means the files are already in the library. So something very odd is going on here.

[golgothagecko]

This is precisely what I've been saying! 

[tjinc]

If I click on "Send to", Music Library is greyed out.

What happens if you right-click (on this file in the computer node) > Search > Locate In Library

[MotleyG]

Do you possibly have a filter turned on that is keeping you from seeing these missing files?

[golgothagecko]

If I click on "Send to", Music Library is greyed out.

What happens if you right-click (on this file in the computer node) > Search > Locate In Library

It opens the list of all MP3 in my library.  (it is not in the list though)

[golgothagecko]

Do you possibly have a filter turned on that is keeping you from seeing these missing files?

No