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[ZRocker]

Hey Matt (JRiver),

I was thinking about why I do not use MC to catalog my CD backups of all my MP3s...currently I use Advanced Disk Catalog to catalog & manage the backups I make using MC.  I like ADC alot (for over 2 years now), but it is a separate application and I was wondering if MC had enough support to do what ADC is doing for me today.

So, I begin an experiment to see if MC 10 could do it.  After an hour of hacking and playing with MC, importing and modifying Media Library view schemes I see MC is just too cumbersome to replace ADC.

Limitations I ran into:
1. The Media Library node does not allow for any modifiers/qualifiers so everything imported shows up when the ML node is highlighted.  This is problematic when tracks are imported twice (once from hard drive and once from CD-R backup disk).  I was able to build view schemes under ML that excluded or included CD-Rs, but ML is what the MC Locate feature uses.

2. Imported CD-R's volume names cannot be renamed after imported.  So, if you accidently burn a CD-R without naming it, you get lots of New (nnn) entries.  Also, MC is bugged and would still name some volumes as Unnamed Disc (nnn) even though the CD-R disc did have a name (MC displayed it fine in the CD drive node).  Of course, the discs are known external by the names written with a permanent marker on the CD itself.

3. You cannot right-click a CD node in MC and choose Import...no option.

4. I tried using a separate MC database library for only CD backups and that was better, but I still didn't like having to change libraries to view the database...and #2 (above) was still a big problem.  Zone support doesn't help either...changing the MC database loaded in one zone changes it for all zones.

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MC has about 80% to 90% of the support to be an excellent tool for cataloging & managing CD data backup (esp. music backups), but needs some tweaking to be usuable for this.  If only MC had a feature/node comparable to Media Library (say Disk Library) that contained only data (maybe audio too) CD discs scannned (not imported) into MC, I think MC could be a great tool for this (replace the need for ADC).

Features that a Disk Library node should have would be:
1. Scan new discs (examining all files and pulling in file/tag information for media files MC supports)

2. Volume naming/renaming for scanned/cataloged discs

3. Play functions (standard MC stuff)...MC could prompt for the proper disc if not currently loaded (like MC does already today)

4. Standard search support (of only Disk Library node files)...just like is supported by MC on the ML node

5. View schemes (just like the ML node supports)

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What does everybody else think?  Would you like and use MC for cataloging CDs if it were better enabled to do so?  Or, should I just continue using ADC and 'be happy'?

[ZRocker]

No interest, eh?  

[Matt]

Sorry Z, didn't see this until now.

1. The Media Library node does not allow for any modifiers/qualifiers so everything imported shows up when the ML node is highlighted.  This is problematic when tracks are imported twice (once from hard drive and once from CD-R backup disk).  I was able to build view schemes under ML that excluded or included CD-Rs, but ML is what the MC Locate feature uses.

3. You cannot right-click a CD node in MC and choose Import...no option.

4. I tried using a separate MC database library for only CD backups and that was better, but I still didn't like having to change libraries to view the database...and #2 (above) was still a big problem.  Zone support doesn't help either...changing the MC database loaded in one zone changes it for all zones.

One simple trick is to not import the files.  Then, add "CD Database" (~d=c) to any searches or views you want to show the files.  This way they don't fight with your main database.

Imported CD-R's volume names cannot be renamed after imported.  So, if you accidently burn a CD-R without naming it, you get lots of New (nnn) entries.  Also, MC is bugged and would still name some volumes as Unnamed Disc (nnn) even though the CD-R disc did have a name (MC displayed it fine in the CD drive node).  Of course, the discs are known external by the names written with a permanent marker on the CD itself.

Next build will allow pane / tree editing of volume name view schemes.

[Matt]

Scratch that -- you already can edit volume names in the tree or panes.  Just pick a file first. (need to think about whether that should be changed)

[Sauzee]

MC has about 80% to 90% of the support to be an excellent tool for cataloging & managing CD data backup (esp. music backups), but needs some tweaking to be usuable for this.  If only MC had a feature/node comparable to Media Library (say Disk Library) that contained only data (maybe audio too) CD discs scannned (not imported) into MC, I think MC could be a great tool for this (replace the need for ADC).

ZRocker

I agree 100%.  I've always thought MC had the basic building blocks to be a great media cataloguing tool.

It would be a natural extension of the media library.  There are specialist audio CD cataloguing apps out there that are pretty good [Music Library, Music Label, Catraxx] and MC could benefit from some of the functionality of these apps.

Where these apps fall down is that they can't [or aren't very good at] giving a complete picture of all the music/video you have on your PC AND Audio CD AND data CD.

For a start, how about a media mode button for CD's?

[martinhw]

I have been searching the net for a prog that can scan my H/D and give me a list of the CD's I have on there. In the media library I can see all my mp3's, but having 1698 full albums on my H/D, I find it difficult to gather a playlist of just the CD names.
Someone once asked me to print out my list of CD's and it took me ages to try and get all the albums onto excell.
Anyone know of a prog, or maybe a future wishlist feature   please please

P.S. - You do know that I'm going to feel such an ass if MJ can already do this  

[ZRocker]

One simple trick is to not import the files.  Then, add "CD Database" (~d=c) to any searches or views you want to show the files.  This way they don't fight with your main database.

Well...I had tried that, but could never get MC to drill down thru all the directories on a data CD without manually doing it mysefl (one-by-one...big pain).  That's why I tried importing...am I missing something (Matt)?

Update:
Maybe I need "Display files in subfolders" checked?  Funny thing, I was the one long ago who insisted this option exist (and Nikolay put it in, I think).

[Robert Taylor]

Martinh,

I needed the same info as yourself. I ended up using a small program (I think it's called "DirList" or something - I'm at work at the moment, so I'll check when I get home).

This program scans a directory, and can create an HTML listing of all subdirs (and add whatever detail you like). To me this was the easiest way to get a listing of all my albums.

Of course, this depends on your directory naming scheme. Mine is

M:\MediaLibrary\MP3s\<Artist>\<Year>-<AlbumName>

So the listing thingy produces exactly what I want...

I'll let you know when I get home exactly what it's called...

Hope this helps...

[martinhw]

Thanx LunchmeatVoom, I also use the Dir lister prog, but the problem that even that has is it only lets you print the list and not export or edit it. Even the right click copy/paste feature is disabled in the freeware version. I'm not going to pay $10.00 for the prog either. I've tried a number of progs, visual CD, CD tree 3 etc. I even used my script from Mirc to create playlists etc, but i only want the albums listed.

I'll keep searching.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL YOU THAT CELEBRATE IT !!!