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Author Topic: Advice please: best way to cache side-by-side MP3s?  (Read 926 times)

benn600

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Advice please: best way to cache side-by-side MP3s?
« on: July 04, 2011, 12:59:13 pm »
Media Center has a lot of methods to export MP3s: faux device folder sync, built-in caching, convert format, other export options, etc...

Currently my music is stored as: //SERVER/DRIVE/Music/[Artist]/[Album]/[Track #] - [Name].flac

I would like to have Media Center automatically create and manage (keep up-to-date) a complete file cache with correct (updated) tags and cover art included in the tags.  I am thinking of three file structure options:

1)
//SERVER/DRIVE/Music/[Artist]/[Album]/[Track #] - [Name].flac
//SERVER/DRIVE/Music/[Artist]/[Album]/[Track #] - [Name].mp3

2)
//SERVER/DRIVE/Music/[Artist]/[Album]/[Track #] - [Name].flac
//SERVER/DRIVE/Music/[Artist]/[Album]/MP3/[Track #] - [Name].mp3

3)
//SERVER/DRIVE/Music/FLAC/[Artist]/[Album]/[Track #] - [Name].flac
//SERVER/DRIVE/Music/MP3/[Artist]/[Album]/[Track #] - [Name].mp3

All three options have merit.  I think the third is the most appropriate choice.  I started following this structure with video: (DVD, Blu-Ray, Clips, ...)

My questions for the Media Center community:
1. Which file structure do others think is the best?
2. Is there a way to have Media Center build this cache (with my desired file structure) and keep it up-to-date?  I've seen the cache building options but don't see the control I am looking for.
3. Any other thoughts on this topic?  The goal of this move is to allow MP3s to be pulled from the music database into iTunes for iPhone synchronization.
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kensn

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Re: Advice please: best way to cache side-by-side MP3s?
« Reply #1 on: July 04, 2011, 02:57:39 pm »
I thought about this for a bit on the Tree structure when setting up my files. As in your last example you will have 2 artist folders, this is what I wanted to avoid. For the FLAC albums I used [HD] after the Album name..

//SERVER/DRIVE/Music/Artist/Album [HD]/[Track #] - [Name].flac
//SERVER/DRIVE/Music/Artist/Album/[Track #] - [Name].mp3

Just another way to do it...

Ken

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benn600

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Re: Advice please: best way to cache side-by-side MP3s?
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2011, 01:36:33 pm »
I like that.  Now how do you export and manage the MP3s as a massive cache, updating it only when needed?
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