Double CDs

[PedroT99]

So I just ripped my first double CD...Beatle's White Album

I like how dBp knows to add Disc 1 and Disc 2. I don't know if I like that it doesn't add them to its own album folder (with 2 sub folders for each disc) since it is in fact one album. Is there a simple way to do that? Is there a good reason not to do that? Im thinking that logically, there may be a reason that I'm not thinking of why it is a bad idea.

[garym]

Re: Double CDs

So I just ripped my first double CD...Beatle's White Album

I like how dBp knows to add Disc 1 and Disc 2. I don't know if I like that it doesn't add them to its own album folder (with 2 sub folders for each disc) since it is in fact one album. Is there a simple way to do that? Is there a good reason not to do that? Im thinking that logically, there may be a reason that I'm not thinking of why it is a bad idea.

hmmm, when I rip multidisk CDs, I make sure (in the ripper) that the title is the same for the album, then fill in the disk number (if not automatically done). This will create a single folder for the album, then underneath will be separate folders for Disk 1, disk 2, etc. I use this dynamic naming (but note that you MUST make sure to edit the album name before ripping and use disk numbers, just in case the auto metadata doesn't do that for you).

[IFCOMP]Compilations\[album] [IFMULTI] \Disc [disc][]\[track]-[title]-[artist][][IF!COMP][artist]\[album][IFMULTI] \Disc [disc][]\[track]-[title][]

so for tag purposes, the files would be in:

x:\music\Buddy Holly\The Complete Studio Recordings\Disc 1\tracknumber - trackname
.................................................. ...................... \Disc 2\tracknumber = trackname

etc.

(rather than having separate album names like "The Complete Studio Recordings (Disc 1)" and "The Complete Studio Recordings (Disc 2), etc.

[garym]

Re: Double CDs

And keep in mind that it is not dbpa that "knows" how to separate the disks. It is the metadata for the album. And much of the metadata is simply how OTHER people that ripped the CDs labeled the Album (i.e., as two separate albums with disk number in the name or as one album with the disk field listing the disk number). And you can edit all this in the ripping screen BEFORE ripping. As I said, I prefer the multidisk CDs to show up as a single CD, with the disc field in the tags filled in. I also redo the ReplayGain tags after ripping all the multidiscs and reanalyze as a single disk (all the disks at once) and that way the ALBUM RG value is the same for the entire album (all the disks). I do this because I may play the album straight through as a single album.

[PedroT99]

Re: Double CDs

Garym,
Thanks for the info. I think you do double CDs just the way I want to. Basically, there is one extra layer of folders for Doubles. That said, I have to be honest....I don't think I understand how that is done.

I think I get the stuff that is done when the disc is inserted...just remove the Disc number from the album name. And add the disc * as in Disc 1/2.

What I don't understand is the dynamic naming. I created a new profile for Double CDs. But I don't know what options to select and how to put this string together. Is this a string that can be used on single discs? In other words does it only add the disc number and change folders when it is a double disc or should I just have a rebuke and a double cd profile? Confused.

[garym]

Re: Double CDs

Garym,
Thanks for the info. I think you do double CDs just the way I want to. Basically, there is one extra layer of folders for Doubles. That said, I have to be honest....I don't think I understand how that is done.

I think I get the stuff that is done when the disc is inserted...just remove the Disc number from the album name. And add the disc * as in Disc 1/2.

What I don't understand is the dynamic naming. I created a new profile for Double CDs. But I don't know what options to select and how to put this string together. Is this a string that can be used on single discs? In other words does it only add the disc number and change folders when it is a double disc or should I just have a rebuke and a double cd profile? Confused.

you don't need a special profile for multiCDs. The dynamic naming string I gave you works automatically for single CDs, compilation CDs, or multidisk CDs. With multidisc CDs you just need to make sure you have the album NAME the exact same for all the disks. Only the disc number is different. And for compilations, you just need to make sure the compilations box is checked on the ripping screen.

Do you know how to use the dynamic naming string I gave you. Lower left side of ripping screen, select "set" next to naming string, and once in that view, delete the current naming string and copy and paste my naming string in the blank. And you can even see how it works in advance by using the "madonna" example that is built into that screen.

lot's to learn in using this program, but once you get over the learning curve, it's all easy....

[PedroT99]

Re: Double CDs

Oh great!m I didn't realize that was the exact one I needed! I will put that in. Does that treat single CDs the same way Spoon's default works because I do like that. I know nothing about programming and don't know how to read it?

Also can you or someone explain what a file path is and how and what it impacts? It seems like it impacts where the file is saved. What happens if I move the file? Does it screw up the file path?

[garym]

Re: Double CDs

yes, single CDs are handled just like default. a path is just the directory and subdirectory where the file is located (e.g., c:\my music\). All files on your computer are located at some path or the other. And moving your subdirectories or files to another location (path) is OK to do. In fact I mostly rip to a temporary file location (path) and then later move my ripped files to a different location (actually a different computer...the one that serves as my SERVER to feed music 24/7 to my various players).

Oh great!m I didn't realize that was the exact one I needed! I will put that in. Does that treat single CDs the same way Spoon's default works because I do like that. I know nothing about programming and don't know how to read it?

Also can you or someone explain what a file path is and how and what it impacts? It seems like it impacts where the file is saved. What happens if I move the file? Does it screw up the file path?

[Porcus]

Re: Double CDs

Also can you or someone explain what a file path is and how and what it impacts? It seems like it impacts where the file is saved. What happens if I move the file? Does it screw up the file path?

The file path in the ripper, tells you where it stores the files (and what they are named). You can move as much as you like afterwards (but wait until ripping that CD is done).

One problem about putting 2CDs in one folder, is overwrite. If you wish to keep logs, then at least make sure you have full album title in the logfile name. (logfile.txt will overwrite ...)

Also, if you choose to write ReplayGain tags, then I guess (I have not tested) that dBpoweramp will count your physical disc as an album. So then you would have to do that job over again.


... myself, I put every physical disc in separate folder. The white is sorted as Beatles, The {1968} ¨ The Beatles §1, and .... §2, the paragraph sign for disc number (because that is a character seldom or never encountered in tags). One reason is that I want it to be clear whether I have a single-disc or a double-disc version of albums released as both. (Of course, sometimes the metadata selected will be wrong, e.g. putting up as Disc 1 of 2 the only disc of the 1CD version, but I have to correct that anyway. And this policy doesn't guard me against albums that exist in a 2CD and 3CD version -- then I have to manually enter a [2CD] or [3CD].)

[garym]

Re: Double CDs

Pedro, the 2 CDs in one folder point made by Porcus is a good one. And this is why on my own multidisk CDs, each of the CDs is in its own folder (disc 1, disc 2, etc.) underneath the upper level ALBUM name directory. So within each "disc" folder there is a separate log for that particular disc.

And note that there is no "correct" answer here. Rather, there is personal preference. Porcus and I handle multidisc albums differently. Many people handle use of ALBUM ARTIST differently, or compilation tag, etc. Learn what works best for your own use (and the players you use, which can sometimes dictate your tagging decisions). Don't think that what the program automatically gives you when you are ripping is what you are stuck with. I rarely use the GENRE that comes up automatically when ripping.

edit: and yes, dbpa will count each DISC separately for ReplayGain purposes. Some people like this approach (each disc has a separate RG ALBUM tag) and some don't. I typically redo the RG tags for a multidisc CD using either dbpa RG DSP or foobar2000, treating all the discs as a single album for purposes of caculating album RG values. For example, I may have a 3 CD set that is actually a single Grateful Dead concert. I will play all the CDs as a single album and want the ALBUM level RG to be indentical across all the 3 discs. Obviously if one's player doesn't use RG values in playback, all this is irrelevant. I use primarily Squeezebox players at home (and foobar2000 on computer) and both use ReplayGain values (ALBUM or TRACK).

The file path in the ripper, tells you where it stores the files (and what they are named). You can move as much as you like afterwards (but wait until ripping that CD is done).

One problem about putting 2CDs in one folder, is overwrite. If you wish to keep logs, then at least make sure you have full album title in the logfile name. (logfile.txt will overwrite ...)

Also, if you choose to write ReplayGain tags, then I guess (I have not tested) that dBpoweramp will count your physical disc as an album. So then you would have to do that job over again.


... myself, I put every physical disc in separate folder. The white is sorted as Beatles, The {1968} ¨ The Beatles §1, and .... §2, the paragraph sign for disc number (because that is a character seldom or never encountered in tags). One reason is that I want it to be clear whether I have a single-disc or a double-disc version of albums released as both. (Of course, sometimes the metadata selected will be wrong, e.g. putting up as Disc 1 of 2 the only disc of the 1CD version, but I have to correct that anyway. And this policy doesn't guard me against albums that exist in a 2CD and 3CD version -- then I have to manually enter a [2CD] or [3CD].)

[PedroT99]

Re: Double CDs

Awesome guys. Thanks! I think I get it. I'm going to go with they one folder with 2 sub folder approach. Only question is how do I determine RG? I have the RG set so it s been doing it automatically. If the album(s) each have a separate and presumably different value, where do I find them, how do I know which is right and how do I change one of them.

Thanks again!

[garym]

Re: Double CDs

Awesome guys. Thanks! I think I get it. I'm going to go with they one folder with 2 sub folder approach. Only question is how do I determine RG? I have the RG set so it s been doing it automatically. If the album(s) each have a separate and presumably different value, where do I find them, how do I know which is right and how do I change one of them.

Thanks again!

open dbpa BATCH CONVERT, and then select the upper level subdirectory of the entire album (that is the top level, so that disc1, disc2, etc. are BELOW this leve). This way you are selecting all the disks. Then select CONVERT, then CONVERT to "RG" which is simply going to re-do the RG values.

I think you may not yet understand that there are lots of tools in dbpa, not just the ripper.

[PedroT99]

Re: Double CDs

Nice...I'll try that now. If I have a problem, you know I'll ask!

[PedroT99]

Re: Double CDs

open dbpa BATCH CONVERT, and then select the upper level subdirectory of the entire album (that is the top level, so that disc1, disc2, etc. are BELOW this leve). This way you are selecting all the disks. Then select CONVERT, then CONVERT to "RG" which is simply going to re-do the RG values.

I think you may not yet understand that there are lots of tools in dbpa, not just the ripper.

So I used your script with one mod so that I can get artist in the name of the file and it worked perfectly. I am not however seeing how the RG gets redone in batch convert. I added the RG effect to batch convert but RG is not an option under batch convert for me....I have multi format, mpc, AIFF, flac, wav...a few others but nothing that is RG. What am I missing?

Also, I did just do my first batch converts to mp3 and it worked great although I realize that my album artwork didn't make it over. Is there an way to preserve that?

[garym]

Re: Double CDs

So I used your script with one mod so that I can get artist in the name of the file and it worked perfectly. I am not however seeing how the RG gets redone in batch convert. I added the RG effect to batch convert but RG is not an option under batch convert for me....I have multi format, mpc, AIFF, flac, wav...a few others but nothing that is RG. What am I missing?

Also, I did just do my first batch converts to mp3 and it worked great although I realize that my album artwork didn't make it over. Is there an way to preserve that?

in batch convert, you are converting to RG (upper left of screen). That is, instead of choosing to convert to mp3, or Flac, etc. you are converting to "RG". This is not actually converting the music, just adding RG values to the selected tracks (or redoing the RG values).

on the artwork issue: when doing the conversion to mp3, at the bottom of the conversion screen there is a place to add DSP or actions. I have two DSPs there. RG and ID TAG PROCESSING. The setting for ID TAG PROCESSING in the 'manipulations' tab, has an import art from setting. I have it set to import art from "cover.jpg". That is, my FLAC album art is in cover.jpg format/name per album. But when I create mp3 files I want the art to be imbedded in the mp3 file. I also tell it here to force the art to be jpg no matter what. And I give it a maximum artwork size of 500x500 (as I may have cover.jpg of 1000x1000).

[PedroT99]

Re: Double CDs

in batch convert, you are converting to RG (upper left of screen). That is, instead of choosing to convert to mp3, or Flac, etc. you are converting to "RG". This is not actually converting the music, just adding RG values to the selected tracks (or redoing the RG values).

on the artwork issue: when doing the conversion to mp3, at the bottom of the conversion screen there is a place to add DSP or actions. I have two DSPs there. RG and ID TAG PROCESSING. The setting for ID TAG PROCESSING in the 'manipulations' tab, has an import art from setting. I have it set to import art from "cover.jpg". That is, my FLAC album art is in cover.jpg format/name per album. But when I create mp3 files I want the art to be imbedded in the mp3 file. I also tell it here to force the art to be jpg no matter what. And I give it a maximum artwork size of 500x500 (as I may have cover.jpg of 1000x1000).

Perfect...I get all of the album art. I didn't do any mp3 conversions with it but it is all there. I noticed that my art is named Folder.jpg. Is there a reason why it is one or the other? I dont' care...just curious. I don't remember selecting a file name.

As for the RG...I just done see it. Along the top of batch convert, I see: Convert, List, Refresh, Reset and Filter..then just "keys". When I click on convert, I have the drop down options of MultiEncoder, AIFF, Apple Lossless, FLAC, mp3 (lame), Test Conversion, WAC and then m4a, Ogg Vorbis and Windows Media the last 3 of which are greyed out. Below that is Output location and below that a place to add DSP. That's it. What am I missing?

I do have the 21 day trial version of the SW...do you think that is it? I'm going to upgrade and buy a license anyway but could that be it? The site calls the trial "fully functional" so I doubt it.

Thanks again for all of your help! I have most of it figured out....or I should say You, Porcus and Spoon figured it out for me!