RE: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

[Jailhouse]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

I feel I am better at ripping than I was four months ago, but I am nowhere near the stage of ever creating my own 'strings'.

I started ripping using a CD Ripper tutorial I found on a blog. The naming string works for me, so I didn't need to understand how it works. As a result, string examples in these forums made my eyes glaze over a bit.

That changed when I started to convert my AIFF files to FLAC. My CD Ripper naming string didn't work to my satisfaction in Music Converter, so I had to figure out what I wanted and how I could get there. Armed with the dBpoweramp Naming page, I repeatedly set up conversion of a few files to see how my changes affected the results. The best thing is that I could see those results without having to initiate an actual conversion, as Music Converter has a button showing the number of files being processed; when clicked it opens a page listing the complete paths for the new files. If something wasn't right (missing spaces, path problems, utter garbage), I tried a fix and looked again. Eventually, I had it sussed and could start converting for real. (After which I had to deal with tags, but that's a different subject. )

The first point here is that you can use Music Converter to learn how to create working naming strings without having to rip CDs, saving yourself a lot of time. Copy a few of your FLAC files to a new folder, highlight and right-click on them, choose Convert To in the pop-up dialog, and start experimenting with naming strings either by pasting in the one you use with CD Ripper or writing from scratch. Try adding elements just to see what they do. Alter or add tags if you need to experiment with them. Use the button I mentioned to check the results of your efforts as you go. As long as you're working on copies of your files, you won't mess up anything you care about--but do ensure that if you perform an actual conversion, you're writing new files to the same folder as the ones you're experimenting on, or a subfolder of it. You don't want files strewn about willy-nilly.

The second point is that if you're like me, you learn by doing, and using Music Converter this way makes that much easier; I like to think if it as a naming string sandbox. While you don't have the same programming experience that schmidj and I do (coincidentally, I also started with Fortran, in 1973), you have to start somewhere. Why not begin with something you're really interested in?

[schmidj]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

Monster, if you want to learn how the naming string works, make a different profile with a different storage location (so you don't mess up your main directory) and experiment some. I've played with it quite a bit to get what I want (particularly avoiding too long file/directory names, like classical CDs, without messing up what's in the tags.)

Now I have the advantage of having been around computer programming for over 50 years, (Fortran in 1964) and I can see how someone with no coding experience would be lost particularly when it comes to conditional (IF and such) commands. But, in this day and age it is probably nice to understand the logic in computer programming examples. Now there is the issue of the "language" used here and its syntax.

I don't know where Spoon found this one, or if he dreamed it up himself. It is very flexible, if rather obtuse. Get used to counting brackets... But if you understand the fundamentals of coding, particularly conditionals, and realize that the string decodes from left to right except for parentheses, rather like an algebraic expression, you should be able to understand how the string works. It is basically a translator.

As an example, I never learned PHP, HTML or CSS3 until I got into making a couple of webpages and found it necessary to modify the pre-programmed templates to make the pages the way I wanted them. I had no problem following the logic, based on the other languages I learned, but I have yet to remember the syntaxes. Google is my friend, I type the language name and command in the search box, and up pops the command, with all the syntax displayed. Is it a comma or a semicolon. Where do I need a slash. Etc. Unfortunately I've never found anything on this naming string language outside of dBPoweramp, but there are plenty of examples and it is easy to experiment. And if you try something and it doesn't work ask here. Much better than just saying "I don't see how to make it work". But as I said, I fully understand how people with no coding experience find it to be "greek".

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

No problem.

I'm just trying to encourage the learning/understanding of dBpoweramp, rather than copying parrot-fashion.

Mville,

I feel I am better at ripping than I was four months ago, but I am nowhere near the stage of ever creating my own 'strings'.

Paul

[mville]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

I am not saying that I am unhappy with the scheme, but rather that I was double-checking the 'compilation' results I were correct before proceeding. I have only ripped 2 x 'compilation' CDs to date and so had little to compare the results with.

When I adopted Gary's 'string' I had only owned 'dBpa. for a couple for weeks, and so new next to nothing about it. But I am still glad I made this decision.

No problem.

I'm just trying to encourage the learning/understanding of dBpoweramp, rather than copying parrot-fashion.

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

It all comes down to the Naming string. garym's Naming string works for him.

It seems you have chosen to copy his Naming string, without first deciding is that how you want your filename and folder structure to be.

Mville,

I am not saying that I am unhappy with the scheme, but rather that I was double-checking the 'compilation' results I were correct before proceeding. I have only ripped 2 x 'compilation' CDs to date and so had little to compare the results with.

When I adopted Gary's 'string' I had only owned 'dBpa. for a couple for weeks, and so new next to nothing about it. But I am still glad I made this decision.

Paul

[mville]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

I am inclined to stick with you and leave things as they are. Let sleeping dogs lie, as they say!

It all comes down to the Naming string. garym's Naming string works for him.

It seems you have chosen to copy his Naming string, without first deciding is that how you want your filename and folder structure to be.

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

I have to say yes. It is my own naming scheme that creates this output. So of course I think it is correct. But if you want file names to be something different, you can edit the dynamic naming string to produce whatever filenames you want. It is completely flexible.

Hi Gary,

I am inclined to stick with you and leave things as they are. Let sleeping dogs lie, as they say!

Paul

[garym]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

Hi Gary,

By 'field', I just use that as a generic term for (what some may call) a 'verbatim box'. So basically just the empty box in which you type the metadata.

So should I just leave everything as it is and go along with how it is appearing by default, please?

Cheers,

Paul

I have to say yes. It is my own naming scheme that creates this output. So of course I think it is correct. But if you want file names to be something different, you can edit the dynamic naming string to produce whatever filenames you want. It is completely flexible.

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

This is all correct (and exactly how my naming string is written to work). You are referring to fields, when in fact what you are showing is the FILE NAME in your pictures. My reasoning. When it is a compilation, each track could have a different artist, so I like the FILE NAME to include that track artist as part of file name. When it is NOT a compilation, the artist is the same for all tracks within an album, therefore I don't need the filename to include the artist name. Nothing required about all this. It is just the way I like to organize file names.

Hi Gary,

By 'field', I just use that as a generic term for (what some may call) a 'verbatim box'. So basically just the empty box in which you type the metadata.

So should I just leave everything as it is and go along with how it is appearing by default, please?

Cheers,

Paul

[garym]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

Hi,

I have been looking through the namings of my 'Compilation' CD rips and I have noticed something.

With regards to CD 'Properties' within Windows, in images 1 & 2 you can see that the artists name is automatically included in the same field as the track number and song title:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wx2...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1APW...ew?usp=sharing

But in non-compilation albums, in images 3 & 4 you can see that the artists name is automatically omitted:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ek...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WO...ew?usp=sharing

Does this matter and is there a reason for this, please?

Many thanks,

Paul

This is all correct (and exactly how my naming string is written to work). You are referring to fields, when in fact what you are showing is the FILE NAME in your pictures. My reasoning. When it is a compilation, each track could have a different artist, so I like the FILE NAME to include that track artist as part of file name. When it is NOT a compilation, the artist is the same for all tracks within an album, therefore I don't need the filename to include the artist name. Nothing required about all this. It is just the way I like to organize file names.

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

Hi,

I have been looking through the namings of my 'Compilation' CD rips and I have noticed something.

With regards to CD 'Properties' within Windows, in images 1 & 2 you can see that the artists name is automatically included in the same field as the track number and song title:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wx2...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1APW...ew?usp=sharing

But in non-compilation albums, in images 3 & 4 you can see that the artists name is automatically omitted:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ek...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WO...ew?usp=sharing

Does this matter and is there a reason for this, please?

Many thanks,

Paul

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

... I actually just switched it to 'Miles Davis & Bill Laswell' as Artist. Cheers.

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

I'd certainly see it as a non-compilation from 1998 - I don't want displayed, in the middle of Compilations.

Artist, I'd probably still use Miles Davis, but possibly have Bill Laswell as a featured artist, as he is mentioned on the sleeve.

I guess the nearest I've got to this is The Beatles, Love, Year 2006, which I didn't mention Giles Martin.

Oggy,

Cheers mate, that's helpful. It came up as 'compilation' by default, so I unchecked it.

I decided to use Bill Laswell as the 'Artist' and Miles as the 'Album Artist'. This is because I used Herbie Hancock as the 'Artist' and (Miles as the 'Album Artist') on a Miles Davis TRIBUTE CD last month. I thought that scheming worked quite well.

Paul

[Oggy]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

Hi,

I have one more Miles Davis CD to rip now ("Panthalassa" - Bill Laswell):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantha...9%E2%80%931974

It is a first of a kind to me because the album comprises 9 REMIXES of Miles's previous work (Miles had passed away before the making of this album).

I am guessing that one would file this album under 'Miles Davis'; and that he would also be the 'Album Artist'? The 'Artist' - I think - would be 'Bill Laswell'?

But it's the fact that it's a REMIX which confuses me as to what I should state for 'Year'? I think Oggy would place the entire album under '1998' - even though all of the tracks are from the 1970s? And I don't think it's a 'compilation' because - to me - I perceive the album as an entity of it's own.

Thanks,

Paul

I'd certainly see it as a non-compilation from 1998 - I don't want displayed, in the middle of Compilations.

Artist, I'd probably still use Miles Davis, but possibly have Bill Laswell as a featured artist, as he is mentioned on the sleeve.

I guess the nearest I've got to this is The Beatles, Love, Year 2006, which I didn't mention Giles Martin.

YMMV!!

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: Defining 'Compilation' (help?)

Hi,

I have one more Miles Davis CD to rip now ("Panthalassa" - Bill Laswell):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantha...9%E2%80%931974

It is a first of a kind to me because the album comprises 9 REMIXES of Miles's previous work (Miles had passed away before the making of this album).

I am guessing that one would file this album under 'Miles Davis'; and that he would also be the 'Album Artist'? The 'Artist' - I think - would be 'Bill Laswell'?

But it's the fact that it's a REMIX which confuses me as to what I should state for 'Year'? I think Oggy would place the entire album under '1998' - even though all of the tracks are from the 1970s? And I don't think it's a 'compilation' because - to me - I perceive the album as an entity of it's own.

Thanks,

Paul