How to convert albums, or artists with multiple albums, without converting each track

[risman]

I have a bunch of flac files in Vortexbox, some of which I want to convert to mp3 files for iTunes. I know there I can convert to mp3 in Vortexbox but that is a slow process. I know I can convert individual flac tracks to mp3 using Music Converter, but I haven't figured out if there's a way to convert an entire album, or group of albums in the case of an artist with multiple albums, and capture the artist and album name. Is there?

[garym]

Re: How to convert albums, or artists with multiple albums, without converting each t

I have a bunch of flac files in Vortexbox, some of which I want to convert to mp3 files for iTunes. I know there I can convert to mp3 in Vortexbox but that is a slow process. I know I can convert individual flac tracks to mp3 using Music Converter, but I haven't figured out if there's a way to convert an entire album, or group of albums in the case of an artist with multiple albums, and capture the artist and album name. Is there?

never mind, wrong forum prior answer I gave. ;-). You can simply use batch converter and then select whichever directories (artist, album, etc.) you want to convert. Then you'll be converting entire directories or subdirectories.

perhaps you're not noticing the "batch converter" program. This is different from music converter program, but is in the same directory in your program files.

[risman]

Re: How to convert albums, or artists with multiple albums, without converting each t

Thanks. I tried the Batch Converter, but it still ends up just copying all the individual tracks but not the album.

[garym]

Re: How to convert albums, or artists with multiple albums, without converting each t

Thanks. I tried the Batch Converter, but it still ends up just copying all the individual tracks but not the album.

I'm confused as to what you mean. Did it copy all the tracks for an album but just not create a directory/subdirectory structure as you expect for artist/album? Did you set up the dynamic naming correctly to do this when converting? I can create a mirror of all my FLAC files converted to mp3 retaining the complete Artist/Album directory structure for about 5,000 albums with only a couple of mouse clicks.

[risman]

Re: How to convert albums, or artists with multiple albums, without converting each t

Yes, it copied all the tracks but didn't create directory/subdirectory structure. I didn't know about dynamic naming until reading your note, so tried to set up that way. That seemed to pretty much work, except for 1) albums that dBpoweramp couldn't find, and that I had labeled/tagged myself, didn't keep my labels and showed up as unknown artist, and 2) even though I could find the albums in the iTunes directory, they weren't showing up in the iTunes Library and thus not showing up when trying to see all my albums on my computer. I had to do the "Add Folder to Library" routine, go find the album in the iTunes directory, and import each album that way to get them into the Library. Seems like there should be an easier way... Anyway, thanks much for your help.

[Spoon]

Re: How to convert albums, or artists with multiple albums, without converting each t

[origpath]\[origfilename]

can be used, instead of [artist]\[album] etc...

[garym]

Re: How to convert albums, or artists with multiple albums, without converting each t

Yes, it copied all the tracks but didn't create directory/subdirectory structure. I didn't know about dynamic naming until reading your note, so tried to set up that way. That seemed to pretty much work, except for 1) albums that dBpoweramp couldn't find, and that I had labeled/tagged myself, didn't keep my labels and showed up as unknown artist, and 2) even though I could find the albums in the iTunes directory, they weren't showing up in the iTunes Library and thus not showing up when trying to see all my albums on my computer. I had to do the "Add Folder to Library" routine, go find the album in the iTunes directory, and import each album that way to get them into the Library. Seems like there should be an easier way... Anyway, thanks much for your help.

yes, easy way is to add the unknown metadata in the screen just before you rip the CD where dbpa can't find the info. You can click on the fields and enter artist, album name, track name, etc. before you start ripping. This way, the dynamic naming string will also put things in the right directory. For things you've already ripped, you just need to copy/move things to the right directory, You can automate this with dbpa or mp3tag if you choose.