SonicStage 3.2 - Can I do these 3 things?

[drmoze]

Finally got my SS ripping and HD5 playing! So it actually makes noise now.

I have 3 things I'd like to do with SS 3.2 and my HD5. I haven;t had a chance to check out all of the details of using SS and I'm really swamped at work, so a quick tip or even letting me know if these things can be done in SS would be most appreciated.

First, I have a few multi-disc compilation CDs. (I exclusively rip my own CDs to Atrac 192 kbps.) I have them saved as separate titles/folders in SS. I would like to Save each multidisc set under a single title on my HD5. I already transferred the files as separate albums though (e.g. Have a Nice Day has 7 menu listings for discs 1-7). What's the easiest way to combine these 7 discs under one title? Do I have to create a playlist in SS with all 7 albums and transfer that to the HD5? If so, can I remove the 7 separate album titles from the HD5 but leave the songs on it? Or do I have to remove all the song files, create a playlist in SS, and retransfer all the songs to the HD5? Any tips or pointing me in the right direction would be great!

Second question: I am ripping my CDs at 192 kbps. Is it possible to convert them to 64 kbps when transferring to the HD5? (Many CDs are older music with relatively poor sound quality.) Is there any way to store the master files at 192 but transfer at 64 without needing to create and store 2 copies of each song/album? I'd like to do this thru the transfer as I have a lot of CDs (hundreds) and wdon't want to deal with managing duplicate albums at different bitrates.

Final easy question: If I backup my collection, can I do so to an external drive directly? And can I then remove the folders/files from my primary (laptop) drive, rip more CDs, and have them added to the external backup? (I don't want to lose the first set of folders/files inthe backup when doing this.)

Some of these may seem like simple questions, but based on my limited SS experience to date, SS has a quirky way of keeping Library database info separate from the physical file/folder info (e.g. renaming things in SS without having the corresponding folder/file renamed on the hard drive).

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

drmoze is online now Edit/Delete Message

[drmoze]

OK, Finally had a chance to play with SS a bit. Figured out a couple of my Q's above. Here's some hopefully helpful tips.

I'm ripping my CD collection (at 192), starting with the box sets before I hit the CD shelves. I did figure out a few handy things for organizing multi-CD sets and compilations.

For single-artist sets, SS handles this pretty easily. After ripping the CDs (which have the title usually followed by "(Disc n)"), I create a playlist with just the set title (or I may add "1-n" after the title if there are n discs total). To do this, I click the "Create/Edit Playlist" box/button near the top right of the My Library listing. Then I select the first album in the set from the left column and click the red right arrow to add it to the playlist. I repeat with all n discs in order. This actually adds all tracks in order, from Track 1 of disc 1 to the last track of the last disc! (Surprised me that it worked as I hoped!) Then click the "Close Edit" button to finish.

The same procedure works for multiartist compilations. The only other thing to do is to right-click the playlist title (usually a pink square as opposed to the blue album squares), and put in the proper artist (may be 'Various'), genre, and initial info. This creates a single title for each multi-disc set with all of the tracks in order.

I then transfer only the pink playlist for each set to my DAP.

The other handy bit is importing compilations (e.g. to bring in an earlier-ripped or accidentally-deleted multi-artist CD). SS unfortunately imports them as individual tracks by artist name, even though they all share a common album name. based on tips in another thread, the easy way to recombine them is to first view My Library by All Tracks (drop-dow on the left side) and then do a search and enter the album title. All tracks in the album will appear in the main window. Either shift-click or click on a title and then press Ctrl-A to select all tracks in the window. Right-click anywhere in the highlighted tracks and heck the 'compilation' box. Exit the dialog and all tracks should be back into a single album. You cna then right-click on the album and select Properties to edit the artist and genre info as desired.

Recollecting the tracks into an album this way may rearrange the order of the tracks. I open the original folder containing the files in a window to the side. (it's usually at C:\Documents and Settings \ All Users \ Sonic Stage \ Packages. Then it is easy to simply drag the trascks into proper order in the SS Library window. And, the tracks automatically renumber when dragged into a new order!! Yay!!!

Hope these tips help. My only hassle now is to remove the multidisc albums on my HD5 and load up just the playlists.

BTW, does anyone know what order albums are sorted in for the Artist view? All of the 'various artist' albums are there, but some are not in alphabetical order...

I'm also not sure the best way to store my music files on an external hd and remove them from my laptop drive (where they were originally ripped to). I think I want to avoid"importing" albums thru SS because compilations import as separate tracks by artist. Would it be OK to delete the files/folders from my laptop manually after copying them to the HD without "telling" SS? And then manually copying back album folders to the SS folder on my laptop and then transfer them to my HD5? I think this may work best. Would SS keep a complete list in My Library of all my ripped CDs? And would it recognize them later if I removed the folders and then recopied them back??? (None of my CDs have been encoded with protection.) Or, do I have to backup and import/restore to have SS recognize the files and access them later?

TIA!!!

[Christopher]

BTW, does anyone know what order albums are sorted in for the Artist view? All of the 'various artist' albums are there, but some are not in alphabetical order...

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Depends on what you have the "Sort by.." defined as.

I think I want to avoid"importing" albums thru SS because compilations import as separate tracks by artist.

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I noticed this as well when I imported the Garden State soundtrack to my HD3. Very annoying, but it doesn't take too long just to fix it when transferring to the unit.

Would it be OK to delete the files/folders from my laptop manually after copying them to the HD without "telling" SS?

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I wouldn't try it - Sonicstage is too fiesty. Report back if you do, though.

[lindijones]

Finally got my SS ripping and HD5 playing! So it actually makes noise now.

Hi!!!!

I try to answer very short ok?

I have 3 things I'd like to do with SS 3.2 and my HD5. I haven;t had a chance to check out all of the details of using SS and I'm really swamped at work, so a quick tip or even letting me know if these things can be done in SS would be most appreciated.

First, I have a few multi-disc compilation CDs. (I exclusively rip my own CDs to Atrac 192 kbps.) I have them saved as separate titles/folders in SS. I would like to Save each multidisc set under a single title on my HD5. I already transferred the files as separate albums though (e.g. Have a Nice Day has 7 menu listings for discs 1-7). What's the easiest way to combine these 7 discs under one title? Do I have to create a playlist in SS with all 7 albums and transfer that to the HD5? If so, can I remove the 7 separate album titles from the HD5 but leave the songs on it? Or do I have to remove all the song files, create a playlist in SS, and retransfer all the songs to the HD5? Any tips or pointing me in the right direction would be great!

Second question: I am ripping my CDs at 192 kbps. Is it possible to convert them to 64 kbps when transferring to the HD5? (Many CDs are older music with relatively poor sound quality.) Is there any way to store the master files at 192 but transfer at 64 without needing to create and store 2 copies of each song/album? I'd like to do this thru the transfer as I have a lot of CDs (hundreds) and wdon't want to deal with managing duplicate albums at different bitrates.

Final easy question: If I backup my collection, can I do so to an external drive directly? And can I then remove the folders/files from my primary (laptop) drive, rip more CDs, and have them added to the external backup? (I don't want to lose the first set of folders/files inthe backup when doing this.)

Some of these may seem like simple questions, but based on my limited SS experience to date, SS has a quirky way of keeping Library database info separate from the physical file/folder info (e.g. renaming things in SS without having the corresponding folder/file renamed on the hard drive).

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

drmoze is online now    Edit/Delete Message

←

Hi!!!!

I try to answer very short ok?

First:

I think you have to make a Playlist and then you can move the Tracks of all albums into this list. You can still see album and the Artist in the Playlist.

I think it is diffucult/impossible to see the albums then inside the Player/HD5.

Thats the only chance not to loose the album information.

Second:

Yes you can.

In the Check out settings you can select a permantent setting what should happen with the musicfiles if you transfer it to the player. Just choose 64 kbit/s.

Then transfer all the files you want to have after that in low quality.

So change the setting back to e.g. 192 kbit/s and then transfer the high quality tracks you want on your player.

Third:

I never tried this but it should be possible now with SS3.2 if you have ripped all without CopyProtect. Or just with MP3s.

If you have more questions just ask.

Tom

Edited September 28, 2005 by lindijones