Remove Source Mp3 Files From Library

[MAVickers]

Howdy.

I have MP3s scattered across a bunch of CDs and DVDs in various archives and am in the process of importing them into SonicStage so I can get the music onto my HiMD (I have a 1st Gen unit). Yes, I'm well aware that I'm "stacking codecs" and generational loss, etc.

Here's the rub -- First, I import the MP3s in SS. SS notices that I'm pulling the MP3s off removable media and asks me if I want to import after I've copied the files to my HD. I tell it no thanks, and then it imports the MP3s into the library. I then highlight the tracks that I've just imported and convert to the ATRAC format of my choice.

All's fine until I remove the CD and try to play the track in SS. Instead of smartly noticing that the MP3 file is no longer there and to give the ATRAC version a try, it throws an error that it can't find the file and asks me if I want to remove the file from my library. If I say yes, it removes both the MP3 and ATRAC version of the track. If I say no, it just aborts playback.

I thought I remembered in past versions of SS having the option of removing the reference to the MP3 file OR the ATRAC file. It seems that I don't have that option now. Does anyone know of a way to do get MP3s converted into the library without SS being hung up on the original copy of the MP3? There are two kludges I'd rather avoid - deleting reference to each MP3 by hand or copying the ATRAC files out of the "Optimized Files" folder into a temp folder and reimporting just the ATRAC files.