Merging Music Libraries - This Is What To Do.

[1kyle]

If you've got two computers and want to MERGE the music in the libraries (note this is DIFFERENT from Copying a Library to a different machine which I've described on another thread) then you can do it as follows.

1) -- I don't have any purchased music -- only my own recordings both digital and analog and ripped CD's / DVD's so no DRM crud either.

2) convert all the tracks which only exist on 1 computer to .WAV -- and store the output files on a shared network disk (say an external USB disk) if you don't have a network.

For example if Library a has 75 albums in it and Library B has 60 albums in it convert to WAV all the albums in library B that don't exist in Library A and store on the external Hard drive / Network drive.

3) Now Import these into Library A (you can import MUSIC FILES (.WAV).

4) Next backup Library A with the SS backup tool --Backup to the external HD / Network drive.

5) Ensure the Disk is now plugged into the 2nd computer. If you are using a Network disk ensure the Disk is accessible to computer B.

6) Connect to the Internet -- You'll need a few seconds of Internet connection as the next step verifies the "Restorability" of the Library --as there is no purchased music in it Authentication will pass.

7) Restore the library to computer B. The original library on computer B will be deleted and be replaced by the one you backed up on Computer A.

Now you've got ALL your music on two different machines and you haven't lost any rights etc etc.

You can use either library for uploading or all normal SS functions.

Hope some of you find this useful.

Note it DOES work with your own recordings, ripped CD's and ripped DVD's.

I don't purchase music from download stores so I have never had Validation problems on restore.

Cheers

-K

Edited June 22, 2005 by 1kyle

[dex Otaku]

Yes, it works, but it also potentially inflates the size of your library by a full order of magnitude if you're going from HiSP to WAV. If you're then converting back down to HiSP or another ATRAC format, you're also incurring a second [or third or fourth] quality loss in the process.

This method would have no impact on size for people like myself whose entire library consists of 'live' recordings I've uploaded, almost all of which are LPCM. For anyone else, especially users who rip their own music or record in HiSP or other modes, the increase in total size of their library could be quite dramatic, not to mention the quality loss of re-encoding anything that originated in modes lower than HiSP.

[1kyle]

Yes, it works, but it also potentially inflates the size of your library by a full order of magnitude if you're going from HiSP to WAV.  If you're then converting back down to HiSP or another ATRAC format, you're also incurring a second [or third or fourth] quality loss in the process.

This method would have no impact on size for people like myself whose entire library consists of 'live' recordings I've uploaded, almost all of which are LPCM.  For anyone else, especially users who rip their own music or record in HiSP or other modes, the increase in total size of their library could be quite dramatic, not to mention the quality loss of re-encoding anything that originated in modes lower than HiSP.

←

Hi true --but it saves re-ripping again so the actual degradation say in going from Atrac3+ @ 256 kbs ===> WAV ===> Atrac3+ @ 256 kbs is not very significant so long as it's only done ONCE.

After you've converted to WAV and re-imported into the library at say ATRAC3+ @ 256 you delete the WAV files generated.

I agree if you are using lower bitrates then you are likely to notice some loss --however I only ever use ATRAC3+ @ 256 and some (but not much) PCM.

Transferring some tracks also from the "Merged library" at LP2 to an 80 Min disc sounds identical to an 80 min LP2 disc made before merging the libraries --and this is on GOOD gear.

So long as your music is recorded at a decent bit rate to start with a "merge" like this won't cause any noticeable degradation --as before so long as it's done ONCE.

Cheers

-K

Cheers

-K