I need to catalog my music - got a ? or 2

[itschris]

I will be embarking on my HTPC build in the very near future once I get everything up and running soundly. I want to catalog my music in the best possible way... lossless if it's not an unusually burdensome process. I want to be able to bring up the music files in Vista Media Center so that it also has the thumbnails, genre, and all that, but I'm not sure how that part works.

Can you guys give me some advice on what programs to use to create the best rips of my discs and tag the files with the necesssary info? Thanx in advance.

 

[FguerraG]

there are many programs available for both tasks but EAC Ogg and FLAC comes to mind and Tag & Rename for properly cataloging your files

Now for playing them on HTPC you'll need codecs

get them @ freecodecs.com

hope that helps

 

[dronezero]

I'll second Exact Audio Copy to rip to flac. This blog then has a good guide to get WMP/MC to play flac. I've done this process and it works well. The only problem I have found is that WMP always shows all of my flac tracks as having no length. So if that is not a problem I think EAC to flac would be a good option.

 

[itschris]

Thanks guys. I'll run through that blog.

 

[Exit]

I think it is Stratman who recommends Media Monkey, but we will have to wait until he sees this thread to comment on it.

 

[westcott]

I know this will sound like it is coming from left field but after considering an HTPC, I decided it was easier, and cheaper, to just buy a CD jukebox(s). For US$200-$300, you can get a 300 or 400 disc capacity player. That is a lot of storage without the heat, noise, boot up, cost, software, space, remote control issues, etc.

 

[itschris]

I know this will sound like it is coming from left field but after considering an HTPC, I decided it was easier, and cheaper, to just buy a CD jukebox(s). For US$200-$300, you can get a 300 or 400 disc capacity player. That is a lot of storage without the heat, noise, boot up, cost, software, space, remote control issues, etc.

That was in fact my original plan. I was looking Pioneer Elite player. The thing is, I have over 1500 discs and there's no real way to easily go through all that. Using Vista Media Center, it's almost like an IPOD where you can create playlists, as well as quickly and visually (on your tv or touchscreen) access your music by any number criteria. It just seems a lot easier if you have a lot of music. I want to archive my music anyway, so it serves two purposes. I got to play with a Vista setup and even if you a Microsoft hater, you kinda have to admit that's it's pretty neat and works reasonably well.

 

[stratman]

I think it is Stratman who recommends Media Monkey, but we will have to wait until he sees this thread to comment on it.

Yes it me! Try MediaMonkey, no snags with Vista you can rip and convert to just about any format known( I rip in WAV), I've used it for about four years now originally with an XP PC, no hassles. I just built my audiolibrary using a PC as a platform, it has Vista and MediaMonkey, no hiccups, no hassles. I also use SnapStream Firefly remote to control all the functions without using a mouse, it's RF based and it works through cabinet doors, also Turtle Beach Montego sound card, it sports SPDIF to connect to receiver.


This might help:http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40855

 

[itschris]

I was just checking out MediaMonkey. How does this work with Vista Media Center? What is the front end to play music - MediaMonkey or Vista. I want to build an HTPC that just boots up the main Media Center menu where I can just click music and go from there. I'm going to have a touchscreen which will make operation really easy for the wife and daughter when they want to use the system. Can I use MediaMonkey to rip the CD's and then use the Vista Media Center to access everything? I just want one consolidated way to run everything.

 

[Warpdrv]

I also quadruple the suggestions of using Media Monkey,it is a great program, and it will do everything just as well as windows media, if not better all you do to use it as your standard player, is right click on your music file and open with Media Monkey, and set it as the default.

Then when you choose to play some music, it will always be the player of choice.

 

[stratman]

I also quadruple the suggestions of using Media Monkey,it is a great program, and it will do everything just as well as windows media, if not better all you do to use it as your standard player, is right click on your music file and open with Media Monkey, and set it as the default.

Then when you choose to play some music, it will always be the player of choice.

Spot on. Super simple. Never had a problem.

 

[itschris]

Okay you know when Vista Media Center opens and you have our main menu where it lists Music, Movies, etc.

If I click Music how is it accessing my files? It's not using Media Monkey correct? I'm just that that familiar with how things integrate. I don't want to open up Media Monkey and use that. I want to use the Media Center interface. Is that still possible?

 

[MDS]

If I click Music how is it accessing my files? It's not using Media Monkey correct? I'm just that that familiar with how things integrate. I don't want to open up Media Monkey and use that. I want to use the Media Center interface. Is that still possible?

MediaMonkey is just another application for managing and playing your collection of digital audio files. WinAmp, Windows Media Player, iTunes, etc are the same principle. You can use all of them at the same time or pick the one you like the best.

I downloaded MM to see what all the fuss is about. I told it where to search for my music and it built its own database of all the files. So now both MM and WinAmp have their own database of every song in my collection. MM seems to have a lot of features and can deal with a lot of different file types and conversions between them all but so can WinAmp and others - the features and layout of the interface is what differs slightly between all these applications.

If you are going to use Windows Media Center then you don't need MediaMonkey or any other application unless it provides a feature you want/need that isn't available in WMC or you just like the interface better.

 

[stratman]

MediaMonkey is just another application for managing and playing your collection of digital audio files. WinAmp, Windows Media Player, iTunes, etc are the same principle. You can use all of them at the same time or pick the one you like the best.

I downloaded MM to see what all the fuss is about. I told it where to search for my music and it built its own database of all the files. So now both MM and WinAmp have their own database of every song in my collection. MM seems to have a lot of features and can deal with a lot of different file types and conversions between them all but so can WinAmp and others - the features and layout of the interface is what differs slightly between all these applications.

If you are going to use Windows Media Center then you don't need MediaMonkey or any other application unless it provides a feature you want/need that isn't available in WMC or you just like the interface better.

You love the monkey, come on.........

 

[itschris]

Okay got it. I can use the Monkey to rip my discs in a lossless format like FLAC, but Vista Media Center can still be the interface to the files.... have I got it right now?

 

[PatrickBateman]

Yes it me! Try MediaMonkey, no snags with Vista you can rip and convert to just about any format known( I rip in WAV), I've used it for about four years now originally with an XP PC, no hassles. I just built my audiolibrary using a PC as a platform, it has Vista and MediaMonkey, no hiccups, no hassles. I also use SnapStream Firefly remote to control all the functions without using a mouse, it's RF based and it works through cabinet doors, also Turtle Beach Montego sound card, it sports SPDIF to connect to receiver.


This might help:http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40855

Do you know if MediaMonkey can be used with a Sonos or Squuezebox system?

 

[Geno]

Not a good idea

I know this will sound like it is coming from left field but after considering an HTPC, I decided it was easier, and cheaper, to just buy a CD jukebox(s). For US$200-$300, you can get a 300 or 400 disc capacity player. That is a lot of storage without the heat, noise, boot up, cost, software, space, remote control issues, etc.

I bought a Pioneer Elite 300-disc player. Trouble is, I've got 800 CDs, and don't really like a lot of stuff on a lot of them. Servers are a much better idea, IMHO, and get you away from the bother of physical media. I'm waiting awhile until servers get more affordable and reliable.

 

[stratman]

Do you know if MediaMonkey can be used with a Sonos or Squuezebox system?

I've never used it with either so I really can't say, my experience has always been PC based, but MM is extremely flexible. Try their site, thay have gobs of information posted. I was originally going to invest in a Sonos system for the house, using a Buffalo LinkStation NAS. I had a 400GB Buffalo NAS attached to my main PC (XP) it lasted only 14 months before the NAS self-destructed. All my music was gone. I did the numbers and for less than the cost of a new Sonos, I built a music library (PC based with Vista) with 1 TB of redundant storage, remote interface and a 7.1 sound card.