Jukebox issues

[broderp]

Ok, once again, an INSTRUCTION MANUAL IS NEEDED,


I created a folder on my C drive called sage MP3. I put a folder in there with a pic of the album along with all the mp3's from the album.


How the h@*$l does the jukebox work? Why can't I find any menu or settings for the jukebox that will allow me to select these MP3's and play them?

Or does jukebox only play CD's? (doesn't make sense, why would I need a search feature for it if I could only play one cd at a time)

I changed my library path, but this did nopthing.

This is got to be simple, but I can't figure it out.

[DFranch]

you add the directory with the MP3's under detailed setup/general settings/library import directories. It may take a few minutes to examine the entire folder (I have 7GB of MP3's). Then select music jukebox from the main menu. Select music by album. you should see all of the albums on the right select one of the albums, select a song select play song.

[broderp]

Thank you

I can get them to appear on a huge list ( just have one cd of MP3 for now), but none of the search functions work.

I tried to search using artist or even SONG title and I get NOTHING. The only way I can play them is to select them.


Now if I had 200 CD albums in MP3 format, what good would ths do me if I can't search by artist or title or ANY of teh items on the list.

Teh only way I can see them is by looking under MUSIC by SONG TITLE, again.

Why can't I sort or search?

Oh heah, whats up with the visualizations? can we change them or use the default WINDOWS visuals?

[gplasky]

Are you sure you're MP3s are properly tagged? I believe Sage reads the ID3 tags for the music info. Also, album art needs to be embedded in the MP3. This can be done with Musimatch, The Godfather and other programs.

Gerry

[DFranch]

I agree with gplasky. your MP3's are not tagged correctly. What program did you use to rip the album? I recently went through my entire collecion fixing the ones which were in error (with the godfather). Also, I had to add the picture for every album in my collection (about 110 albums). It was kind of a pain, but it is worth it. I now have my entire music collection at my fingertips. Once your MP3's are tagged correctly you will be able to use the search function.

no extra visualizations can be used as far as I know.

[broderp]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH GUYS!

I appreciate the help.


I used ROXIO EZCDCREATOR 5.0 PLATINUM to make the MP3's.

I used it cause I happen to own it. Is there a free program that can do this, or am I just not using that program correctly either?

(It does sound like a tagging issue, but I don't recall seeing the option to add that information....I'll check again. I use it mostly for CDR copiying. (backing up data)

Good thing I'm JUST starting to convert my CD's to MP3's (this is my first)

[DFranch]

I've heard that MusicMatch plus will embed the album photo, but I don't have it and cannot verify that. I've used Windows media player, and that seems to tag everything ok, but it does not embed the album cover. It does however create a jpg called folder.jpg which is a jpg of the album cover. you can then use the godfather to add the photo the mp3's. that is what I did. I have also used CDEX which is free and I think will create the tags correctly also.

[broderp]

Windows media player does not record in MP3, with out a pluggin ($$$) right? If so which one is best?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9Series/GettingStarted//Personalization/Plugins.asp

[DFranch]

If you are going to pay for a codec, I would say the Sonic, because you can get the Sonic Cineplayer DVD decoder and MP3 creation pack for $20. I believe the DVD decoder will work in sage as well. Can somebody confirm this?

[gplasky]

Yes it will work in Sage.

Gerry

[Opus4]

So... I'm curious... like broderp asked: is there really much difference between the mp3 encoders available for WMP? They list noes from Cyberlink, Intervideo, and Sonic. Thanks!

BTW, broderp: the link/text in your post is switched such that the link goes to the text you entered.

- Andy

[DFranch]

MP3 encoders are all pretty much the same in my opinion. I have used CDEX (which is free) for a long time and think it works really well. I'm sure there are some audiophiles who would disagree. it is tha ability to get the sonic DVD decoder for $5 more that makes that the one I would get.

[broderp]

Originally posted by DFranch
If you are going to pay for a codec, I would say the Sonic, because you can get the Sonic Cineplayer DVD decoder and MP3 creation pack for $20. I believe the DVD decoder will work in sage as well. Can somebody confirm this?

Good idea, if I hadn't already bought the SONIC codec for sage!

[DFranch]

Good idea, if I hadn't already bought the SONIC codec for sage!

Doh! Well in that case I would just try CDEX, it it free, and it works really well. I'm sure there are other free CD rippers, but CDEX is the one I have used.

[stanger89]

There's always EAC+lame. I use EAC for all my rips, with EAC in secure mode you're guaranteed to get an exact copy of the CD which I then encode into lossless Monkey's Audio (too bad Sage doesn't support it). However I used to use lame, which AFAIK is supposed to be the best MP3 encoder out there.

Oh, and both are free.

[broderp]

Ok, I downloaded and installed CDex and THEGODFATHER.

I've made successfull MP3 that show up using the search functions in sage.


2 new questions arise if I may,

1. What is the BEST format to tag my MP3's with to get the most out of SAGE? (Artist, track, album, or what combination..)

2. TGF.....right over my head! How to I ADD album pictures to an MP3, does it have to be ALL the MP3'a or can it just be ONE from the album?


As I look at this, it seems the sorting and search functions are based on the TAG information I give the MP3, and as far as picture goes it's dependant on the jpg being loaded with the MP3, does SAGE not know of a BETTER way, or is this THE better way? (One huge MP3 pile, pc sorts out, OR separate folders with jpeg pictures (ala MyHTPC).

[broderp]

1. What is the BEST format to tag my MP3's with to get the most out of SAGE? (Artist, track, album, or what combination..)

2. TGF.....right over my head! How to I ADD album pictures to an MP3, does it have to be ALL the MP3'a or can it just be ONE from the album?

[kny3twalker]

it is one per album
I just use musicmatch
it works fine but I need now to go and tag them all and it takes time

[broderp]

Originally posted by DFranch
I've heard that MusicMatch plus will embed the album photo, but I don't have it and cannot verify that. I've used Windows media player, and that seems to tag everything ok, but it does not embed the album cover. It does however create a jpg called folder.jpg which is a jpg of the album cover. you can then use the godfather to add the photo the mp3's. that is what I did. I have also used CDEX which is free and I think will create the tags correctly also.

How do you get TGF to embed a JPG of the MP3? Ive read quite a bit, but there are no tutorials on how to do this.

CDEX works PERFECTLY for the codes, it would be nice to have a cd cover art as well.

[DFranch]

Get a jpg of the album cover. just go to amazon and find the album and save the picture as a jpeg. name it folder.jpg in the folder where the MP3's are stored. open the godfather. click on the tag button at the top of the screen. In the file tree on the left hand side navigate to the folder containing the MP3's. click the scan button in the middle of the screen. A list of the MP3's in that folder will come up. now check the box for picture in the middle of the screen toward the right. select the button to the right of the checkbox to select the picture to use. select load from file. navigate to the folder where folder.jpg is stored, select it. now select the update button the update all. in sage delete the folder where the mp3's are stored and re add it. you should see the cover art.