How do we organize our music folders ?

[PeterSt]

All,

Maybe it looks strange to you, but I have this question in order to learn what can be pitfalls in what situation.
Notice this is related to the new feauture in 0.9z-3 which allows for "intelligently" mass rename the music folders. So, I am going to do that myself, but what is wise and what is stupid.
Actually I am talking about two situations only to decice for :

1.
\MyMusic\MyArtist01\AlbumName01FromMyArtist01\
\MyMusic\MyArtist01\AlbumName02FromMyArtist01\
\MyMusic\MyArtist01\AlbumName03FromMyArtist01\
\MyMusic\MyArtist02\AlbumName01FromMyArtist02\
\MyMusic\MyArtist02\AlbumName02FromMyArtist02\

2.
\MyMusic\MyArtist01 - AlbumName01FromMyArtist01\
\MyMusic\MyArtist01 - AlbumName02FromMyArtist01\
\MyMusic\MyArtist01 - AlbumName03FromMyArtist01\
\MyMusic\MyArtist02 - AlbumName01FromMyArtist02\
\MyMusic\MyArtist02 - AlbumName02FromMyArtist02\

Notice this is about the structure in the folders where the music really is, but that this structure comes back on us in the Galleries just the same. So, although in the Galleries it will look different depending on what you made of it, the general structure remains :

\Jazz\Modern\MyArtist01\AlbumName01FromMyArtist01\
vs.
\Jazz\Modern\MyArtist01 - AlbumName01FromMyArtist01\

IMO both have a high impact on the useability of things;
#1 is more "structured" and allows to find the artist quickly, but you won't have a quick overview of the albums in there unless you drill down.
#2 may give a list of 60 Miles Davis albums before you at last are at the next artist.
#1 may present lists of artist of which you have one album only, but you still can't see the album unless you drill down.

Of course within the Library Area of XXHighend this doesn't matter, but with the Embedded Explorer or normal Windows Explorer it does. And, it may matter a lot, depending on what you do.

So, I am interested to learn which of these both methods you use and why, or why explicitly the other not.

Thanks !
Peter

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Hey Peter,

Option 2 would be best, afterall, but depends ofcourse on your needs.

You are right about the two options, if for eg. Miles Davis gives you 60 albums, you have to scroll thru all 60 albums,
before reaching the next artist.
I have 200 miles davis albums, this would be stupid, so I create a separate folder for that artist,
BUT what about Miles Davis & Gil Evans, Miles Davis & John Coltrane, Miles Davis & Quincy Jones, etc etc, haha
The Jazz section would be the hardest to organize.

The best way would be to create sub-folders that dont become to big.
3000 jazz albums in a folder created like this (option 2): jazz\artist - album    is just plain stupid.
Use sub folders like contemporary, modern, vocal, piano etc.
Or Put them in A-D, E-H, etc etc

So Option 2 would be best if you create suffient sub folders, but then again isnt this the same as option 1 ?
No, because you can create folders that keep 300 albums not just 1-3 albums.
There are only a view artists that make such big discographies, think of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Miles Davis, Frank Zappa
So, use option 2 and make an exception on those large discographies.


This gives me: \AUDIO-CD\Jazz\Modern\Artist - Year - Album\
or                  \AUDIO-CD\Ambient\Label\Artist - Year - Album\


Are you going to use the folder-names or the Tag-names, for renaming ?
I hope the folder name.
Maybe get the year out of the tags [year] if there isnt any in the filenames.


This is pure when just all becomes to big, I personally think its better to get a 1-2TB Disc
Put all your BEST stuff on it and make that your NR1 drive.
Leave the rest as a library outside the PC.
ITS OVERKILL, hehe


Roy

PS: The downside of option 2 would be to have singles in there, they will get mixed up with the normal albums.

[GerardA]

Hey Peter,

I never use playlists, but would like an option to search on different tags, like style, artist, year etc.
You would need a small database for this.
Don't know if this is already in there?

[AUDIODIDAKT]

I never use playlists, but would like an option to search on different tags, like style, artist, year etc.

Use the info in file names and tags, because not all files are tagged properly.

I would recommend to create FOLDERS for genre and artist, yea maybe a search option on the year, what is released in for eg. 2007 ?
But this is optional.

I think GerardA is running into big folders with all genres mixed together, try to avoid this.

[manisandher]

I currently use Option 1: Music\Genre\Artist\Album - to me, this just seems the most logical way to do this.

Any variations come under the 'Artist' folder. E.g. All albums by 'The Keith Jarrett Trio' come under the folder 'Keith Jarrett' - and I tend not to create a separate sub-folder for these, but then again, I don't have 200 albums by one artist!

Mani.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

But the thing is:

To Proper organize you'll have to use options 1 and 2
And using Tags wouldnt work, you have to make use of the folder name, but I think you know that
and already use in your search string.

I have for Eg. \Electronic\Massive Attack\Albums\Year - Album
                   \Electronic\Massive Attack\Singles\Year - Album
                   \Electronic\Massive Attack\Singles Box 90-98\CD1 - Album
                                                             
But I also Use \Ambient\Label\Artist - Year - Album


If you want to organize in option 2 the massive attack folder wont work, it can, but the filenames become
too long for proper viewing them in the xx tree.
Then you turn a length problem into a width problem, hehe

Peter, this isnt something you want to do in mass, there are to much exclusions, think more like folder-wise.
The option can still be in there, but so can Tag&Rename do the same.

So............hmmm

Roy

[AUDIODIDAKT]

I currently use Option 1: Music\Genre\Artist\Album - to me, this just seems the most logical way to do this.

Any variations come under the 'Artist' folder. E.g. All albums by 'The Keith Jarrett Trio' come under the folder 'Keith Jarrett' - and I tend not to create a separate sub-folder for these, but then again, I don't have 200 albums by one artist!

Mani.

You dont have 200 albums from 1 artist, this also claims that maybe option 2 would be generaly better for you.
Instead of the option 1 you are currently using

I think option 2 would be best for most !!
While option 1 is still the most logic, but not always the most convenient !!

[PeterSt]

I hope the folder name.
Maybe get the year out of the tags [year] if there isnt any in the filenames

Exactly like that. But the year isn't always in tags as well, so then I go elsewhere (still have to make that part).

Peter, this isnt something you want to do in Mass, there are to much exclusions, think more like folder-wise.

Your own folders will always be the base, although in the end that doesn't matter much for the result. What does matter though, is that the formatting can be done per group of Renaming, that "group" being one of your base folders (folder structures) ...
So, think of the Library Area and what's in there being the base. This will (normally) be your "Ambient" structure etc. with its own target (result) structure. So, no problem there.
Also notice that it's always music folders being the base - never Galleries (but, the result goes along in the Galleries).


Please keep it coming ! I already learned from the responses so far !
Peter

[PeterSt]

Here are two examples to get the idea. The first goes from #1 to #2, the second the other way around.

Never mind the disappearing "\PS" which is a bug at this moment.

[PeterSt]

Or like this (see the difference with the last picture) :

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Only if you use both options, you can create a "smart" gallery.

I think you want to "fix" the Cuetools output in to whatever you like, or fill up those missing spots like the release year.
 

Maybe you want to integrate FreeDb or Amazon/TrackType.org !

btw. Is it possible to get a album discription in each album folder is there a db that does that ?  because with movies I can.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Looks good to me Peter,
 

[PeterSt]

btw. Is it possible to get a album discription in each album folder is there a db that does that ?  because with movies I can

Like the one below (see attachment at the top) ? yes. Has been broken for a long time, but will be back in 0.9z-3.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

What about a Undo function ?

Maybe you wont need it if you do a better job then Tag&Rename!

[GerardA]

Yes, I like the extra info too.

My albums are like D:\Music\Jazz\Frank Zappa\1971 - Hot Rats.

No redundant data and easy to find.
For the option 2 possibility I would recommend an option in the tree to open all branches at once.
So you choose to see all artists, or all artists - albums.
This would probably need a self-made explorer window?