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Topic: MP3 Tag Search - Work Around

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As people who do not use standard filenaming can verify, the search feature in VDJ does not search MP3 tags, only filenames (has something to do with using a txt file for searches and an xml for display??) Anyway, I figured out a work around and I'd like some feedback. I have been using Music Library (wensoftware, shareware $35 - http://www.wensoftware.com/MusicLibrary/) to catalog my music. The handy thing about this software is that I can do searches, then drag and drop the results to VDJ. There may be better database programs out there, butthe idea is that by using an external database that supports drag and drop, you can find the song you want, then drag it to your playlist.

Thoughts anyone?

Chris
Pittsburgh, PA
 
Posted Mon 30 Oct 06 @ 6:29 pm
 
I'm all about free! Am I wrong about the database updater, tho?

The updater will update the information in the txt and xml files... however my understanding of the search problem is that searches aparently happen from within the txt file, not the xml file, and the txt file only contains file names.

Example:

I have a file called MobileBeat_15-05.mp3 (mobile beat series, disc 15, track 5)
let's say that the tag information from that file is
Title: Love Shack
Artist: B-52's
Album: Mobile Beat

If I do a search for Mobilebeat_15 it will list all of the files wtih mobilebeat15 and, in fact, Love Shack and b-52's will be displayed.

If I search for Love Shack, the information for mobilbeat_15_05 will not show up because the search function does not search the tag information, only the text file which lists the filename.

---- End of example

For many users, this isn't an issue, and the solution that is always offered is to "tag and rename" For my collection, I want to maintain the filenames because it will give an indication of which version I want (some rips aren't as good as others, some are re-mixes, Sometimes I rip without cdda available and manually tag them later, etc.) At any rate, with the power of the mp3 tag, other users and I figure it's silly not to be able to search on them. I offer a suggstion... in a relatively "hit me over the head, oh, duh, why didn't I think of that" manner to use an external database program that offers drag and drop support as a work arround for the search problem. I offer one program I found, I'd love to see other suggestions, as, admitedly, Music Library leaves some to be desired.

CB
 

Tag and remame utilities are good, and used by lots here....

Myself I've used Mp3 Tag&Rename a lot
 
mediamonkey...
 
dj-in-norway wrote :

Tag and remame utilities are good, and used by lots here....

Myself I've used Mp3 Tag&Rename a lot

Agreed it has the easy interface and the most options, Great Deal!!!
 
thanks you birader
 
thanks you again very nice allahına kurban senin varol helalin var eypap yasa .... hadi kib
 
Shouldnt this option be built in to the software.......PCDJ does these searches without any external applications needed and it reads all the Titles + artist within the software...With Virtual DJ I have to in each of my artist folders and rename all the files to add the artist in...and yes the mp3 file has the artist name in Like I said before PCDJ works fine for this issue

Having to add the artist name to 7000 + songs will take me hours......when the software should be able to this by itself....If anybody has any work arounds I will be glad to hear it.......

To me for VDJ to be best program out there it is lacking some pretty important features .....(IMO)

And having to use External add ons...should be a no no!! I think that an all in one solution would make for a better product......PCDJ may have its faults but VDJ is Also has theres......For me right now PCDJ RED is the software I will use until there is a fix for this problem I hope soon, I hope I did not waist my money by Buying this VDJ 4.1 software
DJ MIkeD
 
DJ MikeD wrote :
Shouldnt this option be built in to the software.......PCDJ does these searches without any external applications needed and it reads all the Titles + artist within the software...With Virtual DJ I have to in each of my artist folders and rename all the files to add the artist in...and yes the mp3 file has the artist name in Like I said before PCDJ works fine for this issue

Having to add the artist name to 7000 + songs will take me hours......when the software should be able to this by itself....If anybody has any work arounds I will be glad to hear it.......

To me for VDJ to be best program out there it is lacking some pretty important features .....(IMO)

And having to use External add ons...should be a no no!! I think that an all in one solution would make for a better product......PCDJ may have its faults but VDJ is Also has theres......For me right now PCDJ RED is the software I will use until there is a fix for this problem I hope soon, I hope I did not waist my money by Buying this VDJ 4.1 software
DJ MIkeD


turn on read id3 tags in options...

that will solve it to a certain extent pc dj has some horific issues and its imposible to stratch so its not perfect for me

and lacks video support
so its down to indiviual users needs i guess
 
Did that then rescanned my computer and still no artist names........about 50 percent of my collection has this problem

Im am not at all bashing the program I need somrthing that works now not later

Thanks for you help

DJ MikeD
 
DJ MikeD wrote :
Did that then rescanned my computer and still no artist names........about 50 percent of my collection has this problem

Im am not at all bashing the program I need somrthing that works now not later

Thanks for you help

DJ MikeD

Mike D,
I've found that the easiest way to rename your files is using music match. If your tag info is correct you can highlight all your songs and then you into the edit tag feature and rename the files. It will just take a few moments to rename the files exactly like the tag info ( artist - song title)
 
I will give that a try

Thanks
MikeD
 
I think if people would read carefully, they'd realize that there are to completely separate issues here.

In all of the posts on all of the boards, no one is denying that Virtural DJ works fantastically with files that follow the "correct" format - i.e. song title and artist in the filename. There are many ways to tag and rename (including the database updater mentioned in the second post on this topic)

Reading carefully, however, it is rather widely acknowledged that the search DOES NOT work on tags. in fact there is even a post that gives the reason as searches come from the .txt file (which only contains filenames) even though tag information is displayed (coming from the .xml file). Even analyzing the file does not put the tag information in the .txt file, which, again, is where the searches apear to serch.

If I'm wrong about this, someone please tell me how I'm wrong.
 
Given your naming convention, you could try the following as a work around:

Create a folder with the name and number of the CD, e.g: MobileBeat_15

Put all the tracks in this folder named in the following format:

trackno - artist - title

E.g:

05 - B-52's - Love Shack

VDJ takes folders into account when searching, so if you search for MobileBeat_15, you should find all the files in that folder.

Because the track has the artist and title in its filename, you will be able to search for these too, and they will be displayed correctly without needing the read ID tags option on. I think VDJ will ignore the track number in the filename (Not too sure because I use the format DecadeGenreArtist - Title for my files.)

NOTE: With tagging software, you should be able to rename and re-organise your files as above automatically providing the tag data is accurate.
 


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