Mix Albums

[jeebers]

I don't understand the cue sheet route, but then again really haven't tried. What is the purpose of using them over tags in the files. I would think that if you set your tags to make sure you have artist, album artist and band tags all correct and in place it would read like you want provided you set Squeezecenter to use group by band. Watch the compilation tag also, it can mess you up. I tend to agree with Slimpy.

Thanks for the replies. The only occasions where I use cuesheets are where I don't have, or there isn't an original CD - e.g. I often download recordings of radio programmes (DJ mixes usually) or create my own mixes. These are single MP3 files, but contain numerous songs.

I also have a couple of CDs, (UNKLEsounds) where the CD contains 20+ tracks but recorded as one 60 minute+ track.

Where I have mix albums on CD that are recorded as individual tracks, I use
individual file tags and the ALBUMARTIST tag and it works perfectly. It's a far better solution and I'd use it all the time if I could...

The other possible route is to use foobar to split the file, using the cuesheet. Unfortunately I think foobar transcodes so there would be a quality drop so it's not a route I really want to go down.

[jeebers]

If you haven't discovered the problems with the album artist tags, here is a great answer to my babbling from Philip Meyer, on how to set your tags to work right. It seems that most other programs have misused the band tag and Squeezecenter is one of the few that insists on using it right. Anyway if you already know this disregard but if not it's a great read for people not getting what they expect from the band tag. http://forums.slimdevices.com/showth...d+album+artist

Plus as an added bonus you get to read a rare apology from me! (I could have linked around that but I still owe Philip)

I've followed that thread with interest (and a fair bit of amusement!). As I say, I have ALBUMARTIST / BAND working perfectly for my needs*, when the CD is recorded (and therefore ripped) as individual files. It's when it is recorded as a single file that the problem arises.

* I actually don't use BAND at all

[jeebers]

If nothing else works, and you are willing to mess with the database, then here's what you can do. Using MySQL query browser (or similar program) get table 'albums'. Note columns 'compilation' and 'contributor'. For albums that are in Various Artists, 'compilation' column would be '1'; change it to '0'. Column 'contributor' is used for sorting the album in album view when sorted by artist, album. Currently it should hold a number that corresponds to the id for Various Artists in contributor table. Search contributor table for the artist that you want to use for sorting, note its Id and update contributor column in 'album' table with that number. Next time you do a full rescan, you'd have to repeat the process, so document it or automate it: write sql statements that do what you want and put them into the C:\Program Files\SqueezeCenter\server\SQL\mysql\schema_optimi ze.sql file (on windows).

In order to get multi disc album split by CDs, change corresponding settings on Music Library -> group discs.


hope this helps,
K

Thanks for this - it sounds like it might work, but I fear it maybe a bit beyond my ability...!

[Nonreality]

Thanks for the replies. The only occasions where I use cuesheets are where I don't have, or there isn't an original CD - e.g. I often download recordings of radio programmes (DJ mixes usually) or create my own mixes. These are single MP3 files, but contain numerous songs.

I also have a couple of CDs, (UNKLEsounds) where the CD contains 20+ tracks but recorded as one 60 minute+ track.

Where I have mix albums on CD that are recorded as individual tracks, I use
individual file tags and the ALBUMARTIST tag and it works perfectly. It's a far better solution and I'd use it all the time if I could...

The other possible route is to use foobar to split the file, using the cuesheet. Unfortunately I think foobar transcodes so there would be a quality drop so it's not a route I really want to go down.

Thanks for the explaination, I've used foobar to split flac albums with cue and thats about it. It worked perfect. You could have it transcode to flac and you wouldn't lose any thing.

[jeebers]

Thanks for the explaination, I've used foobar to split flac albums with cue and thats about it. It worked perfect. You could have it transcode to flac and you wouldn't lose any thing.

A simple solution that had never even crossed my mind... I've tried it out with a few albums and it works perfectly - thanks!! Well worth the extra disk space...

[Nonreality]

A simple solution that had never even crossed my mind... I've tried it out with a few albums and it works perfectly - thanks!! Well worth the extra disk space...

Great, glad to have helped!