How Best To Handle Multi-Part Songs?

[NFLnut]

When playing a random/shuffle mix, across multiple folders, what is the best way to handle multi-part (multi-track) songs? IOW, when SC plays a track which is part 1 of a song, how can you get it to play the second (and subsequent) track every time?

[JJZolx]

When playing a random/shuffle mix, across multiple folders, what is the best way to handle multi-part (multi-track) songs? IOW, when SC plays a track which is part 1 of a song, how can you get it to play the second (and subsequent) track every time?

I'm not aware of any way to do this.

[NFLnut]

I tried the old windows method of creating a shortcut to a .bat file, which would launch both (or even several) files, but Squeezecenter can't "see" a shortcut to a .bat file apparently.

I'm just tired of hearing the prelude to a song, and then it switches to another artist/album completely.

[aubuti]

There might well be an easier way, but one way that comes to mind is to re-rip the CD to a single big WAV file, then use Audacity or a similar tool to edit the wav file, chopping out the other parts of CD so you're only left with the tracks that you want to play together. Then compress that to FLAC or MP3. I admit it's a real kludge, but it should work.

Alternatively, you might be able to do something by ripping it as a single file and fiddling with the cue sheet to get the desired effect, but I've never worked with cue sheets and couldn't really give any advice on that.

[NFLnut]

Yes. I thought about doing that, but that would be a LOT of work. And I'm a little bit of a purist. Or maybe it's my O.C.D. that prevents me from doing that. ;-)

I was hoping for a more "automated" method of linking files together.

[egd]

given you already have the cd's ripped, use audacity to combine the files in question into a single file and then retag and rescan.

[NFLnut]

Just another question in this vein .. (and I'm afraid I know the answer) ..

Is there no way to link files by embedding info in the tag? This would be much easier than editing waveforms of literally hundreds (thousands?) of files!

[th00ht]

I was hoping for a more "automated" method of linking files together.

If the record company has decided to make multiple tracks, that is what they are, multiple tracks. Period.

In the dark ages one occasionally came across "index"-ed tracks. Since consecutive tracks can be played "gap-less" on noweadays CD player equipement the reason for indexing tracks seized to exists.

If you believe that tracks should belong together just string them together in your favourite sound editing program (like pointed out before). Or, alternatively, refrain from using the random track function but use the "random albums" function instead!

[sebp]

Is there no way to link files by embedding info in the tag? This would be much easier than editing waveforms of literally hundreds (thousands?) of files!

Another possibility would be to tag these prelude/intro tracks as such, and exclude them from the random mix.
I know that's not the behaviour you'd like to see, but at least you wouldn't get intro tracks in the mix ...