Revisiting iTunes alternatives for the Mac

[aubuti]

I tried Songbird out a couple of weeks ago but could not figure out how to export playlists to an M3U; that's a deal killer for me.

Not sure about the Mac version of Songbird, but on the Windows version (and I think the Linux version, though I have to confirm), it's simply:
File > Export playlist(s) > [select playlists to export]
THEN
click the Preferences button in the Export Playlist(s) dialog, and on "Default playlist format to export your playlists as" click the drop-down menu, choose M3U, then click OK.
then click "Export playlist(s)".

Or maybe the Mac version doesn't have the M3U option?

[davep]

Not sure about the Mac version of Songbird, but on the Windows version (and I think the Linux version, though I have to confirm), it's simply:
File > Export playlist(s) > [select playlists to export]
THEN
click the Preferences button in the Export Playlist(s) dialog, and on "Default playlist format to export your playlists as" click the drop-down menu, choose M3U, then click OK.
then click "Export playlist(s)".

Or maybe the Mac version doesn't have the M3U option?

The Mac version can use the Export Playlists plugin to achieve this. However I believe the OP was using a PPC Mac and AFAIK there is only an Intel build of Songbird for OS X.

davep

[JJZolx]

Oh - I really like Songbird, but the Mac being used as a server is PPC not Intel so I can't use that. In the same vein, since that Mac is basically only a server now I really don't need a feature rich front end anymore. Just something to manage tags and import.

If the computer in question is only used as a server, then why the need for software to run on that computer? You must be using another laptop or desktop.

[kphinney]

If the computer in question is only used as a server, then why the need for software to run on that computer? You must be using another laptop or desktop.

True, I am using an Intel MacBook Pro to rip, convert, & tag then upload the finished product. But I also have an extensive library already on the server from years gone by. These files require some manipulation and I spend a lot of time VNCing to the server's screen to locate and repair the files to get them working correctly with SB Server.

Problems include lost art & bad tags. For example: SB Server is currently listing all of the "Encomium: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin" (1995, Atlantic Records. Highly recommended.) as 12 separate CDs. I'll need to edit the tags on each to reflect the different artist are on one album.

Likewise, it would be nice to drop a new CD into the server's tray and have it rip, query the CDDB, add tags, and place the files into the music folder without getting my laptop involved.

Using the laptop, Songbird, and VNC isn't killing me; I've been doing it this way for years. But it is a less elegant solution than I'd like.

[JJZolx]

True, I am using an Intel MacBook Pro to rip, convert, & tag then upload the finished product. But I also have an extensive library already on the server from years gone by. These files require some manipulation and I spend a lot of time VNCing to the server's screen to locate and repair the files to get them working correctly with SB Server.

Why can't that be done across the network? I've edited as many as 20,000 files using Mp3tag on my desktop PC, with the files residing on my server.

Likewise, it would be nice to drop a new CD into the server's tray and have it rip, query the CDDB, add tags, and place the files into the music folder without getting my laptop involved.

That could be a much taller order than just finding software to rip CDs and tag files.

[DaveWr]

I am doing the same thing - using XLD for ripping on the server. It is a universal binary, works very well (supports accurate RIP ) and has basic tag editing. The creator keeps it very up to date, responsive to bugs etc.

You can automate XLD to launch with CD insert, rip and then quit.

I still use Jaikoz from a Macbook to finalize edits to tags, artwork etc.

Dave

[kphinney]

Why can't that be done across the network? I've edited as many as 20,000 files using Mp3tag on my desktop PC, with the files residing on my server....

It's possible, but again less elegant than I'd like. Mp3tag is Windows only and I've tried the demo version of Jaikoz (as Dave mentions below) to do just this. I'll need to revisit Jaikoz but I gave up on it due to the cost at the time.

Other Mac options are xACT which works a portion of the time (although output is WAV or AIFF only), and Tag by sbooth which works a fair amount of the time (latest release is v0.4.1 from 2006).

I am doing the same thing - using XLD for ripping on the server. It is a universal binary, works very well (supports accurate RIP ) and has basic tag editing. The creator keeps it very up to date, responsive to bugs etc.

You can automate XLD to launch with CD insert, rip and then quit.

I still use Jaikoz from a Macbook to finalize edits to tags, artwork etc.

Dave

Looks like we are in the same boat. I find that Max works better than XLD and with a lot less typing, but sometimes you end up with files like what I mention above. It doesn't do compilation CDs very well.

[DaveWr]

I find that Max works better than XLD and with a lot less typing, but sometimes you end up with files like what I mention above.

I need to re-examine Max, although I don't understand your typing comment - I just have the preferences set to auto tag, then rip to the music folder structure automatically.

Jaikoz has improved reliability in the last couple of months, although it is not perfect, It does scale well.

Dave

[JJZolx]

> Why can't that be done across the network? I've edited as many as 20,000
> files using Mp3tag on my desktop PC, with the files residing on my
> server....

It's possible, but again less elegant than I'd like.

Not as the automated ripping solution that you're talking about, but for editing tags it's 100 times more elegant than VNCing into the server itself to run software remotely. If you like Songbird, and it's available for your Intel Mac, why don't you use it across the network?

[JJZolx]

Looks like we are in the same boat. I find that Max works better than XLD and with a lot less typing, but sometimes you end up with files like what I mention above. It doesn't do compilation CDs very well.

It would be foolish not to double-check and correct the tagging of every album you rip, particularly those being ripped by some automated system. The tagging is only as good as the database from which the software pulls its tags, and they _all_ have errors and omissions.