Freeware method to flatten ripped m4a directory tree to flat m3a

[vicwehman]

Do you have a more efficient freeware method to flatten the directory tree
of ripped songs and to convert to from M4a to MP3?

The best freeware method I can come up with after extensive googling is:

0. Start with hundreds of songs (i.e., manual is a no no) organized as:
c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a

1. Super freeware will convert m4a2mp3 but won't change the directory tree!
FROM: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a
TO: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a.mp3

2. Multi-ID3 Tag Editor freeware will insert correct ID3v1 & ID3v2 tags!
Title = title
Artist = artist
Album = album

3. SharePod freeware will convert file names based on these ID3v2 tags!
FROM: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.mp3
TO: c:\path\artist - title.mp3

This three-step freeware solution to flatten the directory tree and convert
from M4a to MP3 is the most efficient process I can find.

Do you know of a better (easier? more automatic?) freeware method to
flatten the directory tree and convert ripped songs of the directory tree
and file format of:
.... "c:\artist\album\track - title.m4a"
to the directory tree name and file format of
.... "c:\artist - title.mp3"

 

[vicwehman]

Do you know of a better (easier? more automatic?) freeware method to
flatten the directory tree and convert ripped songs of the directory tree
and file format of:
... "c:\artist\album\track - title.m4a"
to the directory tree name and file format of
... "c:\artist - title.

I just realized I can slide the m4a songs from the PC in a directory
organization onto Sharepod and then slide them back onto the PC with a flat
file format, all the while staying in the M4a format.

That must mean there are M4a metadata tags that the Multi ID3 Tag Editor
freeware doesn't recognize.

So, now my problem is simpler. I can just slide back and forth onto and off
Sharepod to convert the directory format naming convention to a file format
naming convention.

But, why doesn't Windows XP "see" the M4A tags in the directory listing?
And, what freeware is best to edit M4a meta data tags?

 

[Johnw]

vicwehman wrote on 6/10/2008 :

Do you have a more efficient freeware method to flatten the directory tree
of ripped songs and to convert to from M4a to MP3?

The best freeware method I can come up with after extensive googling is:

0. Start with hundreds of songs (i.e., manual is a no no) organized as:
c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a

1. Super freeware will convert m4a2mp3 but won't change the directory tree!
FROM: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a
TO: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a.mp3

2. Multi-ID3 Tag Editor freeware will insert correct ID3v1 & ID3v2 tags!
Title = title
Artist = artist
Album = album

3. SharePod freeware will convert file names based on these ID3v2 tags!
FROM: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.mp3
TO: c:\path\artist - title.mp3

This three-step freeware solution to flatten the directory tree and convert
from M4a to MP3 is the most efficient process I can find.

Do you know of a better (easier? more automatic?) freeware method to
flatten the directory tree and convert ripped songs of the directory tree
and file format of:
... "c:\artist\album\track - title.m4a"
to the directory tree name and file format of
... "c:\artist - title.mp3"

Have a look at these.

Switch
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Audio-Convertors/Switch.shtml
http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html

BonkEnc
http://www.bonkenc.org/
The Beginner's Guide to ripping CDs using BonkEnc
file:///C:/Unzipped/bonkenc-1.0.4-bin/bonkenc-1.0.4-bin/manual/en/beginner.html

Free Mp3 Wma Converter Ripper Cutter
http://www.download.com/3000-2140_4-10703339.html

FormatFactory
http://www.formatoz.com/download.html

Free Audio Converter CS
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Audio-Convertors/Free-Audio-Converter-CS.shtml
http://www.mp3audiomill.com/free_audio_converter_cs.html

 

[Johnw]

vicwehman wrote on 6/10/2008 :

I just realized I can slide the m4a songs from the PC in a directory
organization onto Sharepod and then slide them back onto the PC with a flat
file format, all the while staying in the M4a format.

That must mean there are M4a metadata tags that the Multi ID3 Tag Editor
freeware doesn't recognize.

So, now my problem is simpler. I can just slide back and forth onto and off
Sharepod to convert the directory format naming convention to a file format
naming convention.

But, why doesn't Windows XP "see" the M4A tags in the directory listing?
And, what freeware is best to edit M4a meta data tags?

These may help.

http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?search=edit+m4a&la=en

 

[vicwehman]

http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?search=edit+m4a&la=en

Thanks for the pointer.
I tried AudioShell which was one of the first links at that page.
It worked great EXCEPT one little thing I forgot to mention.
It needs to work on a large number of songs at once.
It seems AudioShell only edits metadata one song at a time.
Is there a way to get AudioShell to edit m4a metadata in a batch mode?

 

[vicwehman]

vicwehman wrote on 6/10/2008 :

Switch
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Audio-Convertors/Switch.shtml

Switch looks like nice freeware to convert from the Apple iTunes AAC (m4a)
format to the more standard Windows mp3 format which I can then edit the
meta data tags of ... but I'd use Super freeware instead just because Super
is the most recommended file conversion software.

BonkEnc
http://www.bonkenc.org/

BonkEnc seems like GREAT freeware for ripping CDs directly to the more
standard and meta data editable MP3 format!

Free Mp3 Wma Converter Ripper Cutter
http://www.download.com/3000-2140_4-10703339.html

Likewise, this looks like an OK freeware converter to convert Apple's AAC
M4a to the more standard Windows MP3 format but again, Super freeware
already performs this conversion and this software here seems to try to get
you to buy their payware converter and install unecessary toolbars.

FormatFactory
http://www.formatoz.com/download.html

Not only does this convert the non standard Apple M4a to the more standard
Windows MP3 format, but this freeware program seems to rip DVDs to a video
file. That's a new one for me. I never heard of ripping DVDs to a video
file such as an AVI or MP4 or MPG or WMV file. Generally one rips a DVD to
a DVD format set of TFO/VOB/BUP files using something like DVD Fab
Decryptor or DVD Shrink or DVD Decrypter. So, the DVD ripping portion of
this program might be interesting but the format conversion doesn't seem to
do anything other than what Super freeware already does.

Free Audio Converter CS
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Audio-Convertors/Free-Audio-Converter-CS.shtml
http://www.mp3audiomill.com/free_audio_converter_cs.html

This looks like a nice audio file conversion program which also does CD
ripping so it's nice for ripping but again Super is just fine for audio
file conversion. However this ripper seems to automatically fill in the
ID3V2 meta data tags of the ripped songs, so that's a nice plus.

 

[Johnw]

Thanks for the pointer.

YW, that's all I can do, not very big on this sort of stuff, you may
get some later, when the other side of the world to me, wakes up.

Using the search criteria > tag batch, gets 4 pages here. Maybe doing
the the batch in one format & changing to your final format later, will
work out better.

http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?search=tag+batch&la=en

Also, you could google for info on how to make batch files,

Wizard's Apprentice
http://wizapp.sourceforge.net/

 

[Johnw]

vicwehman explained :

Hi John,
I do thank you very much for the advice.
So far, based on your help, I've improved the process by eliminating the
conversion of M4A to MP3 (which I was only doing because I had the mistaken
idea that M4A didn't have meta data tags because I could not see or edit
M4A tags in Windows).

Step 1: Batch convert the directory tree to file names:
Just slide a ton of M4a songs in the format of
"C:\dir\artist\album\track-title.m4a" onto SharePod and then slide them
back onto the Windows PC in the format of "C:\dir\artist - title".

Step 2: Individually edit the M4a meta data as needed:
Use the recommended AudioShell freeware to edit and view the M4a metadata.

The only flaw with this process is that AudioShell freeware doesn't do
batch editing of M4a meta data tags. So, now all we need is a freeware
batch metadata tag editor for M4a tags.

Just did another search through my database Vic, using different search
words. I'm just throwing them at you for vetting.

You may find it easier to read here.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.comp.freeware/browse_thread/thread/7f36d31fb9e78108?hl=en#

TagScanner
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Tag-Editors/TagScanner.shtml
http://www.xdlab.ru/en/index.htm
Portable
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTAB...rtable-Applications-Portable-TagScanner.shtml
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?sc=44
Does iTunes & batch.

Taginator
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?sc=44
http://frank.neatstep.com/?q=node/2

jmPlayer
http://jmplayer.sourceforge.net/
jmPlayer is a simple mp3-Player and advanced mp3 ID3-Tag batch editor.
So it's main intention is to provide a simple but powerful way to
rename many files and tags at once.

Peter's Flexible Renaming Kit
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/Peters-Flexible-Renaming-Kit.shtml
http://www3.telus.net/pfrank/

FolderViewer
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/FolderViewer.shtml
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/folderview.html
http://www.matirsoft.com/

Lupas Rename
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/Lupas-Rename.shtml
http://rename.lupasfreeware.org/lupasrename.php
Portable
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTAB...able-Applications-Portable-Lupas-Rename.shtml

 

[vicwehman]

Just did another search through my database Vic, using different search
words. I'm just throwing them at you for vetting.

Hi John,
Thanks again. This looks like a great start.

Right now, I'm testing the freeware & shareware version of MP3TAG editor
which both seem to allow simultaneous editing of a large number of M4A
files' meta data. Since they're from different web sites, I'm not sure if
they have a common genesis but they seem to be from the same maker.

Despite the mp3 in the name, both edit m4a tags in addition to mp3 tags:
Freeware:
- mp3tag v2.41 http://www.mp3tag.de/en
Shareware (30-day trial):
- mp3Tag v5.9 http://www.maniactools.com/soft/mp3tag/index.shtml

The good news is they also rename the songs so I will test if they can
convert the ripped CD's from "C:\dir\artist\album\track - title.m4a" to
"c:\dir\artist - title.m4a" with the album information included in the m4a
metadata.

I think this freeware has the promise of being able to do both steps in one
large batch operation!

STEP 1: Convert large numbers of files from artist\album\track - title.m4a
to artist - title.m4a and
STEP 2: Add the album information in batch operations to large number of
files' m4a meta data

Is everyone else using mp3tag to perform this most basic of operations?

 

[Johnw]

vicwehman submitted this idea :

Hi John,
Thanks again. This looks like a great start.

Right now, I'm testing the freeware & shareware version of MP3TAG editor
which both seem to allow simultaneous editing of a large number of M4A
files' meta data. Since they're from different web sites, I'm not sure if
they have a common genesis but they seem to be from the same maker.

Despite the mp3 in the name, both edit m4a tags in addition to mp3 tags:
Freeware:
- mp3tag v2.41 http://www.mp3tag.de/en
Shareware (30-day trial):
- mp3Tag v5.9 http://www.maniactools.com/soft/mp3tag/index.shtml

The good news is they also rename the songs so I will test if they can
convert the ripped CD's from "C:\dir\artist\album\track - title.m4a" to
"c:\dir\artist - title.m4a" with the album information included in the m4a
metadata.

I think this freeware has the promise of being able to do both steps in one
large batch operation!

STEP 1: Convert large numbers of files from artist\album\track - title.m4a
to artist - title.m4a and
STEP 2: Add the album information in batch operations to large number of
files' m4a meta data

Is everyone else using mp3tag to perform this most basic of operations?

mp3tag, I had that in my database Vic, but no mention of batch, so it
will be interesting to see if it can.

 

[Johnw]

vicwehman explained on 6/10/2008 :

Thanks again. This looks like a great start.
Right now, I'm testing the freeware & shareware version of MP3TAG editor
which both seem to allow simultaneous editing of a large number of M4A
files' meta data. Since they're from different web sites, I'm not sure if
they have a common genesis but they seem to be from the same maker.
Despite the mp3 in the name, both edit m4a tags in addition to mp3 tags:
Freeware:
- mp3tag v2.41 http://www.mp3tag.de/en
Shareware (30-day trial):
- mp3Tag v5.9 http://www.maniactools.com/soft/mp3tag/index.shtml
The good news is they also rename the songs so I will test if they can
convert the ripped CD's from "C:\dir\artist\album\track - title.m4a" to
"c:\dir\artist - title.m4a" with the album information included in the m4a
metadata.
I think this freeware has the promise of being able to do both steps in one
large batch operation!
STEP 1: Convert large numbers of files from artist\album\track - title.m4a
to artist - title.m4a and
STEP 2: Add the album information in batch operations to large number of
files' m4a meta data
Is everyone else using mp3tag to perform this most basic of operations?

Another to look at Vic.

ID3-TagIT
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Other-AUDIO-Tools/ID3-TagIT.shtml
http://www.onlythebestfreeware.com/program.asp?program_id=43
http://www.id3-tagit.de/english/index.htm
http://furman87.blogspot.com/2006/02/id3-tagit.html
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/id3tagit.html

 

[Broadway Blue]

Switch looks like nice freeware to convert from the Apple iTunes AAC
(m4a) format to the more standard Windows mp3 format which I can then
edit the meta data tags of ... but I'd use Super freeware instead
just because Super is the most recommended file conversion software.

Likewise, this looks like an OK freeware converter to convert Apple's
AAC M4a to the more standard Windows MP3 format but again, Super
freeware already performs this conversion and this software here
seems to try to get you to buy their payware converter and install
unecessary toolbars.

FYI, The M4a (AAC) format doesn't belong to Apple, but they do use
that format for their iTunes Store, but it is not exclusive to them.
Whilst the MP3 format doesn't belong to Windows either! MP3's are
just MP3's and they should play on almost anything. Windows do have
their own compressed music format, WMA.

Not only does this convert the non standard Apple M4a to the more
standard Windows MP3 format, but this freeware program seems to rip
DVDs to a video file. That's a new one for me. I never heard of
ripping DVDs to a video file such as an AVI....

You must have been hiding in a cave for the last few years so!

 

[vicwehman]

mp3tag, I had that in my database Vic, but no mention of batch, so it
will be interesting to see if it can.

I tried the shareware mp3tag first and it worked just fine!
It converted both the directory-tree naming structure to a single file name
based on the M4A tag information and it batch-tagged the organizational
data.

So now, the freeware tutorial is the following (muuuuch simpler)!

0. Start with a large number of improperly ripped but well tagged M4A songs
in the format "c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a"

1. Run mp3tag freeware/shareware to rename, in a single step, the songs in
the hundreds of directories from "c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a"
to "c:\path\artist\album\artist - title.m4a" (based on the m4a metadata
tags).

2. Run mp3tag freeware/shareware to modify the tags as needed to organize
them, in batches of 100 or 200 songs as needed to further organize the flat
hierarchy properly.

3. Use SharePod freeware to move the songs off the PC onto the iPod (and
vice versa) without restriction (delete iTunes so that it doesn't get in
the way of syncing).

 

[vicwehman]

Another to look at Vic.

ID3-TagIT
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Other-AUDIO-Tools/ID3-TagIT.shtml
http://www.onlythebestfreeware.com/program.asp?program_id=43
http://www.id3-tagit.de/english/index.htm
http://furman87.blogspot.com/2006/02/id3-tagit.html
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/id3tagit.html

Thanks John W.,
Since I used the 30-day trialware mp3tag program, I might have to try these
after the 30 days runs out if the freeware mp3tag program doesn't do the
same thing!

But, at this moment, the mp3tag shareware solved the problem of organizing
hundreds of directories of songs with the two simple steps of

RENAMING:
FROM: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a
TO: c:\path\artist\album\artist - title.m4a.mp3

RETAGGING:
(as needed to organize properly for a flat song hierarchy with meta data)

 

[vicwehman]

FYI, The M4a (AAC) format doesn't belong to Apple, but they do use
that format for their iTunes Store, but it is not exclusive to them.

Hi Broadway Blue,
I stand corrected. At first I hated the M4A (AAC) format because I couldn't
edit the meta tags, and, worse yet, I couldn't "see" them in the Windows
directory listing.

But, now with the AudioShell v1.3.5 Windows freeware extension, I can see
both the MP3 ID3v1 & ID3v2 meta data tags and the M4A meta data tags. With
MP3Tag freeware/shareware, I was able to edit the M4A tags.

(BTW, I'm confused about the two versions of mp3tag edtior because I only
used the shareware later version so I'm not sure if the earlier freeware
version will also edit a large number of m4a tags at one step.)

You must have been hiding in a cave for the last few years so!

Hi Broadway Blue,
I must have! I can't see what use an AVI file would be for a DVD since the
thing would be absolutely humongous. If a compressed DVD were to be four
and a half gigabytes, wouldn't a single uncompressed AVI of that DVD be
five or so times that?

What use would an uncompressed ~20 GB AVI file be when a compressed ~4 GB
DVD was the initial starting point?

 

[Broadway Blue]

Hi Broadway Blue,
I must have! I can't see what use an AVI file would be for a DVD
since the thing would be absolutely humongous. If a compressed DVD
were to be four and a half gigabytes, wouldn't a single uncompressed
AVI of that DVD be five or so times that?

What use would an uncompressed ~20 GB AVI file be when a compressed
~4 GB DVD was the initial starting point?#

Er... I think you'll find that the .avi file would actually be smaller!
Which is why [some] people rip DVD's to avi or mpeg. Smaller file
sizes and more portable. Look it up somewhere....