Renaming files to include artist

[Terry Pinnell]

In my music folder I have many tracks with filenames like the examples
below. I may well have renamed them myself, can't recall. If so,
probably seemed a good idea at the time. But now I'm thinking of
renaming them to include the Artist, to make them easier to organise:

Baby Won't You Please Come Home.wma
Basin Street Blues.wma
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good.wma
etc

would become

Dinah Washington - Baby Won't You Please Come Home.wma
Peggy Lee - Basin Street Blues.wma
Duke Ellington - I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good.wma
etc.

To accomplish this at present, I'm opening each file in WMP9 (by
d-clicking from an Explorer folder), noting the artist's name that
WMP9 displays, and manually editing the filename.

I suspect that in my impatience I'm making unnecesarily heavy weather
of it. Is there an easier method please?

 

[Galley]

In my music folder I have many tracks with filenames like the examples
below. I may well have renamed them myself, can't recall. If so,
probably seemed a good idea at the time. But now I'm thinking of
renaming them to include the Artist, to make them easier to organise:

Baby Won't You Please Come Home.wma
Basin Street Blues.wma
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good.wma
etc

would become

Dinah Washington - Baby Won't You Please Come Home.wma
Peggy Lee - Basin Street Blues.wma
Duke Ellington - I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good.wma
etc.

To accomplish this at present, I'm opening each file in WMP9 (by
d-clicking from an Explorer folder), noting the artist's name that
WMP9 displays, and manually editing the filename.

I suspect that in my impatience I'm making unnecesarily heavy weather
of it. Is there an easier method please?

Download and install Tag&Rename. Navigate to the folder containing the files
you want to rename, and then look at the "Rename Files" tab. You'll need to use
a filename mask where %1 would represent the artist and %2 would represent the
track title. The mask would be %1 - %2. The program reads the artist name and
track title from the ID3 tags (if they are tagged properly). You can literally
rename ALL of you files the way you want them with one click of a button! It's
best to click the "Test" button first, so you can preview the changes that will
be made.
Tag&Rename is shareware, but it offers a 30-day trial, so you can easily rename
all of your files and much more in that period. It's also excellent for
downloading album artwork and correcting improper tags by connecting to the
AllMusic.com site.
http://www.softpointer.com/tr.htm

P.S. If you need more help, feel free to e-mail me.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Download and install Tag&Rename. Navigate to the folder containing the files
you want to rename, and then look at the "Rename Files" tab. You'll need to use
a filename mask where %1 would represent the artist and %2 would represent the
track title. The mask would be %1 - %2. The program reads the artist name and
track title from the ID3 tags (if they are tagged properly). You can literally
rename ALL of you files the way you want them with one click of a button! It's
best to click the "Test" button first, so you can preview the changes that will
be made.
Tag&Rename is shareware, but it offers a 30-day trial, so you can easily rename
all of your files and much more in that period. It's also excellent for
downloading album artwork and correcting improper tags by connecting to the
AllMusic.com site.
http://www.softpointer.com/tr.htm

P.S. If you need more help, feel free to e-mail me.

Many thanks, much appreciated. Will start by trying that and come back
if necessary.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Many thanks, much appreciated. Will start by trying that and come back
if necessary.

Galley: Duly installed and trying my first 'rename'. But obviously
doing something fundamentally silly, and Help doesn't enlighten me.
Would appreciate a pointer as I learn best by doing.

I selected a folder and added ' - 3%' to the mask box, so that it now
reads '%1 - %2 - %3'. There are 5 file names listed in 'File name'
window; 2 are blue (presumably something to do with their being WMA
types, instead of MP3 like the other 3). Help says "Just open the
folder containing files to rename, configure the rename options and
press the "Rename" button." But all 3 large buttons (Test, Rename,
Undo) are greyed out.

Here's a screenshot:
http://www.terrypin.dial.pipex.com/Misc/TagNameUse1.gif

The only thing I did achieve was rubbish: renaming that test folder to
something strange with tags in it! Can't see why the Rename Folder
option should be available when you have a *file* selected?
(Screenshot is after correcting that.)

I'm sure the obstacle will prove embarrassingly simple <g>.

 

[Galley]

Galley: Duly installed and trying my first 'rename'. But obviously
doing something fundamentally silly, and Help doesn't enlighten me.
Would appreciate a pointer as I learn best by doing.

I selected a folder and added ' - 3%' to the mask box, so that it now
reads '%1 - %2 - %3'. There are 5 file names listed in 'File name'
window; 2 are blue (presumably something to do with their being WMA
types, instead of MP3 like the other 3). Help says "Just open the
folder containing files to rename, configure the rename options and
press the "Rename" button." But all 3 large buttons (Test, Rename,
Undo) are greyed out.

Here's a screenshot:
http://www.terrypin.dial.pipex.com/Misc/TagNameUse1.gif

You do not have any files selected. You can select them manually, or choose the
"select all" button, which is the first button on the toolbar, directly able the
"one" button. Don't forget about the "test" button.

The only thing I did achieve was rubbish: renaming that test folder to
something strange with tags in it! Can't see why the Rename Folder
option should be available when you have a *file* selected?
(Screenshot is after correcting that.)

I'm sure the obstacle will prove embarrassingly simple <g>.

The Rename Folder option is similar to the Rename Files option, in that it reads
the ID3 tags. The only difference is that the changes are made to the FOLDER,
and not the files. You will probably rarely use this option.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

You do not have any files selected. You can select them manually, or choose the
"select all" button, which is the first button on the toolbar, directly able the
"one" button. Don't forget about the "test" button.


The Rename Folder option is similar to the Rename Files option, in that it reads
the ID3 tags. The only difference is that the changes are made to the FOLDER,
and not the files. You will probably rarely use this option.

Thanks Galley. Knew it would be something silly! (In mitigation, I had
tried selecting them by clicking/shift-clicking, but that apparently
is a different kind of selection. And Help doesn't say anything about
first checkmarking the file boxes...)

Thanks to your help I have now renamed my first few files. I see what
you mean - it looks like it's going to save a lot of time <g>.

Could you and others share your thoughts on the 'best' format to use
for file names please? How about the one I chose for this first few?

 

[Galley]

Thanks Galley. Knew it would be something silly! (In mitigation, I had
tried selecting them by clicking/shift-clicking, but that apparently
is a different kind of selection. And Help doesn't say anything about
first checkmarking the file boxes...)

Thanks to your help I have now renamed my first few files. I see what
you mean - it looks like it's going to save a lot of time <g>.

Could you and others share your thoughts on the 'best' format to use
for file names please? How about the one I chose for this first few?

I use "Artist\Album\01 Track Name.mp3" unless it is a multi-artist compilation,
then it is Various Artists\Album\ 01 Artist - Track Name.mp3".
On my PC, I always keep every song organized into artist and album folders, but
on my iRiver iHP-120 digital audio player, I use "Artist\Ultimate Playlist\Track
Name.mp3" for artists that I have several albums of and have only transferred
my favorite songs from that artist. I also have two folders called "(Rock
Singles)" and "(Pop Singles)". (I enclose them in quotes so they will be the
first ones in the list). In those folders I put songs where I only have 1-3
tracks from a given artist. Those are "Artist - Track name.mp3".
I have a nice fat 120GB drive for my 12,000+ MP3s on my PC, but the iHP-120 is
only 20GB so I have to be selective about what I transfer to it. Since the
iHP-120 appears as a removable drive, I can use Tag&Rename on it, the same as I
do on my regular collection.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

I use "Artist\Album\01 Track Name.mp3" unless it is a multi-artist compilation,
then it is Various Artists\Album\ 01 Artist - Track Name.mp3".
On my PC, I always keep every song organized into artist and album folders, but
on my iRiver iHP-120 digital audio player, I use "Artist\Ultimate Playlist\Track
Name.mp3" for artists that I have several albums of and have only transferred
my favorite songs from that artist. I also have two folders called "(Rock
Singles)" and "(Pop Singles)". (I enclose them in quotes so they will be the
first ones in the list). In those folders I put songs where I only have 1-3
tracks from a given artist. Those are "Artist - Track name.mp3".
I have a nice fat 120GB drive for my 12,000+ MP3s on my PC, but the iHP-120 is
only 20GB so I have to be selective about what I transfer to it. Since the
iHP-120 appears as a removable drive, I can use Tag&Rename on it, the same as I
do on my regular collection.

Excellent, thank you. I'm going to have to study that with Tag&Rename
running, as some of it puzzles me at first sight. For example, I don't
see why you have '01' in your first couple of examples. I'd have
thought that first one would be "Artist\Album\Track Name.mp3"? Nor do
I understand 'Ultimate Playlist'. And presumably 'Track Name' is same
as 'Title'? I'm sure it will all become clearer after some practiacl
work.

That 120GB sounds tempting. My two 60GB drives (2 partitions in each)
are looking less enormous now that I have broadband, so I reckon I
might add an external 120GB.

As for "...the iHP-120 is only 20GB", how do you think I feel about my
(very expensive) 1GB CF card on my 2210 iPAQ Pocket PC? <g>.

 

[Galley]

Excellent, thank you. I'm going to have to study that with Tag&Rename
running, as some of it puzzles me at first sight. For example, I don't
see why you have '01' in your first couple of examples. I'd have
thought that first one would be "Artist\Album\Track Name.mp3"? Nor do
I understand 'Ultimate Playlist'. And presumably 'Track Name' is same
as 'Title'? I'm sure it will all become clearer after some practiacl
work.

You want to have the track number (with a leading zero) so the file names will
sort in the order they were on the CD.
I just store all those files from a single artist called "Ultimate Playlist" for
lack of a better name. For instance, I have roughly 40 Pat Benatar songs in an
"Ultimate Playlist" folder, but I also have her 2003 album, "GO" in another.
That's just a way to keep the singles separated from albums.
Yes, Track Name is the same as Title. ;-)

That 120GB sounds tempting. My two 60GB drives (2 partitions in each)
are looking less enormous now that I have broadband, so I reckon I
might add an external 120GB.

My PC came with a 160GB, and I took the 120GB out of my old PC. I've only got
6GB of free space on the 120. 12,000 MP3s and a bunch of captured video will
eat up space quickly!

As for "...the iHP-120 is only 20GB", how do you think I feel about my
(very expensive) 1GB CF card on my 2210 iPAQ Pocket PC? <g>.

I have a 256MB SD card in my Palm Zire 71 that I use to play purchased tracks
from the RealPlayer Music Store.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

P.S. If you need more help, feel free to e-mail me.

Galley: I have a follow-up question but will post it here rather than
email you, in case it's of more general interest.

Elswhere in the thread, amongst a great deal of other very useful
practical advice, you said this in response to my query about what
filename structure was 'best':
"I use
Artist\Album\01 Track Name.mp3
unless it is a multi-artist compilation, then it is
Various Artists\Album\ 01 Artist - Track Name.mp3".

So those the actual folders you use, yes, as well as using the same
elements in the filename? And I assume you never duplicate a file? So,
for example, if I followed exactly the same approach (my current
intention, although it will require a LOT of work!), then I would
leave my *player* (e.g. WMP9) to find and play me all Ella Fitzgerald,
or Stan Getz, even though some of the tracks were filed in \Ella
Fizgerald\ and others within various albums in \Various Artists\ ?

IOW, let the player do all the hard work, assuming I've first tagged
the files properly with Tag&Rename?

 

[Terry Pinnell]

You are correct. Media Players such as WMP, RealPlayer 10 and others scan the
ID3 tags as you import them and add the data to a database. So, yes, it will
find songs from any given artist no matter what its location.
One other thing about the file name. On my PC I use 01 - Track Name.mp3, but
when I transfer files to my MP3 player they are converted to 01 Track Name.mp3
"on the fly". I remove the dash so there is less scrolling on the player.
Having the dash on the PC makes it a little easier to read. BTW, the new
version of MediaMonkey (2.2, currently in beta) will transfer files to any
player (that appears as a hard drive in WinXP) with a click of a button! As I
said before, it will even rename them on the fly. MediaMonkey is free at
http://www.mediamonkey.com/
One other thing that MediaMonkey is god for is showing you which of your files
have missing fields such as year, genre, etc.

Thanks, Galley. Downloading MediaMonkey now.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Thanks, Galley. Downloading MediaMonkey now.

Must say my first impressions of MediaMonkey are very positive -
thanks for the lead. Am I right that it's a competitive (and free!)
alternative to Tag&Rename? Seems rather easier to use. But maybe less
versatile? Can I for example get a two-digit track number?

And I'm seriously thinking of putting WMP9 aside and trying this as my
player/playlist manager/tagger instead. (I have become rather addicted
to WMP9's visualisations though - so that's a factor!)

Returning to file-naming structure, do you have any thoughts on
*classical* albums please, where Composer and
Orchestra/Conductor/Principal Player muddy the waters a bit?

 

[Galley]

Must say my first impressions of MediaMonkey are very positive -
thanks for the lead. Am I right that it's a competitive (and free!)
alternative to Tag&Rename? Seems rather easier to use. But maybe less
versatile? Can I for example get a two-digit track number?

Yes, it is free, although there is a $20 "Gold" version with a few more
features. Yes, I believe it has a renumbering option.

And I'm seriously thinking of putting WMP9 aside and trying this as my
player/playlist manager/tagger instead. (I have become rather addicted
to WMP9's visualisations though - so that's a factor!)

Smart move! I've always felt WMP had a poor interface, and lacked features.

Returning to file-naming structure, do you have any thoughts on
*classical* albums please, where Composer and
Orchestra/Conductor/Principal Player muddy the waters a bit?

For that, you want to make sure your tag editor supports ID3v2.3 or better.
(Both Media Monkey and Tag&Rename should). Support for classical fields was
added in newer versions of the ID3 standard. The latest version supports
Composer, Orchestra or band, and Conductor. You can find more info on ID3 at
http://www.id3.org/

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Yes, it is free, although there is a $20 "Gold" version with a few more
features. Yes, I believe it has a renumbering option.


Smart move! I've always felt WMP had a poor interface, and lacked features.


For that, you want to make sure your tag editor supports ID3v2.3 or better.
(Both Media Monkey and Tag&Rename should). Support for classical fields was
added in newer versions of the ID3 standard. The latest version supports
Composer, Orchestra or band, and Conductor. You can find more info on ID3 at
http://www.id3.org/

Thanks a lot, Galley.