Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming dBoweramp ripping files to MC200: Is editing the tags/filename bad idea?

I would like to know if any of you has tried editing tags, filename and covers in tagscanner after you have ripped in dBpoweamp?

I have made some rules in tagscanner that will make changes in the tags and rename the filenames instead of: track 1, track 2 etc.

I would also like to make some cover changes sometimes and let tagscanner reorgonice my collection.

I have ripped a lot of my music before I got the Meridian MC200 and know how to import those files.

I am a bit concerned about the Info XML file and the Sooloos XML file when making change to the filename and ID tags?

Jack, are you asking about editing tags after you rip but before you import or after you have imported? Also, when you rip are you going straight to Sooloos format via the plugin?

If you rename the tracks within Sooloos folders (or from the XML folder) from track01.FLAC to [something else].FLAC then you will probably/almost certainly be in trouble. Sooloos renames tracks for a reason and if you change this your library will probably fail.

Question... why do you want to do this? What will you achieve?

Don't rename the files.

I have not done anything to my ripped files in dBpoweramp yet.

I was thinking about the same. But it makes sence your answer. I have been thinking on the same mather. The only reason I have been considered it is I am a bit of a perfectionist and would like to have my files named and mapped the same way on my computer and when using foobar as player for my PC speakers.

It is better to let it be like it is ripped in dBpoweramp and make the changes before ripping?

I suppose the only thing that can be done afterwards is changing the cover.

Music that has been ripped before getting Sooloos>>MC200 is possible for me to change the album-artist to artist before import. It will often recognize and find tags for the files?

You can do what you like to the tags themselves and Foobar, Squeeze, Sonos, etc will read them just fine.

DO NOT change file names or structure etc.

Just to be sure. I can change the tags after ripping in dBpoweramp and the covers.

And it will not affect the XML files that was created by the Meridian XML Writer?

It should be Okay, but, I would strongly suggest you test for yourself here as this is totally non-std use and undocumented.

Possibly, but the XML file relates to specific file names in that folder. I found that I needed to change the XML file if I changed the file name. Not quite a WOMBAT (Waste of money brains and time) but certainly a WOBAT.

But are we not saying "don't change the file names"?

Nick,

Double negative!

I'm confirming that if you change the file name, you then have to change the XML. Frankly I'd have programmed the addin to allow the track names to be the actual track names (makes them a lot easier to identify by eye), the metadata to be embedded but the overriding data to be in the XML

This way the files themselves could also be used for other database programmes without having to rip twice. At present many programmes cannot handle the files easily as there are no metadata included.

The other programmes you refer to don't use file names. They use metadata so file name is irrelevant. Sonos, squeeze, Foobar can all read the Sooloos folder directly as long as the files have meta data. No need for a second copy.

It is important to remember that the Sooloos folders are fully managed folders by the Sooloos system software. This software expects to find and search for objects in a particular format, ie track01.FLAC. If you change the format of these objects, then the Sooloos software may no longer work as expected either now or at some point in the future when it is too late to revert. The effect of this may range to non obvious to catastrophic.

Metadata on the other hand, is content, and we know that most/al tags are available for users use. When you import via Control:xx, Sooloos does not populate these. When you import pre ripped files, Sooloos keeps your tagging.

Other than renaming the file on import to track01 etc., Sooloos is non destructive on the content. So ask yourself, why does Sooloos go to the effort of renaming files in import? Is it for a genuine reason, or is it for naming consistency.

For the same reason that you wouldn't go into a blind persons house and move all their furniture around, you should not go into the Sooloos managed folders and reorganise all its files. You simply do not know what trouble it will cause.