How do YOU do it?

MashadaR · 18th March 2004, 23:02

Whatever drive you have your music in...how do you have it labled when you pull it up in Windows Explorer?

I have it as such: (example)

F:\MADONNA\RAY OF LIGHT\01 - DROWNED WORLD / SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE

I'm not sure if I like it that way....

I have the "madonna" folder, double click on that then I have the albums listed in [thumbnail] view so the album art displays on the folder, with the title underneath.

I know some people would have it like
F:
then artist - album - track - title
and have everything alphabetized.

I'm just not sure what to do with it all

ScorLibran · 18th March 2004, 23:28

I keep my complete music collection (currently about 7000 songs) encoded in FLAC on my I: drive, which is an external (USB 2.0/Firewire) 250 GB HD.

The smaller 60 GB hard drive cartridge that goes in my car's audio system maps to H: for the actual music files when it's attached to my PC, and G: for the meta-data.

I used to keep some music on my D: drive (the data partition of my internal HD) on my notebook PC, but after I bought the external 250 GB drive, I can keep D: open for just documents and pictures now.

And when I load up a Memory Stick with music for my portable player, my PC maps it as F: drive.

All my music I keep in the following structure for each type of album:

Single artist albums... <drive>:\Music\<artist>\<album>\<tracknum> <title>.flac

Various artist compilations...
<drive>:\Music\<album>\<tracknum> <title>.flac

Soundtracks...
<drive>:\Music\Soundtracks\<album>\<tracknum> <title>.flac

Here's an example of my music directory structure on my external HD when listening over my home theater (or with the Sennheisers)...

I:\Music\L7\Bricks Are Heavy\03 Pretend We're Dead.flac

And on the 60 GB cartridge that goes in my car, it's...

H:\Music\L7\Bricks Are Heavy\03 Pretend We're Dead.flac

MashadaR · 19th March 2004, 00:05

I'm curious - why use an external drive vs an internal drive?

also, what is a 60G cartridge? I'm intrigued. Is there a link to one so I can see?

Raz · 19th March 2004, 01:31

The same way i had it the last 15 threads like this.

MashadaR · 19th March 2004, 02:01

Quote:

Originally posted by Raz
The same way i had it the last 15 threads like this.

what? are you saying there aer other threads similar to my topic???

i'm sorry - i didn't search first

ScorLibran · 19th March 2004, 05:10

Quote:

Originally posted by MashadaR
I'm curious - why use an external drive vs an internal drive?

also, what is a 60G cartridge? I'm intrigued. Is there a link to one so I can see?

Here is the 60 GB PhatNoise hard drive (DMS) cartridge for the Music Keg or PhatBox car audio system. Instead of a CD changer, I keep about 180 albums encoded losslessly in FLAC on my car's system, accessible through the head unit's CD changer controls (plus SSA to make the amount of music very easy to navigate).

I use an external hard drive because both of my PCs are notebooks. Their internal drives are only 40GB. I could have gotten larger ones when I ordered them, but no need. All the stuff that takes up significant space goes on the 250GB external (which easily fits in my briefcase as well).

On my primary PC, I'll have up to ten drives mounted at a time, four of which contain music ( F:, H:, I:, K: )...

A: - 3.5" Diskette
C: - System Partition
D: - Data Partition (Photos, Software Downloads, Documents)
E: - Internal CD-RW/DVD+RW
F: - Memory Stick (up to 1 GB) (Music, Photos, Movies, Data, Documents)
G: - DMS System Partition
H: - DMS Music Partition (Favorite Music)
I: - External Hard Drive (250 GB) (Complete Music Collection, Movies)
J: - External CD-RW/DVD+RW
K: - PDA

MashadaR · 19th March 2004, 05:18

external isn't a bad idea! i got a 120g just for music (internal).

the external isn't a bad idea b/c you can take it to work and have the whole (or partial depandable upon size) collection there and you can be in whatever mood. That's kinda cool.

I'm thinking on building a pc for the entertainment center. it would have a dvd-rom and hard drives for music. it would have to have video-out - so what is the minimum processor you think i would need? i don't want it to be a top performer - just needs to get the job done.

any suggestions?

ScorLibran · 19th March 2004, 06:01

It depends on what you're trying to decode.

MP3? Not much processing power is required, hence why there are so many cheap MP3 players out there. A Pentium III 233 MHz would be fine. And cheap, too. MP3 can be decoded on much less CPU than that even, but that one could probably be found for pocket change.

Vorbis? You'll need considerably more CPU and memory, to avoid the frequent buffer underruns prevalent with Vorbis being decoded on limited hardware. A Pentium III 450 MHz would suffice, though. Maybe less.

FLAC? You'll need more CPU and memory than for decoding MP3, but not as much as for Vorbis. Maybe PIII 300 MHz or so.

Any of these setups should have 128 MB of RAM, also since that amount of memory would be dirt cheap too.

The OS would limit your hardware selection more than your music decoding needs, anyway. Unless you want to reach back for a really old version of Windows.

Or if spending $350 isn't out of line for a home digital music player, and if you'd be willing to rip all your music rather than playing CDs, maybe this would be a better option. Then you could get a PhatBox for your car and use the DMS in either device.

MashadaR · 19th March 2004, 06:09

yeah, but would the 333 processor be good enought for dvd viewing - i would have a card with an s-video out on it

MashadaR · 19th March 2004, 06:10

btw - i'd be having this convo in PM but it says that your box is full and cannot recieve anymore ;-)

ScorLibran · 25th March 2004, 04:36

Sorry.

I just deleted about half the messages in my inbox, so there's free space now.

18th March 2004, 23:02	#1
MashadaR Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 34	How do YOU do it? Whatever drive you have your music in...how do you have it labled when you pull it up in Windows Explorer? I have it as such: (example) F:\MADONNA\RAY OF LIGHT\01 - DROWNED WORLD / SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE I'm not sure if I like it that way.... I have the "madonna" folder, double click on that then I have the albums listed in [thumbnail] view so the album art displays on the folder, with the title underneath. I know some people would have it like F: then artist - album - track - title and have everything alphabetized. I'm just not sure what to do with it all

18th March 2004, 23:28	#2
ScorLibran Resident Floydian Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 6,222	I keep my complete music collection (currently about 7000 songs) encoded in FLAC on my I: drive, which is an external (USB 2.0/Firewire) 250 GB HD. The smaller 60 GB hard drive cartridge that goes in my car's audio system maps to H: for the actual music files when it's attached to my PC, and G: for the meta-data. I used to keep some music on my D: drive (the data partition of my internal HD) on my notebook PC, but after I bought the external 250 GB drive, I can keep D: open for just documents and pictures now. And when I load up a Memory Stick with music for my portable player, my PC maps it as F: drive. All my music I keep in the following structure for each type of album: Single artist albums... <drive>:\Music\<artist>\<album>\<tracknum> <title>.flac Various artist compilations... <drive>:\Music\<album>\<tracknum> <title>.flac Soundtracks... <drive>:\Music\Soundtracks\<album>\<tracknum> <title>.flac Here's an example of my music directory structure on my external HD when listening over my home theater (or with the Sennheisers)... I:\Music\L7\Bricks Are Heavy\03 Pretend We're Dead.flac And on the 60 GB cartridge that goes in my car, it's... H:\Music\L7\Bricks Are Heavy\03 Pretend We're Dead.flac I'm a psychosomatic sister running around without a leash.

19th March 2004, 06:01	#8
ScorLibran Resident Floydian Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 6,222	It depends on what you're trying to decode. MP3? Not much processing power is required, hence why there are so many cheap MP3 players out there. A Pentium III 233 MHz would be fine. And cheap, too. MP3 can be decoded on much less CPU than that even, but that one could probably be found for pocket change. Vorbis? You'll need considerably more CPU and memory, to avoid the frequent buffer underruns prevalent with Vorbis being decoded on limited hardware. A Pentium III 450 MHz would suffice, though. Maybe less. FLAC? You'll need more CPU and memory than for decoding MP3, but not as much as for Vorbis. Maybe PIII 300 MHz or so. Any of these setups should have 128 MB of RAM, also since that amount of memory would be dirt cheap too. The OS would limit your hardware selection more than your music decoding needs, anyway. Unless you want to reach back for a really old version of Windows. Or if spending $350 isn't out of line for a home digital music player, and if you'd be willing to rip all your music rather than playing CDs, maybe this would be a better option. Then you could get a PhatBox for your car and use the DMS in either device. I'm a psychosomatic sister running around without a leash.

25th March 2004, 04:36	#11
ScorLibran Resident Floydian Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 6,222	Sorry. I just deleted about half the messages in my inbox, so there's free space now. I'm a psychosomatic sister running around without a leash.

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19th March 2004, 00:05	#3
MashadaR Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 34	I'm curious - why use an external drive vs an internal drive? also, what is a 60G cartridge? I'm intrigued. Is there a link to one so I can see?

19th March 2004, 01:31	#4
Raz Forum King Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Manchester Posts: 6,470	The same way i had it the last 15 threads like this.

19th March 2004, 05:18	#7
MashadaR Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 34	external isn't a bad idea! i got a 120g just for music (internal). the external isn't a bad idea b/c you can take it to work and have the whole (or partial depandable upon size) collection there and you can be in whatever mood. That's kinda cool. I'm thinking on building a pc for the entertainment center. it would have a dvd-rom and hard drives for music. it would have to have video-out - so what is the minimum processor you think i would need? i don't want it to be a top performer - just needs to get the job done. any suggestions?

19th March 2004, 06:09	#9
MashadaR Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 34	yeah, but would the 333 processor be good enought for dvd viewing - i would have a card with an s-video out on it

19th March 2004, 06:10	#10
MashadaR Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 34	btw - i'd be having this convo in PM but it says that your box is full and cannot recieve anymore ;-)