Zune Library Organization: Tips and Tricks/Sorting Duplicates/Adding to Library

[Khu]

Originally Posted by Dizzy

Always love pictures
Should you really have checked "ID3v2 only of ID3v1 too small"?

Good point. With those settings, I wouldn't have any v1 tag at all if it doesn't fit. That option was most likely left over after some testing that I did. Good catch.

[Dizzy]

I'm observant like that ; )

[jce2005]

Hi,

just a question to get the "peace of mind" !!

Why would anyone still use ID3v1 ??? It's limited in how many characters the "Title" can have, has "Genres" you can't use or edit ! And a lot of other inconveniences.
So, ID3v2.x is always better in my opinion and doesn't confuse any devices or sotware !!! All my MP3's only have ID3v2 tags and they work pefectly fine with all my players, incl. the Zunes's 8 and 80 and the Zune 2 Software !!!

But maybe I am wrong about the ID3v1 ( but I won't use them anymore ) !!!

Cheers,

JCE

[Khu]

It is probably more of a matter of backward compatibility to use the v1 tags. If your app doesn't read them -- no harm done. But if you run into an app that does need them, they will be there.

I would imagine some older Media Managers like older versions of MusicMatch probably reads the v1 tags. You might even find the same thing on older mp3 players that never had a firmware update like older iRiver or Sansa players.

I suspect that you are right in that if one is using current hardware and current versions of most applications, the v1 tags may be completely unnecessary.

[jce2005]

Originally Posted by Khu

It is probably more of a matter of backward compatibility to use the v1 tags. If your app doesn't read them -- no harm done. But if you run into an app that does need them, they will be there.

I would imagine some older Media Managers like older versions of MusicMatch probably reads the v1 tags. You might even find the same thing on older mp3 players that never had a firmware update like older iRiver or Sansa players.

I suspect that you are right in that if one is using current hardware and current versions of most applications, the v1 tags may be completely unnecessary.

I see it the same way.......but 1.) I don't have any "soooo" old players and 2. Neither do I have such old software.

So, in order not to confuse any NEW softwre with old ID3v1 ( maybe even a new software would read the v1 tag ( with possible trunked titles ) first and then not read the good v2 tag ( with the full title ) again, I removed my ID3v1 tag's years ago !!! Would be real easy to put them back in if necessary....... but I think it's not needed.

Thanks for the reply.

Cheers,

JCE

[speedster00]

I just downloaded and I'm starting to use MP3 Tag. All I have to do is fill in the tag information on the songs that are missing it and the zune will sync it correctly next time?

[Dizzy]

You may have to rebuild your library after you correct your songs. Download the reset tool here: http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/gen...eset-tool.html

[speedster00]

Thank you very Much Dizzy!!

[Dizzy]

My pleasure

[speedster00]

WTF!!! Yesterday I spent about 3 hours trying to fix all the "unknown Artist" in the zun software. One by one I corrected them all in software by editing them in list mode....I open it today..AND THERE ALL BACK!!! All of my work is reversed again and the "unknowns" are listed...WHY????

I just went back and started changing them one by one again...and Its chainging them back to "unknown" Why is it changing them back again?

I am going through with Tag editor sorting by Artist and filling them all in....it seems to be working as the unknown ones are dissapearing from the zune software...

[jce2005]

Hi,

I am not sure which tag editor you are using. If it is MP3Tag than you might want to check under options which version of ID3Tags you have selected. The developer from MP3Tag told me today, that ID3v2.4 is N O T compatible with Windows Media Player 11 ( and the Zune v2 Software ! ) !!! So I changed ALL my tags back to ID3v2.3 and everything was fine again.

Just a hint or a tip to try !!!

Cheers,

JCE

[speedster00]

Originally Posted by jce2005

Hi,

I am not sure which tag editor you are using. If it is MP3Tag than you might want to check under options which version of ID3Tags you have selected. The developer from MP3Tag told me today, that ID3v2.4 is N O T compatible with Windows Media Player 11 ( and the Zune v2 Software ! ) !!! So I changed ALL my tags back to ID3v2.3 and everything was fine again.

Just a hint or a tip to try !!!

Cheers,

JCE

you just looked under options, unselected V2.4 and it auto changes it?

[Khu]

Speedster, you will actually have to save the files. The Options changes will be for all future changes and not just for the loaded files. After you make your changes, select all of the files for which you want to save, and hit the save button.

There are a few actions (I don't recall which ones off the top of my head) that will immediately write the changes but for the most part, with mp3Tag you have to set, select, and save.

Even when going song by song and making changes, you will notice that if you make a change then switch to another track to make changes, the first set of changes are discarded.

I have found that in general, with mp3Tag it is a good practice to make small changes and save frequently rather than make mass changes to large numbers of files.

[speedster00]

Great guys...thanks....

Another question. In my library, everything is correct. But in the zune software, I have over 300 songs listed under "unknown". Obviously they sync'd that way. If I drill down in the zune folder on my PC to "unknown"...there all there. So how do I reset those 300 songs that wont sync correctly. I know I can go in and do it one by on in the "my collection" area of the zune sotware but that could take forever with 300+ songs. Is there some way to delete that folder completey out of my music selection and it would auto remove automatically from the zune collection? Then re-sync it back in? not sure if that would work

[Khu]

From within the Zune software, is there no way to sort to get the Unknown's together? You can find Unknown in the Artist list and it should then filter to show you only albums with an Unknown Artist. You should also be able to sort albums by A-Z and find your Unknown albums. You can also switch to List view when on the Collection --> Music tab and sort by a particular column in that view. One of those three should get you to the point where you can select multiple files and delete them at the same time.

There are a few other ways that I know to drop those out and you are really going to have to take a look at your "pain" threshold to decide which might work best if the above sorting does not get you what you need.

If those directories are monitored separately -- meaning they are not a sub-directory of a monitored folder -- you can remove them from being monitored and that will drop them out.

You might also try moving that directory to a place your Collection doesn't see then rebuild the Music part of your collection. It will be rebuilt without those songs but you will have to go back and flag all of the other songs that were set to Never Sync. You will lose those settings once they drop out of the Collection.

Of course, you can always do a complete rebuild after you move that directory but again, with a complete rebuild you will not only have to reflag the Never Sync files but also resubscribe to Podcasts and get your video and pictures back in order.


If faced with the same task, I would try to sort within the Zune software so that I could group as many together as possible and start deleting that way. All of the other options will require some extra effort just to get back to square one.

EDIT: For all of these, if the Zune is connected when you make these changes, it should sync automatically.

[speedster00]

Thanks Khu. I did what you suggested by sorting them and then group deleting. Things seem to be fairly good now except earlier in the week when I reset..now I have to go back in and set up my pod cast again. No big deal.. thanks for the help

[RZ7X]

man this stuff is complicated....:confused:

[icpclownfan]

I freaking love you Khu!!! I've spent my whole vacation week trying to fix this. Your a life saver and my Zune thanks you. I was about to toss it out the door tomorrow if I didn't see this post. This needs to be sticky everywhere!! Again you absolutely rule!!

[Gittyhorse]

Hey Khu,

You are a life saver! I was getting ready to take my Zune back (frustration was setting in). But you showed me the tag options I needed to get my problem fixed. I was trying to save 3 versions of one album on my Zune, I know that's kind of redundant but, I am kind of particular about my music collection.

Anyway thank all you guys for your input. I'll be checking back here regularly.

Thanks,
Jason Gibson

[IloveNachos]

I dont know if I am ******ed or what. I opened my entire song collection through Mp3tag v2.39 and edit