I have a monstrous MP3 collection. I need a tool (or tools) to manage
it better.
__THE RESEARCHER I'M LOOKING FOR________________
I'd like a researcher _*with previous experience*_ to help me pick a
good mp3 manager tool. I REALLY hate that whole process of "trying
software", so I'm looking to save some time by asking somebody who's
been down that road. :-) So, please do not answer this question
UNLESS...
...you are a music lover with a MASSIVE mp3 collection, preferably
dance music.
AND
...you have personally used more than one mp3 manager before (for more
than an hour).
Since dance music takes such a big portion of my attention, my search
for a high-quality library program is important to me, so I don't mind
paying for the voice of experience, but I am NOT looking for a
researcher just to dig up URLs and cut-and-pasted feature lists.
Please. Do not answer this question unless you meet the above
criteria.
__THE RESEARCH I'M REQUESTING_________________
Minimum acceptable answer: These three lists.
List A) 10 or so of the most popular and/or flexible/powerful programs
(your opinion). Comment on each if/how you see fit.
List B) 3 or so that you believe fit my needs best. Base your
recommendations on research or experience, then explain your
conclusion.
List C) The list of programs you come across while researching that
you believe (again, your opinion) will not be satisfactory. No
comments needed, but very brief comments appreciated. This is just a
discard pile bin -- the byproduct of research.
Please feel free to interrogate me. The more info you have about my
desires, the better your recommendation. If you'd like to me download
and try a particular program in order to ascertain my opinions, I'd
welcome the interactivity.
__THINGS TO CONSIDER_____________________
--) I'm a "bedroom DJ". The vast majority of my music is electronic
dance music.
--) Although not in the ID3 or ID3v2 spec (AFAIK), "BPM" (beats per
minute) will be an *exceedingly* important organizational element in
my library.
--) I need to be able to use metadata that I add (keywords) to
organize, find and sort. For example, when listening to an mp3 file,
I need to be able to pop-open my manager and just start adding
keywords or comments like...
dark
twisted
happy
bright
nu-skool breaks
deep house
cheese trance
progressive house
progressive trance
tech-house
This feature is very important: I need to be able to easily add
metadata about what I hear... and then be able to search and sort on
the metadata I add.
--) Since "compilations" are common in dance music, the software
shouldn't get confused by compilation albums.
--) The ability to export my library into XML or delimited text files
or HTML might be nice.
--) Don't forget to include the new Winamp 2.90 library feature I read
about in your analysis.
--) Searches need to very fast (so I can search while DJing)
--) Integration with freedb or gracenote is important (I presume).
--) Integrated file renaming is also a big plus. If your experience
suggests a separate renaming tool is more appropriate, please offer a
recommendation.
--) Please try to find recommendations from other bedroom DJs (aka
mp3js)
--) Price is not really an issue, seeing that nothing in this genre is
going to be exorbitant.
--) I do not need "CD ripping" functionality. |
