Freeware method to flatten ripped m4a directory tree to flat m3a

vicwehman wrote on 6/10/2008 :

> Do you have a more efficient freeware method to flatten the directory tree
> of ripped songs and to convert to from M4a to MP3?
>
> The best freeware method I can come up with after extensive googling is:
>
> 0. Start with hundreds of songs (i.e., manual is a no no) organized as:
> c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a
>
> 1. Super freeware will convert m4a2mp3 but won't change the directory tree!
> FROM: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a
> TO: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.m4a.mp3
>
> 2. Multi-ID3 Tag Editor freeware will insert correct ID3v1 & ID3v2 tags!
> Title = title
> Artist = artist
> Album = album
>
> 3. SharePod freeware will convert file names based on these ID3v2 tags!
> FROM: c:\path\artist\album\track - title.mp3
> TO: c:\path\artist - title.mp3
>
> This three-step freeware solution to flatten the directory tree and convert
> from M4a to MP3 is the most efficient process I can find.
>
> Do you know of a better (easier? more automatic?) freeware method to
> flatten the directory tree and convert ripped songs of the directory tree
> and file format of:
> ... "c:\artist\album\track - title.m4a"
> to the directory tree name and file format of
> ... "c:\artist - title.mp3"

Have a look at these.

Switch
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multime...s/Switch.shtml
http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html

BonkEnc
http://www.bonkenc.org/
The Beginner's Guide to ripping CDs using BonkEnc
file:///C:/Unzipped/bonkenc-1.0.4-bin/bonkenc-1.0.4-bin/manual/en/beginner.html

Free Mp3 Wma Converter Ripper Cutter
http://www.download.com/3000-2140_4-10703339.html

FormatFactory
http://www.formatoz.com/download.html

Free Audio Converter CS
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multime...erter-CS.shtml
http://www.mp3audiomill.com/free_aud...verter_cs.html

vicwehman wrote on 6/10/2008 :

> On Sun, 5 Oct 2008 20:07:38 -0700, vicwehman wrote:

>> Do you know of a better (easier? more automatic?) freeware method to
>> flatten the directory tree and convert ripped songs of the directory tree
>> and file format of:
>> ... "c:\artist\album\track - title.m4a"
>> to the directory tree name and file format of
>> ... "c:\artist - title.

>
> I just realized I can slide the m4a songs from the PC in a directory
> organization onto Sharepod and then slide them back onto the PC with a flat
> file format, all the while staying in the M4a format.
>
> That must mean there are M4a metadata tags that the Multi ID3 Tag Editor
> freeware doesn't recognize.
>
> So, now my problem is simpler. I can just slide back and forth onto and off
> Sharepod to convert the directory format naming convention to a file format
> naming convention.
>
> But, why doesn't Windows XP "see" the M4A tags in the directory listing?
> And, what freeware is best to edit M4a meta data tags?

These may help.

http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/...edit+m4a&la=en

On Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:34:25 +0800, Johnw wrote:

>> But, why doesn't Windows XP "see" the M4A tags in the directory listing?
>> And, what freeware is best to edit M4a meta data tags?

> http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/...edit+m4a&la=en

Thanks for the pointer.
I tried AudioShell which was one of the first links at that page.
It worked great EXCEPT one little thing I forgot to mention.
It needs to work on a large number of songs at once.
It seems AudioShell only edits metadata one song at a time.
Is there a way to get AudioShell to edit m4a metadata in a batch mode?

On Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:29:37 +0800, Johnw wrote:

> vicwehman wrote on 6/10/2008 :

>> Do you have a more efficient freeware method to flatten the directory tree
>> of ripped songs and to convert to from M4a to MP3?

> Switch
> http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multime...s/Switch.shtml

Switch looks like nice freeware to convert from the Apple iTunes AAC (m4a)
format to the more standard Windows mp3 format which I can then edit the
meta data tags of ... but I'd use Super freeware instead just because Super
is the most recommended file conversion software.

> BonkEnc
> http://www.bonkenc.org/

BonkEnc seems like GREAT freeware for ripping CDs directly to the more
standard and meta data editable MP3 format!

> Free Mp3 Wma Converter Ripper Cutter
> http://www.download.com/3000-2140_4-10703339.html

Likewise, this looks like an OK freeware converter to convert Apple's AAC
M4a to the more standard Windows MP3 format but again, Super freeware
already performs this conversion and this software here seems to try to get
you to buy their payware converter and install unecessary toolbars.

> FormatFactory
> http://www.formatoz.com/download.html

Not only does this convert the non standard Apple M4a to the more standard
Windows MP3 format, but this freeware program seems to rip DVDs to a video
file. That's a new one for me. I never heard of ripping DVDs to a video
file such as an AVI or MP4 or MPG or WMV file. Generally one rips a DVD to
a DVD format set of TFO/VOB/BUP files using something like DVD Fab
Decryptor or DVD Shrink or DVD Decrypter. So, the DVD ripping portion of
this program might be interesting but the format conversion doesn't seem to
do anything other than what Super freeware already does.

> Free Audio Converter CS
> http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multime...erter-CS.shtml
> http://www.mp3audiomill.com/free_aud...verter_cs.html

This looks like a nice audio file conversion program which also does CD
ripping so it's nice for ripping but again Super is just fine for audio
file conversion. However this ripper seems to automatically fill in the
ID3V2 meta data tags of the ripped songs, so that's a nice plus.

on 6/10/2008, vicwehman supposed :

> Thanks for the pointer.

YW, that's all I can do, not very big on this sort of stuff, you may
get some later, when the other side of the world to me, wakes up.

Using the search criteria > tag batch, gets 4 pages here. Maybe doing
the the batch in one format & changing to your final format later, will
work out better.

http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/...ag+batch&la=en

Also, you could google for info on how to make batch files,

Wizard's Apprentice
http://wizapp.sourceforge.net/

On Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:28:56 +0800, Johnw wrote:

> YW, that's all I can do, not very big on this sort of stuff, you may
> get some later, when the other side of the world to me, wakes up.

Hi John,
I do thank you very much for the advice.
So far, based on your help, I've improved the process by eliminating the
conversion of M4A to MP3 (which I was only doing because I had the mistaken
idea that M4A didn't have meta data tags because I could not see or edit
M4A tags in Windows).

Step 1: Batch convert the directory tree to file names:
Just slide a ton of M4a songs in the format of
"C:\dir\artist\album\track-title.m4a" onto SharePod and then slide them
back onto the Windows PC in the format of "C:\dir\artist - title".

Step 2: Individually edit the M4a meta data as needed:
Use the recommended AudioShell freeware to edit and view the M4a metadata.

The only flaw with this process is that AudioShell freeware doesn't do
batch editing of M4a meta data tags. So, now all we need is a freeware
batch metadata tag editor for M4a tags.

vicwehman explained :

> Hi John,
> I do thank you very much for the advice.
> So far, based on your help, I've improved the process by eliminating the
> conversion of M4A to MP3 (which I was only doing because I had the mistaken
> idea that M4A didn't have meta data tags because I could not see or edit
> M4A tags in Windows).
>
> Step 1: Batch convert the directory tree to file names:
> Just slide a ton of M4a songs in the format of
> "C:\dir\artist\album\track-title.m4a" onto SharePod and then slide them
> back onto the Windows PC in the format of "C:\dir\artist - title".
>
> Step 2: Individually edit the M4a meta data as needed:
> Use the recommended AudioShell freeware to edit and view the M4a metadata.
>
> The only flaw with this process is that AudioShell freeware doesn't do
> batch editing of M4a meta data tags. So, now all we need is a freeware
> batch metadata tag editor for M4a tags.

Just did another search through my database Vic, using different search
words. I'm just throwing them at you for vetting.

You may find it easier to read here.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.c...9e78108?hl=en#

TagScanner
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multime...gScanner.shtml
http://www.xdlab.ru/en/index.htm
Portable
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABL...gScanner.shtml
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?sc=44
Does iTunes & batch.

Taginator
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?sc=44
http://frank.neatstep.com/?q=node/2

jmPlayer
http://jmplayer.sourceforge.net/
jmPlayer is a simple mp3-Player and advanced mp3 ID3-Tag batch editor.
So it's main intention is to provide a simple but powerful way to
rename many files and tags at once.

Peter's Flexible Renaming Kit
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...ming-Kit.shtml
http://www3.telus.net/pfrank/

FolderViewer
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...erViewer.shtml
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/folderview.html
http://www.matirsoft.com/

Lupas Rename
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...s-Rename.shtml
http://rename.lupasfreeware.org/lupasrename.php
Portable
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABL...s-Rename.shtml

On Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:34:54 +0800, Johnw wrote:

> Just did another search through my database Vic, using different search
> words. I'm just throwing them at you for vetting.

Hi John,
Thanks again. This looks like a great start.

Right now, I'm testing the freeware & shareware version of MP3TAG editor
which both seem to allow simultaneous editing of a large number of M4A
files' meta data. Since they're from different web sites, I'm not sure if
they have a common genesis but they seem to be from the same maker.

Despite the mp3 in the name, both edit m4a tags in addition to mp3 tags:
Freeware:
- mp3tag v2.41 http://www.mp3tag.de/en
Shareware (30-day trial):
- mp3Tag v5.9 http://www.maniactools.com/soft/mp3tag/index.shtml

The good news is they also rename the songs so I will test if they can
convert the ripped CD's from "C:\dir\artist\album\track - title.m4a" to
"c:\dir\artist - title.m4a" with the album information included in the m4a
metadata.

I think this freeware has the promise of being able to do both steps in one
large batch operation!

STEP 1: Convert large numbers of files from artist\album\track - title.m4a
to artist - title.m4a and
STEP 2: Add the album information in batch operations to large number of
files' m4a meta data

Is everyone else using mp3tag to perform this most basic of operations?