OK, so how the hell do I sort this one out?

For ripping CD's, I like to use "Sound Juicer". It's quick, got a clean interface, easily set to rip in different formats (I use .flac as my Rio Karma supports it and it sounds better than most IMO).

The problem is, that if I stick a disc in, it reads the tracks but can't find a title and track info I'm stuck. Yes, it does have the option to "submit" the track info to the musicbrainz website/database, but it doesn't make any difference i.e. I still end up with "unknown artist", "unknown album/title" and "track 1" (to whatever number it reads from the disc).

Fat lot of good that is.

There doesn't seem to be a way of adding a different database/lookup facility.

If I rip the disc, I then have to change the file names - a bloody long winded process.

If I then open my preferred music media player (Amarok), I still then have to change the track titles and "save".

What a total pile of pooh!

There must be someway of adding disc info to sound juicer if it doesn't pick it up off the disc (it picks up the various ID info), and/or someway of adding the disc info via Amarok if sound juicer doesn't/hasn't

Any ideas please ????

regards

John

p.s. Yes I have tried other ripping apps. Grip will ID discs that sound juicer won't, but I can't find an option to tell it where to put the files (i.e. my /home/user/music, and not the default - otherwise I have to piss about moving the files etc). What ever it was that I tried as a default for KDE with this SuSE 10.1 install was just as messy!

I usually use easytag to tag and rename files I've ripped from CD. It does make for another program between ripping and listening, but I've been quite happy with easytag's capabilites.

Ideally I'd like to avoid that - though I'll check to see if easytag is available as an rpm for SuSE.

As I say, I'm convinced that theres either a way of telling Sound Juicer where to look for ID info, or as worst for me to have to use grip and be able to tell it where too put the files.

So if anyone else has any suggestions/ideas please ?

regards

John

I don't know which KDE app it was that you tried, but just yesterday I discovered KAudioCreator, which may have some of the functionality you're looking for. It uses cddb to look up track information, if it does not find anything you can edit the album ere you rip it. It can also be configured to put the files where you want them.

Yes, that sounds like the one that I tried.

If I recall correctly, it rips the tracks, converts to .wav file and then reconverts to .flac - it was incredibly slow (and it didn't allow me to put the resulting files into the directory of my choice, just the default /home/user/mp3).

Grip isn't much better i.e. it rips the track and then encodes it. It's faster than KAudioCreator, but still shows the snag of not letting me put the tracks into the directory that I want.

I just don't know whats happening with Sound Juicer. Previously, it's been solid as a rock. Seeing all discs/track ID info etc ripping OK (well actually the version thats come with the SuSE 10.1 that I have, is the fastest I've ever seen it). It just doesn't want to get some track info - theres no consistant or obvious reason. Most of my CD's are less than 4 years old (even the ones that have been remastered etc). As far as I can tell, if it can't get the info, it's supposed to connect somewhere to the net - I'm presuming the MuzikBrainz (I think thats how it's spelled) - to get the info. If it doesn't have the info, then you can open an account and upload the track info or select one thats similar i.e. a disc thats been released in different countries or some such reason for having a slightly different title.

But apart from opening the MuzikBrainz site, thats all it seems to be doing.

I just can't fathom out what the hells actually occuring, or why

regards

John

In Grip, [Config][Rip][Ripper] and [Config][Encode][Encoder], there is a field named 'Rip file format.' and 'Encode file format' ... The first 2 segments of that command define where the respective output files will be placed. (I think. I've never actually tried it, but that's what it looks like they do.)

I just looked at Sound Juicer, and the version I have, 2.14.3, all you need to do is double click on the title to enter it in and it will name and tag the file properly when it rips it. So if that method does not work, perhaps try looking for an rpm of a more recent version than you have.

For KAudioCreator, if you select "Encoder" in the configuration, there is a Location box which sets the file name as well as what directory to put them in.


EDIT: I guess it's more of clicking twice than an actual double click. . .

Thankyou both for the pointers.

All I have to do now, is go back through my CD's, to find the ones that "it" didn't read (Sound Juicer that is) and see what I need to do.

Plus I'll set my Grip install so that it's pointing to the right location (hopefully).

Oh and the sound juicer version that I have is 2.14.0 - thats from SuSE 10.1 which has only just been finished.

Again, thankyou for the assistance, it's very much appreciated.

regards

John

Just to make it clear, in grip, you just have to configure the entire path in the "encode file format" field, with slashes delineating directories. I use "~/mp3/%A/%d/%A-%d-%t-%n.%x" Which puts the files in ~/mp3/artist/album/, with the file format artist-album-trackno-title.