Metadata fields required for synching

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Learner50
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:11 am

Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Learner50 »

Hi, I am a total novice when it comes to music files. I used Itunes until recently then purchased a Hidiz AP80 and while I love the sound I am having problems displaying track information. I downloaded MM imported my music from Itunes into a new Mediamonkey catalogue - about 75 % imported correctly but there were a lot of tracks which had not been assigned to albums. I manually did this and then synched to my new player. The albums that imported correctly show all the data and album art; the ones I manually altered obviously have something missing as they show no picture, only track title and no album or artist. Clearly I must have missed some tag but cannot see what. Any simple guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks
IanRTaylorUK
Posts: 536
Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2019 4:41 pm

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by IanRTaylorUK »

This assumes ALL the files for an album are in the same directory for Media Monkey Windows (MMW). If you get the meta data right in MMW then it will sync over to the device well.

The steps I often follow in MMW:
1). Entire Library Node / All Tracks then add the column "Added" and sort by that column so the newest files at the top.
2). Select the files for a single album (they should be all together). Then right click properties.
3). Check the Type / Artist / Album / Album Artist / Genre / Date etc are consistent i.e. all the Basic properties. Even add the disc number and your own comments. Click OK to save and then open properties again - this will confirm any changes you have made are saved.
4). Click on the artwork tab - in my case I have the artwork Stored in a Tag AND to a Folder.jpg in the album folder. If two images not present then I can use the Lookup function - normally I just need to click browse (lower left) and the JPG downloaded with the music is shown, otherwise after a few seconds MM will lookup from the internet. Select either the "browsed" image or internet image and click to get the Add Cover dialogue. I prefer to set to save to tag and folder here!

P.S. You can set the Save to Tag + Folder using Tools / Options / Library / Tags & Playlist

If your files are not arranged in a folder per album, then you may need to look at "Auto-Organise" e.g. my main directory is Music with the sub-directory of <Album Artist>\<Album> and Filename of <Title>

Whilst the files are still selected, I suggest you right click Play Now you can then quickly cycle through the tracks and visually check the album artwork, lyrics etc.

Also at the bottom of the Entire Library node, there is the Files To Edit - aim to have nothing under Unknown Title / Unknown Artist / Unknown Album / Unknown Genre / Unknown Year / Unknown Artwork / Inconsistent Artwork.

Hope this helps, just one approach. I am sure others will handle slightly differently.
Ian Taylor
Learner50
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:11 am

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Learner50 »

Hi Ian much appreciate the speedy response. When I imported into the catalogue there were a lot of stray items and think it is these which I have not completed correctly WIll go back and see using your assistance. All the best
Lowlander
Posts: 56491
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: MediaMonkey 5

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Lowlander »

Did you add Artwork to the files you fixed before you Synced: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Album_Art/5.0

You'll need Album and Album Artist to make "Albums" in MediaMonkey: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHel ... erties/5.0
IanRTaylorUK
Posts: 536
Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2019 4:41 pm

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by IanRTaylorUK »

Learner50 wrote: Tue Jun 08, 2021 9:02 am Hi Ian much appreciate the speedy response. When I imported into the catalogue there were a lot of stray items and think it is these which I have not completed correctly WIll go back and see using your assistance. All the best
No problem. Been using Media Monkey for a few years now and it was only really last year that I spent some time to resolve all my Artwork / Tagging issues. Now finding my best practise is to look closely at the artwork / tagging when adding new albums. It does make a big difference when you get everything right on the sync'd devices!
Ian Taylor
Learner50
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:11 am

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Learner50 »

Lowlander wrote: Tue Jun 08, 2021 10:19 am Did you add Artwork to the files you fixed before you Synced: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Album_Art/5.0

You'll need Album and Album Artist to make "Albums" in MediaMonkey: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHel ... erties/5.0
Hi thanks for both of these. When I created a catalogue in MediaMonkey from itunes it brought all the music over but about at the end of the list were a few hundred tracks not assigned to albums. I manually did this adding Album titles Album artists then once these were all done added album art where missing. I still have the same problem on my Hidizs with these tracks - they only show the title of the song (all the detail is there if I scroll into the track) but for the rest of the catalogue it shows full information on the screen. It has something to do with the way they were imported I guess and how I corrected them but have no idea what.
Lowlander
Posts: 56491
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: MediaMonkey 5

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Lowlander »

Sorry, I don't know what a Hidizs is.

Screenshots may help explain what you see: https://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewt ... =1&t=97733
Learner50
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:11 am

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Learner50 »

Lowlander wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:19 am Sorry, I don't know what a Hidizs is.

Screenshots may help explain what you see: https://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewt ... =1&t=97733
Sorry I should have explained. It is a music player like Ipod only android. The two pictures show a track that has synched correctly with all the info and one that has not and only shows the title. I have picures of both on my phone but can't see how to display them on here. Never used imgBB before but hope this works.
https://ibb.co/mzQvpzS
https://ibb.co/pXZRrgC
Lowlander
Posts: 56491
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: MediaMonkey 5

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Lowlander »

Check the Music > Files to Edit > DB/Tag Mismatches Tags node: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHel ... Mismatches

Does it list these files that don't show correctly on the device?

Have you tried removing the files from the device and then re-syncing?
Learner50
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:11 am

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Learner50 »

Lowlander wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 11:04 am Check the Music > Files to Edit > DB/Tag Mismatches Tags node: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHel ... Mismatches

Does it list these files that don't show correctly on the device?

Have you tried removing the files from the device and then re-syncing?
Hello again and thank you for your further suggestions . I did not know about the tag checks Have run all these . Identified a few album cover issues which I have resolved but nothing else. Think I am going to delete the catalogue and try again from scratch importing it from my Itunes catalogue. Now I understand a little more about Mediamonkey I might resolve any issues the import brings. Appreciate your help though.
Lowlander
Posts: 56491
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm
Location: MediaMonkey 5

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Lowlander »

Have you removed files from the devices and then Synced them again after you edited them in MediaMonkey? Sometimes this works to get a Player to see the changes.
Learner50
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:11 am

Re: Metadata fields required for synching

Post by Learner50 »

Lowlander wrote: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:38 am Have you removed files from the devices and then Synced them again after you edited them in MediaMonkey? Sometimes this works to get a Player to see the changes.
Yes I have tried this twice now and still have same problems Will look at starting from scratch again as I said and hopefully this time resolve any import issues correctly. Thank you
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