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Todd Ireland
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| Posted: 15 December 2008 at 2:03pm | IP Logged
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I apologize in advance if this is slightly off topic, but I wanted to pose a question for anyone who has compiled their own personal database of Top 40 hits they have on CD.... What kind of software or system do you use? I would like to assemble a database of every 45 version, LP version, DJ edit, stereo mix, mono mix, import CD, etc. that I currently have in my 4,500+ CD collection for my own personal reference, but am not sure of the best and most efficient way to do this. I need to purchase a new computer in the next couple of days and am wondering if I should invest some money in the Microsoft Office Professional 2007 product, which contains Access database software. Or is their a better and less expensive way to go about accomplishing my goal? I would appreciate any and all input as I'm looking to make my computer purchase in the next day or two. Thanks!
Edited by Todd Ireland on 15 December 2008 at 2:05pm
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crapfromthepast
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| Posted: 15 December 2008 at 4:22pm | IP Logged
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Todd - I just have everything in a giant Excel spreadsheet. I started the spreadsheet in 1990 (!), and 18 years later it's still my go-to reference for finding stuff in the pile of compilation CDs in my basement.
It used to be just disc/track, artist, title, Hot 100 peak position/peak date/debut date, and BPM. In recent years, I added a "time" column and a "remarks" column, which has proven pretty helpful.
Not pretty, I admit, but it's got over 31,000 titles and still works just fine.
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C J Brown
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| Posted: 15 December 2008 at 4:44pm | IP Logged
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Todd - I have used CD Trustee for the last couple years. I am very happy with the program - it does all that you mention. So far I have compiled about 2000 CD's -38,000 tracks. I am now entering all of my CDR's of promo,mono,or otherwise custom tracks. Next will be my mp3's and then my vinyl. Charlie
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Hykker
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| Posted: 15 December 2008 at 5:30pm | IP Logged
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I asked a similar question on another board a while back, and most of the responses were along the line of "if you find a good one let me know".
I currently use an old DOS database program called Alpha 4. Does the job, but doesn't run very well under Windows XP. I tried importing it into Access, but didn't like the program very much. My brother has a Windows version of Alpha he's not using anymore that he promised to send me. One of these days I'll bug him again.
All I use it for is compilation/various artist LPs, EPs, CDs & tapes (yeah, I still have some stuff on reels too). To catalog singles and regular albums is way too big of a project. The intent of the database was not so much to catalog everything I owned, but to make it possible to find stuff that was on some sort of compilation.
I set it up with fields for title, artist, media, volume, year, stereo and genre (currently only used to sort Christmas or novelty tunes). If there are multiple versions it's usually noted in the title field. I do not have separate entries for every time I have a particular song...I usually go by the best-sounding one, separate entries for mono & stereo, also LP & CD, but I try not to duplicate entries in a given media.
Edited by Hykker on 15 December 2008 at 5:33pm
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aaronk
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| Posted: 15 December 2008 at 6:00pm | IP Logged
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Todd, as you suggested in your first post, I use Microsoft Access (although I'm still running 2000).
What I like about it:
1) I can easily import and export data. For example, with some quick "reformatting" of Promo Only's song listing databases, I never have to type each of those tracks in by hand. If I need to export it to MS Excel, it just takes a couple clicks.
2) I feel confident that the program is not going away anytime soon. Microsoft will likely still support Access in the coming years.
3) Anything you can do with MS Access, you can do with your song database --- customized reports, queries, etc.
The biggest downside is that you have to type everything in by hand. To my knowledge, there is not an interface that can pull CD info from an online database and import it in. If anyone knows of one, please share!
Also, when I set up my database, I created it as a relational database, which is the way Access is intended to be used. Rather than having just one table with all the information included, my database has two tables that are linked together. One table is all of the "album" information, and the other table is the "tracks" that are on each album.
Edited by aaronk on 15 December 2008 at 6:01pm
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Brian W.
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| Posted: 15 December 2008 at 6:19pm | IP Logged
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I would like something that I can just enter the bar code of the CDs and all the information will just pop up. Does anything like this exist?
I started an Excel spreadsheet a couple years ago, mainly for my various artist comps, but my original goal of typing at least one CD per day seems to have fallen by the wayside. Plus, when the spreadsheet gets too large, it takes forever to load.
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satchdr
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| Posted: 15 December 2008 at 9:40pm | IP Logged
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Todd, I've been using INMAGIC software to catalogue my collection (4,000 CDs, 2,000 LP and over 1,000 45s, etc.) I first began the process back in 1988 or 1989 when INMAGIC was a dos program and when it came out with the windows version, the data file transferred to the updated version without a hitch.
The thing that I really like about INMAGIC is that you can build your own unique databases with whatever fields you want within each database. Each of the databases that you set up are very nimbly searchable so you can locate song titles, artists, etc. (basically any type of search you want to do based on the information in the database - and you can combine different search items, so if you wanted to do something weird like each song with the word "love" in the title that was on an album released in 1971, you could ask it to do so and it performs the search pretty much instantaneously.) Then it will allow you to review each record in the search separately. You can also export the databases (although I've had no need to do so.)
The other thing that the later versions of INMAGIC will allow is for you to scan photos (e.g. album, 45 or CD covers or 45 or LP labels) and append them to the record.
Dan
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eriejwg
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| Posted: 16 December 2008 at 4:03am | IP Logged
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There's been a couple programs I've used over the years...
Rather than go into detail about each, I've provided links to their downloads so you can decide yourself.
1)Audiograbber
2)Easy CD-DA Extractor
3)Tag & Rename
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eriejwg
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| Posted: 16 December 2008 at 4:11am | IP Logged
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Here's another, though I have no experience with it.
CaTraxx
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davidclark
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| Posted: 16 December 2008 at 8:29am | IP Logged
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Back in the late '80s, I developed a simple application in dBASE III+ to track my music. I included a "Media" file (for LPs, CDs, 45s, etc.), a "Song" file (for songs) and a "Hits" file (for info related to songs that charted), each with the usual fields to store information. In the early 90s, I converted the database to a fully relational MS Access database. I now track much more info for everything, including song version info, on what media songs appear, etc. I use it almost daily, however I do need to manually input everything, not a problem once the initial entry has been complete.
For anyone starting out, it wouldn't do you much good, but it serves me very well (designed and constructed by myself). I have personally entered the info, so I know it to be correct (e.g., on what CD is what version of a song, similar to Pat's database), going further to even document the differences in the various song versions.
I do know there are programs out there that will scan CDs and populate a database with CD and song info - none by name however.
__________________
dc1
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jcr102
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| Posted: 16 December 2008 at 10:14am | IP Logged
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I had been using OrangeCD software, which I think is pretty good. For the past month or so, I've been using Catraxx. It is very adaptable, great for customizing things the way you'd like them to be.
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eriejwg
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| Posted: 16 December 2008 at 5:43pm | IP Logged
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Todd:
If you need assistance, I'm sure any of us could help.
My phone number is on my website.
I maintain an online database on my website, utilizing some of the software I previously mentioned.
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Brian W.
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| Posted: 16 December 2008 at 7:33pm | IP Logged
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I downloaded the trial of Orange CD today, and so far I like it. I need to spend more time seeing what it can do, but I love that you can just put a CD in the drive and, boom, each song is listed in your own personal databse... you don't have to type one keystroke.
Edited by Brian W. on 16 December 2008 at 7:34pm
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Top 40 Music on Compact Disc : Chat Board
Topic: CD cataloging software
