Music Collector software

I just use a spreadsheet

Stu, I have a few cd's and a few thousand mp3's but I'm only concerned with listing my vinyl. My collection is quite small in relation to some but I keep going to vinyl fairs and car boots and ebay and thinking "oh I want that album" only to discover that I already have it!

Gordon

Hi Gordon

I just wrote down a list of my records. It didn't take me that long. No special software required. Once in a spreadsheet I can print it almost anyway I like. It would certainly let me take a list with me to a vinyl fair to avoid duplication. Most of vinyl my pre-dated those hideous bar codes so typing in the artist and title is about the only option.

Sure it doesn't have a fancy interface, but it does the job.

ATB Rotf

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
Hi Gordon

I just wrote down a list of my records. It didn't take me that long. No special software required. Once in a spreadsheet I can print it almost anyway I like. It would certainly let me take a list with me to a vinyl fair to avoid duplication. Most of vinyl my pre-dated those hideous bar codes so typing in the artist and title is about the only option.

Sure it doesn't have a fancy interface, but it does the job.

ATB Rotf

Great idea Rotf!

I use Music Collector and like it a lot but the killer part of it is reading the cd in the cd-rom drive or better still scanning the bar code.

For vinyl I'd agree with ROTF and use a spread sheet.

You can then store it on your phone or IPOD as a text file and always have it handy to check.


SJB

I use Music collector for CD and vinyl. Add vinyl by artist and title, even if the LP has a bar code most times they are not recognised.I enter the a and b side info as and when. I copy the cd version of any lp doubles, and edit to suit.

quote:

Originally posted by Sloop John B:
I use Music Collector and like it a lot but the killer part of it is reading the cd in the cd-rom drive or better still scanning the bar code.

Agree, but I finally need to put that scanner to work.

They're bringing out an IPhone/iTouch version of Music Collector in the next couple of weeks too.
Great for showing off your CD/vinyl collection at the pub/office etc.

I personally use Music Label.

Great bit of software and it saves me a lot of time writing down 5000 cd's and all the associated info that goes with it.

Cheers guys, I am looking into the options.

Gordon

Hi Gordon

Lots of records do not have bar-codes. If your records do not then the programs will not work. Even if they do, they'll struggle. These programs are for the digital age. My spreadsheet just lists artist and title (not every track).

The program munch mentions is for the Mac and is superb, it is part of Delicious Library, but you'll still have to type in your vinyl titles. It works by holding up the barcode to the Mac's in-built iSight camera and then searches AMG. It has a better interface than iTunes.

However, if what you want to do is print out a simple list to take to a record fair then I think the spreadsheet is effective.

I would not do it that way with ewemon's 5000 CDs though.

ATB Rotf

Any one with Music Collector, know how I can make a simple list ie Album and Title, from the full database ?

EDIT: I have now managed this task. I always failed when using the Windows version????


Or how to put my whole listing on a web page with security, under a password for instance?

Breaking News re Collectorz.com

Online version coming soon, so you will be able to access your collection database from any computer!

http://www.collectorz.com/connect-preview.php

I use the PC version and have found it very useful. I expect the online version will be even better.

quote:

Originally posted by David Leedham:
Breaking News re Collectorz.com

Online version coming soon, so you will be able to access your collection database from any computer!

Now that is of interest to me. I really don't want another stack of data cluttering up my laptop and this might be the answer.

The software does seem very cd biased though?

The software does seem very cd biased though?[/QUOTE]

I store all my vinyl data on Music collector, which ones in Nagoaka sleeves, where purchased, when, cleaned or not etc etc, no problem.

I have been playing with the trail version and I have to say that I like it. It does have some genuinely useful features...

I used music collector, then switched to delicious library. but I think it is mac only. It is really easy to use and for the vinyl i have that is barcoded, i can use my webcam (icam) to scan automatically. It has a shelving like graphical interface which uses relative size icons for CDs and vinyl, and has books, movies and games built in, where with collectors it is a separate db.

quote:

Originally posted by David Leedham:
Breaking News re Collectorz.com

Online version coming soon, so you will be able to access your collection database from any computer!

http://www.collectorz.com/connect-preview.php

I use the PC version and have found it very useful. I expect the online version will be even better.

This is exciting news, now I just need to get started with all that scanning.

not yet.

There appears to be a slight fly on the ointment with the online version; according to the forum, when you sync an exsisting database to the online storage space, the software will automatically list the cd version of any album you have input, even if you have input it manually as an LP.

I used to have a Free version of this that was excellent used it for logging LPs CDs as well as DVDs,Until the Hard Drive went belly up!Is it worth buying the New Version.......Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Blueknowz:
Is it worth buying the New Version.......Jim

Jim, thats what I have been trying to decide. ROTF's suggestion of using excel seems a good one when you consider that some of the music collector best features are cd based.

But as you say you liked the software then perhaps it is worth it for you?
Gordon

I used the spreadsheet in Open Office - I think Excel is a clone of this and works in the same way

Suppose we a filing Sergeant Pepper, Highway Sixty One Revisited and Machine Head

First column is the first part of the group or artist's name -

So I'd have

The
Bob
<leave blank>

Second column is the rest of the group or artist's name (the bit we want to index on)

So I'd have

Beatles
Dylan
Deep Purple

Third column is the album title

Sergeant Pepper
Highway Sixty One Revisited
Machine Head

You can add more columns with more info as you wish

Sorting on the second column gives

The Beatles Sergeant Pepper
Deep Purple Machine Head
Bob Dylan Highway Sixty One Revisited

Then a simple formula creates the list
=TRIM(Sheet1.C1&" by "&Sheet1.A1&" "&Sheet1.B1)

You just copy this formula from top to bottom of a second sheet


Sergeant Pepper by The Beatles
Highway Sixty One Revisited by Bob Dylan
Machine Head by Deep Purple

I've added fields to say more about the disc so when it prints I get

Chain Gang by Sam Cooke (Vinyl Single)
Snap, Crackle and Bop by John Cooper Clarke (Vinyl LP)
Electric Music for the Mind and Body by Country Joe and the Fish (Vinyl LP)
I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixing-To-Die by Country Joe and the Fish (Vinyl LP)
Mad About the Boy by Noel Coward (CD Triple LP)
Trinity Sessions by Cowboy Junkies (CD LP)
Case History by Kevin Coyne (CD LP)
Dynamite Daze by Kevin Coyne (Vinyl LP)
Marjorie Razorblade by Kevin Coyne (Vinyl Double LP)

I can also print to PDF and send it to folks who might be interested. There are no classical records in my list yet because I haven't entered them. However, it is easy to chop and change things. As one column has whether it is Vinyl, CD, SACD, VHS, DVD I can filter it and only print out the vinyl.

It won't win design awards, but it does do the job. I don't list every track on the album, who wrote it, how long it lasts, who played flute on it and so on, and, of course, no artwork ... if you want that then my way is not suitable.

Tip: If you want to catalogue red book CDs only and get all the artwork and track details, just buy the HDX and it'll do it all for you; you need one HDX per 400 CDs

ATB Rotf

The Music Collector iPhone/Touch app is released today. £5.99.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:

quote:

Originally posted by nap-ster:
The Music Collector iPhone/Touch app is released today. £5.99.

This needs its own thread.
Stu.

It does?