How To Use
MyLibrary Quick Start
You can export a large list
of songs to a CSV/Tabbed text file which allows MyLibrary to manage an entire
music collection - this file can also be imported into Access, Excel, MySQL or a
music scheduler such as Natural Music or Powergold. To populate the main list viewer, simply load an M3U playlist file, drag audio files
into the MyLibrary window or paste/type a folder location into the dropdown box
at the top and click "Load Folder". This will read the tags and populate
the fields (if found). You can Read only 1 tag at a time but can
Save to multiple (via the Song Card). Any changes made using
the Mass Changer are
NOT saved until you save/export to a
tag using the right-click menu for the selected item/s.
This could be useful if you needed to perform a one-time re-numbering of your Carts
but didn't want to mess-up your own numbering.
There isn't really a "best" way of using the program
- it's more of a multi-tool that offers a variety of actions/features that assist you with
managing, tagging and creating export lists for various broadcast applications.
You can use it to simply tag your MP3 files, or it can be a central database
that keeps track of your music and allows you to export the latest additions
into a playout system - how you use it is up to you!
To get things running - just enable one of the
"Read" options on the "Audio and File Tags" tab
of the Config screen to read either BCX3, CartChunk, FLAC, JMD (JockMaster) or MP3 APE/ID3
tags. If you are starting from scratch, use the JMD method for
storing your data
- these are INI-formatted files that sit alongside the audio
and contain the various data fields you set. This also makes it easier to
spot duplicate audio filenames (because the JMD file matches up), meaning that adding new compilation albums
needn't require lots of cross-checking of existing music!
Miscellaneous Settings
This first tab covers some of the generic settings for
MyLibrary... These should all be self-explanatory - if you wish to read/save data quickly, then set a MyLibrary JMD Folder
location and use that as the read/save File Tag method -
it supports all fields.
WAV Folder is useful if you have an MP3 copy of songs that you wish to compare via the Library Actions>Special Actions menu.
Database - With this option enabled, the top toolbar becomes available alllowing you to switch between "search" and the normal "Folder Presets". With the Database enabled, the Mass Change Fields will also insert/update any changes you make, but this can be unchecked "per operation" if needed.
You can also opt to have the SongCard load from the database (overriding any "read" tag format). The SongCard can optionally update/create an item "if item exists in Database ", so can ignore items NOT in the Database, allowing you to edit items from a folder without having them added. This is especially useful if you're working on files that don't need to be in the Database but need some tagging work.
Remember that Mass Changes only apply to the current list view (and database, if ticked) so other meta/tag-formats are left intact until you explicitly save them.
Also Save in CLIENT field tells MyLibrary to also store the Cart Number in the APE CLIENT field which can be used by StationPlaylist to reference a Cart/CutID in a playlist template - useful if you are using SPL Creator to output a Cart-style playlist (as opposed to a standard M3U). The OTHER field is also used to store the Cart Number for use with PlayoutONE which requires this field for scheduling.
Restore Column Widths will reset the columns to their default with settings.
Next xxxx Cart determines the next numeric Cart Number for the selected ItemType (Advert, Jingle, Song etc). This is where you can reset them.
Cart Number Padding defines the length (up to 8 digits) of the Cart field. Some systems (like Dalet) regard Cart 1 and Cart 00001 and different ItemCodes. With the default padding of 00000, values will increment 00001, 00002, 00003 etc.
Prefix Genesys CartChunks will add a C, J, M, V for audio items Advert/Commercial, Jingle/Network/Package/Promo, Music/Song and VoiceTrack respectively. This will turn a song with Cart value 12345 into M12345 when saving the CartChunk tag.
Show "Yes/No" prompt when deleting items to the Recycle Bin can be turned-off for a more efficient "non-destructive" delete of items. It removes the confirmation between items, but (obviously) keeps them in the Recycle Bin just in case!
Show Icons in Category/Style Tree adds the pretty icons to the Tree display
Audio and File Tags
This tab lets you set the sound device used for the
MyLibrary playback functions as well as determine which file formats/tags are
read/written. It is only possible to read 1 tag at a time but you may
write several when saving - this allows you to use MyLibrary as a central
storage and tagging system with all changes mirrored to the various tag formats
supported.
Please note that MyLibrary does not support saving APE/SPL Tags to M4A or WAV files.
Important - Song Card Data - Please note that the Song Card does not load the data shown in the current list view - it loads whatever tag/meta-data you have set in the Config window (or the Database, if checked on the "Misc Settings" tab). Therefore, if you perform a Mass Change operation without saving to either the database or the current "read" tag type, the new data will not show up!
Several Cart Chunk formats are also supported - this allows you to use linear PCM WAV files and tag them ready for direct import into a professional playout package such as Enco DAD/Presenter, Genesys, Myriad or RCS Zetta.
Jump mS : The value that the cue-seek up/down buttons in the SongCard will increment by. Holding CTRL when clicking will double the seek value.
Seek mS : The value that the main back/forward seek buttons on the main screen and SongCard will increment by.
EndMon (Songs) mS : The duration of the "end montior" (for SONGS), allowing you to hear the final part of the track ready to set a cue-point and/or End Type. The default is 15000 (15-seconds).
EndMon mS : The duration of the "end monitor" (for items NOT a SONG), allowing you to hear the final part of a track ready to set a cue-point. The default is 5000 (5-seconds).
End-Type Auto Detect : The value (in mS) to determine whether a song has a Fade or "Cold" ending. eg: If there's more than 8 seconds between the Segue Marker and the File's End, it will assume that is a fade. If it's less, then it's a "Cold" ending. The default value of 8000 seems to get it right most of the time.
AutoCue gets CueIn Position : This will attempt to detect an audible CueIn point based-upon the defined threshold. A higher value will require a louder sound to trigger the detection threshold. Too high a value will cause the CueIn point to "chop" the start of the audio.
AutoCue gets Segue Position : This will attempt to detect an audible Segue point based-upon the defined threshold. A higher value will place the Segue point earlier in the fade out. Therefore, a low Segue Threshold will give you more of a graceful fade-out on a song.
Important Note : Threshold is 0 to 32768 as opposed to a % or dB value so experiment with the values if you like. 100 and 9000 seem to work for me.
File Renaming Structure : Allows you to mass-rename files based on a series of %token% variables. The following are supported: %artist% , %title% , %cuein% , %intro% , %segue% , %year% , %genre% - others may be added in due course. You can also opt to export the cue markers as SS.MS or MS values - eg: 7.25 or 7250 respectively. %segue2% may also be used to provide the relative time of the segue point from the END of the file - eg: for Arrakis.
This %token% method is selected from the right-click menu of the main MyLibrary window, NOT the Mass Changer. The Mass Changer "rename" function is always ARTIST - TITLE.
The default
SS.MS is to 2 decimal places, this setting can be overriden by adding the
following entry to the MyLibrary.ini file:
[Viewer]
Digits=1 (or =2)
CSV Token Export : Creates a CSV file using the following %tokens% : %artist%, %artists%, %relatedartists%, %title%, %cuein%, %hookin%, %hookout%, %intro1%, %intro2%, %intro3%, %segue%, %segue2%, %duration%, %year%, %itemtype%, %style%, %opener%, %endtype%, %gender%, %tempo%, %bpm%, %cart%, %filename%, %album%, %mediaref%, %isrc% and %tab% to enter a TAB delimiter.
Apply a fadeout to songs via Dalet XML : Puts a fadeout marker on items that have a natural fade when using the Dalet XML export. In most cases, you would want to have a segue 'n' fade on overlaps in automation - this option allows that. The example below shows the outgoing track with a FadeOut marker at the same position as the Segue (or xFade) point.
EncoDAD Fade Time : This option will place a Tail Marker at xxxx milliseconds past the Segue Marker - this is useful when trying to use Enco's Tracker with short IDs like sweepers and liners - if the liner is shorter than the distance between the outgoing track's Segue and Tail Makers then this would be an invalid overlap as far as Tracker is concerned. With the 4000mS setting shown, you would be able to use audio greater than 4 seconds.
EncoDAD Tracker - showing an invalid overlap - this is because the outgoing song is still playing after the next item has finished. Although this works fine in automation, you cannot edit+save this type of overlap in the Tracker!
EncoDAD Tracker - showing a valid overlap. The Tail Marker has been set 4 seconds past the Segue
Categories
This is where
you define all of the Categories, Genres and Styles - These are automatically
sorted for you when adding/deleting. In the main MyLibrary view, you can
sort via these Categories as well as use Find/Replace, Mass Change and
Export.
Colours may be applied for each item "Type", allowing easy viewing of folders that contain different types of audio.
Export ITemType Colours (when supported) - will export the colour assigned to the track's "ItemType" when the export file/tag-format supports it. At present, this is for use with mAirList as it's possible to set colours within the mAirList Config. From mAirList v7 onwards (with its "Dark Mode"), *NOT* exporting colours is advised - otherwise you'll think your mAirList skin.ini is broken.
Stations are added by typing their name and pressing <enter>. To remove an entry, double-click on it.
Related Artists
This tab allows
you to manage Artists who have a relationship with a band/group - usually this
is where 1 (or more) members release solo tracks. Past/present members of
bands are also examples of where a relationship may exist. A computer won't know
that Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins were both in Genesis - so we need tell
it (and to keep track of) the Artists via some kind of list/reference
system.
"Related Artists" function differently to the "Artists" field as the latter is those on this track, but Related is some kind of link that a scheduler wouldn't know about (but ideally needs to for reliable scheduling), such as our GENESIS example above. Most schedulers will backwards-inherit the links, so for a solo track by MIKE RUTHERFORD, there is scope to keep GENESIS, PHIL COLLINS, MIKE AND THE MECHANICS plus PETER GABRIEL apart from each other when picking songs.
Another complex/interesting relationship would be NORMAN COOK aka FATBOY SLIM. Norman played bass in the HOUSEMARTINS. Their lead-singer was PAUL HEATON who went on to form BEAUTIFUL SOUTH. Norman Cook also used several alter-egos, such as BEATS INTERNATIONAL, MIGHTY DUB KATZ, PIZZAMAN etc. Obviously the actual styles of music here are quite varied, so it would be fairly unusual for a station to play both "HAPPY HOUR" and "ROCKAFELLER SKANK", especially next to each other(!) but that kind of protection is possible if set up correctly.
Let's take JULIAN COPE who has released solo material but was also in TEARDROP EXPLODES. By setting a Related Artist Group with both those names, any track by those respective Artists/Groups will inherit the relationship, excluding itself. eg: In a TEARDROP EXPLODES song, the Related Artists list will include JULIAN COPE, and the JULIAN COPE songs will have TEARDROP EXPLODES in its list.
Please see the included ArtistGroups.txt file which explains how to include the sample entries into your own MyLibrary as a kick-starter. New installations of MyLibrary include this in the INI settings file to get things started for you.
Creating the Artist List - You'll first need to create a list of all your Artists (to populate the main bottom-left list - this makes it easier to find exact matches. With the Database enabled, ou only need to have your Songs imported to create the list, you do not need to load them into the list - Just click Library Actions>Special Actions>Create Artist List which creates an Artist list in the Database (or a text file called RelatedArtists.txt if Database is not enabled) in the MyLibrary program folder.
Select (or type) an Artist/Group and click the "Create New Artist Group" button. This will add an try to the left-hand Related Artist Groups list ready to populate the listbox underneath. You can type inside the Artist List to jump to a particular entry. Double-click it to add it to the "Group". Double-clicking the Members List will remove it. You will see the main entry also update as you do this.
If you wish to manually enter an Artist, use the textbox at the bottom and press <enter> - this will add the *exact* text you type, eg: in upper/lower-case.
A right-click on an entry in the Related Artist Groups list will copy the contents (1 entry per line) to the clipboard which allows for easy paste into mAirListDB.
When you open the SongCard, if a matching Artist is found (and the Related Artists list is empty), it will auto-populate with the details.
The main list of groups are not saved until you Save Settings and close the configuration window!
Folders
