-Brading Software Message Board
+--Forum: Mp3/Tag Studio Suggestions
+---Topic: Repairing Mp3s started by Karl Bishop
Posted by: Karl Bishop on Dec. 18 2006,07:35
Good day to you sir,
here's a couple of suggestions for improving ease of use in the "Repair Mp3" section. I frequently use this tool because I like my VBR files. Unfortunately they do have a real tendency to get out of sync with their headers. What I'd like is for partial tag details to be included in the display. At the moment I check my files by using the Browse/Edit tool to find those pesky red Length/Frame pairs. I then have to switch across to Repair to do the repairing and switch back across to Browse/Edit to continue the search. I'd definitely find it more efficient if we had feedback in the Repair view to show when headers are inconsistent. The other thing I'd like is an "include subdirs" toggle. I've always wondered why there isn't one already - perhaps there's a particularly good reason it shouldn't be allowed - but I sometimes wish to perform this operation en masse. I get round the problem by simply moving all my Mp3s to a single directory and undoing the cut/paste after the repair's done, so this is by no means urgent
And PS thanks for your time!
Posted by: Magnus Brading on Dec. 18 2006,09:46
Hi Karl, thanks for your suggestion about the tag info. Another method would be to select the affected files in the custom files selection list, to easily remember them all. But best of all is to just run the VBR repair on all the files in the directory (with the "only repair VBR files" option). It will then fix the files that need it, and leave the rest.
About the lack of an "include subdirs" feature for this tool, it has its origins in the other (and first) "CRLF repair" tool, which contrary to the VBR repair should ONLY be run on files with the appropriate type of damage, or else it might corrupt the non-damaged files. Thus, it's quite dangerous if people decide to run it on their entire mp3 collection, so I didn't include that option just for safety. I like your workaround solution though, since it's exactly what I usually recommend to people when they ask this.
Posted by: Karl Bishop on Dec. 20 2006,07:28
Thanks for the speedy reply but I think I should have been a bit more specific. In fact running the Repair operation on whole directories is what I always do. However my Mp3 library is made up of an Artist/Album directory structure. The VBR header inconsistencies I encounter are usually the result of doing some mass processing with another program e.g. volume leveling or Album Art insertion. Therefore, when it comes round to repairing the headers, the offending files are located in multiple directories and so they can't all be found at once. Actually it just occurred to me that a search function would be a good solution i.e. locate all files that have inconsistent header information and then allow repairing. Thanks again!
Posted by: calberga on Dec. 20 2006,18:15
I've previously requested this, but will repeat myself.
Perhaps this is exactly what Mr. Bishop is asking for, but if so I didn't quite get it.
Could there be a "sweep" which search the directory structure for damaged files, and then give the option of repairing them?
Same reasons as given above.
Posted by: Magnus Brading on Dec. 20 2006,23:41
Not all types of damages are easily detectable in a scan, but for incorrect VBR headers, that would theoretically be possible to implement, yes. That's practically what happens if you select all files in the current directory and check the "only VBR files" option, although this detection takes a bit more time than it necessarily needs to.
Posted by: SteveSobel on April 04 2007,01:30
On the subject of including subdirectories in the VBR Header repair, I think I once saw another work-around besides moving the files to a single directory and then moving them back. If so, I could not find it - could you repeat it here?
Looking forward to seeing this feature added to the program.
Registering my copy today after many years of happy use.
Thanks!
Posted by: Magnus Brading on April 07 2007,12:58
I'm not sure if you're referring the trick about how to automatically move the files before and after fixing, but in that case, here it is:
Move all your files into the same directory with the direct rename tool in absolute path mode (or the auto rename tool will work too, with a template like e.g. "c:\mp3temp<\><OldFileName>"), perform the VBR-repair on all of them and then press the undo-button in the tool you used to move them.
As always, backup the files first before trying such a thing just to be sure though, even though this has been confirmed to work perfectly for very big volumes of files.
Posted by: SteveSobel on Aug. 19 2007,03:23
Magnus - any progress in adding a toggle to the vbr header repair to include subdirectories? Thanks
Posted by: SteveSobel on Aug. 19 2007,03:37
I'm sorry, I guess I just don't use the workaround to include subdirectories in the vbr header fix often enough to remember how it is done. What is "absolute path mode" and how do I get to it?
I don't understand if I am supposed to replace <oldfilename> with something else or not, nor do I understand where to enter this string, etc. Can you help? Thanks
followup - I figured it out, here are my detailed instructions so I will have them for the next time:
open mp3/TagStudio
go to Name and tag tools
goto Direct rename files
select working directory
tick "include subdirs"
tick "advanced mode"
in "expected file name format" box, enter <OldFileName>.mp3
in "output file name format" box, enter c:\mp3temp<\><OldFileName>.mp3
Execute
goto file tools
select c:\mp3temp as working directory
select all files using shift key
Execute
go back to Name and tag tools
goto Direct rename file
click on Undo
Posted by: Magnus Brading on Aug. 21 2007,13:06
Hehe, I'm glad it worked out, and thanks for sharing your instructions.
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