MP3 name format...

[JonmaTifa]

It seems like everyone has their own way to name MP3 files. Some like to include the name of the artist, the alblum, the track number, and the song name. Personally, I don't like that. I want just Artist - Songname. Just like that.

Anyway, how do you like your MP3's? Why do people Use "_" instead of spaces?

[Eli]

I use artist/band name, track number, song title. Each song is listed in a directory named after the album's title, and each album directory is housed under a directory named after the band. That's the way I've been doing it for a while now and it would be a pain to rename all of those MP3s...

[GOOMER]

When its for your own use, then what ever takes your fancy ?. But if you intend to share your files (I.E napster) then I Agree artist/song name would be best

[Warthog]

I do the artist/song method. Example:

Blink 182 - All The Small Things.mp3

Warthog

[OuTpaTienT]

They use underlines "_" instead of spaces because if you ever put files using spaces in the name on a Unix/Linux system (like an FTP server) it will change those spaces into something like %20%.

So your title like this:
pink floyd - several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict.mp3

would turn into this:
pink%20%floyd%20%-%20%several%20%species%20%of%20%small%20%furry%20% animals%20%...etc...mp3

and that's just ugly. Which is why this is
the prefered method:
pink_floyd_-_several_species_of_small_furry_animals...etc....m p3

[This message has been edited by OuTpaTienT (edited 07-08-2000).]

[OuTpaTienT]

BTW, I always use

Artist_Album_[track#]_Song_Title.mp3

example:
Y&T_Mean_Streak_[04]_Midnight_In_Tokyo.mp3

[greenlion]

I think the most widely used is the artist - song.mp3 method. That's better, short and simple. If you need to put other info you like, then you can put it in it's ID tag.

[OuTpaTienT]

If you are going to trade mp3 then the format I use
artist_album_track_song is the standard.
This is not really even a question nor is it up for debate
...it's a fact. Generally, those users that don't stick to
this format are newbies that don't know what they are doing
or they are just rude. When you have multiple GBs of
mp3s it's definitely helpful to have the proper naming strategy.

[Dave_H]

Once again, he is.
The_Ultimate_Naming_Wizzard http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif
Dave_H

[Eli]

Outpatient, it's not exactly common to find MP3s under your "standard" naming scheme. Look for anything in Napster to prove that. I guess almost everyone is a newbie then eh? Including those of us with several gigs of MP3s that are apparently misnamed.

If you sort them into directories like I stated above it's a lot cleaner and a lot less repetitive to look at. It also makes it easier to choose which songs to share and to hide from Napster.

[OuTpaTienT]

Well, assuming you know how, go checkout all the MP3 newsgroups
and you will see that indeed the naming standard is exactly
as I've already stated.

These newsgroups have been around long before Napster was a single
line of code.

Might also wanna check out all the FTP sites that cater to MP3.
You'll see they usually use the same standard. And again,
many of these have been around much longer than Napster.

As far as "everyone" being newbies...if you're only talking
about Napster, then yes they are mostly newbies. And
if Napster is your only source of MP3 trading, then yes
you are a newbie.

[Warthog]

Well....I used to use mp3 sites to get mp3s before Napster, but since it came out, I've used Napster only. If I only use that, am I a newbie? It has all mp3s so what's the big deal?

Warthog

[greenlion]

Sure, Napster is new. And so are Gnutella, Scour, Filotopia,iMex and the other file sharing programs out there. But together, they represent the greater part of the mp3 community right now. And the method they use is the artist - song.mp3 format. They may be new but the simple fact is the majority dictates the standard.

[Eli]

I'm with Warthog. I've done all the MP3 sites anf FTP stuff before, and at that time there was no "standard" as you claim. Napster is far easier to use and none of the usual dead links, so I'd rather be demoted back to a newbie than to waste my time with dead end searches like some people.

[OuTpaTienT]

No dead links in the newsgroup dude.

-HIGH speed downloads, unlike Napster.
-Nobody leeching files from your system, unlike Napster.
-98% high quality MP3s (160kbps is average now.)
-Find entire CDs w/uniform sound instead of a song here & a song there (all w/varying degrees of quality).
-Don't see what you want...request it, it'll show up.
-And best of all...No kiddies! (And Metallica can't spy on you.)

[Eli]

Like I've said, I'v tried the alternatives and Napster is easier. Sure some downloads are slow, but some are not. With Napster you don't have to share your files, so leeching is hardly an issue. You can download whatever quality you want. If you want a smaller file at the expense of quality, you can find it as well as higher quality versions. Can't find what you want, disconnect and reconnect. Different servers have different users. Share nothing Metallica and that's not a problem. Well there goes most of your points. Now, my method of naming may not be your standard but it makes more sense and is a lot cleaner, and it makes it easier to pick what songs to share. Try looking in My Computer at a file name that spans your entire screen and you can appreciate not having to see the album name with every MP3. But of course, I'm apparently a newbie so what do I know.

[jad1097]

I have to agree with most of what OP said. Napster is fine if you don't mind having to download the same song several times because a$$holes want to cut you off or because they only have 90% of the song. I personally hate when people put the track in there but it is pretty much a standard. But what do I know with my measly 5+gigs of mp3's.

You also do not have to disconnect and reconnect with Napster if you get Napigator.


BTW; OP could you mail me some of your fav ftp sites. The ones I keep finding seem to keep disapearing on me.

[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 07-09-2000).]

[OuTpaTienT]

Honestly I haven't visited ftp sites in a while. I'll bet the ones I have marked have dissappeared too. I get almost all I can handle from the newsgroups.

[Warthog]

And I agree with what you just said, Eli. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[greenlion]

Outpatient, what newsgroups exactly are you talking about? At alt.binaries..... perhaps? I remember, I used to see mp3s there about more than a year ago but I was more interested in porn (lol) and other things that time.

[OuTpaTienT]

Specifically...

alt.binaries.sounds.mp3

and all it's sub-groups, like:
(partial list)

alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.1950s
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.1960s
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.1970s
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.1980s
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.1990s
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.2000s
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.bluegrass
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.blues
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.books
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.bootlegs
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.celtic
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.classical
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.classic-rock
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.comedy
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.dance
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.gothic-industrial
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.heavy-metal
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.jazz
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.latin
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.metal.full-albums
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.pop
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.rap-hiphop
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.reggae
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.requests
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.rock
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.rock.rull-albums
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.soundtracks
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.spoken-word

[Eli]

Outpatient, I've been thinking... And that really pisses me off. How dare you call me a newbie just because I primarily use Napster? I could call you the same since your only means of searching for MP3s only use software that everyone has anyway (a browser and a mail reader), alas, I have more class than that. So newsgroups have their own little "standard". There's probably as many Napster (or Napster clones) users out there or possibly more that name them any way they want, including many people here. I suppose everyone's a newbie but you eh? Like it or not, there is no real standard defined. If there were, everyone would use it, "newbie" or not. I'll stick with my naming system (which is a cleaner system, by the way), thank you very much.

[OuTpaTienT]

I use Napster too.

...I've been thinking... And that really pisses me off...
You'll get over it.

[Eli]

I was unaware that an unrelated title under one's name can so easily go to one's head...

[jad1097]

Eli he has always been that way. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

He always uses http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/icons/icon2.gif too.

[chipbgt]

goodness gracious. you guys are getting upset over this? lol.....

you will not see everyone using that standard on napster (Artisname/song) but it has been the most recognized standard in newsgroups for a long time...and just because someoen chooses to name them something different on there system is FINE. But he hasnt made up anythign in calling that the standard.

[greenlion]

Napster, Scour, newsgroups, etc. who cares! I'll use anyone of them that can give me the songs I want. The naming method also doesn't matter as long as i have the song, I can always rename it the way I want it later.

Much ado about nothing folks! Let's just keep on sharing and downloading.

[finger51]

Hey OuTpaTienT!!!!

I like the idea of that naming convention but I've had trouble with it. When I burn a CD I get lots of "your **** filename is too freaking long" errors (so to speak)

Is there a workaround? I'd prefer to use the standard convention but I"ve got a sh** load of .mp3's that I will often back up on to CD.
I get the error too often to be using this convention...
any advice would be appreciated.

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 07-15-2000).]

[Eli]

I'm sorry, but I do get angry at people when they are that arrogant. Greenlion here has the right idea. Now if you'll excuse me, Napster awaits...

[ablang]

I am one of a few guys that eliminate all spaces and funny characters.

Sample:
BritneySpears-Sometimes

If I have the whole album
Sample:
02-BritneySpears-Sometimes

[greenlion]

Yeah, when I burn a cd and it gives me that error of having too long a filename, I do what ablang does - delete all the spaces in between.

Outpatient's naming convention is good but I found it was impractical the first time I burned some mp3s in cds. That's why I stuck to artist - song.mp3