Digital audio files loves to store themselves in disparate locations unless you instruct it otherwise. We use free software to show you how to organise your music collection and take the hassle out of tagging digital audio.
Digital audio files loves to store themselves in disparate locations unless you instruct it otherwise. We use free software to show you how to organise your music collection and take the hassle out of tagging digital audio.
Organise your music with Mp3tag
Step 1. When you import tracks into iTunes or rip them using Windows Media Player, you often end up with an album with no artist or track attributes. To prevent this, right-click the album icon and choose ‘Find Album Info’. If it doesn’t find the information automatically, select the album from the shortlist provided.
Step 2. Mp3tag keeps your music library tagged and sorted. Give it a directory and Mp3tag lists your media files for your editing convenience. Select a group of files and choose an information source – Amazon, discogs, freedb or MusicBrainz – from the Tag Sources menu. You can also grab album art from Amazon.
Step 3. If the standard ID3 tags aren’t enough, you can edit extended tags (iTunes podcast metadata, for example) in the View menu. Also, the handy Invert Selection (Ctrl, Shift, A) is perfect for those occasions when it’s easier to pick out the three songs you don’t want to tag than the 439 that you do.
Step 4. Mp3tag is a powerful tool, but don’t overcomplicate things. If you’re synchronising your PC’s music library to your mobile, you may find that your reverse-alphabetical-by-drummer’s-mother’s-maiden-name tag system doesn’t work too well on a 2.5in display. Keep your system simple and it will be easier to maintain later.
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