Everybody wants to save the earth, nobody wants to help mom do the dishes.  --P.J. O'Rourke

Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts

Monday, February 28, 2011

How to Fix an Itunes Library Full of Duplicates and Mystery Tracks


Like many people, my digital music library began well before I had an iPod or iTunes, and has survived several iterations of sketchy HDD based iPods, corrupt iTunes libraries, failed computers & hard drives and everything in between.   Recently I found myself with an iPod that wouldn't sync, 10K+ songs (many of them duplicates - and many simply labeled 'track 1', 'track 2' etc) and two branch libraries from my wife and daughter, both of which had a combination of songs, some duplicating songs in my library (and each others) and some not.  This weekend I decided to fix all these problems and found a number of tools that really simplified things.  Here are the solutions associated with each problem.

1. Partially labeled songs - Early songs of mine which I copied from CD's (before robust programs and before I knew any better) labeled "track 1" etc, some with album artist info, some not.  For this issue, I found an app called Tune Up, which is like Shazam for iTunes (which is exactly what I put in Google search).  Simply put, Tune Up, scans through your library and pretty seamlessly identifies each song, album, artist and artwork and updates your library accordingly.  This cost $25 for a year's subscription and is worth twice that - it performed flawlessly - really, and my library includes a lot of weird sampler CD's from magazines and such...it even identified those perfectly.

2 & 3 Duplicates and Multiple Libraries. - I looked for a deduper for iTunes, and there were quite a few, but I found a much simpler solution.  I downloaded WinMerge which is like a UX Diff utility for Windows.  While the tool is intended for source code management, it works pissah for iTunes libraries.  Basically you select two folders (the iTunes music directories you want to compare) and it spits out the differences (and not just the usual file name/date/size) but actual differences.  Once WinMerge has finished it's work (which happens in seconds - even on a 10k file lib) you it's a simple right click to move the missing files over to your lib.  WinMerge is free, but it's priceless - it really works that well.  It might even beat out Notepad++ and MySQL for best freeware.  It is a great answer to a simple and common problem.

4. iPod that won't sync - I had/have a first edition iPod classic 160gb that refused to sync about two years after I bought it.  Among other symptoms, it during the sync, Windows XP would throw the error "Wrong Volume, please insert 'X' Volume"  or simply an iTunes -50 error.  The frustrating thing was that I managed to get it to sync successfully once despite the error, which led me to believe it was an iTunes/Windows/Corrupt File issue.  Well, it wasn't, it actually half crapped out,  a new iPod solved that problem easily.

5. Downloaded Songs Only on iPod - my daughter, buys itunes songs (on my account) but only downloads them directly to her iPod Touch over WiFi.  Obviously I need to get these added to my Lib so we don't lose them if her iPod craps out.  For this problem, the Copy Trans suite is the best solution, these guys do a great job and it is reasonably priced, I highly recommend all their programs.

6. Duplicate Songs In One Library- This problem arose out of previous attempts to fix the other issues, leaving me with a mess of actual duplicates (some disguised under the aforementioned "track_1", "track_2") and semi duplicates, songs that were duplicated on anthologies for example.  For this issue there is actually an iTunes solution, if you hold down 'shift' while clicking on the iTunes 'file' menu, you will see an option to view only 'exact' duplicates.  While it is still a manual delete, it is very easy once you don't have to wade through the not actually duplicates.  Best (and only) semi hidden iTunes feature.

Well, that's it, good luck, I hope you can learn from my issues. 

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Gluing a Broken Guitar Neck




Yesterday, #1 daughter dropped her Les Paul guitar, breaking the neck off right before the headstock, almost right under the nut.  It was a ragged break and I didn't have much hope that it could be fixed.  I looked around for a replacement neck, but the cost of a neck and the hourly charge of a skilled luthier, was clearly going to exceed the value of the guitar.  As it so happens, I had recently finished restoring a staircase, which involved a fair amount of gluing and clamping and etc. and  I had a wide range of clamps at hand, including the two above, a Jorgenson Cabinet Master, and Irwin Quick grip and (not pictured) standard Jorgenson hand screw wood clamps.  Using regular Elmer's wood glue, I carefully test fitted the broken pieces together (thankfully nothing had splintered off), they fit together perfectly (as they should have).  Next, I set up the cabinet clamp to the same length as the guitar neck.  Note:  These clamps come in many lengths, mine is around 4' long, but the important feature of these clamps is the cushioned rubber face, which won't damage the finish of the guitar.  I then brushed a thin coat of wood glue on each of the broken edges, fitted it together by hand to get the correct angle, and clamped it loosely in the cabinet clamp.  Here the steep angle of the Les Paul headstock presented a problem, if you tighten the cabinet clam too much, the headstock is squeezed out of alignment, so here is where the quick grip clamp comes in.  Secure the quick grip clamp over the bottom slide of the cabinet clamp and the top edge of the headstock, loosely,  Next take the wooden clamp and clamp down on either horizontal side of the break.  If you have done this right, the neck will now be supported in all three dimensions.  Here is the trick part - keeping a good eye on the glue joint, tighten each of the clamps in small increments until the crack is smoothly sealed and the neck is nice and square.  This may take some fiddling ( which is why I recommend a dry walkthrough).  Leave it clamped for at least 8 hours and let it set up for a day before re-stringing the guitar.  This procedure worked flawlessly for me and the guitar is as good a new.  Good Luck.

Monday, June 29, 2009

13 Year Old of Today Uses a 30 Year Old Walkman for 13 Days


From the BBC:
Money Quote:
"It took me three days to figure out that there was another side to the tape. That was not the only naive mistake that I made; I mistook the metal/normal switch on the Walkman for a genre-specific equaliser, but later I discovered that it was in fact used to switch between two different types of cassette."

Here's the Link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8117619.stm

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Shake Rattle and Roll - 3 Ways

The versions of the iconic R&R song, Big Joe was first, but I like
Bill Haley's version the best. Written in 1954 by Jesse Stone for
Big Joe Turner.



Friday, May 8, 2009

Gretsch Guitars


I don't play guitar, but if I did, I would play a Gretsch. To me they are just beautiful instruments.
Hell, if I were made of money I would buy one just to have around for guitar playing friends to
noodle around with. If it's good enough for Brian Setzer and Chet Atkins it's good enough for me.
For a sample of what these guitars can do in the right hands, here is a link to a short video of
Brian Setzer demoing some rockabilly licks.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I am New - Kutiman Thru You

I know I already put one from this collection up, but it's just so
good I had to include another. I REALLY like Kutiman's
You Tube Mashups, maybe it's just me ? Anyone? Anyone?
Bueller?

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Blast From The Past MC 900' Jesus

Just Because, they used to have real turntables. This is for
Tim and Lisa in Seattle

Thursday, April 9, 2009

C. Crane Co. CCRadio

Another essential OTG item

Shortly following luxurious shelter, light, heat and a tub in Maslow's hierarchy of OTG needs is a good battery powered radio. You may be tempted to rely on a cheap K-Mart transistor Shower Radio, Hello Kitty radio or some other abomination, but I can assure you NOTHING sucks as much as trying to tune in a Red Sox pennant game in the fall, under a brilliant star lit sky, and having it fade in and out. There you are, you've got your campfire on, your drink on, the cicada's are singing and Don Orsillo is fading in and out in a battle with a mariachi station. Ninth inning, men on first and third, winning run at the plate, 2 outs, full count......AGHHHH. Well, do yourself a favor and get a good quality AM Radio, yes the price is usurious, but it's worth every penny. The CC Radio was developed by a company who's core business is bringing AM radio reception to Militiamen, Bush Pilots, Tree Standers and other hinterland dwellers.

Monday, April 6, 2009

The Citizen Kane of Trucker Movies

Breaker-Breaker !  The apogee of 1970's trucker/cb/country music movies.
The song hit #1 in the U.S and unbelievably #2 in the U.K. ! SRSLY WTF UK?
After the inevitable LOL Cat's Movie (Pixar),  Can a LOL Trucker movie be
far behind?



Convoy - C.W.McCall

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Hey Man, is That Freedom Rock ?

Well Then, TURN IT UP !!



Thursday, March 12, 2009

Israeli musician Kutiman is a freakking genius

Check this out, this YouTube mashup is unbelievable


Saturday, March 7, 2009

USB Mix Tape

This is Freaking Awesome, and you can customize them

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Talk About Random

This song came into my head a few days ago unbidden and I made a mental note to look it up on tEh Internetz.  I Subsequently forgot all about it only to remember and forget three more times
(No Lie).  So here is is for your consideration from 1979...which BTW makes this as old for our kids as the 1951 hit "Sixty Minute Man" was for us in 1979. For another 1970's treat try Warren Zevon's "Poor Poor Pitiful me"



Sunday, November 16, 2008

Das Pintos

Last night Martha and I went to see Ken's band Das Pintos
at the Grog in Newburyport.  If you ever get a chance to see
them you should.  Great band to dance and party to, they
had a good fun crowd and almost everyone was on the dance
floor.  Really Awesome Time

Monday, November 3, 2008

5 Random songs from my ipod

  • No Meaning No - Chuck D
  • All The Road Running - Emmylou Harris
  • High and Dry - Radiohead
  • Big Sky - Annie Lennox
  • Shine On - the Kooks

Monday, September 29, 2008

New Music

A Few New Music Notes

The Blind Boys of Alabama (first formed in 1939) have a new album with the N.O. Preservation Hall Jazz Band.  I have only heard one track, but that track was great.


Also I really love this Radiohead video done with no "cameras".  It is done with radar technology. Here is a page with the video as well as the "making of".