Question

Combine 2 MP3 libraries

Asked by: jimbob_sf

I have 2 MP3 (iTunes) libraries on 2 separate hard drives.  There are many duplicates of the same song, but one will have a higher bit rate.  I don't want to let iTunes import the files because if it finds 2 files with the same name, it will simply add the second file and append the number "2" at the end.  So I'll have "my song.mp3" and "my song 2.mp3".  If "my song 2.mp3" has a higher bit rate, I'd like to remove the original file and replace it with the new file.

The libraries are quite big (20-30k files each) as I converted my 500 CD library to disk, but I did it on 2 different computers and at different bit rates.

I've tried a bunch of software, but found generic directory compare or MP3 tag renaming programs.  I need one that is built to merge 2 different libraries and only keep the best files.  Help!

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Asked On
2009-09-25 at 06:54:17ID24761694
Tags

directory combine merge mp3 library

,

MP3 Downloads

Topics

Digital Music and Video

,

iTunes Software

Participating Experts
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Answers

 

by: hatheharikenPosted on 2009-09-25 at 08:52:46ID: 25424259

you can delete the file with the smaller file size, if the name matches.

CloneSpy http://www.clonespy.com/ is a very powerful tool for such work - give it a try.
it can defer deletion to a batch file, so when you are trying it out, your files will not at risk if you do something wrong...

hathehariken.

 

by: jimbob_sfPosted on 2009-09-25 at 09:05:08ID: 25424359

Clonespy is close, but it doesn't naturally know how mp3/mp4 files work.  It need to search duplicates based on optional factors:  same directory, same file or same directory, same file but with slightly different last character like a number.  Also, it will need to work in id tag mode to look for similar ideas.

Ideally, it would look for same tags, no matter what the directory withing the same tree or 2 trees and create a 3rd, output directory.

The best I've found so far is an Apple script program called Dupin http://dougscripts.com/itunes/itinfo/dupin.php

I need this program for a PC.

-Phil

 

by: hatheharikenPosted on 2009-09-25 at 14:08:27ID: 25427271

try this one:
http://abeetech.com/mp3-duplicates-finder/

it works if you have filled ID3 entries in your files.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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