naming mp3 files -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:naming mp3 files Posted by: aelson Date:4/15/2009 6:53:44 AM I'm preparing to make a number of oral history interviews available for download, and I have a question about naming the files. When making a CD it's simple enough to name the CD files track 1, track 2 etc., but if I'm going to put more files in a downloadable folder, is it best to continue using numbered tracks, or does it make sense to include more information in the file name, say "track 1 (George Bussell describes visiting Paris in World War II". Does all or only a part of this information show up on, say, an iPod screen when the track is playing? Thanks for any suggestions you have.
Subject:RE: naming mp3 files Reply by: Chienworks Date:4/15/2009 9:40:18 AM I'm all for explicit but short names. It doesn't hurt to add detail, but making the file names very long gets unwieldy. I tend to keep them under 25 or 30 characters. What's probably more important is to fill out the ID3 tags within the file itself. Many players will show the ID tag information but not necessarily the file name. You can do this when saving the file by going into Custom and choosing the second tab on in the custom window. If you've already saved the files then from Windows Explorer you can right-mouse-button click the file, go to properties / advanced, and fill it in there.
Subject:RE: naming mp3 files Reply by: Kennymusicman Date:4/15/2009 12:16:37 PM With regards to MP3 tags, I'd use a tag software, such MP3Tag, as it just makes the whole process so much more efficient. Long filenames are generally a PITA. Something short, meaningfull if much more useful.
Subject:RE: naming mp3 files Reply by: aelson Date:4/15/2009 1:22:46 PM Thank you! I've learned more from these last two posts than in five years of trying to figure everything out myself. A further question: The ID3 tag section has sections for Title, artist, album and comments. Is it the title only that shows up, so that I can add lengthier descriptions in the comments field? Also, it says ID3 version 1, version 2 and "both," and has the both selection picked. Is it best to leave it that way?
Subject:RE: naming mp3 files Reply by: rraud Date:4/15/2009 3:08:50 PM ID3/v2 allows for longer names. I use both though. Most players display Artist, Title, Track #. In a PC folder the user can select which attributes to show. Addendum: FWIW using the Winamp player, double-clicking the info display opens the ID tag edit window.
Subject:RE: naming mp3 files Reply by: Geoff_Wood Date:4/15/2009 4:58:59 PM I always put a numeric first, if I wany things to easily sorty into that order. Follwed by a freindy name. ie: 01_My_Hit 02_Next_Hit etc geoff
Subject:RE: naming mp3 files Reply by: Chienworks Date:4/15/2009 6:41:33 PM I'll usually do initials of the artist & album name, then track number, then abbreviated song name. For example: gw-ll-08-great_pumpkin_waltz.mp3 which means: George Winston, "Linus & Lucy", track 8, "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" The name isn't oppressively long, but it keeps the files in order and makes them easy to search.

Subject:naming mp3 files

Posted by: aelson

Date:4/15/2009 6:53:44 AM

I'm preparing to make a number of oral history interviews available for download, and I have a question about naming the files. When making a CD it's simple enough to name the CD files track 1, track 2 etc., but if I'm going to put more files in a downloadable folder, is it best to continue using numbered tracks, or does it make sense to include more information in the file name, say "track 1 (George Bussell describes visiting Paris in World War II". Does all or only a part of this information show up on, say, an iPod screen when the track is playing? Thanks for any suggestions you have.