New to MediaMonkey [#6693]

[Tomekks]

Hi there!

I am a new MediaMonkey user. I merged to MM from iTunes and I have to say, that I like MM much better then the rusty and a laggy iTunes.
I found many things that I like in MM over iTunes but there also are a few things, I have become a custom to.
1) The first thing would be the awesome shuffle iTunes had. It literally shuffled tracks not just jumped to a random track. So I have to ask, is there a way to shuffle the MM playlist so I can see what random track will be playing next? Or am I doomed to live in constant surprise?

2) Drag & Drop playlist making. When I was using iTunes, I found that I drag and drop music [ albums mostly ] from random places on my computer to a newly created playlist so I can sort out what I like and what - not so much. I tried this with MM and was disappointed that I can't just drag & drop music into a randomly created playlist. I need to scan the track from the import window and then scroll through the library to put them in the playlist. This is a little pain in the arse. Is there a way around this sequence of unneeded actions?

Hoping for a solution, Tom. [:

[nohitter151]

1) Use the auto-dj (Options > auto-dj/nowplaying) or bring up the now playing list and right click > list > randomize

2) You could drag the track from your computer to Now playing, then from now playing to a playlist.

[Dreadlau]

Hi and Welcome to the Mediamonkey Forum

Hi there!

I am a new MediaMonkey user. I merged to MM from iTunes and I have to say, that I like MM much better then the rusty and a laggy iTunes.
I found many things that I like in MM over iTunes but there also are a few things, I have become a custom to.
1) The first thing would be the awesome shuffle iTunes had. It literally shuffled tracks not just jumped to a random track. So I have to ask, is there a way to shuffle the MM playlist so I can see what random track will be playing next? Or am I doomed to live in constant surprise?

Mediamonkey has a built in feature called auto-DJ. Since I found this. I never needed shuffle again!
In most skin there is a button to turn it on/off inside the player. You can also do it in the play menu.
You can configure it in Tools --> Options --> Player --> Auto-Dj
( In Mediamonkey 4, you'll be able to access the auto-Dj configuration more easily. ( Play --> Auto-DJ ) )

You can choose the source for auto-Dj. The Entire library by default. But you can choose any playlist or auto-playlist you like.
You can choose how many tracks it adds after the current playing song.
And you can also choose how many tracks should be kept inside the now playing queue.
( It's recommended to keep a short now playing queue when you start Mediamonkey for performance matter )

An other option you have besides shuffle and auto-DJ, is the randomize list functionality.
Right click on the now playing panel --> List --> Randomize list.

Both Auto-Dj and the Randomize list method lets you see what tracks are coming next.

[Tomekks]

Thank you for these solutions. Now I'm happy with using MM.

Cheers!

[Tomekks]

But I still have to ask.
Why didn't you make the drag & drop as easy as it is in iTunes?
I think it's much easier to manage new music that way. Ofcourse, that's only my humble opinion.

[Lowlander]

Added to Mantis: http://www.ventismedia.com/mantis/view.php?id=6693

[Dreadlau]

Added to Mantis: http://www.ventismedia.com/mantis/view.php?id=6693

Hi Lowlander.

In this case this functionality shouldn't be limited to playlist.
Drag and drop to any node/collections showing in the main panel should add the tracks to the library. (+confirmation screen)

( e.g: Windows Media Player Behavior )

Thank you

[Lowlander]

This would be dangerous in my opinion as any other node than the Library node itself (which does add) would mean the files would be moved (Location node) or tagged (the other nodes). And yes you propose a confirmation dialog.

[Dreadlau]

This would be dangerous in my opinion as any other node than the Library node itself (which does add) would mean the files would be moved (Location node) or tagged (the other nodes). And yes you propose a confirmation dialog.

It won't be dangerous if the confirmation dialog is clear about what is going to happen to the tracks ( Move, re-tag, ... )

In My opinion it makes no sense to limit it to the playlist because:

a) It would bring inconsistency in behavior.

b) Not all users use playlists to organize their contents. ( e.g. I don't use playlists )

c) Being able to add tracks to the library by drag and dropping as been requested in this forum.

d) Windows Media Player Exhibit this behavior and I think lacking this feature might be a turn-off for users coming from WMP.

[Lowlander]

A) Behavior is already inconsistent as the Library node does work right now

B) You can add by D&D on Library node

C) You can add by D&D on Library node

D) Does WMP tag files when doing D&D on let's see an specific album?

[Dreadlau]

Thanks Lowlander.
I didn't know it was possible to add tracks to the library by drag and drop to the library node.
I thought it wasn't possible because until now I tried drag and droping directly to the main panel like I used to do in WMP.
( would be nice if that could work too )

I learned something useful today thanks to you.

[Tomekks]

I think this should be limited to the playlist only.
And maybe, when you drag a song form desktop [ or other random place ] to a playlist [ a song, wich is not in the library ], there would pop-up a specific dialogue box, where you can edit the rating, tags, file information etc, not only a yes/no dialogue box. And there could be a check box, which you can tick, if this song is already in the library.

Actually, sounds annoying, if you're trying to drag and drop 100 songs to a playlist.
But maybe a part of my idea will be useful to you.

[Lowlander]

I actually didn't know either till today.

Can you confirm if WMP tags when D&D on a specific node or just adds? If it's the latter it would be inconsistent with current MediaMonkey behavior where D&D within MediaMonkey tags.

[Dreadlau]

Hello i'm currently testing how it works in WMP.

Firsts Observations.

You can't drag and drop to the nodes inside the tree panel.
Instead you drag and drop to the main panel.

If the music node is open, it will put the files in the Music Library.
If the video node is open, it will put the files in the Video Library.
And so on.
This is the case whatever subnode is open inside the "Library" (It doesn't seem to retag the files )

It doesn't seem to change the physical location of the files.
It includes them inside the windows7 library. But that's just some kind of "smart folder" function in win7. ( not a physical location )

[Lowlander]

Then the problem remains of inconsistent behavior remains for MediaMonkey.

If you Drag & Drop inside MediaMonkey to a node or TrackListing it will move (Location) or retag (other nodes). This means to be consistent with MediaMonkey Drag & Drop from outside MediaMonkey should do the same. This however is inconsistent with WMP's behavior which I'd say is better (as it doesn't retag it's safer).

Personally I'm with either solution:
1) Drag & Drop only works on Library (currently)
2) Drag & Drop only works on Library (currently) and Playlists (Proposed)
3) Drag & Drop works on all library subnodes and just adds to library
4) Drag & Drop works on all library subnodes and adds to library and retags

5) User can disable/enabled behavior or decide which (tag & add or just add)