Helium Ratings vs MediaMonky Ratings

SultanH · Post by **SultanH** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:05 pm

Hi,
I tried searching for a while in this forum but can't find the answer to the ratings differences between Helium and MM.
I wish to use both of these wonderfull programs.But the ratings get corrupt once I edit the file with MM (even if I'm not changing the ratings). By Corrupt I mean MM doesn't write it the same way it reads it. it's not the same when reading it back in Helium.

If I set the ratings in Helium they are read correctly in MM. But if I set them in MM helium sees it as follows:
(Left coum is what was set in mM)
5 as 5
4.5 as 5
4 as 4
3.5 as 3.5
3 as 3
2.5 as 3
2 as 2
1.5 as 1.5
1 as 1
0.5 as 1
0 as 0
bombed as 0
So it's not even consistently 0.5 Lower

Is there anyways to make these two programs match or at least prevent MM from changing the ratings when for example adding a picture.

I also don't understand why MM reads the Helium Ratings Tag correctly.
Thanks,

spacefish · Post by **spacefish** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:26 am

Sorry, I don't have an answer for you. I'm just curious why you want to use both programs.

SultanH · Post by **SultanH** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:42 pm

spacefish wrote:Sorry, I don't have an answer for you. I'm just curious why you want to use both programs.

I've been using Helium for 10 years now almost. But other than being used to it. It has features that MediaMonkey doesn't. For example:
1)Language Tag. it's very important. I have MP3 of many different languages. (I coul use the Custom Tag of MM, but in Helium it's integrated with all the other features, the left bar, etc..)
2)Power full searches
3)SmartPlaylist (I thin MediaMonkey has it too. I have' seen it yet since I'm still evaluating MM's free version)
3)Helium has a very customizable tag editor. Sometimes I want to edit a few fields and they are in different tabs I have to keep switching between tabs. Helium let me remap the whole interface, number of tabs and what appears in each tab).
4)It has a second Tag Editor:Spreadsheet mode Tag Editor. It works just like a spreadsheet. I love that.

But MM offers otherthings that Helium can't handle.
1)I like the speed.
2)Ease of adding pictures
3)Ease of corercting Track Numbers
4)I love the Visuaizations too

So this way I get the best of both world. But right now I have to keep exporting my ratings for a set of songs that I'm editing and do my changes in MM and go back to Helim and re-import the ratings for all those songs.

spacefish · Post by **spacefish** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:13 am

Okay, makes sense. If it were me though, since both programs are essentially powerful database management tools, and not simple taggers, I would petition one to adopt the features I like of the other, and just use one.

I thought I'd never switch from Winamp (not in the same league, of course) and have been using CATraxx to manage my CD collection. MediaMonkey manages my "portable" collection. I have no intentions of giving up CATraxx, so I do understand where you're coming from, but I can say that should that program eventually incorporate all the things about MM I like, I will drop MM, lifetime license aside, and use CATraxx exclusively. Of course, I don't see that happening anytime soon although version 8 will be getting quite a bit closer. Had CATraxx been able to implement an audioscrobbler plugin in a Delphi environment right from day one though, who knows? I very likely wouldn't be posting here now.

Good luck in your search for media library harmony!

Cheers,
Paula

SultanH · Post by **SultanH** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:52 am

Thanks Paula.

Anyone know if there is a way to prevent MM to write or change the ratings fields or other fields for that matter?

Mizery_Made · Post by **Mizery_Made** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:08 pm

http://www.mediamonkey.com/faq/index.ph ... 3731&id=98

I don't know if they limited it to the couple frames listed or if it works with (will work with in a later build) the Ratings frame (POPM I believe.)

EDIT: Just tested it out and it does indeed appear to allow you to disable the writing of the POPM frame, also tested it with TPE1 & TPE2 and it disabled writing of both of those fields aswell. I hadn't kept up with this feature, but it would appear it allows you to disable ANY frame. Enable is probably a different story though.

SultanH · Post by **SultanH** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:12 pm

Mizery_Made wrote:http://www.mediamonkey.com/faq/index.ph ... 3731&id=98

I don't know if they limited it to the couple frames listed or if it works with (will work with in a later build) the Ratings frame (POPM I believe.)

EDIT: Just tested it out and it does indeed appear to allow you to disable the writing of the POPM frame, also tested it with TPE1 & TPE2 and it disabled writing of both of those fields aswell. I hadn't kept up with this feature, but it would appear it allows you to disable ANY frame. Enable is probably a different story though.

Thanks so Much for the reply.

Couple of questions.
1) I can't find the MediaMonkey.ini
I've searcfh the whole computer. I've also looked directly in
My Documents\My Music\MediaMonkey (I had it with 2.5 but with 3.0 install I don't have it anymore)
I've also looked in program files\MediaMonkey

2)Is POPM for ratings? where can I find all the tag names like this one?

Thanks again for spending the time and helping.

nohitter151 · Post by **nohitter151** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:16 pm

Mediamonkey.ini and Mediamonkey.db files are usually in hidden folders, so make sure you enable viewing of hidden files and folders.

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\USERX\Local Settings\Application Data\MediaMonkey
Windows Vista: C:\Users\USERX\AppData\Local\Mediamonkey

Also:
http://www.id3.org/id3v2.4.0-frames for full listing of tag info.

SultanH · Post by **SultanH** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:29 pm

nohitter151 wrote:Mediamonkey.ini and Mediamonkey.db files are usually in hidden folders, so make sure you enable viewing of hidden files and folders.

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\USERX\Local Settings\Application Data\MediaMonkey
Windows Vista: C:\Users\USERX\AppData\Local\Mediamonkey

Also:
http://www.id3.org/id3v2.4.0-frames for full listing of tag info.

Thanks so Much. I found it.

You know a lot about MediaMonkey. Would you look at a bug report I've put. Are you having similar issue with the Abum Art:
http://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25452

nohitter151 · Post by **nohitter151** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:55 pm

SultanH wrote:
nohitter151 wrote:Mediamonkey.ini and Mediamonkey.db files are usually in hidden folders, so make sure you enable viewing of hidden files and folders.

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\USERX\Local Settings\Application Data\MediaMonkey
Windows Vista: C:\Users\USERX\AppData\Local\Mediamonkey

Also:
http://www.id3.org/id3v2.4.0-frames for full listing of tag info.
Thanks so Much. I found it.

You know a lot about MediaMonkey. Would you look at a bug report I've put. Are you having similar issue with the Abum Art:
http://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25452

Sorry, I haven't had a similar issue with album art. I usually only add art with Auto tag from web or by going into the track properties, then the album art tab. To help the devs solve the problem, though, it would probably help to post what kind of files you are tagging (I would assume they are mp3's going by what is posted in this thread).

Ian How · Post by **Ian How** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:13 pm

spacefish wrote:Okay, makes sense. If it were me though, since both programs are essentially powerful database management tools, and not simple taggers, I would petition one to adopt the features I like of the other, and just use one.

I thought I'd never switch from Winamp (not in the same league, of course) and have been using CATraxx to manage my CD collection. MediaMonkey manages my "portable" collection. I have no intentions of giving up CATraxx, so I do understand where you're coming from, but I can say that should that program eventually incorporate all the things about MM I like, I will drop MM, lifetime license aside, and use CATraxx exclusively. Of course, I don't see that happening anytime soon although version 8 will be getting quite a bit closer. Had CATraxx been able to implement an audioscrobbler plugin in a Delphi environment right from day one though, who knows? I very likely wouldn't be posting here now.

Good luck in your search for media library harmony!

Cheers,
Paula

I too use CATraxx along with MM. and will continue for the foreseeable future.

CATraxx has the advantages of being probably the best (and I have trialed Helium) database, but MM has the advantage of being to me the best player.

Ian

Ian How · Post by **Ian How** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:13 pm

spacefish wrote:Okay, makes sense. If it were me though, since both programs are essentially powerful database management tools, and not simple taggers, I would petition one to adopt the features I like of the other, and just use one.

I thought I'd never switch from Winamp (not in the same league, of course) and have been using CATraxx to manage my CD collection. MediaMonkey manages my "portable" collection. I have no intentions of giving up CATraxx, so I do understand where you're coming from, but I can say that should that program eventually incorporate all the things about MM I like, I will drop MM, lifetime license aside, and use CATraxx exclusively. Of course, I don't see that happening anytime soon although version 8 will be getting quite a bit closer. Had CATraxx been able to implement an audioscrobbler plugin in a Delphi environment right from day one though, who knows? I very likely wouldn't be posting here now.

Good luck in your search for media library harmony!

Cheers,
Paula

I too use CATraxx along with MM. and will continue for the foreseeable future.

CATraxx has the advantages of being probably the best (and I have trialed Helium) database, but MM has the advantage of being to me the best player.

Ian

spacefish · Post by **spacefish** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:24 pm

Ian How wrote:I too use CATraxx along with MM. and will continue for the foreseeable future.

CATraxx has the advantages of being probably the best (and I have trialed Helium) database, but MM has the advantage of being to me the best player.

Ian

Hey Ian!

Great to see a fellow CATraxx user here.

I completely agree with you. CATraxx's player is pretty piddly in comparison to what MM can do. I used to use Winamp in tandem with CATraxx but now have made the switch to MM. As it was originally designed to be cataloging software for physical media, I still think CATraxx's tagging capabilities are subpar to most mp3 software today. But for CDs it's the best!

SultanH · Post by **SultanH** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:39 pm

nohitter151 wrote:
Sorry, I haven't had a similar issue with album art. I usually only add art with Auto tag from web or by going into the track properties, then the album art tab. To help the devs solve the problem, though, it would probably help to post what kind of files you are tagging (I would assume they are mp3's going by what is posted in this thread).

Yes they are MP3.
I did a little more testing:

RATINGS:
------------
I added this to the INI file:
[MP3Tagging]
DisableFrames=POPM

MM is wiping the ratings now. It didn't disable it. AM I missing something?It somehow doesn't make them all to zero. I don't know if my tags had ID3V1 and this wipes the ID3V2 only. But the resulting some of the files still have another ratings that I didn't put in it.

How did you test POPM?

Pictures:
----------
If I add in a picture to a fle I selected in the "My Computer" node the, evenif I select a bunch of files it adds it to the first one only and for a while it shows it as double. If I leave the folder and come back the double entry is gone, or if I wait a while is gone too.

But If I add the Picture in the Library node then it doesn't go away. The doube entry remains. But there at least I have the option of adding i to all the songs in the album.

I even tried getting pictures from the web. it doubles it there too.

Strangely enough Helium doesn't see the double entry but MM does when i come back to it. I think Helium doesn't see it or doesn't show it because it only shows one picture of each category (Front), (Back), etc.. But the MP3 file probably contains both pictures.

I wonder if the ini file got corrupted during installation. If you don't get the doubling effect then it might be my installation. Anyone else sees this problem?

SultanH · Post by **SultanH** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:34 pm

It seems like this is Database & Library problem/Bug.
The Image is not actually added twice. So in the "My Computer" Node it appears twice and when you refresh or change folder it shows as one image again. But in the "Library" node it doens't refresh taht until you remove from Library and add it back. So before this forcd refresh, even when you edit the tags you think there two of each image.