Changing tags result in duplicate files on my Vision:M

[shotofadds]

I started with an empty Zen Vision:M, and transferred a large (~1500 tracks) music library to it using MediaMonkey using Auto Sync. All went well and I was a happy man, in fact so happy I that bought the registered version.

Unfortunately, whenever I change a tag (eg Artist / Track Name / Album Name / Track Number) I end up with duplicate tracks. It says "removing old content" before copying the updated files, but when I check with explorer the old versions are still there!

Surely I'm missing something, or is this a huge, huge oversight?!

(I should point out this is using the current release version, but I have also tried the latest beta with no difference in behaviour)

[rusty]

Do you have duplicate tracks in the library? or only on the device?

Is the 'Delete tracks that aren't in the auto-synch list' option enabled?

-Rusty

[shotofadds]

The duplicate tracks are only on the device - it's not removing the files with the 'old' artist / album / track name.

I don't have 'Delete tracks that aren't in the auto-synch list' ticked - because with this enabled I'd lose any tracks I copied to the player manually or if I added them at work.

Surely MM is clever enough to remove the olde files when I change an existing tag? Otherwise what else is it trying to do when it says "removing old tracks"?

[hhggrr]

You have to have 'Delete tracks that aren't in the auto-synch list' ticked that way MM will delete the duplicate files from your ZVM. In order for this to work perfectly you have to have those "new" files you added at work or manually in your library at home too.

[shotofadds]

That's just silly - what happens if I want to add music to my player at work? I occasionally rip CDs at work and add them, so woulden't want these to be deleted when I get home....

There must be a way round this, surely?

[hhggrr]

The files from the ripped CD's from work have to be copied to your library at home.... then you synchronize...... that way you have the same files in both.

That's the way it works with MM.... I don't think there is a way around it. The synchronization compares files in your PC and your Zen and updates the information in both (ratings, play count, etc). It doesnt transfer the files from the Zen to your PC, that I know.

Maybe you could try using Creative Sync Manager which I haven't tried as I actually copy the new music of my Zen into my PC first and then I synchronize.

[shotofadds]

The files from the ripped CD's from work have to be copied to your library at home.... then you synchronize...... that way you have the same files in both.

Ok, so I could do that using the USB Mass Storage mode - but it seems rather a confusing way of solving a simple problem

If MM could transfer the new tracks from the Zen to the PC, the problem would be solved. But is that too much to ask?

[leighduffy]

reading this thread i was just wondering, if i set MM to Auto-Sync with 'Delete tracks that aren't on the AutoSync list from the device' enabled, how does MM then re-upload my entire library each time I AutoSync then go through and delete each file it finds thats not in my MM library, or does it quickly scan my iPod library, deduce which tracks need to be uploaded/deleted and then proceed and upload/delete just those that need doing? its just that the first process seems a rather long winded approach!
also, if i were to change the tags of a file in my library, next time I AutoSync'ed, would MM: (i) recognise this as a 'new' file that needed to be uploaded to my iPod, and (ii) recognise that the 'old' file still stored on my iPod needed to now be deleted?
any help would be great!
thanks

[hhggrr]

I use a Creative Zen Vision M. For me this is what happens when I synchronize, or at least what I've figured it does: The synchronization compares your MM library with your MP3 player. Then:

• If you have a new file in you MM library then it gets copied to your MP3 player.
  If you changed the file name in your MM library (or its path) it copies this one to your MP3 player and deletes the old one (it is no longer in the MM library).
  If you change a tag, it updates your MP3 player by overwriting the file there.
  If you rate a song in your MP3 player or if you play it (play count) then it updates this information in your MM library.

[leighduffy]

oh thats great - thanks for the info!
i just wasn't sure how deeply MM analysed the two sets of files, but from what you've said it basically seems like any changes to files or tags whatsoever will result in them being updated on the MP3 player, no matter how small the change!
thanks again,
leigh