Talk:WebHelp:Configuring Directory and File Formats/4.0

As for myself, I use mp3 tags extensively and exclusively for the extensive info that regards an audio file. Nonetheless the file must be stored somehow, and I choose to store auditory media in a directory structure as follows:

Media

   Audiobooks
       Album Artist
           Album
               Disc <#> Track <#> Title.mp3
               etc
   Music
       Album Artist
           Album
   Podcasts
       etc and et al

This keeps the tracks of an album together in one folder. If instead the tracks were stored by Artist, then the album tracks can be scattered across all performing artists in an album. For instance, in a compilation album or or one with guest performers, each track can be performed by a different artist. It's even worse when there is a multiplicity of artists on any one track. Is that track then to be stored separately for each performing artist?

Rules I have concocted and use:

0. In the simplest case example, the structure being Album Artist / Album gives "The Beatles"/"Revolver" as the directory hierarchy.

1. For Albums that have multiple artists but one who is primary or who put the album together, then the Album Artist is that primary artist, even if that Album Artist is not a performer on any particular track.

2. For Albums which have several Artists of equal status, then the Album Artist is given as "<Artist 1> & <Artist 2> &" etc. So a duets album featuring Dolly Parton and Kenny Loggins would have the album artist "Dolly Parton & Kenny Loggins", with all tracks stored within a folder named after the Album.

3. For Albums which have a wide variety of Artists but no primary, then the Album Name is given as "<Album> Album Artists", e.g. "African Salsa Album Artists".

In any of the cases above, the particular artists and other characteristics of a track are stored in the mp3 tags. Within any one tag, multiple values are stored in a "Value 1; Value 2; etc" form, so the Artist tag might have "Amy Winehouse; Tony Bennett". (Yes, they performed duets.)

And regarding directory and track filenames, there is imposed by me a length limit of 50-something characters, else a file within a multilevel directory structure could violate o/s rules.

And of course there are judgement calls that are imposed by the facts of the performance or compilation situation. Oy!

ITG