WebHelp:Converting Formats/5.0: Difference between revisions

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  {{WebHelpHeader|Converting Formats}}
[[Main Page|Wiki Home]] > [[{{WebHelp:Links|Content}}|MediaMonkey 5 Help]] > [[{{WebHelp:Links|Editing Tracks}}|Editing Files]] > Converting Formats
MediaMonkey allows you to convert tracks in your Library from one compression format to another while transferring Track properties into the destination format's tags. This is useful if you have a device that only supports one format (e.g. if have a portable MP3 player you may want to convert OGG files to MP3). Note that when converting from one lossy compression format to another, there is always some loss in fidelity. To maintain the highest possible quality for your collection, do not replace the original file.


To convert, select the Track(s) you want to convert and click '''Tools''' > '''Convert Audio Format''' . The Convert Audio Format dialog will appear, from which you may configure:
----


#Whether to replace the original files or convert the files to a new destination.
{{WebHelpHeader|Converting Formats}}
#The compression format to be used for ripping the Tracks. See [[{{WebHelp:Links|Basic Concepts}}|Digital Ripping & Digital File Formats]] and [[{{WebHelp:Links|MP3 Encoding Settings}}|MP3 Encoder Settings]].  
Conversion is useful if you have a device that only supports one format (e.g. if have a portable MP3 player you may want to convert OGG files to MP3). MediaMonkey can convert one audio format to another audio format or one video format to another video format. MediaMonkey can also convert files to the same file type, but with different encoding settings (like a 256Kbps MP3 to a 160Kbps MP3 file). MediaMonkey can't convert video files to audio files. With video files MediaMonkey can't choose which audio or subtitle tracks should be used for the converted file.
#Whether the volume of the Tracks should be leveled as they are encoded. This is slightly different from just analyzing the volume levels, since in addition to performing the analysis, this actually modifies the volume levels of the converted Track.  
#The Directory and Filename format to be used for the new Tracks. Choose the format in which your files will be saved by clicking the <Artist>, <Album>, etc. buttons, and click the folder button if you wish to save to a different folder than the source files. Note that if you have not changed the directory or format used, the conversion may replace existing files.


Conversion can never add quality to the converted file. So converting a lossy MP3 to a lossless FLAC does not make the audio file a FLAC quality file. When converting from a lossy compression format there may be a loss in fidelity on the converted file. However converting a lossless file to another lossless file occurs without any fidelity loss (like FLAC to ALAC). To maintain the highest possible quality for your collection, do not replace the original file.


See [[{{WebHelp:Links|Configuring Directory and File Formats}}|Configuring Directory and Filename Formats]].


Press 'Ok' to proceed with the conversion.
== Convert Files ==


To convert, select the file(s) you want to convert and use  '''Tools &gt; Convert Format''' from the Main Menu. The Convert Format dialog will appear, from which you may configure:[[File:Wiki-MM5 Convert Format.jpg|1000px|center|MediaMonkey Convert Format dialog]]<br><br>
#Choose whether to replace the original files or convert the files to a new destination.
#'''Destination''', the folder and filename format to be used for the converted file(s) using a [[{{WebHelp:Links|Configuring Directory and File Formats}}|Mask]]. ''Note that if the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Configuring Directory and File Formats}}|Mask]] results in the same Path as the original files that the original files will be overwritten even if not set to do so.''
#'''Format''' are the settings used to convert the file(s). Select the file type you want to use as Format and use '''Settings''' to change the settings to be used for that file type while converting the file(s). See [[{{WebHelp:Links|Basic Concepts}}|Digital Ripping &amp; Digital File Formats]].
#''Add converted files to the library'' will add the converted files to the MediaMonkey Library. ''Note that [[{{WebHelp:Links|Adding_Existing_Files_to_the_Library}}#Using_Folder_Monitoring_to_Automatically_Update_the_Library|Folder Monitoring]] will add converted files saved in any monitored location''.
#''Level Track volume'' Whether the volume of the files should be [[{{WebHelp:Links|Volume_Leveling}}#Leveling_Track_Volume|leveled]] as they are converted. [[{{WebHelp:Links|Volume_Leveling}}#Leveling_Track_Volume|Volume Leveling]] is not a lossless process.


== Properly Passing Artwork to Converted Files ==
Press '''OK''' to proceed with the conversion.


When '''converting audio files''' to a new folder, as opposed to replacing existing tracks, the album art is carried forward in the same format: 


1) A song with art stored as ''per-track metadata'' gets converted with the original art also embedded in the metadata of the converted-to copy.
== Auto-Conversion ==


2) A song with art stored at the ''folder level'', gets converted with a copy of the folder.jpg art.
MediaMonkey offers [[{{WebHelp:Links|Auto-Conversion_Configuration}}|Auto-Conversion]] when [[{{WebHelp:Links|Exporting_Tracks}}|synchronizing]] and when [[{{WebHelp:Links|Setting_UPnP_DLNA_Media_Servers}}|streaming/casting]] to other devices. [[{{WebHelp:Links|Auto-Conversion_Configuration}}|Auto-Conversion]] will not modify the original files in your MediaMonkey Library. This allows you to maintain a library of many file types on your PC while still being able to [[{{WebHelp:Links|Exporting_Tracks}}|sync]]/[[{{WebHelp:Links|Setting_UPnP_DLNA_Media_Servers}}|stream/cast]] those files in formats the device is able to play.


This leads to a complication.  Media Monkey users with playback hardware that does not support automated synchronization can use the convert format tool as a means of quickly copying playlists of individual tracks from many different albums into a new single folder, which they can then move to their portable playback device.  In this case, the set of copied songs each have the correct art work only if each source song had its art stored per track as metadata.  Otherwise -- if any copied-from song had its art stored at the folder level -- then the new single folder of song copies will have as many instances of "folder(#).jpg" as there were distinct folders in the copy-from set.  (And in this case, there is no link between the new song files that lack metadata art to their original folder art .jpg.  Instead, the metadataless songs will display the album art for only the first folder.jpg copied.)


There are two workarounds for this:
== Related Information ==


A) Do such conversions only at the album level, so that each conversion is to a separate new folder, each containing one copy of the original album art.  This only works if you wish your playback device to have whole copies of the albums, as opposed to a select playlist of specific songs.  It is also manual labor intensive, especially-so for large libraries.
* [[{{WebHelp:Links|Configuring Directory and File Formats}}|Configuring Directory and Filename Formats]]
* [[{{WebHelp:Links|Basic Concepts}}|Digital Ripping &amp; Digital File Formats]]
* [[{{WebHelp:Links|MP3 Encoding Settings}}|MP3 Encoder Settings]]
* [[{{WebHelp:Links|Auto-Conversion_Configuration}}|Auto-Conversion]]


B) Alternatively, before doing the conversion of the source playlist, copy each track's album art into metadata art (only necessary for each track ''in the playlist'').  This is also very manual labor intensive, but at least it allows users to create a song set for their portable device that selects just certain songs.
{{WebHelpFooter}}
 
Users have requested a new option in the conversion tool, that would ''automatically embed folder-level album art from source files as metadata art in the converted-to files''.  For users with large playlists, this would ensure correct art in their portable device song sets, ''with no manual labor by the user''.
 
Strictly, there is a third work-around: C) When initially building your song library, users can store all album art as per-track metadata.  This is reasonable for users with no anticipation of future storage space limitations.  However, Media Monkey users tend to be serious music collectors.  Their libraries grow very large, especially over years of use.  Further, some MM users also prefer to store higher quality art as part of their enjoyment of their libraries.  In such cases, storing roughly 12 redundant copies of every track's art can consume a lot of memory.  For such users, the above-noted requested software enhancement is the best answer.  For everyone else, work-around C is probably the best option.
 
  {{WebHelpFooter}}

Latest revision as of 22:18, 14 December 2020

Wiki Home > MediaMonkey 5 Help > Editing Files > Converting Formats


Conversion is useful if you have a device that only supports one format (e.g. if have a portable MP3 player you may want to convert OGG files to MP3). MediaMonkey can convert one audio format to another audio format or one video format to another video format. MediaMonkey can also convert files to the same file type, but with different encoding settings (like a 256Kbps MP3 to a 160Kbps MP3 file). MediaMonkey can't convert video files to audio files. With video files MediaMonkey can't choose which audio or subtitle tracks should be used for the converted file.

Conversion can never add quality to the converted file. So converting a lossy MP3 to a lossless FLAC does not make the audio file a FLAC quality file. When converting from a lossy compression format there may be a loss in fidelity on the converted file. However converting a lossless file to another lossless file occurs without any fidelity loss (like FLAC to ALAC). To maintain the highest possible quality for your collection, do not replace the original file.


Convert Files

To convert, select the file(s) you want to convert and use Tools > Convert Format from the Main Menu. The Convert Format dialog will appear, from which you may configure:

MediaMonkey Convert Format dialog
MediaMonkey Convert Format dialog



  1. Choose whether to replace the original files or convert the files to a new destination.
  2. Destination, the folder and filename format to be used for the converted file(s) using a Mask. Note that if the Mask results in the same Path as the original files that the original files will be overwritten even if not set to do so.
  3. Format are the settings used to convert the file(s). Select the file type you want to use as Format and use Settings to change the settings to be used for that file type while converting the file(s). See Digital Ripping & Digital File Formats.
  4. Add converted files to the library will add the converted files to the MediaMonkey Library. Note that Folder Monitoring will add converted files saved in any monitored location.
  5. Level Track volume Whether the volume of the files should be leveled as they are converted. Volume Leveling is not a lossless process.

Press OK to proceed with the conversion.


Auto-Conversion

MediaMonkey offers Auto-Conversion when synchronizing and when streaming/casting to other devices. Auto-Conversion will not modify the original files in your MediaMonkey Library. This allows you to maintain a library of many file types on your PC while still being able to sync/stream/cast those files in formats the device is able to play.


Related Information


English


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