BIN to KMA File Question

[doug crawford]

My name is Doug Crawford of Laser Labs DJ Entertainment. I am a DJ/KJ from the chemas-microsoft-com:officemarttags" />Louisville, Kentucky area. I have owned HOSTER for over 2 years and have yet to use it in its full capacity. When we first received the program we could easily convert BIN files to KMA files. We recently upgraded to the 3.6 version and have found it difficult to convert the BIN files into KMA files. The problems that have occurred are: when converting to an independent song list we can only convert a batch of up to 99 files. Also, we only have song name-artist-bin, the program seems to require a 5 section (sc-cd #-song title-artist-track #) label to transfer the music. Is there some way to #1: convert more than 99 songs at a time and #2 convert our BIN files with only the title and artist? We could do this before the upgrade and hope that there is a simple solution. We would appreciate any timely help that could help us get started with the program, we need a mentor, and we are willing to reward you for it. I can be reached at (502) 459-1010 or Tawny Woods at (502) 593-2061.

[admin]

Originally Posted by doug crawford

1. We recently upgraded to the 3.6 version and have found it difficult to convert the BIN files into KMA files. The problems that have occurred are: when converting to an independent song list we can only convert a batch of up to 99 files.

2. Also, we only have song name-artist-bin, the program seems to require a 5 section (sc-cd #-song title-artist-track#) label to transfer the music. Is there some way to #1: convert more than 99 songs at a time and #2 convert our BIN files with only the title and artist? We could do this before the upgrade and hope that there is a simple solution. We would appreciate any timely help that could help us get started with the program, we need a mentor, and we are willing to reward you for it. I can be reached at (502) 459-1010 or Tawny Woods at (502) 593-2061.[/size][/font]

1. If the "Define Fields Order" setup matches more than 99 files, then in BATCH mode it will keep going until all are imported that match the definition... 99 per BookID then increment the BookID up one.

2. Closely read the manual on Import Hard Drive Files command. If your filenames are all in the sc-cd #-song title-artist-track# naming scheme, and you only want to preserve the Title and Artist, then you could use:

Ignore-Title-Artist-Ignore.

or

Ignore-Ignore-Title-Artist-Ignore. if there truly is a "-" between SC and the CD# (DiscID).

However, I don't know why you wouldn't want the DiscID if you already have it in the filenames? That gives you more flexibility to locate your files, and also to include the DiscID in your Song Books.

[doug crawford]

Our bin files are listed as title-artist.bin (ie. #1 Crush-Garbage.bin). We have no other defined fields in any of our song names. All the bin files are located on an external 750gig drive. We also have created another folder where all KMA files will be converted and transferred to on the same drive. We choose bin and turn off the remove imported tracks feature. DISCID-TRACKID. We redefine those fields as Title-Artist. and we select "unknown" as the brand. We select batch and the system indicates that we will be converting 9764 bin files.

The files are then moved to the folder, but there are only 99 files in the batch. We then select import and the system begins the import process.

When transferring, our files names come out as 1-1.kma, 1-2.kma, etc. up to 99 files. Additional files overwrite the previous batch of 99.

PLEASE HELP

The previous version seamlessly made the conversion and transfer and included the title and artist.

lf is not too much trouble you are welcome to call and walk us through this process. Doug Crawford (502) 459-1010 or Tawny Woods at (502) 593-2061. We are offering to pay someone to get us through this!!!

[doug crawford]

Would this process be easier if we were to convert the bin files to CDG files? If so, what is the easiest process for that. Does anyone know why Hoster does not play bin files?

[ddouglass]

Doug in this example you listed "(ie. #1 Crush-Garbage.bin)" is the "#1" part of the title or the song/track number?

Converting to CDG would not make it any easier I don't think and would require a lot of work with Microstudio to do it. I guess no one has ever thought about directly playing BIN files in Hoster because they can be permanently imported. If Hoster was set up to play BIN files it would still be a temporary import and deleted after play unless you import them permanently.

I was going to try to run a test, but I don't have enough BIN files at the moment to do it. I will have to convert some more files to BIN to do this.

[ddouglass]

Doug,
I have tried the test and found that essentially you will need to import 99 at a time. According to the instructions and this is stressed a few times you have to have the five parameters (Brand, DiscID, Track#, Title and Artist). So when you select Batch if those parameters are not all there it will ask for the Brand, DiskID, and BookID to assign to each 99 files and import in alphabetical order assigning track#. When the first batch of 99 is done it will again ask for the same info before importing the next 99. You will need to at least increment the DiskID and BookID to keep from over-writing the previous groups.
If you had a way to add a Brand and DiskID (ID same for max of 99 files) to the file names then you would be able to Batch Import all of them at once.

[mindonstrike]

I also tried importing a few BIN's using title-artist only. When Hoster asked I gave it a brand of *unknown* and a disk ID of 1. The resulting KMA's were labeled 1-1.kma, 1-2.kma etc, correctly corresponding to diskid-track#.KMA. When looked up in the database search it correctly showed the title and the artist.

I'm not sure why your imported songs would not have the title and artist. Dale is correct in that you will either have to do 99 at a time and change the diskid for each batch or add a diskid to the file name so Hoster can do them all in one fell swoop. You can find file renaming freeware and shareware programs at downloads.com that would make it fairly easy to add diskid's to your file names.

We choose bin and turn off the remove imported tracks feature.

Why turn off that feature? It's there to help you know what's been imported and what's left to go.

I've got 3.303 on one of my computers. I'll try and take a look later today and see if there is something different about it.

Sam

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by mindonstrike

I've got 3.303 on one of my computers. I'll try and take a look later today and see if there is something different about it.

Sam

I imported a couple of BINs using 3.303 and it did indeed work a little different.
It asked me for a Brand which I filled in as *unknown* . It did not ask for a diskid, instead it made up its own xyz001. Now whether it automaticly changes to XYZ002 after 99 songs I do not know.

Sam

[ddouglass]

Sam,
When I tried the Batch import using the *Unknown Brand* it would add the xyz0001 DiskID but would then revert to Single and ask again for a Brand.
I am wondering if we missed something in testing.

[doug crawford]

Thank you so much for your responses. We essentially have come to the same conclusion that we will have to import 99 at a time and change the names prior to importing another batch.

In the prior version we have, this import works much easier and imports all the BIN files. Should we go back to the prior version for the import? Why does this work for the prior program, but will not work for the newer version?

This seems to be a glitch that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We have been waiting nearly three weeks for resolution to our last inquiry. This is beginning to be a little frustrating. We do not feel like we are getting the support we need to utilize the program.

We have had this program for some time now and have not been able to put it into use. We really need someone to give us a call to help us solve the issue. Please call Doug Crawford at (502) 459-1010 or Tawny Woods at (502) 593-2061.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by doug crawford

In the prior version we have, this import works much easier and imports all the BIN files. Should we go back to the prior version for the import? Why does this work for the prior program, but will not work for the newer version?

So in the mean time since you have the prior version why not install it, import all the files, then install the newer version. Problem for you anyway resolved.

Originally Posted by doug crawford

This seems to be a glitch that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We have been waiting nearly three weeks for resolution to our last inquiry. This is beginning to be a little frustrating. We do not feel like we are getting the support we need to utilize the program.

What you think needs addressing immediately may not be seen that way by MTU. Yours is the only complaint I have seen about this as most people have the discID and track number included in the titles of their files and don't have this problem.