getting started - importing your disc tracks

[Part On!]

Hi All,
I just received my rack pc today, and we're going to start loading over 600 cdgs this weekend. I've learned how to import the cdgs via demo version, but, how would you suggest that I number the book id's to make this process as quick and organized as possible? any other suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated.

[Beavis]

it will create its own number for you based on the book ID

[flipper]

Another tip would be to take your time and check what your disc label says -vs- what the MTU Database says. Most of the database is correct but I found quite a few errors after importing. In hind sight I wish that I would have taken the extra few seconds to assure complete accuracy.

[DJYale]

I normally "test" 3 songs per CD after each import....

[Beavis]

i manually type all my songs in. have never used the database.

[Nitecat]

If you have a need for this, I believe some people import their music in order by brand. For example, if you import all your Sound Choice discs in a group, you can have a block of Book Ids that you know belong to your Sound Choice discs. It's totally personal preference though.

[mindonstrike]

Agree with nitecat. If you've got the time to renumber your songbooks. It's not quick but it is organized.
I use SC numbers for theirs and everything else has a block of numbers reserved, PHM's are 100's & 200's, Chartbuster Is 300's & 400's, etc. Doing it this way you know what brand a song is simply by looking at the book id # and you can put a legend your songbook to cut down on the number of people who come and ask you the brand of a particular song.

As far as testing goes, the only time I had problems were on disks or tracks that take an unusually long time to import

And like flipper suggests check the disk listing against the database.

Sam

[admin]

Just a general comment on manual numbering versus using our "Next" button to automatically assign the BookID.

The BookID is forced unique, as it is a key index into the Songs Database. It MUST be unique. If you ignore everything you have done before, which you used because you didn't have a simple means to force a unique number, then you will find the BookID WILL BECOME the primary way your singers and you add the songs they want to sing.

That is why we have the BookID button in the Add Tracks group. It's fast and easy to type in the number, press the Enter key (hot key for Add Track) and Bam! Its done. Takes about 3 - 5 seconds, depending on how fast you type. Nothing can beat that.

Yes, the Import Database that automatically assigns the Song and Artist names, once you select the Brand and DiscID, have some errors. Mostly we have heard that the Manufacturers re-issue the same DiscID number but with some songs missing (usually were illegal) or shuffled the tracks (go figure ). Our database is going to be one or the other. If you have the same one, its instantaneous to add Song and Artist names to all the tracks.

YES! Always verify each fits the Index Card for your disc. Have you ever found the Index Card doesn't match the real tracks on the Disc? It happens! Nothing we can do about that either.

1. Look at the manual for options you now have to build your Song Book.
   
   
2. Look at the manual for options you have to Add Tracks to the Playlist.
   
   
3. Sit back for a few minutes and think about the new power you have.
   
   
4. Then... decide how you want to index your songs as you import them.

If you don't do the above first, you will probably regret keeping your old indexing way with this new tool.

A truism is: If you fail to plan... you plan to fail. Save yourself the time now. Study and plan up front before importing your songs.

[Beavis]

i always use the next button.

i manually type the artist & song!