Duplicate songs

[erinkg]

I have a ton of songs that are on multiple disks and I want to delete all but one so that my database is more cleaned up. I found the 'duplicate files' preset playlist, but that only seems to work on songs that are on the same disk (I think with the same file name), not songs that are on different disks. Is there a quick way to do what I'm trying to do, or am I resigned to doing this manually?

Thanks!
Erin

[dave]

duplicate songs are considered duplicate only if the song name and artist name MATCH EXACTLY. album name does not have to match.

[erinkg]

I've got a bunch of duplicates where the song name and artist are exactly the same, yet when I select duplicate files as a preset playlist, the program tells me there are none. Is there something else I need to do? These aren't files I ripped with kJams.

Thanks,
Erin

[dave]

oops you're right, album names DO have to match.

i've added a feature. the current behavior is now called "Strict", and i've added a new one called "Loose" that does NOT need to match album.

-dave

[erinkg]

Fabulous! Thanks for that - it will save me MANY hours of time.

Erin

[Starship]

Hello Dave,

Regarding duplicates, here is what I have been doing:

1. Create a new Unique Files playlist.

2. Edit the duplicate files (that are not an exact title+artist match) by selecting the duplicates (using shift or command keys) and then Get Info. Change the title and artist to the desired name, making sure the checkboxes to the left are checked.

3. This will rename the files in the library and when another Unique Files playlist is created, only 1 file will show.

4. I need to check again, in case the new name(s) do not exactly match other master playlist files.

Is this clear??

Is the best way to cull duplicates to get a single unique playlist?

Also, you mentioned "strict" vs. "loose" duplicates, but I can not find any menu items for these.

Dave, thanks for all the great work!
Best regards,
Bob

[dave]

That's a great method!

you mentioned "strict" vs. "loose" duplicates, but I can not find any menu items for these

I have not yet released the new version.

[Starship]

Folks, regarding duplicates, here is what I have been doing now:

1. Create a new Unique Files playlist.

2. Edit the duplicate files (that are not an exact title+artist match) by selecting the duplicates (using shift or command keys) and then Get Info, >>> in the LIBRARY <<<. Change the title and artist to the desired name, making sure the checkboxes to the left are checked.

3. Now go back to your Unique Files playlist and continue.

This is a little bit of work, but now the song names and artists match for all versions of the song and when you Create a Unique Files playlist the songs will be unique once Dave implements the "loose" duplicates.

Hope this is clear!

Thanks Dave for all the great work!

Best regards,
Bob

[Starship]

OK, extra credit tip for culling dups::

Folks, regarding duplicates, here is what I have been doing now:

1. Create a new Unique Files playlist.

2. Edit the duplicate files (that are not an exact title+artist match) by selecting the duplicates (using shift or command keys) and then Get Info, >>> in the LIBRARY <<<. Extra TIP: select the best version of the title/artist FIRST by clicking on that song - now use the Shift key to select a contiguous range or the Command key to select separated songs. This title/artist will be the Default in the Get Info boxes and save lots of renaming work!

Change the title and artist to the desired name, making sure the checkboxes to the left are checked.

3. Now go back to your Unique Files playlist and continue.

This is a little bit of work, but now the song names and artists match for all versions of the song and when you Create a Unique Files playlist the songs will be unique once Dave implements the "loose" duplicates.

Hope this is clear!

Thanks Dave for all the great work!

Best regards,
Bob

[dave]

the new version is released which has the duplicates (strict / loose) functions.

-dave