Defaulting to external HD

[Kickin']

New to kJams and the site. I've reviewed the general questions and can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for. Sorry if I missed it.

While trying 'Lite', I added some songs to my hard drive which now my library automatically defaults to. I've even deleted the file. I have tried to change the default by going to advanced and routing it to my Lacie external HD, but it doesn't default to it. It still brings up the songs from the deleted file. I've looked at the 'Consolidating' instructions, but am not sure about doing it or if it will fix it.

Help please.

Thanks,
Ray

[dave]

rebuild your library from scratch:
http://karaoke.kjams.com/wiki/FAQ#How_d ... library.3F
let me know if you still need help!

[Kickin']

Didn't work. Still need help. I deleted the as directed, but it still will not read my ext. HD. So I tried a couple other options. I put a folder on my desktop and loaded the same 20 songs there. I tried to change the default to that folder in 'Preferences': no go. Then I tried 'add library' and it gives me an error: "You can't add songs in the kjams music folder to your library, they're already there. If they're not, pic the menu: Advanced..... for orphaned songs". I did this as well: no go. I know it will play. When I originally added a few songs to the initial library, it worked. So I'm hopeful, just lost as to why I can't get it to play from another area/or drive.

Plz advise

[Kickin']

Sorry, I forgot to add what I deleted. The kJams music folder is what I deleted. Forgot what it was called when I was writing the previous e. Ment to put it in after I looked it up, and forgot.

[dave]

oops, you certainly don't want to delete your "kJams Music" folder. To start over, what you want to delete is the "kJams Library" folder.

Also, sorry i know it actually is confusing, I'll try to make it move obvious, you need to read this:
http://karaoke.kjams.com/wiki/KJams_Music_Folder

After that, let me know if you're still confused.

[Kickin']

Yup, sorry, but I'm still confused. Be forwarned....this may take a while! Thanks for sending the info: read it about 3 times. I have a few questions to make sure I understand some of this. Plz bear with me, this is all new to me. I originally coppied 6 songs into kJams and they worked fine. They were in the 'library' I assume. While trying numerous things to understand 'lite' I ended up deleting them while trying to get it to read my external HD. So here are my questions.

1) To be honest, I can't even remember how I uploaded those songs. Irregardless, where are the songs stored? Is it in kJams Library, or in kJams Music? Where would ripped songs be deposited normally?

Having read what you sent I deleted 'threw out' the kJams Library. Then brought up kJams and another Library file was created. I didn't manually place anything in 'library' as I remember, so I passed by the next para.

2) The last para talks about changing the folder location to an ext. HD. It says to copy the existing folder and placing it on the ext HD then defaulting to that folder under 'preferences/advanced. Which folder do I copy and place there? Library or Music? It doesn't specify.

3) After I copy and move the file to the ext HD, and default to it, should the program start using that as the library? I'm pretty sure I've defaulted to it before with no success. That's why I'm asking.

4) Until I hear back from you I won't place anything in that file in my ext HD. But once I do start to move files in, should I put .bin or zipped files in? When I put the zipped in another folder before, and they unzipped it gave me two files of the same name. Can't remember the ext's

Thanks again,
Ray

[dave]

originally copied 6 songs into kJams

Okay first off, either this is a misunderstanding, or a miscommunication. kJams does NOT "copy" songs, unless you're talking about Rips (from a CD) or Music Store purchases. When you do "Add To Library", kJams only makes *references* to the files on the disk. It does not move them, or copy them, only the meta-data is gathered (eg: name, artist, album etc, and the location at which the files reside).

They were in the 'library' I assume

no, they are not. they are still wherever you put them yourself. kJams does NOT move or copy songs. And, to be accurate, the "Library" is just a playlist. A playlist does not contain songs, it contains references to songs which reside on disk somewhere. I tried to make this clear. When you did "Add To Library..." did you not see this dialog?

I can't even remember how I uploaded those songs

this is another miscommunication. "To Upload" is to copy a file over a network, initiating from your local machine copying to a remote file server. So I don't really know what you are referring to here. Rip? Add to Library? Copy?

where are the songs stored?

i don't know how I can be more clear than the link i already gave you. Here it is again. I'll try to summarize: Songs Ripped from CD or Purchased will go to the "kJams Music" folder, which is pointed to by your Advanced Preferences. Songs that you add yourself are stored wherever you put them before you added them to the library. That's it. Don't ever move or rename or change the path to songs you've imported with "Add to Library".

Which folder do I copy and place there? Library or Music? It doesn't specify.

The entire page is about the "kJams Music" folder. I thought that was pretty clear, but i've updated the doc anyway.

should the program start using that as the library

please be technically precise when using kJams terminology. the "Library" refers to the playlist shown in the kJams browser window under Sources, it does not store songs, it only displays information about songs. The "kJams Library" is the folder in the finder used by kJams to store all information related to the database, it does not store songs, it stores the meta data for songs, and it stores all the playlists, singers and venues the user creates. The "kJams Music" folder is used to store copies of songs ripped or purchased. If you set the "kJams Music" folder to your external drive, then rip a song, the song gets copied to your external drive.

I'm pretty sure I've defaulted to it before with no success

In this context, how do you define "success"? You can't expect anything to be in there if you haven't ripped anything or bought any songs from the Music Store. kJams doesn't "find" your music for you, you have to use "Add to Library" manually, and when you do, NOTHING GETS COPIED to your "kJams Music" folder.

I won't place anything in that file

I do understand that you mean "folder" here, but please try to be more precise with your words.

But once I do start to move files in

You should *never* place anything in that folder. Ever. For any reason. I thought that was made very clear.

should I put .bin or zipped files in

.bin files are uncompressed and waste huge amounts of hard drive space. If you have files in BOTH formats, throw out the bin file and use the zips. Don't unzip them, kJams "just deals" with the zip files for you. If you only have .bin files, you can add them and then use kJams to convert them to zipped MP3+G. You will use "Add To Library", you will NOT <<move files into the "kJams Music" folder>>. If you must move files, create a new folder OF YOUR OWN next to the "kJams Music" folder, call it "My Karaoke Music" or something. Move all the files into that folder, then add that folder to the library.

I hope we've cleared up your confusion.

-dave

[Kickin']

Dave, I want to thank you for your help. I've no doubt I may have frustrated you. If that's so, I'm sorry. You have clarified a lot for me. I plan to rip songs to my ext Hd yet today and then 'add to library'. Once again thank you for all your help. Hopefully I won't need to bother you again. But I wouldn't put it past me that I will! lol

Thanks Again,
Ray

[dave]

When you rip songs, they are automatically added to your library.

[Brendan]

No worries kickin, it took me a while to soak it all in too. Brendan

[Kickin']

Still having problems guys. Here's what I've done. Coppied the kJams music folder from Finder and pasted it into my LaCie ext HD (ehd). And I have xfered 1100 zipped songs from my desktop to the ehd. So as it sits right now I have 1100 on the ehd. Please let me take a minute to explain how I did the xfer. I don't think it makes a difference, but it might.

Since my ehd is formatted for Mac, it won't talk to my desktop. So I created an "untitled" folder on my Mac laptop, and using a thumbdrive, moved the songs from the PC to the folder on my Mac. Then xfered them from the folder to the Kjams Music folder on my ehd. I also deleted them from the folder on my Mac. That's just FYI.

Ok, having the ehd plugged in, I opened up kJams, checked to be sure advanced was defaulted to the ehd, then did 'add to library'. Chose the folder on my ehd. It gave me the 'warning', I hit 'I know'. Now it gives me "action not allowed. You can't add songs in the Kjams Music Folder......and referes me to 'scan for orphaned songs. I also did that.

The library has no references to any songs.

'Playing from an ehd' on Wiki referes to ripping from discs, which I'm not doing. I haven't gotten that far yet.

'Consolidating' I've read as well, and I'm not sure if it's what I need to do. I don't want to mess anything up.

Plz advise

Thanks,
Ray

[dave]

Yes, no worries, but it seems you need to read this yet again:

http://karaoke.kjams.com/wiki/KJams_Music_Folder

I've updated that page to be a bit more explicit.