A file with filing cards is helpful to catalog music CDs.
The simple but most labor-intensive way to catalog a CD collection is doing it by hand. If you have or plan on having many CDs or much digitally downloaded music, it may be better to let your computer do the organizing. In the 1990s, the celestial jukebox was only an idea. Now, in 2010s, there are many music downloading, uploading, and library programs, and many devices used to play music in a collection. It may work better to have a digital music library that can organize CDs for the devices you use.
Instructions
Cataloging CDs by Hand
1. File Drawers
Decide what information you will use to identify each CD. For example, you may use file fields alphabetically by artist or composer name, and assign the same field in the same place on each card. Alternatively, you may number your index cards, and have a list or second set of cards by number cross-referenced alphabetically to your numbered cards. The numbering method has the advantage that you will not have to change the cards around when a section gets full, making the cards unable to fit in your box.
2. Use a Digital Music Library
Choose a music library program for your computer that will contain your uploaded or downloaded CDs. One common program is iTunes, which will organize and catalog your CDs for you. In iTunes, choose "Preferences/General" and check the box so that the program will retrieve track information for your CD. Then choose "File/ New Playlist/" and choose a title for a folder containing music by artist, CD title, etc., on the left side of the screen. You may also choose "File/Add to Library/" to add all of your music to the main library automatically. Or, choose "File/Organize Library" to set options for subfolders.
3. Computer
Choose "File/Smart Playlist/" and pick an identifier field, like "Title," so the program will automatically put CDs with the same identifier in that "Smart Playlist." If you need to know more about the CD, choose "File/Get Info" for the CD you selected and you may obtain further information like the number of tracks, and label. If you are making a "Smart Playlist" from different CDs having several tracks, make sure you check off whether each CD is a compilation, and choose an identifier that is not dependent on the CD as a whole. For example, if you have CDs with a variety of opera arias and artists, you may choose to organize them by artist, title of aria or composer. If you are not clear about which music is on which track, choose "Advanced/Get Track Names."
4. Mp3 player
Check which digital music library program is best for your computer, operating system, and compatibility with other music players you have, like mobile phones, digital music players, and tablets. Windows Media Player works in the same way as iTunes to organize CDs, although these programs are not identical. If you use another online music service it may provide its own music library system.
Related posts
Music publishers and software manufacturers use online music databases like Gracenote to provide users with accurate track listings and artist information for virtually any music CD available on t...
It is no surprise that the iPhone, which combines a smartphone and MP3 player in one, has taken the market by storm. You can load your iPhone with hours of convenient, on-the-go entertainment by d...
Take your music library with you.For the sake of simplicity and ease of use, you will want your music library on your portable media device to match the media library on your computer as closely a...
Free your music library from digital locks.Apple's iTunes music software can be downloaded for free from the Internet and used to play and organize audio files. Users can also buy and download mus...
Reorganizing your music in iTunes is easy once you have entered all the appropriate track information. To enter the name of the artist, song, album or genre, simply highlight the track and then cl...
