Hey Guys,

I need a free tool to batch convert all mp3 in a directory to a single mp3 file.
Preferably I want to specify like c:\mp3 (that has c:\mp3\1\ c:\mp3\2\ c:\mp3\3\ each full of mp3's) and get all files in thosse directories to get converted to single file per directory.

I tried to google but there's so much shareware junk.

Thank you.

foobar2000-->put all in playlist-->select all-->right click-->convert-->to single file

That wll convert ALL mp3 to a single file.
I need a single file PER directory.

p.s I also need to preserve audio quality. If all mp3 in that directory are 64kbit - there's no need to make 256kbit for example.
I need this for a collection of audiobooks.

any ideas?

Try to test Batch Converter (originally from Sonic Foundry and now from Sony). If you have any Soundforge license you can get it for free:

_http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/download/step2.asp?DID=339

For me is the best I´ve worked with...
Greets.

backfolder.-

One way you can accomplish it minus preserving any quality is to burn the tracks onto a CD-RW as an audio CD, then open EAC or CDex and rip the CD-RW to a single mp3.

The minus preserving any quality bit is referring to transcoding.

Don't do that! That's a waste of time. You'd be quicker just following Elliot's instructions:

"foobar2000-->put all in playlist-->select all-->right click-->convert-->to single file"

. . . but instead of putting all of the files in the playlist, add a folder at a time.

Actually, foobar's converter will take the selected files an re-encode (or transcode) them into a single file of the specified output format, which does result in loss of quality. Then again if we're talking audio books here, it's quite possible that you wouldn't even notice the difference. You may want to try this out with a folder of your mp3s and see if the results are acceptable.

Ideally what you're looking for is an "mp3 joiner", something that will append the mp3 tracks without decompressing/recompressing the data. Off the top of my head I don't know of any, but I'm pretty sure such apps exist. Maybe try searching the HA forums.

I waited to see what other people would say hoping to see a new and better way.

Two options not mentioned (both are lossless but neither are gapless):

The first one is AlbumWrap.

The second one is to store the tracks in a zip file and rename the file to .mp3. I prefer to rename the file to .zip.mp3 so that I'll know what the file really is at a future time.

If somehow the file gets FUBARed you can use tidymp3.exe to recover the individual tracks.

A third option is a program like mp3DirectCut or musiCutter. Despite the names, these programs will join mp3 files also. Although these programs don't transcode, I don't know if the prosess is easily reversed. This option is not gapless either.

"Actually, foobar's converter will take the selected files an re-encode (or transcode) them into a single file of the specified output format, which does result in loss of quality."

I know. The very same applies to the time-wasting "burn all tracks to CD and rip into a single file" method, which I was advising against.

You're joking, right? The resulting "mp3" file will not be playable.

Your suggestion to use mp3DirectCut is however a good idea. I had forgot that it can be used for joining as well as cutting.

dude, this sounds crazy ;-)
I have 150Gb of mp3 ;-))))




I have ~500 folders.
C'mon guys !!!!



The resulting mp3 will be playable since foobar can play archived files. but...
I listen on ipod. So these HAVE to be mp3 (and mono too)



albumwrap cannot played on ipod and not free.
musiCutter and mp3DirectCut do not support batching.

I guess it's time to install VisualStudio and do dirty work ;-(

Should I write a standalone application or a foobar plugin?

Yeah a stupid suggestion I posted.

Other than using Foobar2000 or Winamp 5 which can both automatically output all into a single .wav or .mp3 I don't know of any other way of doing it without it taking a hell of allot of time.

If you store and not compress the file is absolutely playable. Try it for yourself. People have been using this method for years.

EDIT: I haven't tried it with an ipod but it certainly works with Winamp, fb2k and iTunes!

That's a big if now, yes?


I tried this for a couple of albums of mine using 7z Archiver, archive format zip, compression level store. It appears that this works only for CBR files. For VBR files only the first track's audio data is playable in the resulting file.

You may want to add CBR to your list of ifs.

In that case I'd rather try out http://mp3wrap.sourceforge.net/

Winamp (and most other players I guess) sees the joined file as one long mp3 with correct length.
I did a quick test and I didn't hear any klicks between the track borders (with winamp).

It's pretty easy to create a script that will join all mp3's in each directory you want.

One nice thing about this tool is that you can split the joined files back again with mp3splt and get bit identical files as the original, I believe (the files themselves contain split point information).

What? Why?

Most mp3 players are rather forgiving, and that's why this approach works. As long as the file extension is .mp3, the player will try to interpret it as an mp3 file.

I.e the reason why an uncompressed .zip archive with mp3's renamed to .mp3 will play, is basically because it is a concatinated mp3 file with some zip header data. The mp3 players skip over the junk (zip header) and then finds meaningful mp3 data and is happy.

mp3wrap works better than uncompressed zip files renamed to .mp3 because it sets correct length in the joined mp3 header, and it works with vbr mp3's.

I like Books in mono, since I usually listen using 1 ear ;-)
Why do you want book in stereo? Does not make sense. Also saves in size (a bit).
Again this is just a "nice to have". Stereo is fine too.

p.s. please stay on the course of the thread guys ;-)

any other tools/suggestions?

No, it's not a big if.

VBR works fine also. I'm telling you, the people in the P2P circuit have been doing this for years.

EDIT: VBR compatibility does drop off with iTunes but it still works with Winamp. It might still work with fb2k if there is no Lame header to contend with. This now makes me wonder if a Lame header on the first track will also prevent the rest of the files from playing even with CBR.

The mp3wrap listed above seems like the right tool.

http://mp3wrap.sourceforge.net/

Other tools to investigate might be mp3val and mp3repacker, though some batch scripting will be necessary...see these threads:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....c=47147&hl=
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=32379

-brendan

mp3wrap will not play on ipod. It's also one more file format that is not needed. I use mp3, why use one more format? It was developed to ease the downloading of mp3. Duh.

mp3 repacker is to save 10% space? That's not my goal.

Cmon guys, there must be a solution.

The idea, if I'm not mistaken, is to concatenate the files and fix the header. brendan has provided you with links that will allow you to do this.

There is no need to be insulting towards those who are trying to help you.

EDIT/UPDATE: I just tried mp3val on an album of VBR tracks with lame headers concatenated with the windows copy command. The file played perfectly with Winamp, fb2k, iTunes and on my iPod. Thanks brendan!

Glad it worked! Keeping those on hand for later (in the midst of my crazy-butt cd dupplicators->cd rippers project...).

-brendan

A bit late but...

IIRC someone posted a command-line utility to 'walk' directory tree structures... it's called 'catwalk'. Search the HA forums for it.