It has been months since I used this program & now am at a loss as to what formula I would use to remove file numbers from mp3 files eg:[ 207-Chuck Berry-Sings A Song ] I want it to read [ Chuck Berry - Sings A Song ]
I have a folder of abt 200 files of various artists & they number from 0-200 in the same manner. I want to be to dump the folder into foobar & remove all numbers so as to have just the artist - title . If someone would give me the correct formula, it would surely be appreciated. Thank you..

You can do this multiple ways.
Any basic Windows file renamer (I use "ReNamer" by den4b) can simply strip the first four characters off of all selected files and then replace "-" with " - "
Or you could use a tagging and renaming program designed for use on audio files to batch rename based off of metadata tags. On Windows I use Tag&Rename. You could also use Tag&Rename to batch add metadata tags to your files based upon their filenames if you don't have tags currently.

Did you mean to post in the foobar forums? You have posted this to MP3 Tech.

Note that you have previously been warned for posting in the wrong forum. Please pay more attention, and re-read TOS #6.

Are you talking about the files names, or the tags?

Leave it to me to screw up!!! I thought I was posting on foobar. I thought that Hydrogenaudio was foobar.
sorry about that. Being that I'm here, I will finish my query. I use tag&rename all the time, but it will not remove the file [tag] numbers. It treats them as part of the artist's name. I am not up on the proper lingo but I guess they would be tags. They are playable files such as you would play on any mp3 player or Winamp. I use winamp a lot for editing. Being no spring chicken, I tend to screw-up at times & have difficulty trying to keep up with present day technology, please forgive my ignorance
I DO know that with foobar, you can drag n drop a folder of mp3 files [tags?] onto it and it will add/remove/change/ just about anything that you want to do with music files. Of course, you have to know the right configuration .. Anyway, thanks for response and or any help you can throw in this direction

Well, that certainly cleared things up!

Again, are you talking about files and their respective names or are you concerned with the tags. What is it you want to change?

Files and subsequently the file name as shown in, say, your operating system: C:/somedirectorypath/104songtitle.mp3.
Tags that are within a audio file that show in a program that plays the music file and knows how to read the tag.

file 104songtitle.mp3 could easily have a tag that shows the song title as HowDoIGetRidOfTheNumber104 and the artist tag could be MaybeJustATroll.

files != tag


terry

Thanks for the reply. Evidently, I am not making myself clear, so I'll try again. I have file folders of various play lists that I made up to play on mp3 players,etc. Each folder may have several hundred files starting from 1-200 +- They are numbered as in this example: [winamp icon]18-Bobby Bare-Abilene.mp3 etc,etc. I cannot add the file here so this is the only way I cajn show an example. At the time I made up all these play list, I don't remember if I used T&R or foobar to number the play list files. They were numbered so that one not hear the same artist sequentially if you had multiple files of the same artist in the play list. I hope I cleared it up.. NOTE. The winamp icon represents the type of player, I use.

I need to refrain from suggesting a plan of action, as I am afraid anything I say could very easily mess up your system. You seem to be using your actual folder structure and file naming conventions to, as you say "made up these play list". Folder/file structure and playlists, are two different issues altogether. They exist independently and both should have understandable structure without the other.
I have no idea how to best direct you to rethink the basis of your system before you start whirling down a wrong path.

hopefully someone else will be able to assist.

terry

So, you have a pile of MP3's in different folders with names that begin with a numeric string.

The foobar2000 file utilities element, with a bit of care, could rename all the files in one attempt by renaming them to <Artist> - <Title>.mp3 - assuming the files are tagged.

If you want to go down this route, I'll make up a string for you.

Well, I tried anyway. I guess you do not store music on a PC to play, burn, or whatever. My music is all mp3. and there is nothing complicated about storing, editing,burning,playing the same, whether it be folders of the stored music which can be termed a play list or whatever you want to call the folder. The term "play list"
can merely be a named or numbered folder consisting of variety of artists/titles of choice from 1 - as many as you want. If you play them locally [PC] the play list can have unlimited amount. If your going to burn the list to
CDR or DVD, then of course you are limited to how many songs you can burn. The bitrate also play a roll in what amount you can put on a disc. That as simple as it can be. There's surely nothing complicated ahbout it But thanks anyway............

Not a problem. Sounds like you don't need help after all.

terry

EDIT

Against possible better judgement, I will try again. I believe maybe we are having a trouble with semantics.

<your quote> whether it be folders of the stored music which can be termed a play list or whatever you want to call the folder. <end of your quote>

Please define just what it is you want.
My definitions:
Folders are real folders of audio files - not playlists.
Playlists are Single Files within which are pointers to various audio files.
You also have many media players that use a folder metaphor for playlists. These are not OS folders.
Where and what numbers do you want to change?

Not out of the woods yet. Still haven't figured out number issue stated in my original post.

But "There's surely nothing complicated ahbout it".
Just follow the advice given in this thread.

C.

if i understand the question: to remove first three digits from the filename?

you could use some tool (like total commander) with multirename functionality + some regular expressions, snap;

http://somestuff.org/regEx.png

1. where
/d{3}
stands for : find first three digits (greedy mode)

2. or to get rid of the first underscore as well, then;
\d{3}|\_{1}

this would rename files
001_02apr07.flv
002_26apr07.flv
003_12maj07.flv
004_27maj07.flv
005_02jun07.flv
006_20jun07.flv

to
02apr07.flv
02jun07.flv
12maj07.flv
20jun07.flv
26apr07.flv
27maj07.flv

Or: http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

C.

YES,YES,YES!! That is exactly what I am looking for. I don't know why I did not see your post Nick, but I would sure appreciate it. Way back in January, I found out about foobar & joined the forum & shortly therafter, I wanted a string [ I just learned this term ] to be able make up a play list that would allow me to take an artist & and create a folder with the artist & song/songs with a final list consisting of many artists, all in individual folders of 3-4 songs per folder, but separated so that when I played them in the cd player of the car,
I could listen to a particular artist about every tenth time +- That way, I could have a variety of artists to listen to per CD. (MP3) Anyway, someone in the foobar forum made up this string for me that allowed me to compile a play list in a fraction of the time it took me to do it manually [one at a time] with T&R. I still have the string saved if & when I make any new cds. I apologize for the long post. Thanks again....

If you select the file(s) that you want to rename, having dropped them into a foobar2000 playlist:

Right Click;
File Operations;
...;
In "File Name Pattern" press the "..." button then select "artist - title"
Close that box and it should show you a preview of the renamed file.
Run to execute the rename.

I would suggest that you try it on a single file at first to see if you get it right, then the rest once you're comfortable with the process.

Nick, I had tried that before . I still wind up with the file number left of the Artist. As for being comfortable with foobar, I learned the first time I used it, to always make a copy of the folder first. I put the play list into foobar. It goes blue screen. I then right click to file operations , then to rename to.. Then I do the "artist-title" but then the preview window still shows the files as before. What am I doing wrong ?

I DLed the Commander program, so will give that a shot. So far nothing else has worked. Thanks for the tip

With all due respect, have you any knowledge of titleformatting?
It is not literal "artist - title"

%artist% - %title%

terry

http://www.download.com/File-Renamer-Basic...4-10306538.html

I have used this program many times in the past. Very easy to use and has many options.

In the file name pattern selector, as I was talking about, it is exactly "artist - title", however when you go back to the main file operations setup window it has filled in: "[%artist% - ]%title%" in the file name pattern box.

I will have to admit, I have very little knowledge on title formatting [as you call it] However, I Do know that
the "artist - title" is not the true string. The string actually turns out to be [%artist% -] %title%
But that does not resolve the issue. The preview windows stays the same & when you try to run change: it says "Nothing to: Destination matches Source" So what seems to be happening here is that for some unknown reason, the numbers are being treated as part of the artists name.
I appreciate your time here as well as the others who have responded. Thanks to all & I hope we get this resolved soon. BTW, in T&R (tag&rename), the string %1-%2 is the real string. Unfortunately, it can add numbers : %8-%1-%2 , but it will not remove the numbers in question . I would have to manually remove at one at a a time.

I have not read carefully the whole thread, so forgive me if this is has already been checked, but can you:

1) Load one single file in a foobar2000 playlist
2) Right-click -> Properties of it
3) Tell us what you see in the Metadata tab (Artist Name, Track title, etc.) and in the Properties tab (File Path)

That should clear things up about what's actually in your tags and which file names you have: it should then be pretty easy to fix whatever you want to fix.

HTH.

Alessandro

[quote name='mobyduck' date='Jul 16 2008, 06:48' post='577478']
[quote name='Phrank' post='577469' date='Jul 16 2008, 02:10']The preview windows stays the same & when you try to run change: it says "Nothing to: Destination matches Source" So what seems to be happening here is that for some unknown reason, the numbers are being treated as part of the artists name.[/quote]I have not read carefully the whole thread, so forgive me if this is has already been checked, but can you:

1) Load one single file in a foobar2000 playlist
2) Right-click -> Properties of it
3) Tell us what you see in the Metadata tab (Artist Name, Track title, etc.) and in the Properties tab (File Path)

That should clear things up about what's actually in your tags and which file names you have: it should then be pretty easy to fix whatever you want to fix.

Thanks mobyduck; for the reply.. Ok .. In Metada : Artist Name ....11-Don Gibson
Track Title .......A Little Bitty Tear
Genre .............Country
<BAND>..........11-Don Gibson
<BAND/ORCHEST..Don Gibson
<LENGTH>.......146964
<MEDIA TYPE>...DIG

The rest of the Metada is blank. And in "Properties" The file path is: E:\Sienna Playlists\11-Don Gibson-A Little Bitty Tear.

The file path is a ramovable HD of which I have countless mp3 files stored. (in various folder)
Hope this helps...Thanks

I do know that this is not going to seem helpful, but I really think it is in your best interest - so be it.

PLEASE, read up on the basics for tagging files. You have a real chance here to develop a nice set up music collection or a real mess. Currently it is a mess.
To address your current issue, you are carrying the problem numbers IN your artist tag. Do you see this?

You have been telling foobar to build you a file name by adding artist tag to track title, Do you see that foobar is doing exactly what you ask and doing it perfectly. Your troublesome number is the number YOU typed into your artist tag.

The following will get you what you want. YMMV and YMMV unless you take the time to understand.

Your band/orch tag has the artist name without the number. Follow the same steps as you have many times before, BUT do NOT use one of the preset equations.

Select track, right click >file operations>rename. In the file name pattern box: %band/orchest% - %title%

Your tag system will still be a mess, but your file name will be what you want.

good luck

terry


please note to spell band/orchest correctly. I don't use the field and do not know just how it is abbreviated if at all.

Ok: as you can see both your ARTIST tag and your file name contain the file number.

I think you have the following options:

1) correct your file names with some Windows utility (as somebody already suggested) and then change your ARTIST tags using foobar2000 masstagger (Guess value from file name);

2) correct your ARTIST tags using foobar2000 masstagger (I'm no expert, but I'm sure someone can suggest a script that can do that) and then (optionally) rename your files using foobar2000 File operations.

Corrections are welcome, of course.

HTH.

Alessandro

Thanks carpman for that URL [bulkrenameutility] That one did the trick. problem resolved.