Library writers: how do you keep it organized?

[stick]

This is a question for you established library music guys... Since I'm committing to really dive into it this coming year, I want to put the right infrastructure in place as I get rolling. So...How do you catalog and keep track of all the pieces in your library? Things like: genre, style, classification, tempo, key, co-writers (and their percentage) where you've pitched them, what libraries have them, what's exclusive or not, etc. And then how do you keep the actual Audio Files themselves? By date? By Style? Just thrown in one big folder? Do you assign a "number" or just name them? It smells like a custom database to me, which I haven't created in years... and maybe iTunes is enough for the Audio Files... hmmm. So, how do you do it?

[mazz]

Stick,Right now I use iTunes for the final mixes and smart playlists to separate them out. But I'm seeing that I need an Excel spreadsheet or equivalent to get as in to the details as you mention in your post. I wish I knew more about databases like FileMaker Pro. I think with that you could start out with the fields you need and add as you go.Let's see who else replies because I'm in the same boat!Mazz

[anne]

Man, am I glad you asked this - I posted the same intended question on a different thread. I never thought of Filemaker -

[stick]

Yeah, I've built Filemaker databases in the past, but sheesh, the latest version is $300! Ow. Maybe I can find an old one on ebay. Another thought I had as I looked around online was a database that's web based... then maybe I could direct potential clients directly to where the mp3 version of the audio was stored. I was looking at this when the thought occurred. Of course, I don't know anything about maintaining an online database. But, in the time I worked up that cool of a database I could've written 4 or 5 library tracks.

[mazz]

With iTunes you can add your own custom classifications and there's comments, groupings, etc. There's gotta be a way to use that to classify stuff. Maybe one could convert everything to mp3s and use those as the database files with pointers to the wav versions for burning cds. etc?Anyone good at wrangling iTunes?I don't want to spend a bunch of time writing a database either, maybe someone's already done it. Anyone have a clue on this? Mazz

[sgs4u]

I've been thinking about this for years, John. There must be a way to permanently attach a small data file (that is a read-only or add to) to an mp3. Then everywhere the audio file goes, the data file collects its uses, and sends an accounting back to the publisher/owner, and/or PRO that the tune is registered. Once there's any kind of data attached to an audio file, everything little thing you want people to know about the song, ie; website, writers, artists, players, studio, producer... could also be made available. A file like that could also include a way to download the stems to a song, and be able to remix, or do a derivative new version. This would be quite amazing to talk about.Quote:With iTunes you can add your own custom classifications and there's comments, groupings, etc. There's gotta be a way to use that to classify stuff. Maybe one could convert everything to mp3s and use those as the database files with pointers to the wav versions for burning cds. etc?Anyone good at wrangling iTunes?I don't want to spend a bunch of time writing a database either, maybe someone's already done it. Anyone have a clue on this? Mazz

[jh]

Quote:I've been thinking about this for years, John. There must be a way to permanently attach a small data file (that is a read-only or add to) to an mp3. Then everywhere the audio file goes, the data file collects its uses, and sends an accounting back to the publisher/owner, and/or PRO that the tune is registered. Once there's any kind of data attached to an audio file, everything little thing you want people to know about the song, ie; website, writers, artists, players, studio, producer... could also be made available. A file like that could also include a way to download the stems to a song, and be able to remix, or do a derivative new version. This would be quite amazing to talk about.How about if you would add a link to a web page that has all that? (writers, artists, players, studio, producer etc.) Or you could just simply write them into the comment box...?(ID3v2 Tag) Maybe that would also help to keep track of things that Stick mentioned. Just put all the mp3s into a same folder and voilá, you can sort them in a variety of ways. (style, genre, classification, tempo, co-writers (and those percentages), libraries. etc. etc.) At least in windows that is very easy to do.- JH

[gitarrero]

good thread.I think I will use iTunes to manage my catalogue, cathegorized in genres. the easiest way I can think of to manage the wav files is to simply put them all in one folder. use iTunes to choose a track for a submission, and if you want to burn a track you simply use the search-function with the folder (with all the wav files).sure, not the noblest way, but I don't want to spend hours and days in setting up and learning complex database-structures - it just needs to do the job effectively, not more not less. in the meantime I prefer to write a couple tracks in the studio;)cheers,martin

[matto]

I wish I could contribute something productive to this thread . Having a searchable database with all the necessary information and keyword attributes etc sure would be a timesaver for me at this point any time I have to put together a custom demo. But who has time to catalog/categorize 500+ tracks... So I think you have the right idea stick, trying to build the database at the same time as you build the catalog. But as to exactly how, I have no idea. I wonder where the music library sites get their database/search engine systems from...In the meantime, I have to rely on brain power .The one thing I do have well organized is the contract/release/co-writers etc side. The "business" side in other words. I think that's essential obviously. But I just use a conventional hanging files system for that, and it's easier now that I can usually do it on a project by project basis rather than song by song.matto

[hummingbird]

Hmmm.... I'm wondering if it would be an idea to modify one of the forms you fill out for library music for use in your own studio. Those forms usually ask for the a las, the mood, the instrumentation, etc. You could file it with the wav files, and also print it off and put it with the other paperwork for the piece.If I put my old organizational hat on, I could probably develop a system for organizing my catalogue plus keeping track of forwards & deals. Obviously you want cross-referencing, too. I shall think on it. Just as an aside... one of my problems is my pieces often go through several stages and often have different names at different stages... so remembering that was once called 'Sunday musings' morphed to 'seashore' and was then submitted & forwarded as 'call of the seabird' gets difficult!