Last Call at eMusic

Bad ThoughtsBad Thoughts
edited December 2009 in General
I'm staring down the end of my annual subscription. It expires in early January, and I have 43 dls left. With my purchase habits (many longer track albums, and tendency to skimp on a track or two each album (my attention span is good, not great)), I expect to get 4-6 more albums. I may spring for a booster, just as a little present (and to salve my disappointment that the 7digital sale ended so quickly). New albums by Crimtetime Orchestra with Sonny Simmons, Battlefield Band and Red Clay Ramblers look good so far, as does Alex Cline (though the album only thing pisses me off). Any other suggestions?

Anyway, I'm seriously considering not renewing. The price change sours me a bit, but eMu is still a better deal for what I like to listen to. However, I really need to time over the next 4-6 months to get some serious work done, and any subscription (whether annual or monthly) would be too time consuming. By summer, I may be ready to return.

Since I may cancel, I'd like to backup my files. I've been pretty good at backing up files to DVDs. Nonetheless, I'd like to go through them all. Is there some easy way, without using an Apple or a Microsoft product, to list the mp3s in a directory?

Comments

  • frogkopffrogkopf
    You could try Media Monkey which is freeware and very popular. A few years ago, I used orange CD and that was pretty good, but in think it's about $30 - they have a 30 day fully functioning demo so you can try it out.
  • kargatronkargatron
    BT, a couple you haven't grabbed that I'd recommend offhand are Hank Roberts/Marc Ducret/Jim Black - Green (14 cr) or Pierre Yves Mace - Circulations (4 cr). I like both of those very much.
  • KatrinaKatrina
    Is there some easy way, without using an Apple or a Microsoft product, to list the mp3s in a directory?

    Well, what do you have? A WinPC, or a Mac? For either one, you're going to have use Win Explorer/Finder at some point!
    How have you been backing up to DVD? I hope not through iTunes!
  • Dr. MutexDr. Mutex
    Back in the day I used a cataloger called Ruby when I needed to locate a lot of albums in the pile of backup discs. It got slow with a couple hundred CD's worth of files cataloged. That may have improved. 'Even if it hasn't, PCs have.
  • martynamartyna
    I'd second Media Monkey. It's very good with large libraries and has a feature for cataloguing physical media as well as mp3s on a drive.
  • KatrinaKatrina
    However, I really need to time over the next 4-6 months to get some serious work done, and any subscription (whether annual or monthly) would be too time consuming. By summer, I may be ready to return.

    I have an eMu card I need to redeem soon, and I'm reluctant to do it. I have more time away from the PC for not checking on eMu things. Heh. I thought I'd never leave.
  • thomnottomthomnottom
    Media Monkey intrigues me now that I see it has a physical media component to it. But it's hard to pay for software that is free elsewhere. I typically use Songbird as my player and foobar2000 to organize everything.
  • martynamartyna
    edited December 2009
    Media Monkey is freeware. If you want, you can pay $20 (or so) for a gold version which has added bells and whistles. I have, but I wanted the 'we'll-fade-the-sound-and-turn-your-computer-off-while-you-go-to-sleep' feature.

    Another feature I like is it's capibility to maintain separate libraries. So, all my dj mixes are separate and the classical etc. etc. This means that I can hit the play button within any library and not get dubstep followed by Chopin followed by Gomez. Nice.
  • timtim
    Hey Katrina...or anybody else who knows...here's my variation on a last-call question: can I still redeem cards after my subscription lapses? Because I've got a handful of crack cards that I'd like to use...but it would be a pain to use them all in the next month before my sub expires. And because yeah, I still spend virtually all my music money at emu...but coming into my 7th year, the subscription thing is now taking more time than it's worth to me. And because it would be really annoying to have to keep a minimal subscription alive just for the privilege of using crack cards.

    Thoughts?
  • KatrinaKatrina
    There were posts over at eMu a while back saying that this was true - crack cards being added to accounts that no longer subscribed.
    I'm hoping it' still true. I've got one card left, and no desire to activate my account again for a monthly subscription.
  • KatrinaKatrina
    Read Vickie's post. If it doesn't add to an existing account, contact customer service.
  • timtim
    I saw Vickie's post, and Cathy's too - both say that the "tracks" will add to an existing account. What if my account no longer exists because I've canceled it? Can I no longer redeem crack tracks?

    Similarly, if I've suspended my account to get off the subscription hamster wheel, I wonder if using a crack card reactivates the account, and I have to keep renewing in order to keep redeeming?
  • Bad ThoughtsBad Thoughts
    edited December 2009
    @Tim,

    When inquiring about holding my account, I received an email that informed me, "Please note that your account will automatically reactivate at the end of the hold period or if you login to your account during the hold period. " Apparently, that means your hold will end.

    @All
    I've not yet decided whether to quit or not. I was offered a five month hold, which would fit my situation. However, news that eMu is negotiating with other major labels has me wary that changes down the road won't be favorable if I have an annual account (that is, album pricing will become predominant.) I picked up Media Monkey, which seems to do what I want it to. Thank you, everyone.

    @Kargatron,
    Mac
  • kargatronkargatron
    What about I Heart Lung's Interoceans? That seems to be only 3 credits for 4 tracks, oddly.

    Another good one is Maybe Monday's Digital Wildlife (5 credits): a trio with Fred Frith, Larry Ochs, Miya Masaoka.
  • BrighternowBrighternow
    edited December 2009
    @Kargatron, Mac
  • kargatronkargatron
    I don't understand the Interoceans credit thing - but I logged out, and still see '3 credits'. I'm in the US tho. Curious what others in the US see.

    brighternow, I'm betting you would really like that Maybe Monday album.
  • BrighternowBrighternow
    edited December 2009
    Thank's kargatron !
    Not available in Europe, But the clips does sound good. We do have Winter & Winter releases as Winter & Winter/Edel and Winter & Winter/Kontor in Europe but not this one

    Edit:
    - Found it ! but as a Fred Frith release.
  • KatrinaKatrina
    Just tried to redeem my 100-download Target card, and it didn't work. I have sent an email to eMu customer service.
    I just KNOW you're all waiting with bated breath, as I am.
  • KatrinaKatrina
    Well, the www.emusic.com/downloadcard link made the 100 credits show up on my old account. Woo hoo!
    Don't know if they had to change something on my account, but the card code finally worked earlier today.
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