Database backup:
You should keep in mind that the term 'database' in CDMagic stands
only for the track data and other CD related information, not the
music files themselves. The latter occupy most of the disk space by far,
but the former may be regarded as more important, because it is harder
to recover. So the best you can do is backup both parts of your
data.
Database rebuild:
From a technical viewpoint you will not have the neccessity to rebuild
the database in the whole life. But in practice this will happen,
especially in the first time.
Because most probably (and strongly recommended) you will first build a
database for
exercising, and after you have captured what it's all about then you can
drop your 'scratch'-database and start over again. Note: For
security reasons there is no integrated function to drop the database.
To start with a new (empty) database you have to open an OS/2 command line
and enter the following:
del *.dbf
del *.ndx
del *.adx
del *.mdx
In case you already have WAV- or MP3-files:
cd x:\wav_temp-directory < -- where the WAV files reside
del *.wav
...deleting the MP3-files:
cd x:\mp3-directory < -- where the MP3 files reside
del *.MP3
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A Quick WalkThrough
- Installation and Setup
- Using CDMagic
Installation and Setup
To install CDMagic, you just unzip the distribution- (download-)
file into a directory of your choice, let it be c:\>cdmagic
.
(If you read this manual, then it seems you already have successfully done that).
After unzipping you should generate some objects on your
desktop. To do this you open a OS/2 command line session and from
your cdmagic-directory run the INSTALL.CMD. This will generate
a folder, which you can open and in it you find a program icon,
which you can double click on to start CDMagic.
At the first start of CDMagic you are presented the 'Settings'-window.
Here you must enter some important information, esp. on the paths
to your audio files (MP3 and WAV).
Considerations on harddisk space:
Please keep in mind that your audio files will occupy large amounts
of harddisk space. For each hour of MP3-music you need approximately
50 MB disk storage. That means, if you have 100 CDs of 1 hour each and want them
played from your harddisk you should not have less than 20 GB free
space at your MP3-path.
In addition, you need temporary disk space for the WAV files, which
are generated by ripping the tracks from CD. To process one CD of 1 hour
of music you must provide temporary free disk space of about half a GB.
After converting them to MP3 you can delete the WAV files.
Important note:
If you don't have as much free space now, you can start building your
music database either. Go on until your space is exhausted, then you
can add a new harddisk drive into your system, and just tell CDMagic that
you have a new MP3-path. You don't need to migrate your old music
files, you just leave them on their old drive. CDMagic will still find
the files through means of the database.
Using CDMagic
Assume you have a CD with 12 tracks on it, 9 of which you want to
have converted to MP3 and loaded into your database. Follow these steps:
- Have your PC connected to the internet.
- Insert the CD into the CDROM drive.
- Click the 'Refresh CD'-pushbutton.
- Click the 'CDDB'-pushbutton.
- Wait until the 'Track-Title'-listbox changes to the actual title names and the CD name and artist is displayed in the entryfields on top.
- Select the tracks that you want to process (s.note-1).
- Invoke the context menu (s.note-2).
- Choose your desired action from the context menu (s.note-3).
Notes:
- Selecting tracks:
left click on the first track; for all additional tracks to select
hold down the ctrl-key and left click on that track
- Invoke the context menu:
move the cursor over the Track-Title listbox and click the
right mouse button. A popup menu appears.
- Choose your desired action:
If you want to load the tracks as MP3 sound file then you
click on the 'rip and mark for convert'-choice.
(If you would want only the track data loaded into
the database without producing a sound file, you would
choose 'insert empty titles'.)
Wait now until the ripping of the tracks is finished (that may take
a few minutes, depending on the speed of your CDROM-drive). You can observe
the ripping process by looking at the Permanent Log window at the bottom
of the Main Window.
After your are done:
When all the tracks have been ripped you can have a look at the database
and see where the tracks are.
Click on the Query-pushbutton.
You now enter the Report window. Usage of the Report window is mostly
self-explanatory. For further information you can press the F1 key for
online help.
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Appendix-1:
What is CDDB?
CDDB stands for Compact Disc Database. It is a large database which contains information
about nearly every CD ever released in the world. Among these informations are: disc title,
artist name and track titles and some more. The database is originally located at
www.cddb.com and there are several mirror sites around.
Identifcation of a specific CD occurs by a specially calculated disc-ID,
which is unique for every CD and acts as the primary key in the database.
Access to the CDDB is handled by a special protocol (over TCP/IP), which is
incorporated in CDMagic, so you don't have to bother about it.
More details in english language coming real soon now ... (please watch
out for latest news on our web site at http://www.cdmagic.de.
Thank you for your understanding.