Catalogue CDs using bar code?

[Guest]

Are there any programs out there that allow you to scan the bar code on CDs and catalogue them? Either PC or Mac?

TIA.

[VodkaDilc]

http://www.bruji.com/cdpedia/

Mac only - highly recommended!

[gurnemanz]

I've used OrangeCD Catalog for about five years. It was the best at the time and still seems to be. You can enter CD data via the barcode number, but I have never needed to use this method. It is a marvellous programme, very customisable to your own needs and it has become indispensable to me in keeping track of a fairly large collection.

http://www.firetongue.com/cd-database.html

[David Underdown]

Given the smartphone apps which do barcode scanning which now exist, is there anything that uses that route for data entry?

[Mahlerei]

I've just tried a demo version of Delicious, which uses the Mac's built-in camera to scan the bar codes. It picked up the first Naxos CD instantly, displaying it on a virtual shelf, but struggled to recognise BIS and Alba releases. Neat idea, but all I need is a text database, nothing fancy.

[VodkaDilc]

CDpedia can be as fancy or plain as you like. If the camera doesn't recognise the bar code, it can be entered manually - or the CD number can be used to access the ArkivMusic database.

I think the common feeling in the Mac community is that Delicious Library is prettier, but that CDpedia is the one for classical CD enthusiasts. (I was encouraged to try it by a very senior and respected FoR3 person - and I've never looked back!)

One more thing: the online support from the CDpedia team is astonishingly efficient and friendly.

[Mahlerei]

VodkaDilc

That sounds very promising. Will investigate forthwith.

[teamsaint]

So, 13 years on, any developments ?
I had a brief dabble at starting a cataloue on discogs. Stuff with barcodes on ( almost all CDs I guess) seem to scan very well. Vinyl with barcodes likewise. Vinyl without barcodes is fine, although finding the exact variant ( if that matters ) is gernerally a bit labour intensive. Prolly only worth doing for items of reasonable value?
Classical box sets are a bit more varied in terms of recognition, but most seem to come up if you type the title.
the collection details can be exported in a CSV spreadsheet, so it seems pretty user friendy.

thoughts and experiences on this ?

[smittims]

I've never wanted to do anything like this.It sounds too much like work! CDs are a pleasure to me. I like those moments when I find one I've forgotten I bought, or even remembered existing.

I do wonder thought if this is how 'Barry' Barrington-Coupe's notorious Joyce Hatto fraud was discovered. He didn't know thatt he CD contained encrypted info revealing the true pianist. A bit like those 1950s British crime comedy-thrillers where the villain makes one fatal mistake he hasn't thought of.

Does anyone know what happened to Mr. Brennan and his hard-disc recorder he used to advertise on the back covers of magazines?

[mikealdren]

The challenge is that CD catalogue data is based on the pop music concept of Album/Artist/Track and this doesn't work for 'Classical' music.
Data held on online sources is inconsistent (is the artist Elgar, Barbirolli or Du Pre?) so you need a means of customising the 'Tags' and then editing the data. (Tags are the way data is stored with the music tracks).
I use a programme called Musichi which picks up most CDs from a database and then provides an excellent editor so I can tag Composer, Soloists, Soloist's instrument, Orchestra, Conductor, Work, Movement, Opus, Key etc. and search on any of these.
It also has tools to keep the data consistent, a database of Composers, major works and Performers allows you to ensure consistent spelling, format etc. After all do you want Symphony No.1 in C major Op.21 or Symphony in C Major Op.21. Is it Op.21 or Op 21 etc. Do you want to store catalogue numbers (K.211, D.960 BWV.1021 etc)?
Occasionally (like the new Campoli box set) the data isn't available yet but the data can be entered reasonably easily.
I keep several copies, the thought of having to re-enter it all doesn't bear thinking about!!!

My LPs are on an older catalogue that I built on Microsoft Access with all the data entered manually. I have added my CDs to it too - manually.

[oliver sudden]

I do wonder thought if this is how 'Barry' Barrington-Coupe's notorious Joyce Hatto fraud was discovered. He didn't know thatt he CD contained encrypted info revealing the true pianist. A bit like those 1950s British crime comedy-thrillers where the villain makes one fatal mistake he hasn't thought of.

Nothing as arcane as encrypted information, I don’t think. Something much simpler.

I read that “…when an American named Brian Ventura reportedly put one of Hatto’s CD’s in his computer, the computer told him that the CD was an album of Liszt's Transcendental Studies by Hungarian pianist László Simon”, but apparently all that the computer was doing was comparing the lengths of tracks in the Gracenote database. Nothing encoded in the tracks, and not even looking at the waveforms!

[smittims]

Thanks, oliver. I knew it had something to do with a computer revealing something Barry didn't know it could. The amusing sequel was apparently that no-one wanted to sue him, as they were quite happy with their 'Hatto' recordings.