Music Collector Manual
for Windows edition
Welcome to Music Collector Download and Install Navigating the Main Screen Cataloging CDs Cataloging Music Files How to search your Collection Adding Albums Automatically Adding Albums Manually Barcode Scanning Adding Multi-Disc Albums Adding Tracks Adding a Box Set Adding Music Files Import from iTunes Importing from text Adding Backdrops Managing your Wish List Search Settings Field Defaults Editing Albums Editing Multiple Albums List Items and more Changing the layout Adding Lyrics Files Find Cover Image Editing List Icons Update File Links Sorting your Collection Custom Field Names Custom Views Edit, Merge List Items Customizing Music Collector Activating Connect Sync & Share Synchronize with Connect Linking your albums for Connect CLZ Music for iPhone/iPod CLZ Music for Android CLZ Music HD for iPad Exporting your collection Managing Loans Printing a Simple List Using Folders Using the Filter screen Updating Music Collector The Options Screen Data Submission Guidelines Field Reference Transfer your collection Validating Music Collector Creating a Backup Keyboard Shortcuts Collection Statistics Print Screen Linking Albums
Cataloging CDs
Contents:
- Introduction
- Creating your Database
- Adding your first album
- Editing album details
- Demo Video
- Advanced
Introduction
The best way to catalog CDs in Music Collector is to use the Add Albums Automatically screen (see Figure 3 below). This provides you with detailed information from our online database, such as artist, title, genre, musicians, cover images, release date and much more.
We recommend scanning your CDs in your CD-ROM drive to obtain the CDID. A search by CDID and/or barcode will provide the most accurate results but you can also search by artist/title. An artist/title search will give you a list of results from which you can select the correct release.
When you first try to add an album you will receive a warning that you are using the Example Database, it's up to you how you proceed. You can try adding albums to the example collection to get a feel for how everything works, or you can get started immediately by creating your own database.
Back to contentsCreating your Database
To get started with cataloging your CD Collection you'll need to create your own database.
- Click File > New Database
- Save your database by clicking: File > Save Database
- Name your database, select a destination then click Save
By default your collection will save in your documents folder. You can find it here:
We recommend you save your collection in the default folder.
Tip: It's always good to make a regular, external backup of your database. In the event of computer failure you can always recover your collection. If you are creating lists for insurance purposes then an external backup is essential - backup instructions.
Adding your first Album
There are two primary methods for adding to your collection. Automatically and manually. Select a method below to learn more about the different ways you can catalog your music.
Adding Albums Automatically
By now you may have already found the Add Automatically screen, if not, click the icon from the toolbar (figure 1 below) or click Edit > Add Albums Automatically(figure 2).
Figure 1: Add Album Automatically Icon
Figure 2: Edit > Add Albums Automatically
Here you have the Add Albums Automatically screen. This enables you to search our database and download detailed information to your own personal database.
Figure 3: Add Album Automatically Screen
By Artist/Title Search
To search for an album:
- Type the artist/title into their respective fields.
- Click Search Now on the right, or press enter on your keyboard to start the search.
- Music Collector will search our database for appropriate matches. Click the + next to the result to view all the different regional matches we have for that title.
- Double click on one of the search results to see a detailed preview on the right.
Scan your CD in your CD-ROM drive
A great way to add a CD to your database is to let Music Collector scan the CD's ID using your computer's CD-ROM drive. The program uses the unique CD ID to look up the CD's information in the Collectorz.com online CD database. Laser targeted and lightning fast.
- When viewing the Add Albums Automatically screen:
- Insert the CD in your computer and click Scan.
- You will instantly see the results from the Collectorz.com music database.
- Select the correct album. In most cases there will be only one result, automatically preselected.
- Hit Add Selected or Add Checked to add the album to your collection!
Tip: Use the Auto checkbox next to the Scan button: it will automatically eject your CD after scanning it.
Want to get organized super fast? Then simply scan the barcode of your CD (you'll need one of our inexpensive barcode scanners...).
Here's how that works:
- Step 1. Scan the barcode.
- Step 2. Click Add Selected.
- Step 3. You're done!
You can read more about searching by barcode here.
Pro Tip: You can use the Queue Mode to add multiple albums to the search queue. Click 'Show/Hide Queue' to enable/disable the Queue Mode. This is a Pro Only feature. Click here to learn more.
Click Here for a detailed guide of the Add Albums Automatically screen.
Editing Album Details
When you want to edit an albums details, like add additional musicians, change the physical location of where your album is stored or add a personal note, you need the Edit Album Screen.
- Select an Album from your list
- Click the Edit Album button on the toolbar (third button from the left).
- Just browse through the different tabs and see what information can be added and edited.
- When done, hit the OK button and watch the Detail Template panel change to reflect the changes you made.
More detailed information about editing albums can be found here.
Demo: Adding and Editing Albums
