Record Storage and filing

Garth

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Aug 16, 2014
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580
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Canada
Just finished going thru most of my collection. I file by Band abcdefg or by artist last name abc 3 groups (older albums) then (classical ) third is (audiophile grade and first pressings English) how do you keep track and is their a easy computer filling system, most I have looked at are to slow to input. If you have a large collection I would like to be able to get about 60 a hour cataloged or it will never get done.

I really need to thin the herd maybe pick 2,000 and ditch the rest I have more music than I have years left to play it. How do you manage your collection I have no reel to reels or 78s a few cds I buy records weekly average 5 to 10 a week . I need more room or to clear some of the less played. I am a sucker for English first pressings and 45rpm releases. I have 4 to 5 thousand nothing compared to some I know but a lot t file.
 
I went through this many moons ago during the big 'sell off' i now use a quick and dirty xl file for managing my new collection including pressing information and [gulp] what i paid for it. the physical media is organized by genre and then label and then sub category like 1st press/import press, audiophile ltd press, etc.
 
Have you looked into Music Collectorz? It's a database program that is about as easy as it gets. You can just go with the basics or get deep into the weeds, whatever you like. It isn't free, but the price is well worth it.
As to ease or quickness of inputting data, that is subjective really. However, Music Collectorz gives about the best help. If you have lots of records, CDs etc. with bar codes, a inexpensive laser bar code reader will make quick work of the basics. If you don't have a lot of bar coded records (nearly all my vinyl is before the time of bar codes), then you have to be more manual about it. However, you can do entry searches by artist, album, etc and then select the one that matches what you have and the basic data will be input for you. (Much of the info is from Discogs I think).
The great thing is that nearly anything can be easily edited and if you choose to get into the weeds you can really get to know your records.
There are so many functions the program does that it's too much to explain here.
Take a look at it here:CD Database Software, catalog CDs and music files

I've been using this for over 2 years now. I started out with doing a spreadsheet (which I can do in my sleep), but as I wanted to get more and more info it became too big and looking stuff up was more time consuming requiring all kinds of filter tricks. I personally started it to stop myself from mistakenly buying duplicates.

Just trying to help.
 
Have you looked into Music Collectorz? It's a database program that is about as easy as it gets. You can just go with the basics or get deep into the weeds, whatever you like. It isn't free, but the price is well worth it.
As to ease or quickness of inputting data, that is subjective really. However, Music Collectorz gives about the best help. If you have lots of records, CDs etc. with bar codes, a inexpensive laser bar code reader will make quick work of the basics. If you don't have a lot of bar coded records (nearly all my vinyl is before the time of bar codes), then you have to be more manual about it. However, you can do entry searches by artist, album, etc and then select the one that matches what you have and the basic data will be input for you. (Much of the info is from Discogs I think).
The great thing is that nearly anything can be easily edited and if you choose to get into the weeds you can really get to know your records.
There are so many functions the program does that it's too much to explain here.
Take a look at it here:CD Database Software, catalog CDs and music files

I've been using this for over 2 years now. I started out with doing a spreadsheet (which I can do in my sleep), but as I wanted to get more and more info it became too big and looking stuff up was more time consuming requiring all kinds of filter tricks. I personally started it to stop myself from mistakenly buying duplicates.

Just trying to help.

Thanks for the reply I to wish to avoid buying duplicates . Most of my stuff is too old for bar codes I have been using Tap forms . I have only entred about 60 records I am buying faster than entering . Data entry is just not me yesterday I bought 6 records washed 30 or more played 30 to 40. data entry 0. I like the idea of the picture info all on my iPad just flip thru and pick. Music Colectorz looks like a cloud based. Tap forms is in house good and bad in both ideas.

I did wash 4,000 plus records data entering that many can not take that much longer . I went thru 3 Audio desk cleaners doing it. Two really the last one is still spinning. I also sprung for a future tec demag and it does help.

I will look at your program choice in more detail thanks again
 
Thanks for the reply I to wish to avoid buying duplicates . Most of my stuff is too old for bar codes I have been using Tap forms . I have only entred about 60 records I am buying faster than entering . Data entry is just not me yesterday I bought 6 records washed 30 or more played 30 to 40. data entry 0. I like the idea of the picture info all on my iPad just flip thru and pick. Music Colectorz looks like a cloud based. Tap forms is in house good and bad in both ideas.

I did wash 4,000 plus records data entering that many can not take that much longer . I went thru 3 Audio desk cleaners doing it. Two really the last one is still spinning. I also sprung for a future tec demag and it does help.

I will look at your program choice in more detail thanks again

Music Collector is both cloud based and non-cloud based. You can have a cloud version along with the core version of you like. You can also have the core version (or a facsimile thereof) on your android or i device, both for a little extra. It comes with a "free" version cloud, but it's only for looking at stuff, you can't enter data. The full cloud version allows for data entry. (I personally did not find the cloud version useful, but your mileage will vary). The program itself is not on the cloud. The core is because that's where it pulls data from. It's a bit confusing trying to explain it because they use the terms in every way possible.
I'm not a fan of the cloud at all. I don't use the cloud for anything. I run the desktop version of the program and no worries. The data you input is not stored on the cloud unless you want it to be by submitting it to the core and then only some of it is submitted. Stuff like how much you paid and such is not submitted. It's not a big deal, it's just music stuff.
Support by the way is very good, just so you know.
You'll learn more about it as you read up on it. They also have an excellent trial version.

I try to enter in my records as soon as I get them before cleaning and all. Then I go back after cleaning and make notes and fill in any data I want.
 
There is also a scanning function using an iphone camera instead of needing to buy a laser hand scanner for barcodes.
 
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