Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ was compiled based on user questions addressed not only to MediaChest but another iPod uploading software and seem to be actual for MediaChest too.
Does MediaChest support MP3 ripping?
Does MediaChest support ID3 tagging?
Can MediaChest do automatic tagging based on using CDDB or another Internet music library?
Can I use file name parts as fields of ID3 tag at ID3 tagging?
Can I use MediaChest with another iPod uploading software?
How MediaChest does synchronization? Is it different from other programs?
How ID3 tag information mapped to records in iTunesDB?
Does MediaChest support group changes of iTunesDB record information?
Will corresponding ID3 tags changed when information in iTunesDB changed?
MediaChest is Java program, can I use drag and drop?
Can I use national characters in play list names?
Do I need to do synchronization first, before starting adding files to iPod?
My VBR songs have incorrect time after uploading them using MediaChest, how can I fix the problem?
I want to see more or less fields about my files stored on iPod, can I do that?
MediaChest displays song, album, and artist lists unsorted, is there any way to sort them?
Can I add songs encoded using AAC or WAV encoding?
Many iPod uploader programs support Smart Play List (smart playlist), what about MediaChest?
I can't find how to create Smart Play List in MediaChest, is it any trick here?
Does MediaChest support reading and saving of On-The-Go lists?
What 4 different on-the-go options mean?
Why songs listed in Smart Play Lists can be ordered differently in MediaChest and in iPod?
Why Smart Play List shown by MediaChest and iPod can contain different entries?
I own iPod photo, how can I make my album artwork visible, when I use MediaChest?
I need to copy some songs back to my PC hard drive, can I do that?
Can I get content of my iPod as HTML file?
Does MediaChest support photo copying?
Q. How MediaChest differs from another well established programs like iTunes, MC9, Anapod, YamiPod, ephPod or MMJB?
A. MediaChest just another program for doing similar task. The major difference of this program that it is Java based, so can run without modifications on many platforms. Another strong side of MediaChest is NLS. If you have a lot music files with description in languages not covered by Latin character set, then MediaChest can be only choice. MediaChest is free and open source program, so you can always be sure that no spy code in it, as annoying purchase or registration reminders.
Q. Does MediaChest support MP3 ripping?
A. No, MediaChest doesn't' support direct MP3/AAC ripping. There is a plan to add such support based on using an external encoder, like Lame, or Faac.
Q. Does MediaChest support ID3 tagging?
A. Yes, it supports tagging. Files can be tagged individually or in a group.
Q. Can MediaChest do automatic tagging based on using CDDB or another Internet music library?
A. Unfortunately, the current version can't do that, however there is a strong plan to add such functionality.
Q. Can I use file name parts as fields of ID3 tag at ID3 tagging?
A. Yes, MediaChest allows to do that in a flexible way. It's very convenient when you do a group tagging, and you can assign common parts to all song, like artist and album and assign individual parts based on file name, like title and track. Parts of file path can be also used for automatic tagging.
Q. Can I use MediaChest with another iPod uploading software?
A. Yes, MediaChest can read information prepared by another uploading software. However, MediaChest uses the latest version of iTunesDB 1.92, witch can be non readable for such program as MC9 or MM. So, there is a risk that you can't use your old program anymore without restoring a backup of iTunesDB. You shouldn't have any problem using iTunes version 4.x or better.
Q. What should I do to switch to MediaChest from my iPod uploading program? Is there any risk of losing my songs uploaded to iPod?
A. Nothing required to change to start using MediaChest. There is no risk losing songs, since MediaChest is compatible with all versions of iTunesDB. However, programs used old iTunesDB formats may not be working anymore.
Q. How MediaChest does synchronization? Is it different from other programs?
A. MediaChest does only one way synchronization, it means that songs added to iPod from other desktops won't be automatically downloaded to the current desktop and song removed from a desktop won't be removed from iPod. However, MediaChest has capability to listen songs from iPod and copy selected songs to a desktop computer. Another different of MediaChest is that any iTunesDB modification doesn't happen instantly. To initiate a real process of uploading files and modification of iTunesDB synchronization button has to be pressed. So, synchronization here looks like synchronization iPod with an image edited in memory. This approach reduces number of exchanges with iPod that makes its disk less fragmented and increases a speed of editing.
Q. How ID3 tag information mapped to records in iTunesDB?
A. When a file added to iPod, then it's ID3 tag used to populate information in iTunesDB record, as title, album, artist, and others. In addition, MediaChest can use information from directory path and file name to fill any missed information from ID3 tag. A user can edit any field of iTunesDB record at any time without affecting on real content of ID3 tag. A user can also select option to override some ID3 tag information from song file name or directory.
Q. Does MediaChest support group changes of iTunesDB record information?
A. Yes, MediaChest allows to change iTunesDB records in a bunch. Just select all records which need to be changed and select right mouse menu item View/Edit info....
Q. Will corresponding ID3 tags changed when information in iTunesDB changed?
A. Starting from build 128 you have such option. AAC files excluded since editing tagging information isn't supported in them yet. However, enable this option wisely since frequent editing ID3 tag of version 2 can issue extra fragmentation on iPod hard disk. You shouldn't worry if you use ID3 tags version 1.
Q. MediaChest is Java program, can I use drag and drop?
A. Yes, drag and drop fully supported, so you can just drop files in iPod lists or tree. Sun's drag and drop implementation has some bug preventing correct drop of files which names are in UNICODE. In this case you need to use MediaChest files explorer.
Q. Can I use national characters in play list names?
A. Yes, you can.
Q. Why song's information fields display any Chinese, Japanese, or Korean characters as squares even when I have fonts for these languages installed?
A. Sun's base implementation provides a support of above languages only if the current operating system is localized for this languages. If you have Windows NT installed as English, then commonly you cannot see these characters even you have a corrected font.properties file and specified right locale (like zh_TW) in MediaChest options. However, it doesn't prevent of copying your song information to iPod in right coding. If seeing these languages is critical for you, then you can install a font with above languages and select it in font combobox of miscellaneous options. Note that latest version of Windows have font MingLiU installed when support Asian languages selected.
Q. When I add music files in iPod layout, I see song names and other information in national alphabets corrupted, what can be a problem?
A. ID3 tag can contains information encoded, for example in BIG5 encoding. To see your information not distorted you need to specify correct encoding in miscellaneous options. This option is applied dynamically, so you can re-add your music many times until you found a right encoding. If you do not know what is hidden behind short encoding name, then you can use this reference.
Q. I can see that the same artist or album is listed more than one time in a corresponding tree, what's wrong and can it be fixed?
A. It usually happens when artist's name specified slightly differently, for example in different case, or there is an extra blank or article THE, or S on the end. MediaChest helps to fix that providing merge list options. Just select all list you would like to make one and select right mouse menu Merge. Please, aware that MediaChest doesn't show a result of merging immediately, if you would like see them before uploading to iPod just select refresh.
Q. Do I need to do synchronization first, before starting adding files to iPod?
A. No, you can start adding files without synchronization and make it later.
Q. Does MediaChest supports undo? I did some modifications in names, deleted files, but want to revert them back.
A. The current version doesn't support undo yet, however you have several choices to revert changed information to previous state. For example to make it the same as in ID3 tag, you can initiate ID3 editing and close edit dialog without actual editing, then information from ID3 tag will be populated in iTunesDB record. Or you can select right mouse menu Rebuild database from iPod. Or, you can Start Over at time of adding new songs.
Q. My VBR songs have incorrect time after uploading them using MediaChest, how can I fix the problem?
A. MediaChest uses Xing VBR header information to accurately calculate length of a song, however such header can be missed, corrupted or not existent. In this case you can manually correct length of a song using editing in place feature of MediaChest. You can also reduce pause after song if make this time a bit shorter for regular songs.
Q. I want to see more or less fields about my files stored on iPod, can I do that?
A. Yes, it's configurable in an appearance tab of a settings dialog.
Q. I want to support my own directories structure for storing song on iPod hard disk, can I do that using MediaChest?
A. Yes, it's possible. You need to check off Maintain album folders in iPod options panel. In this case song source directory structure will be copied to iPod's disk. Information from ID3 tag isn't used for maintaining folders since it optionally presented in files. If you want to have a completely own directory structures on iPod, then you can also do that. However, you need to copy files to iPod with desired directories using third parties program as Explorer or any other file manager (or just command line). After copying files you need to do synchronization with selected option Action with unknown files – Restore in database.
Q. MediaChest displays song, album, and artist lists unsorted, is there any way to sort them?
A. MediaChest display songs sorted accordingly track number if present or in order of adding song. Album, Artist, Composer are sorted using the same rules as iPod firmware does that.
Q. Can I add songs encoded using AAC or WAV encoding?
A. Yes, this functionality is supported for AAC, and WAV only. You can't only edit tags in AAC or WAV files. Editing tag information in AAC files is planning.
Q. Many iPod uploaders support ratings, play counts, and last listen time for songs, can I get these features from MediaChest?
A. Yes, you can. MediaChest supports not only reading these information, but editing them and use for forming play lists.
Q. Many iPod uploader programs support Smart Play List (smart playlist), what about MediaChest?
A. MediaChest fully supports Smart Play List. It even give some unique features not supported by iTunes, for example order by year.
Q. I can't find how to create Smart PlayList in MediaChest, is it any trick here?
A. To do not alter Apple trade mark for the name, Smart Play List named as Magic Play List in MediaChest.
Q. If I built Smart Play List based on other play list or group, then I got it empty on iPod, although it shown filled in MediaChest. How to avoid that?
A. It seems that 3g iPod firmware doesn't support Smart PlayLists with live update built on certain conditions. So, make sure that you have no Live update checked off for such lists.
Q. Does MediaChest support reading and saving of On-The-Go lists?
A. Yes, such lists are completely supported. You can delete or rename on-the-go lists as well. Saved on-the-go lists are supported too.
Q. What 4 different on-the-go options mean?
A. iPod stores on-the-go playlists out of iTunesDB, so MediaChest provides 4 options here:
Ignore OTG, in this case on-the-go list ignored in sync operations and you can't see on-the-go content in MediaChest
Create OTG as playlis, in this case MediaChest convert every on-the-go list to a regular iTunesDB playlist trying to assign it an unique name. Such playlists will be included in sync operations. Original ot-the-go on iPod will be deleted.
Added to previous OTG, in this case all content on-the-go lists appended to the same on-the-go playlist. It allows to eliminate creation a big number of on-the-go lists on every sync operation.
Do not save OTG, in this case content of on-the-go list will be displayed, however it won't be saved as iTunesDB playlist. So, there is a chance to move songs from on-the-go list to other playlist to keep them saved.
Q. Why songs listed in Smart Play Lists can be ordered differently in MediaChest and in iPod?
A. The problem related that Apple and the rest of the world sort national alphabets differently. Actually Apple approach can be considered more logical since places national characters first.
Q. Why Smart Play List shown by MediaChest and iPod can contain different entries?
A. MediaChest uses case insensitive criteria when decides to add or not items in a list, when iPod/iTunes uses case sensitive approach. It makes sense only for live play lists, so enhancement to use case sensitive criteria for a live play list is pending.
Q. I own iPod photo, how can I make my album artwork visible, when I use MediaChest?
A. This feature supported since build 129.
Q. I need to copy some songs back to my PC hard drive, can I do that?
A. Yes, you can select files, or albums and use right button menu to copy the selection.
Q. Can I get content of my iPod as HTML file?
A. Yes, check export options under file menu. In addition to HTML you can get XML, CSV, and some other play list formats.
Q. Can I manage video content?
A. Yes, MediaChest provides capability to copy video content to and from iPod. However it doesn't verify that video content is in correct format playbale by iPod
Q. Does MediaChest support photo copying?
A. This functionality is currently in development.