Show Cue System

After upgrading SCS to 10.3.x, I have noticed (twice) that when I launch the app, I get an error that the Audio Files are missing and it gives me the option to locate them. When I go into the folder to find them, instead of the file being the original name, it is now called something like "01 Track 1" or "01 01 Track 1". As a safeguard from having to rename each WMA file over again, I made a backup of the entire folder but I had to figure out to do that the hard way.

This happened when I went from the demo version to 10.3.0 and when I went from 10.3.0 to 10.3.1 (tr). I'm running SCS 10.3.1 (tr) on a Windows Vista Business Edition Dell Laptop if that helps.

I'd be happy to provide screen shots or any other information if needed...

Thanks,

Michael

Well, it's not SCS that's renaming the files. SCS doesn't rename any audio files. Filenames like "01 Track 1" are typically generated by programs that rip tracks off a CD (which SCS doesn't do). Check if there's some other program you have been running.

msnead wrote: As a safeguard from having to rename each WMA file over again,

is possibly the clue.

I rip CDs using Roxio 6 to wav. If the CD is recognised by Grace Note then the actual track name seems to be assigned to the track wav file. If it is not recognised, then the tracks are imported as Track 1, Track 2 etc (or possibly Track 1 (23) as each successive ripping increments the bracketed number). To identify the track I edit the track tag in Roxio, and this can be used in playlists. However, when I copy and paste to a working folder the track tag is lost and I have to rename the track file in the normal Windows way. My previous practice of creating a working folder is now simplified in SCS with the introduction of the Production Folder.

If you name your track initially with a track tag, I suspect that this is likely to be lost when you create a Production Folder, which is essentially a copying and pasting function, and the filename will revert to the Track Number, which SCS will encounter when, instead of looking in the original location, it looks in the Production Folder.

The only workaround I can think of is to actually change the filename, rather than the tag, in the first instance when ripping.

Malcolm

2 Things:

1. This problem happened before I knew the Production Folder option even existed--so I wasn't using that "feature". (See my post on "It would be nice to have everything stored in 1 place...")
2. "Track 01" (etc.) was the original name of the songs on the "Unknown Album" that was ripped by Windows Media Player. I renamed all of the files myself to something more descriptive. I never moved them to a Production Folder (see above). The other odd thing is that it adds "01" or "01 01" to the beginning of the file name... And, I never re-opened the files in Windows Media Player. I haven't noticed this since using the Production Folder option but I also haven't upgraded since--I'll be doing that momentarily. I'll post again if I have any issues. (I made a complete backup of the Production Folders just in case.)

I'm sure the renaming is not being done by SCS, but if you do happen to find a reproduceable scenario that causes the files to be renamed then I can investigate that scenario. I've just been through the program and checked every 'file copy' and 'file rename' statement. 'File copy' statements are only used when creating or syncing a Production Folder, copying files between folders - the filenames themselves are not unchanged. 'File rename' statements are only used for cue files (.scs files) when a cue file is being saved.

This happens to me a lot because we use iTunes to import CDs into the computer and as a general library and a fail-safe backup in case SCS dies during a show (we cut a CD for the CD player in case we lose the computer all together.

THEN we program SCS cues from the iTunes folder, using file names and locations within iTunes folders. iTunes names files for unknown tracks the way you described (Track 01 01, etc.) and IF you change the name of a title within the iTunes library, it also renames the file names (and even sometimes relocates them to a new folder (eg. if you fill in album/artist info). This latest show, before finalizing the cues during tech week, I used SCS to build a show folder and all the cue files were copied into the SCS folder with their iTune file names (I also used SCS to create a backup folder on a 2nd disk on the computer). Maybe it's overkill, but we run our shows with kids doing all the tech work, so I have to build fail-safe methods and easy cue actions.

I found during this show that I frequently wanted to rename sound cue files from within SCS, rather than having to go back to iTunes or Windows to rename the files, but that's a feature request for the future.

Charlie

That's useful info, Charlie, and adds weight to the request for a 'file rename' facility in SCS.

'Rename File' facility added in 10.3.2.