Most of the MMW4 functionality remains in MMW5, but additional functionality has been added: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:What%27s_New/5.0

I have been using the structure [b]/[Album Artist]/Album]/[Track #] - [Artist] - [Title][Extension][/b]
Various Artist is sorted by the album field and that has worked for about 20 years just fine.
BUT
About a year back I started using the album artist field for the Artist the tribute is for, thus removing it from the "VA" section and putting it where I will look for it more often. I'm liking it and have switched myself. Just a thought.

I upgraded to 5 the second it was released as the collection is enormous and MM has been perfect to catalog everything with consistency for about 20 years. My initial try at switching was entirely too confusing and the program a bit clunky... but way more flashy and I decided to wait a bit.

Now all this time later I am giving it another shot and do find it much better BUT.... it's all about what your prime need is. In in my case the cataloging is #1 on my list. I'm really missing not just the familiarity of 4 but it's vastly superior library tools. Not a complaint (well, maybe it is) but not meant in a whiny sort of way as I love Media Monkey and have literally turned countless people on to it via radio, print and everything I have done. Maybe at 66 I'm just too old but I don't think so. I will continue to migrate for now and see how it goes,

All the Best,

Mike

http://mikemarrone.com

[quote=Lowlander post_id=507271 time=1678040975 user_id=262]
This would account for that, they'd all be together in the Album names sub-folder of the Various Artist folder.
[/quote]
Ah, I see now - that makes perfect sense! Thanks once again for the assistance and advice!

This would account for that, they'd all be together in the Album names sub-folder of the Various Artist folder.

[quote=Lowlander post_id=507257 time=1677983993 user_id=262]
I'd use [i]<Album Artist\<Album>\<Title>[/i] although for proper sorting in a file browser I'd include the Track# and for recovery I include the Artist too: [i]<Album Artist\<Album>\<Track#>. < Artist> - <Title>[/i]. I also account for multi-disc albums by including Disc#: [i]<Album Artist\<Album>\$If(<Disc#>,<Disc#>-)<Track#>. < Artist> - <Title>[/i]

Mask reference: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Configuring_Directory_and_File_Formats/5.0
[/quote]

Hey, Lowlander, something just occurred to me: How would your suggestion would work for compilations with "various artists" listed in the Album Artist field? Those are the tricky ones I'm trying to figure out a smooth way of ripping, so that they'll work well inside MM, but also get sorted well in File Explorer.

Thanks a million, Lowlander. I'm gonna need alcohol now. ;-) I appreciate your help very much. Have a great weekend!

I'd use [i]<Album Artist\<Album>\<Title>[/i] although for proper sorting in a file browser I'd include the Track# and for recovery I include the Artist too: [i]<Album Artist\<Album>\<Track#>. < Artist> - <Title>[/i]. I also account for multi-disc albums by including Disc#: [i]<Album Artist\<Album>\$If(<Disc#>,<Disc#>-)<Track#>. < Artist> - <Title>[/i]

Mask reference: https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Configuring_Directory_and_File_Formats/5.0

[quote=Lowlander post_id=507254 time=1677981305 user_id=262]
Send to moves the files to a specific location. If you want to maintain the organization structure of files either Cut & Paste folders in the [url=https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Library/5.0#Location]Location node[/url] or use [url=https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Changing_Filenames/5.0#Manually_Auto-Organize_Files]Auto-Organize Files[/url].

The latter can help recreate the previous structure based on the tags in the files to fix the problem.
[/quote]

Thanks, Lowlander! This is making my old brain ache a little, so I guess I'll need to study up on it a bit and experiment some more.

Any thoughts on my other question, regarding the ripping formatting?

Send to moves the files to a specific location. If you want to maintain the organization structure of files either Cut & Paste folders in the [url=https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Library/5.0#Location]Location node[/url] or use [url=https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Changing_Filenames/5.0#Manually_Auto-Organize_Files]Auto-Organize Files[/url].

The latter can help recreate the previous structure based on the tags in the files to fix the problem.

[quote=Lowlander post_id=507245 time=1677973511 user_id=262]
Yes, it is recommended to use MediaMonkey to [url=https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Changing_Filenames/5.0]move the files[/url] so that the database is updated during the move.
[/quote]
I tried using the Send To function to move the files inside of MM5, and it created a complete clusterf*&k of a mess. Songs were broken out of their album folders and just dumped into one main folder. Did I do something wrong?

On a related note, how do you recommend setting up rips for compilation albums? For regular albums, I have a directory for the artist, and my rip sets up "<artist>\<album>\<title>". I just experimented with "<album>\<artist>\<title>" for a compilation album. Does that make sense, or is there a better way to do this? Thanks!

Yes, it is recommended to use MediaMonkey to [url=https://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/WebHelp:Changing_Filenames/5.0]move the files[/url] so that the database is updated during the move.

I'd like to free up some disk space by offloading seldom-played music to an external drive. Is there a way to do that within MM5, or will I need to manually move the files, create a separate catalog for the external drive, etc.?