File structure woes - Batch converting FLAC to LAME mp3

Okay, converting FLAC to LAME mp3 isn't that difficult - in fact with Foobar it's easy.

My problem is that I want to duplicate the original file structure of my FLAC archive, because Foobar only gives you the option to output to the original files or just dump them all into one file.  That's a problem for me, because option one puts the FLAC and mp3 files in the same place (making drag and drop copying of whole albums impossible), and option two means that with like-named song files I get "overwrite" and "skip" options with no choice to convert with a different name.

So is there an easy way of doing this?  I want to keep the same file structure I have, and I want total control over where that goes (basically I'm going to have one directory for music, where one sub-directory has all the FLAC and other primary copies, and the other has the mp3s for portable use - but that directory won't be watched by my media players).

Or alternatively, is there an easy way of converting them to the same file as the FLAC files and separating them into an identical file structure?

I'm using Windows 7 x64, but I have Ubuntu 10 x64 as well.  I suppose there might be some script in Linux that could do the separating for me, but I'm no good with the terminal.

Thanks,

Ben

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Uthadude 

I haven't used foobar in a while, but can't you just tell it to convert to mp3 on the fly whenever you copy to the portable? This way you have no problems with entire duplicate databases, nor do you waste disk and directory space. Just pick the songs you want to transfer, and say go. The program should convert as it's copying and you don't worry about it.

Well, I guess I should say that I don't really like Foobar (but I've tried it as a converter as it was the first/easiest way I read about).  I prefer Winamp.  I also detest - absolutely and totally detest - using any program besides an OS shell to load an mp3 player (I'm using a Clip+).

I want complete and total, utter control over my files without anything between me and the file structure.  I'd use the Linux terminal or MS-DOS prompt if either one is more convenient for what I'm doing, but I'm not nearly as skilled with them as to make it faster for the vast majority of tasks.  Using ANY media software for moving the files is not an option.  Oh, and I want all of them converted at once, overnight - so a convert-as-you-go thing isn't really an option either.

I'm picky, I know.  But I hate surrendering control over to a program when it is (or should be) unnecessary.  I find it screws up the way I do things and just plain makes things more difficult to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rip N' Burn 

Had the same issue with foobar and found that Bonkenc works great. I've got it setup to create an MP3 folder in 'my music' and keep the same folder and file structure. It even keeps picture tags as well. I think bonkenc is called fre:ac now. It's freeware.

Awesome; I'm going to give it a try right now.

Okay, I've got it mostly set up, but I can't figure out how to set it to use the same file structure.  I've set the output directory, but I don't see any options about the structure within that.

I do like its interface a whole lot - it's exactly what I'm looking for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfink 

You can do this using the Micorosoft utility RoboCopy. I'm pretty sure Windows 7 comes with RoboCopy already installed. Anyone running other flavors of Windows may have to download it from Microsoft's site.

1) Tell foobar to convert the MP3s into the same folders as the FLACs
2) Open a command prompt and run the following command (substitute your own folder names for C:\FLACFolder and C:\MP3Folder):

    robocopy C:\FLACFolder C:\MP3Folder *.mp3 /S /MOV

This will copy the MP3s from the FLAC folder into the MP3 folder with the same subfolder structure. The /S and /MOV at the end tells it to process all the subfolders and remove the files from the original folder after they're copied. You should end up with just MP3s in the MP3 folder and just FLACs in the original FLAC folder. 

 

I figured there was an easy way of doing that - thanks for the tip!

Okay, I see - it's among the variations in file names.  So you can't copy the directory pattern exactly - but it just so happens that it has a selection that follows the exact same pattern as my FLAC directories.  Handy indeed.

I've also noticed that fre:ac seems faster and yet has less of an impact on system performance than Foobar, even with both using LAME V0 and regardless of how many threads I let Foobar use.  Maybe it's just perception based, I don't know.

Update:  Well, fre:ac has crashed on me several times...  Going back to Foobar I see you have similar directory choices that I missed the first time, so I'm going to give it a go overnight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rip N' Burn 

Go to options then general settings. A screen will pop up, select the encoder tab, and at the bottom you will see 'Filename pattern'. You can select one from the drop down box and further modify it to your liking.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackbeardBen 

Okay, I've got it mostly set up, but I can't figure out how to set it to use the same file structure.  I've set the output directory, but I don't see any options about the structure within that.

 

I do like its interface a whole lot - it's exactly what I'm looking for.