Showing posts with label Audio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Audio. Show all posts

Tag those audio files and show them to the World

If you have a large collection of MP3s, WMAs and other audio files, you probably have quite a few where the tag information isn't set up properly. In other words, they don't come up with the correct track name or artist in your media player.


Editing these tags manually can be a laborious task, but fear not, the contributers at MusicBrainz offer a solution to your problem. As they say themselves:
MusicBrainz is a community music metadatabase that attempts to create a comprehensive music information site. You can use the MusicBrainz data either by browsing this web site, or you can access the data from a client program — for example, a CD player program can use MusicBrainz to identify CDs and provide information about the CD, about the artist or about related information. You can also use the MusicBrainz Tagger to automatically identify and clean up the metadata tags in your digital music collections.

The website has a number of applications that you can download which access the database. The one I found most useful was Picard, which provides an interface to search the database and use the information to rename and tag the audio files with the correct information. I didn't find Picard particularly intuitive to use; however, the authors have provided some quality documentation to instruct users on how the application works. Here are a few images of the software in action. If anyone struggles with the software after reading the instructions, leave a comment on this post and I will record and post a video of how to use it.

Here is that list of badly tagged mp3 files in Picard.

Using the search facility on Picard opens up a listing of matching information on the MusicBrainz website. I navigated to the appropriate album listing, and pressed the green 'Tagger' button.

Picard presented the information in the right pane. I selected the files in the left pane, pressed the 'Scan' button, and when the list in the left pane was empty I pressed 'Save' to make the changes.

Here is the file listing with the correct tag information in place.

I finally decided that I needed to create and correct the tag information on my audio files after becoming sick and tired of some of them not registering with Audioscrobbler, which is the software used on the music based social-networking site LastFM. The software records all the music you play on your computer, and even some portable audio players, and creates charts from the information. You can see my page here. The site enables you to create fancy widgets to put on your blogs, social networking pages and other websites too, like this one:



So get those audio files tagged and let the World that you are obsessed with prog rock.

"Can you hear it?" Three Freeware Audio Applications

Winamp has long been a popular mp3 player developing a large user community. Members of this community submit a plethora of skins, plug-ins and other add-ons to the Winamp website. Winamp also offers support for iPods and other mp3 players, and functions as an adequate video player.

If you have ever made an audio mix CD from mp3 files, you have probably been annoyed to find that all the tracks play at different volume levels, spoiling that overall ambiance you wished to create with your selection of top tunes. If this problem is a source of vexation for you, try mp3gain. With this program you can quickly balance the levels of a selection of mp3 files, so as to further impress that prospective partner, work colleague, or friend with your eminently good taste.

The best freeware audio editor available is Audacity. It provides support for mp3 files - as well as a number of other formats - and offers enough editing features and effects to meet most user's needs. Unfortunately, Audacity does not support proprietary formats such as wma, but there are plenty of audio file converters available like dBpoweramp.

Linux applications: Part 2 - Music Players

In response to my last post listing Linux applications, I received a couple of comments asking whether there are any applications like iTunes for Linux. There are a number of applications that offer many of the features of Apple's music player. Here are a few of the most popular of them.

They all include roughly the same set of features such as support for audio file types and digital audio players, including the iPods. They retrieve album, submit played track information to Last.fm, and supports podcasts. With such software, look and feel are all important, so I have included screenshots and links to the homepages of each. Since they are all free why not audition them all and find the one that best suits your requirements.















Personally, I prefer a more svelte audio player like Winamp. Since there is no native Linux version of that, I use Audacious, which supports some Winamp skins. That is probably just as well because the default skins are not great.


More Linux applications soon.

New Unified Realtek Onboard Audio Solution: ALC8xxHDA


Introducing MacMan's ALC8xxHDA.kext, a single combined LegacyHDA replacement for Realtek ALC888, ALC887/888b, ALC889, ALC885/889a, and ALC892 high-definition audio codecs.  In order to initiate audio, this driver must be combined with a DSDT from the DSDT Database or HDAEnabler.  For any codecs other than the native ALC885/889a, AppleHDA Rollback must also be used.  All options now available in the latest MultiBeast.

To update from an existing MultiBeast LegacyHDA + AppleHDA rollback:
  1. Delete LegacyHDA from /Extra/Extenisons
  2. Open MultiBeast
  3. Select ALC8xxHDA + AppleHDA Rollback + System Utilities
  4. Reboot
To update from an existing MultiBeast VoodooHDA:
  1. Delete VoodooHDA from System/Library/Extensions.
  2. Open MultiBeast
  3. Select ALC8xxHDA + AppleHDA Rollback + System Utilities
  4. Reboot
Realtek ALC888, ALC887/888b, ALC889, ALC885/889a support:
OUTPUTS: Analog Front Headphone/Green Line-out, Orange Line-out, Grey Line-out, Digital SPDIF-OUT
INPUTS: Analog Pink Microphone, Blue Line-in, Digital SPDIF-IN
Realtek ALC892 support:
OUTPUTS: Analog Front Headphone/Green Line-out, Digital SPDIF-OUT
INPUTS: Analog Pink Microphone, Blue Line-in, Digital SPDIF-IN
Please report your results with this new method in the forum.  Special thanks to complx for the ALC8xxHDA logo.  Enjoy!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

MultiBeast 3.0 Update

Today MultiBeast was updated to version 3.0.  We've made quite a few structural changes, including enabling all choices, so no options are greyed out.  The downside to this is you can now choose to install everything within a category.  Only check the top level choice and the specific sub-choice options.  Checking the category, or root option will most likely corrupt your installation by installing unwanted or unneeded options.

Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites.   
Full list of changes:
  • Restructured menus: Advanced Options now separated into Drivers & Bootloaders and Customization.
  • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease to r668.
  • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - ATI Experimental to r679.
  • Updated Chameleon post install script to correctly install on a dual boot system.
  • Added tonymacx86 theme Remixed by complx to Themes.
  • Changed EasyBeast and UserDSDT to install tonymacx86 theme Remixed by complx.
  • Removed all CPU-specific smbios.plist definitions.
  • Removed Chameleon 2.0 RC4 by AsereBLN 1.1.9
  • Replaced all Legacy88xHDA kexts with the new unified ALC8xxHDA kext.
  • Replaced LegacyAppleRTC with ElliottForceLegacyRTC for 32/64 bit support.
  • Updated EasyBeast and UserDSDT to use Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease.
  • Updated EasyBeast to use ElliottForceLegacyRTC instead of LegacyAppleRTC
  • Added iMac11,2 and iMac11,3 System Definitions
If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

MultiBeast 2.3.0 Update

Today MultiBeast was updated to version 2.3.0.  The main new feature is an improved UserDSDT which no longer requires a name change to work.  Any .aml file placed on the desktop will be installed correctly to /Extra as DSDT.aml.

Full list of changes:
  • Modified UserDSDT to use any file ending in .aml instead of only DSDT.aml
  • Upgraded the official Realtek RTL8169 driver to the latest version, 2.0.5
  • Added VoodooHDA 0.2.70 with prefPane.
  • All smbios.plist choices were edited to remove all unnecessary keys and values.
  • Corrected Chameleon Theme to install the correct theme.
  • Corrected PC-EFI Theme to install the correct theme.
  • Added VoodooHDA.prefPane to VoodooHDA 0.2.61
    If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan
    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    Updated ALC 888b DSDT for GA-P55M-UD2


    Just a quick post to let GA-P55M-UD2 owners know that I've changed the HDEF section of code in the default tonymacx86-DSDT-FIXES.zip DSDT.aml so that you no longer have to use the old AppleHDA.kext! I've modified the ALC 888b code in the DSDT for the P55M-UD2 so that the LegacyHDA_888b.kext now works with the vanilla 10.6.2 AppleHDA!

    You must update to the latest GA-P55M-UD2 bios for this to work! Also, please note that you must enable the proper output in System Preferences/Sound.

    I updated all of the files that utilize the UD2 DSDT. Here are some links for all of you UD2 owners. Post your results with this new tweak in the forum here.

    Updated tonymacx86-DSDT-FIXES.zip
    Includes updated GA-P55M-UD2 DSDT.aml with fixes for CMOS reset, UHCI/EHCI, IDE (SATA), PIC/TMR/HPET, SBUS, and HDEF.
    http://www.tonymacx86.com/Public/tonymacx86-DSDT-FIXES.zip

    10.6.2 Vanilla AppleHDA.kext
    http://www.tonymacx86.com/Public/10.6.2%20AppleHDA.kext.zip


    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    MultiBeast 2.1.0 Update

    Today MultiBeast is updated to version 2.1.0.  This update is recommended for all users.  We've tested and retested all options to make sure this is the best MultiBeast yet.  And we've added a few nice new features:
    • PCI Root ID fix for GraphicsEnabler
    • ATI 5xxx beta Drivers
    • Realtek R8169 Official 32-bit drivers
    • VoodooHDA 0.2.1, 0.2.2, 0.2.56 and 0.2.61
    • Added to ATI 4800 Patch every ATI 48xx device id from AMD Developer site
    • Added to ATI 5000 Support every ATI 5xxx device id from AMD Developer site
    If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan
    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    tonymacx86 Table Of Contents


    Ok, so you've installed Snow Leopard. What can you do next to further tweak your system? I tried to pull together some of my most relevant posts in a sort of Table Of Contents. This is not meant to be an order of operations, although you can use it like that.

    The posts below represent how we got to where we are now step by step. A good read for anyone new to the world of OSx86. I'll try to keep this post updated. Thanks for reading!

    Installation Guides
    1. iBoot + MultiBeast: Install Mac OS X on any Intel-based PC  (RECOMMENDED)
    2. Old Boot CD Method
    3. OSInstall.mpkg Method
    4. USB Method
    5. Dual Boot Windows 7 and OS X Snow Leopard

    Post-Installation Guides
    1. MultiBeast: The Ultimate Post-Installation Utility
    2. Enable High Definition Audio on P55 Motherboards
    3. Enable Full Graphics Card Acceleration
    4. Tweaking Your System: Install Chameleon, DSDT, & Extras to EFI Partition
    5. Tweaking Your System: Get Rid of PlatformUUID.kext
    6. Tweaking Your System: Get Rid of Restart Kexts
    7. How To Install Chameleon Manually From Terminal
    8. Create a Chameleon Boot USB Drive
    9. Enable the Apple Boot Screen
    10. Fit Mac OS X Snow Leopard on a Single Layer DVD

    DSDT Guides
    1. DSDT Database for P55 Motherboards
    2. Create and Modify Your DSDT.aml
    3. Advanced DSDT Fixes: Enable Sleep on P55 Motherboards
    4. Advanced DSDT Fixes: Enable Intel Native SpeedStep on P55 Motherboards
    5. Advanced DSDT Fixes: nVidia Graphics
    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    MultiBeast 2.5 Update

    This past weekend MultiBeast was updated to version 2.5 as part of the NVIDIA "Fermi" drivers update.

    Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites. 

    Full list of changes:

    • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease to RC5 r643 for Fermi based card support 
    • Added Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - ATI Experimental by Kabyl in Advanced Options -> Chameleon
    • Added ATI 48xx Patch for 10.6.5 to Advanced Options -> Kexts -> Graphics -> ATI
    • Changed Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro to a menu
    • Moved existing MacPro4,1 smbios.plists to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro4,1
    • Added MacPro3,1 smbios.plist to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro3,1
    • Added MacPro5,1 smbios.plist to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro5,1
    • Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> iMac11,1
    • Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro3,1
    • Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro4,1
    • Added Auto-Detect CPU to Advanced Options -> smbios.plist -> MacPro5,1
    • Fixed all Mac Pro smbios.plists to have valid system-identifiers for each model serial number
    • Changed EasyBeast smbios.plist to MacPro3,1 Auto-Detect CPU
    • Changed UserDSDT smbios.plist to MacPro3,1 Auto-Detect CPU
    If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan

    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    HDMI Audio + Video Solutions


    It's now possible to get HDMI digital audio + video outputs working on your custom build.  The trick is to get a supported graphics card.  Here are a few methods to enable HDMI audio + video using an NVIDIA GT 220 or GT 240 graphics card with a Gigabyte motherboard.  

    NOTE: Since the NVIDIA GT 220 or GT 240 has its own audio chip, you may lose audio functionality with your current onboard audio solution.

    UPDATE: The Easy Method also works for the NVIDIA 430, 450, 460, 465, 475, and 480, since they also have an onboard audio chip.  Advanced Method is not working.

    Easy Method: VoodooHDA + Graphics Enablers
    Enabling video is the first step.  You may use any of the methods described in this article: Enable Full Graphics Card Acceleration.

    With VoodooHDA, a complete replacement audio solution, you can use your HDMI device without any further configuration.  To test, install a VoodooHDA version through MultiBeast.  Since some of these drivers are experimental, you may get kernel panics on install and with use.  In my own experience, VoodooHDA 0.2.1 and 0.2.56 work best for the GT 240.  You'll find upon reboot that in Audio/Midi Setup and System Preferences there are 4 Digital Options- the second one works for HDMI audio out.

    Advanced Method: AppleHDA + DSDT Graphics
    Using the default AppleHDA is also possible, with HDMI identified as built-in.  You can configure the NVIDIA GT 240 to use the native AppleHDA.kext for your HDMI solution independent of any onboard audio chip.  This method is considerably more advanced.

    NOTE: Use 10.6.4 AppleHDA or earlier, 10.6.5 or later will NOT work with this method.

    STEP 1: ENABLE GRAPHICS THROUGH DSDT
    Configure your graphics card without kexts, Chameleon's GraphicsEnabler or EFI strings using the following article as a guide: Advanced DSDT Fixes: NVIDIA Graphics.  GT 240 users can skip this step.

    STEP 2: ADD HDMI AUDIO TO DSDT
    Next, we'll add HDMI audio edits to the graphics section of our DSDT.
    1. Download and open DSDT-GT240+HDMI.dsl using DSDTSE
    2. Open your DSDT.aml
    3. Type Device (PCI0) in the search box to return to your previous graphics edit.
    4. Compare and copy/paste the information as necessary.  NOTE: GT 240 owners can copy/paste the entire section including the full graphics code,
    5. Compile and save your new DSDT.aml
    6. Paste to /Extra/ as DSDT.aml
    STEP 3: REMOVE ALL EXISTING GRAPHICS ENABLERS
    You must now remove all Enablers, GraphicsEnabler=Yes, and EFI Strings from your system to test the new injection.
    1. Open /Extra/Extensions and /System/Library/Extensions
    2. Delete any graphics enabler kexts in both locations such as NVEnabler or ATY_init.
    3. Open /Extra/Extensions/ and open com.apple.boot.plist in TextEdit
    4. Delete any EFI String information and GraphicsEnabler=Yes
    5. Save com.apple.boot.plist
    STEP 4: PATCH APPLEHDA BINARY
    In order to use AppleHDA.kext for HDMI audio, GT 240 users will need to patch the HDMI audio device id from the standard 0x10DE000A to 0x10DE000D using a Hex editor.  GT 220 users can skip this step. 
    1. Make sure you're updated to the latest version of Mac OS X. 
    2. Navigate in Finder to /System/Library/Extensions
    3. Copy your AppleHDA.kext to Desktop
    4. Download and install Hex Fiend
    5. Right click on AppleHDA.kext and choose Show Package Contents
    6. Navigate to /Contents/MacOS/
    7. Copy AppleHDA to Desktop
    8. Right click on AppleHDA and choose Open With…
    9. Choose Hex Fiend
    10. Type Command-F to bring up Find and Replace menubar
    11. Copy and paste 0A 00 DE 10 in Find
    12. Copy and paste 0D 00 DE 10 in Replace
    13. Click Replace All
    14. Save AppleHDA
    15. Go back to your previously opened ~/Desktop/AppleHDA.kext
    16. Right click on AppleHDA.kext and choose Show Package Contents
    17. Navigate to /Contents/MacOS/
    18. Delete AppleHDA
    19. Copy and paste AppleHDA from Desktop to /Contents/MacOS/
    20. Download KextBeast
    21. Run KextBeast to install the new AppleHDA.kext and rebuild caches.
    22. Reboot
     Credit to tmonkgol at Insanelymac.  Hope this works for you!

    -tonymacx86
    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    MultiBeast 3.1 Update

    Today MultiBeast was updated to version 3.1.  The latest version is now available at tonymacx86.com/downloads.

    Please do not upload or redistribute MultiBeast to any other sites.   
    Full list of changes:
    • Added ATI 48xx Patch for 10.6.6
    • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - Prerelease (trunk) to r699
    • Updated Chameleon 2.0 RC5 - ATI Experimental (Kabyl branch) to r700
    • Replaced fakesmc 2.5.0 with FakeSMC 3.1.0. 
    • Added to Drivers & Bootloaders -> Kexts & Enablers -> Miscellaneous -> FakeSMC Plugins.  This installs the following FakeSMC plugins in /Extra/Extensions: ACPIMonitor.kext, IntelThermal.kext and SuperIOFamily.kext.  Additional plugins can be found at Project OS X.  Credit to Slice and netkas.  
    • Updated ALC8xxHDA to version 1.0.1. This version restores Green Line Out and Headphone functionality to how Legacy8xx works.
    • Added bdmesg command line tool as part of all Chameleon installs.
    If this utility has helped you, please consider a contribution to support further MultiBeast development.  Thanks in advance, and enjoy!

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan

    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

    How To Get iBoot Functionality From MultiBeast

    One of the top questions on the forum these days seems to be how to get the functionality of iBoot when booting from the hard drive. For novices, it seems like the process ends after the Combo Update. But iBoot was designed as an installation tool only- not as a permanent solution for post-installation. It is NOT a boot crutch. By using it as such, you are limiting the functionality and upgradeability of your system. Fortunately, MultiBeast contains the same drivers and files as iBoot and can allow most things to work without using a DSDT.

    We created MultiBeast to solve the post-installation problem. When installed, the following MultiBeast options will allow boot from a 1 TB or less hard drive or partition, universal audio, network, and graphics. These are not the only drivers available, and may not give optimized performance. However, these options will allow you to be rid of iBoot as a boot crutch.

    ATI Graphics


    NVIDIA Graphics
    To benefit from our most recommended and DSDT-optimized solutions for post-installation, submit a CustomBeast request. If your build has compatible hardware, we'd be happy to build you a personalized customized post-install solution.

    Good luck, and see you on the forum!

    -tonymacx86 & MacMan
    For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!