Detection of compilation albums

[Former user]

re: http://forum.serviio.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16482

Compilation albums are listed multiple times when the metadata field "partofcompilation" is set to "Yes" and Artist info is set for individual .m4a tracks. Using the package mp4v2 or some other tool to detect whether an album is part of a compilation is a possible solution.

[Former user]

Or, as a suggestion, maybe an even more simple work-around might be this as an 'option':

If the files are all in the same subfolder, then 1). Group them together under Folder view and 2). Group them together under Various Artists instead of individual artists when under Artist view (or is that Album Artist view?).

Could be a "Group Various Artists" selectable option in the console.

[Petr Nejedly]

Similar to #824

[Former user]

"Compilation albums are listed multiple times when the metadata field "partofcompilation" is set to "Yes" and Artist info is set for individual .m4a tracks"

there is no field partofcompilation. Its called "COMPILATION". "Part of compilation" is just the name in the gui of iTunes for editing that field. But technically iTunes uses a field with the name "COMPILATION" for that. Just open the file with mp3tag and you will see the correct field name.

[Former user]

Here is the simple solution (for iTunes users with .m4a files at least):

1). In iTunes, right-click the album cover. 2). Select Get Info. 3). You will be asked "Are you sure you wand to edit information for multiple items?". 4). Click "Edit Items". 5). On the next dialog box, click "Add field". 6). Select "Album Artists". 7). Enter "Various Artists" (or whatever you prefer). 8). Rescan Serviio's library.

ffmpeg now sees "album_artist" tag":

---

Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music/Compilations/Big Rock/1-03 The Boys Are Back In Town.m4a':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : M4A 
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: M4A mp42isom
    creation_time   : 2010-01-12 17:47:42
    title           : The Boys Are Back In Town
    artist          : Thin Lizzy
    album           : Big Rock
    genre           : Rock
    track           : 3/8
    disc            : 1/2
    date            : 1976
    gapless_playback: 0
    encoder         : iTunes 9.0.2.25, QuickTime 7.6.4
    **album_artist    : Various Artists**
  Duration: 00:04:44.21, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 283 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Audio: aac (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 281 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2010-01-12 17:47:42

EDITED: Sorted now. The above solution did actually work (I had file permission problems).

[Former user]

Resolved by adding "Album Artist" tag of "Various Artists" to affected albums (as a whole) in iTunes.

[Former user]

I wouldn't call it "resolved", its just a workaround. A dedicated "folder" in Serviio for "Compilations" would also be nice instead of list them together with regular albums.

[Petr Nejedly]

reopening for proper implementation

[Petr Nejedly]

Issue #824 was marked as a duplicate of this issue.

[Derek Babb]

Just as a comment, the "work around" works (using a tag editor) for m4a files, would you expect this work around to also be OK for other formats such as flac? My first experiment has failed, will try again later...