AudioShell User Reviews
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"Does what I need - Insert Title"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
I have not explored all the features. However, the extension in Win explorer to insert/change the song Title works like a charm. I have not tried the Group feature yet. After installing, I restarted Windows Explorer and navigated to an MP3 folder, listed in Details, sorted by Title. Then I right click on the ones I want to change the title and enter it under Audioshell Tag Editor. This is great. Now when I load them unto my iPad - they won't show up as Track01, Track 02, etc.
Cons
None so far.
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"EXCELLENT! Perhaps a limitation or two"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
See below.
Cons
See below.
Summary
AudioShell meets the need in between MP3 Collector and Music Collector (by collectorz.com).
After many hours of pulling my hair out, I finally figured out why certain jpg files were unacceptable to Audioshell to add as album art. It has nothing to do with the resolution or the size of your graphic. And it has nothing to do with exif info, either (I thought that was the culprit at first.) If you've had trouble adding certain jpg files as album art, this may be the problem. It seems that Audioshell only accepts jpg files which are technically jpeg files, even though jpeg files still have the 3-letter extension, jpg. The vast majority of jpgs on the internet seem to be the basic jpg format and not the jpeg format. So, if you have a basic jpg file, and you want to use Audioshell to add it as album art, you need to first convert your jpg to a jpeg.
PROS:
1. It does what it was designed to do, and more! Not only does it allow you to add album art to certain audio files, but to certain video files as well!
2. Results can be seen immediately. Since you're already in Windows Explorer, once AudioShell has finished doing its work, you may see the results immediately in the tags in Windows Explorer.
CONS:
1. It will not allow you to use any photos that have "Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery" in the "Program Name" tag of the photo, for album art.
2. While you may select as many files at a time as you wish and right click on them and choose "Properties" to edit any tag(s) in all the files, you may NOT go down that same list and customize any tag(s) for certain files; in other words, whatever tag(s) you edit, that change will be applied to the whole batch. Whereas, in programs such as MP3 Collector (Collectorz.com), you may load a group of files to be edited and then edit each one individually, as the program automatically brings up the next file to be edited (based on the list you choose). With AudioShell, on the other hand, you must right-click each file (or each batch of files) and choose "Properties", which can be a bit tedious if, for example, you want to edit each successive track number on a CD, from 1-10. To do that in AudioShell, you must right click on Track #1, choose "Properties," edit the track number, click OK, then do that for each of the other 9 tracks. To do the same thing in MP3 Collector, you simply load all 10 tracks, then edit the first track, hit ALT-N (for Next track in the list), and now you'd be editing the second track, and so on. For that procedure, MP3 Collector would be far more efficient. But MP3 Collector doesn't allow you to add album art. Music Collector (also by collectorz.com) does allow you to add album art to mp3s, but it's a bit more complicated, as you must first add your mp3s to a database.
3. You must click "OK" with your mouse; you may not hit "Enter" to select "OK."
4. Once you click "OK" to edit your files, you must wait until it is finished before you may start to edit the tags of any other files. This process can take a while, (5-10 minutes or more, depending on how many and the size of your files), which means you must wait that long before choosing another batch of files to edit.
Updated on Apr 14, 2012
Updated on Apr 14, 2012Most graphic programs, unfortunately, save as jpg, not jpeg ("Photoshop," "Gimp", "PhotoImpression", "PictureIt," "Paint," "CorelDraw," etc.) But I found one program that does save (or convert existing jpg files) to the jpeg format, and that is Nero PhotoSnap Viewer. Simply open your basic jpg file in Nero PhotoSnap Viewer, click on "Edit," then click on "Save As," and choose the default option, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). Then use that new file in Audioshell, and it should accept it for your album art!
Updated on Apr 14, 2012If you don't have Nero, there is another workaround, although it doesn't accomplish the exact same thing. There is a little file called SetWMVThumbnailImage.exe (http://zunetips.wordpress.com/category/dvrmstoolbox) which will allow you to use even a basic jpg as album art. You can use this utility to add album art to mp3s as well as wmvs. But although it will add a basic jpg file as album art to your file, you still won't be able to see that album art if you view the properties of that file in Audioshell. (Audioshell is picky not only about what it writes, but what it displays.) You'll only see the album art when you play the file in a media player. Another program, tag&rename, will also allow you to add virtually any type of graphic as album art, but again, Audioshell won't display it unless it's a proper jpeg file. So if you really want to see the album art in Audioshell, you'll have to use the first solution I gave above and use only jpeg files, not the more common jpg files. -
"Insufficient instructions, does not do the promised job"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
not encountered
Cons
just in case, I followed the instructions as carefully as possible several times, I could not even reach the fist step to work as explained in the read.me guide, since nothing of the promised features showed up ever.
Summary
Make sure, its working on every system, or else, declare under which environment the application might not work
Vista Home Premium on Acer Aspire 5315 with Intel Celeron 1.73 GHz -
"32-bit only?"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
Sounds great.
Cons
Nothing happens when installed on 64-bit versions of XP or 7.
Summary
Unable to test.
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"Adds some handy info to file properties"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
Simple to use. Just right click and select properties.
Very handy to keep added info with any audio file.Cons
Like to see a preview button, so I can hear a file when selected.
Also a way to sort files by keywordSummary
Neat little app
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"won't activate / turn on"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
Sound good in concept
Cons
Won't install.
Summary
Tried unsuccessfully for ~2 hours to get this to install properly -- so that it actually "turns on". I'm a reasonably savvy home PC user, so this was no bone-headed fizzle. Something in this code is balking. Oh well.
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"Lovely! It works!"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
It does everything it is supposed to and does it better than anything else.
Cons
There are no cons.
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"Koooool!
easy to use"Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
simple and to the point
Cons
none that I can think of
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"AudioShell 1.3.5"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
This is the ONE im looking for! 3Q!
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"Neat & useful"
Version: AudioShell 1.3.5
Pros
Handy little extension that enables you to view & add further info to your music files in Explorer & which will automatically sync with MS Media Player as well. I have found it useful for adding lyrics & comments also.
Cons
Whilst it's handy to be able to add info in Explorer, if you use MS Media Player it's just as easy to use instead.
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