Music/DVD Collection Questions

[bigaudiofanatic]

So with my collect of music and movies reaching into the 200's and all. I had a few questions about what other people do. I see that a lot of people buy the box sets of the artist. Now for things like the eagles I am all for it. But for things like genesis I am not sure about getting over 30 cd's of them. I just bought the best of 3 disk collection. Now do you buy the box set just because or because you will be listening to all the cd's?

Also for alphabetizing the music and all do you sort by the artist or movie name starting the "the, it, I and so on" or do you start it with things like Christmas vacation?

I start my music collection with the first name of the artist.

Also how do YOU organize the music and dvd box sets? Do you put them under music or under movies?

I know I will probably get an assured number of ways to do it, but I was wondering what others did.

[janmike]

I use Music Collector to organize the CD's. Great software and better than the database I was building. Physically, they are stored in oak CD holders in alphabetical order. The SACD's and most often listen to are all separated into two separate CD holders.

[vc69]

I don't own many box sets, but I plan to get a few. Mostly of bands that I own little to nothing of. For instance, I don't own any Who at all, don't know why, just hasn't happened. But I love The Who, so as a completest, I will probably purchase a box set. Same with the Beetles sets (though I have a few of theirs).

I have not considered a database, but maybe someday when I'm retired. I have other things to do.

I have dedicated CD racks and DVD shelving. My stuff is grouped but not alphabetized. I think when alphabetizing, you should definitely follow the convention record stores use. Last name of individual, or first name of band disregarding the "The" in the name. IIRC.

[bigaudiofanatic]

My database for my music is itunes considering all my cd's are ripped lossless into it I can easily find what I want or just go to the cd rack. I agree with getting a few box sets I am looking into getting Elton John, Journey, and maybe a few others. That brings me to another collection a lot of box sets are odd shaped and do not fit on a cd rack. Do you have your box sets separate from others?

[zombie boy 2000]

I listen to so many of my CD's that there really is no rhyme or reason as to how I organize them. Suffice it to say, I don't (in the traditional sense). Of course... in the hour it takes me to locate a particular CD, I've already found ten more to which I'd rather listen.

[bigaudiofanatic]

LOL I hope to get to that point some day, right now I am taking it one cd at a time. The case holds 125 dvd's and is full right now I have to get a bigger one. I have them in there for right now until I get a bigger shelf which I asked for Christmas.

[bigaudiofanatic]

I listen to so many of my CD's that there really is no rhyme or reason as to how I organize them. Suffice it to say, I don't (in the traditional sense). Of course... in the hour it takes me to locate a particular CD, I've already found ten more to which I'd rather listen.

I use to be just like that, until I started using my computer. But I still like to get things organized.

[concealer404]

I listen to so many of my CD's that there really is no rhyme or reason as to how I organize them. Suffice it to say, I don't (in the traditional sense). Of course... in the hour it takes me to locate a particular CD, I've already found ten more to which I'd rather listen.

I'm the same way.... I've been thinking about getting a couple GOOD quality 300-400 changers and hooking them through a DAC and just using that for the majority of my listening. Turn it all on shuffle, and enjoy.

[bigaudiofanatic]

That is what my neighbors use to do before they ripped all their music and used an apple tv. They enjoy their music a lot more and they can find a song a lot faster.

[BlueFox]

I gave up trying to keep CDs and DVDs organized. For whatever reason, it seems as if disorder is the natural state of the universe.

[bigaudiofanatic]

LOL not me once I get them organized they stay that way.

[steveinaz]

I use MS excel to catalog music and movies. Music is divided by genre, movies by format first (either BluRay or SDVD) then by category (such as western, horror, etc). It can be sorted however you like. My movies have fields for Format/Title/Category/Rating(PG/R/G); my music is by Artist/Title/Sound Quality rating. I use a 5 * rating scheme like this for CD's, based soley on sound quality, not content:

* Poor
** Fair
*** Good
**** Excellent
***** Reference (resevered for the best of the best)

[bigaudiofanatic]

I use MS excel to catalog music and movies. Music is divided by genre, movies by format first (either BluRay or SDVD) then by category (such as western, horror, etc). It can be sorted however you like. My movies have fields for Format/Title/Category/Rating(PG/R/G); my music is by Artist/Title/Sound Quality rating. I use a 5 * rating scheme like this for CD's, based soley on sound quality, not content:

* Poor
** Fair
*** Good
**** Excellent
***** Reference (resevered for the best of the best)

dang that sounds like it takes a while to type in your stuff and so on.

[Tony M]

Of course... in the hour it takes me to locate a particular CD, I've already found ten more to which I'd rather listen.

That happens to me too.:D

[mmadden28]

I don't have enough CDs to really have multiple sort levels, but if I did, I'd do it just like they do it in all the stores that sell CDs, sort by Genre, then Artist/Band name. Right now I just sort by Genre and maybe my like for the album.

I used to keep CD and SACDs separate but I don't bother anymore.

To me, Box sets deserve their own space regardless of genre - again I don't have much of them.

Music Video DVDs and such also qualify for their own space - not mixed with the Audio only - They go with the movies.

For movies, I first separated my kids movies from mine. Then I broke them up by Genre. For some reason I kind of made Disney movies they're own Genre. I put the less interesting movies further back, and the ones I plan to watch sooner rather than later toward the front. They're in like a drawer - if on a vertical shelf less desirable movies go towards the bottom. I arrange them so that if a visitor were looking for something, they will see something that I might be interested in watching first, I woudl guess they won't go to the back or the bottom shelf first, and doubt they would get that far anyway when starting at the front/top.
I don't sort them by title or anything. I really do need to catalog them though - more than once I found that I bought duplicates not realizing I already had it. (Duh!).

[bigaudiofanatic]

^^ WOW that would be a lot of sorting.

[Norm Apter]

BAF,

With regard to organizing physical units, I used to place everything on the rack in alphabetical order (by group/artist last name). That was back in the 90s. When I moved cross country in 2000 I left most of my cases and artwork, putting all CDs in Logitech cases in alphabetical order. But for CDs I've picked up since 2000, I usually just bunch CDs by groups I like the most from left side and work my way right, but dividing these layers by genre -- jazz and rock. This makes finding them relatively easy.

Box sets that are a little bulkier than your average CD, though, go flush left. Some box sets don't fit on the CD layers so I put them up with the DVDs. (i.e. The Beatles, John Coltrane). The one big thorn in my organizing side is the Hendrix (oblong) box...I still have no idea where to place it, as seen below. The shelves on this rack are adjustable, but its quite a process, and something I haven't got around to recently.

[bigaudiofanatic]

Looks good man! I figured in 3 years I will have over 500 cd's at the rate I am getting new cd's.

[madmax]

I gave up trying to keep CDs and DVDs organized. For whatever reason, it seems as if disorder is the natural state of the universe.

Agreed.

[bigaudiofanatic]

Why would you give up keeping things organized? Just curious I mean mine does get out of order once in a while but I put it back in every so often.

[Gadabout]

I gave up on Jewel Cases long ago, way too bulky. For the CD collection I use XG ViewPaks from Univenture.
(Take a look at the the gallery tab for a better idea of how they work)

It takes a little bit of work, but for me I really appreciate not having to use as much space. The ViewPak holds the liner notes and I also take out the back of the CD that has the song listings, cut to size and put that in. The overall result is about 1/3 the size of a jewel case.

In the back left, you can see the CD rack.
It's not full and has about 800 individual CD's. The are filed alphabetically by artist for the most part.

For the box sets, I use Disc Wallets, again from Univenture. I keep the liner notes and any other special goodies from the box set in a separate box. I probably only have 15 or so box sets.

For DvD's, you guessed it another Univenture product. I use DvD 3 ring Binders. (Again take a look at the gallery tab). Back in the Day most DvD's also use to come with a little book like liner notes. Now, it is a rare occasion. I usually just cut the front cover to size and put it in the sleeve to identify the movie. (Folding would work too if you wanted to keep all the movie information intact)

In the book cases you will notice all the binders. They are also sorted alphabetically by movie title.

So when I get a new movie, I just grab a sleeve, put the DvD in it and file it where it goes.

For awhile, I was all about the display and how it looked. After getting so many CD's and DvD's it became more about proper storage in a finite place and looking reasonably good.

I just placed another order tonight for supplies. They started offering DvD binders in different colors so standard DvD's in Black, HD DvD's in Brown and Blu ray's in Blue.

I also have a couple of these cases....

I used to store the CD's in these before I bought the house. It was just easier that way. Each one holds 400 CD's

Storage was also an issue because I had about 350 VHS tapes that I just recently got rid of before I moved.

Not for everyone, but it works for me.
Scott

[bigaudiofanatic]

I like to display mine not hide them away.

[debussyj]

I also display my CD's, DVD's and Blu-rays. I've got over 1,000 CD's alone. I have two huge storage units with sliding glass doors. My stuff is alphabetized and the funny thing is in all these years, I've never bought the same CD twice! I do have a good portion of the music ripped onto my MacMini server, but I'm still a lover of having the physical CD, especially since I paid for it. Just my way. Best of luck with your collection!

[bigaudiofanatic]

Thanks here is mine as of right now. I need to get a new cd shelf as almost all of my movies are now just stacked besides the shelf I have now.

[bigaudiofanatic]

Another thing I just though of as I look at my autographs. Does anyone do anything special with the cd's and photos that they get autographed? I have my autographed cds with the rest.