JB7 with newly fitted SSD. USB Menu "Upload albums"

[Iain]

message continues "Load all albums to HDD".

I may be missing it somewhere, but the JB7 paperwork I have looked at does not seem to have this message.  Is it new?

Anyway, what I wondered, now that I am set to do the uploading of music on a USB backup drive made on one of the B2s (FLAC files), will this loading of albums really work?

I need to get this right as restoring this music will take days, no doubt.

Best regards

Iain

[JFBUK]

Hi Iain,

are you certain that JB7 can play FLAC files ?

I recall that it did not do so originally, only WAV and MP3

John

[Daniel Taylor]

I'm confused by your post.  I'm trying to understand so I can be of help.

Did you replace the HDD in a JB7 with an SSD?  If I understand it correctly, the formatting and  software on a JB7 disk is proprietary.  How did you get the software onto the SSD?  I'm sure it can be done, but it would probably take a low level bit by bit copy from an existing JB7 HD to the new disk, which is something that most people wouldn't know how to do, but maybe you do.  (?)

Are you trying to load a backup from a B2 onto a JB7? Or from a JB7 onto a B2.  I think the JB7 is not able to play FLAC files.

Would you please give us some more details about your situation?

[Iain]

OK, guys, thanks for your interest,

The SSD has been purchased from Jon at audio tech in Mildenhall.

I fitted it to my old JB7 using the help of his youtube video.

JB7 has responded, lit up and gives access to info, albums I loaded as Cds. 

Of course, I read that JB7 does not play FLAC files, but:

(i) the instructions on the B2 480GB in the USB/JB7 part of the menu for backing up to the FAT32 Seagate 1TB do not indicate that copying the FLAC files off of the B2 (SSD) will be a problem.

(ii) Also when the filled Seagate drive is then plugged into the JB7 (with new SSD drive), the USB is given the "OK". 

(iii) However, in USB functions, on activating "restore music" (from USB menu) nothing happened.

I was hoping, perhaps, that maybe the FLAC files would maybe get converted during  the upload albums, mode.

If not, maybe you could let me know how to convert the FLAC files to WAV en masse, that are now on the B2 backup Seagate drive?

Again, many thanks for your interest and willingness to help.

Iain (dob 1945) 

[JFBUK]

Hi Iain,

dBpoweramp amongst others will do conversion in batches

https://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm

John

[Iain]

"On B2 menu->Main->USB Menu->JB7 Functions:

Backup to C  This function creates a backup that is compatible with the JB7.........Does a backup of the entire music collection to the drive in USB C....

[Iain]

OK, John.  Many thanks for that lead.

Iain

[JFBUK]

Hi Iain,

To answer your last backup question this thread my be of interest.

https://groups.google.com/g/brennanb2/c/oLAYD0D3W1Q

I believe the compatibility referred to in the menu function description is the folder naming and structure which is different on the JB7. Only one level for both artist and album.

John

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain,

I have gone through the process of copying my music from a B2 to a couple of JB7s, about 130GB/ 1500 albums and did find out one very important fact when using a USB or HDD to restore to a JB7.

That is when you format the USB or HDD to FAT32, the JB7 will see the USB/HDD, but due to a quirk in the JB7's workings, the JB7 cannot read the files off the USB/HDD.

I found that the way around this was to:

1.  Format the USB drive in the normal way (this isn't necessary if the devoice is already FAT32 formatted)

2.  Then plug the USB into the JB7 and wait for 'USB OK' message'.

3.  Select 'USB Functions' --> ''Backup music'

4.  Let the JB7 backup about 10 music files to the USB/HDD device.

5.  Stop the backup and unplug the USB/HDD device.

6.  Plug the USB/HDD into a PC.

7.  Using Windows Explorer select the USB/HDD device and go into 'hardfi' folder, then into the 'music' folder.

8.  In the 'music' folder,  select and delete all of the contents (so you now have an empty clean ''hardfi/music' folder set).

9.  Plug the USB/HDD device into your B2's USB C port.

10.  Run 'USB Functions' --> 'JB7 Functions' --> 'Backup to C' and let that run to completion.

11. Plug the USB/HDD device into the JB7.

12  On the JB7 run 'USB Functions' --> 'Restore music'.

13.  Let the restore run to completion.

The reason for doing the above is that the JB7 was designed in the Windows 95 era.  Whilst  the FAT32 format then and now are the same, there was a feature change inside the format (known as long file names)  which causes the JB7 to not recognise the 'hardfi' and 'music' folders.  By running through this process, because the JB7 has created the folders, then it will recognise those folders when the B2 backup is done into them.

Regards,

Peter.

[Iain]

John & Peter,

Hey, some guys you!

Many thanks, I will have to let the old brain absorb as much of this as I can!  I have gone into much deeper water than I anticipated.

Best wishes, both.

Iain

[Iain]

John,

I am into the changing FLAC to WAV just now, having downloaded the software you pointed out.

I think it is clear, that some software programs are more user friendly than others.

Regards
Iain

[Iain]

Well, I suppose your justified retort would be "Well, you did, arsk!!"

[Iain]

Peter,

I am up to item 10 on your list, however, I see that the Eric Coates (blush) files going across into the USB are FLACs.

Is that a problem?

I tried the file conversion software that John JFBUK sent me a link to and got failures every time.

No reason easily found, so I have had to surrender on that one.  Not your fault John.

Maybe you can answer the question about "does it matter that they are FLACS flying from the B2 to the USB when you get time.

Cheers

Iain 

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain,

The B2's FLAC files will be restored onto the JB7 without any issues other than they won't play.  Other files such as JPGs and PDFs will also transfer without causing problems.

However, FLAC files are very large and therefore will take a long time to restore. 

What might be useful to do now is to stop the 'Backup to C' function and transfer the USB unit to the JB7.  Then check that the 'Restore music' function now works correctly.

Then transfer the USB unit back to the B2 and restart the 'Backup to C' function.  It is incremental so this will start up from where it left off.

You posted elsewhere some details of your collection which would indicate that a JB7 Restore will take about 7 days with the FLAC files present.

Regards,

Peter.

[Iain]

Peter,

I have done the first half of your instructions and, needless to say, you are quite correct.

Restore music from USB to JB7 was working - I copied just under 2 albums and then played one.

Used headphones - which in retrospect might have proven very silly - beware folks!!!

Frank Sinatra?? Nope, but a close up recording of Niagara Falls blasting out of a heavy metal bands stack!  Well and truly Flacked, I wiz!!

Right, Peter - they transferred but dont play, just as you said - well not in the way one would want!

So, will have to think again.

Maybe I will just have to do the Desert Island Discs thing viz:

"If you had to reload your Brennan JB7 - which you used to love so much - which ten Cds would you select?"

Regards

Iain

[PMB]

Hi Guys

Shouldn't Iain be using dbpoweramp to convert from FLAC to MP3, rather than WAV?

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Iain]

Hi, Paul & co.

Was hoping to convert FLAC to WAV.  Never use MP3.  Just my thang.

Unfortunately I found dbpoweramp particularly unfriendly to me.  

Currently using Switch. 

Best regards

Iain

[Iain]

Guys,

Currently (and overnight) have been converting to WAV and normalising -  FLAC files on B2 backup USB hard drive.

About 73% completed of c1500 albums in FLAC.   

Above is screenshot of Explorer showing drive G "music" folder extract containing track details for one album by "ABC".

A snag I will next have to overcome is that the program has saved both the WAV conversion and the original FLAC version.

If I am able to delete the FLACs somehow, maybe I am well on the way to having a good collection of WAV music to be restored by the JB7 with its new 500GB SSD drive?

Any comments on how best to proceed?

Firstly, in theory, filtering out the FLACs would seem likely to be easy, but I bow to the greater knowledge of one of you well-versed engineer/IT Samaritans.

Regards

Iain

[Den Anderson]

Hi Iain,

On the right hand side of the Windows Explorer window there is a Search box. Click on your 'music' directory and put *.FLAC in the box. This will list all the FLAC files in all sub-directories. You can now either select them all and press Delete, or select them and move them somewhere else.

Cheers,

Den

[Iain]

Thanks for that Den.  Sounds like just the thing.

By the way, all, the handful of missing tracks on the ABC album were intentionally and preferentially deleted by me some months/years ago. 

Get back to this thread later with, maybe, a fruitful conclusion in sight.

Iain

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain,

You are using 'Switch', and I am not familiar with that product; I use dBpoweramp for my conversions, but I'm sure that they are similar in operation.

An aspect that needs to be considered here and acted on is as follows.

The 'WAV' tracks need to be stored in a completely flat file by which I mean in your example:

The WAV tracks are currently in:   \ABC\The Lexicon Of Love II\ <wav tracks>      i.e.  this is a two level file which the JB7 cannot process.

It needs to be a single level in the form of:    \ABC   The Lexicon Of Love\ <wav tracks>

   Note that the artist name and the album name are one level and the space between 'ABC' and 'The' must be exactly 3 spaces, otherwise the JB7 will not restore the album. 

Switch should be able to read the artist/album from one folder set and write the WAV output into a new folder which has been configured to create the correct <Artist   Album>  naming and format.

Regards,

Peter.

[Iain]

Well, after much faffing, deleting FLACS, copying WAVS, eliminating duplicates, etc, I now have what the JB7 indicates in "Browse Albums" (USB) over 1000 files.

Whether these are all albums, I am not certain.   I did call the top folder "hardfi" more in hope than anything, but when I pressed "Restore Music" in USB functions on the JB7 nothing happened.

It does look as if the JB7 would be able to play the WAV albums/tracks from the USB via the JB7, but that is not the purpose of the mission.

Peter's last sentence above gave me hope that something could be done with the WAV files, but that step is beyond any computer skills I have at the moment.

Best regards

Iain

[Daniel Taylor]

Hi Iain,

Did you follow Peter's detailed instructions (above) about how to create a restore disk that the JB7 would be happy with?  Apparently, the hardfi and music folders must be created by the JB7 itself so it will recognize them.

And have you combined the Artist name and Album name into one folder?

[Iain]

Daniel,

Just hoping to proceed further into that now - subject to Peter's reply to my latest question.

Peter,

 At point “9.” In your list – is it OK if the B2 is holding a disk full of FLAC  files that I will be backing up into the USB via the B2’s C port?

 I ask, because that is my situation now.  If your answer is “yes” or “it can be”, presumably these FLACS are converted to WAV when they are restored into the JB7?

 

Best Regards

Iain

[Iain]

Hey, guys, I was able to answer my question by analysing the contents of the JB7's couple of albums it was holding.  WAV converted from FLAC held, crucially, as  Peter so wisely indicated a couple of days ago, in a hardfi/music file.

Excellent result, it appears, Peter & Daniel!

So, "today I will mainly be...... allowing things to run, hopefully, to a satisfactory conclusion".  Will keep you posted.

Best regards and thanks again! 

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain,

No, the FLAC files will restore onto the JB7 but they will still be FLAC files, so they will not play on the JB7.  The FLAC files should be reoved from the backup device before you start the restore onto the JB7.

The 'Restore music' function just takes any file as it is on the backup device and writes it to the JB7 as it is.  No conversion of any sort is done.

Regards,

Peter.

[Iain]

Hi Peter, 

OK.  Very clear and understood.  Many thanks.

Unfortunately they are all FLAC files.

Back to the drawing board.

Regards

Iain

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain,

Sounds like you are getting there!

I have attached two screenshots of one of my JB7 backups which I hope will help you.

SS1 shows the album listing with the 'Artist_name   Album_name' and where I have highlighted is the gap of 3 spaces between the two names. Note that it is a single level folder; these folders must not contain any sub folders.

SS2 shows the contents of one of the album folders.  Mine show MP3 files, yours should show WAV files only.

Regards,

Peter.

[Iain]

Hi, Peter,

Thanks for the encouraging message.

Not seeing SS1 &2, though.

Regards

Iain

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain,

My fault; I forgot to attach the files so here they are now.

Regards,

Peter.

[Iain]

OK, thanks a lot for your prompt reply, Peter, am seeing the images.

In the meantime I have converted the 1952 tracks in FLAC format to WAV.

My next question would be, how do I get them into the desired format, or layout, required by the JB7?

Best regards

iain

[JFBUK]

Iain,

you can do this in Switch when you make the conversion from FLAC to WAV.

Unfortunately the tracks you have already converted you will have to rename the folders manually or re-convert but for any fresh ones...

In the Switch main window click Options on the menu bar

On the new window click on the Naming tab and choose Custom format

Type the text exactly as I have in this screenshot and your output will go into a folder for each album named and formatted as required and as shown in Peter's screenshots.

You can turn off the Access Internet database if you want

You need to tell Switch to create the new folders where you want them in the "Save to Folder' box on the main Switch window

[%artist%   %album%]\{%tracknumber% - %trackname%}

John

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain and John,

I was just setting Switch up when John posted above, so that is fortuitous!

I have taken a sample set of artists and albums in FLAC format and have run them through Switch, per the set up above.  The resulting albums and WAV files are now restoring from a USB drive onto one of my JB7s, so that is looking very good.

@Iain; Two points to make are:

1.  The restore of your collection in 'WAV' format is going to take about 230 hours, say 10 days.

2.  The volume of the WAV collection is going to be somewhere around 420GB, so the JB7 is going to be quite full.

Regards,

Peter.

[Iain]

Hi guys,

Running at point 10 of Peter's list again.

Been held up a bit by editing files.

One problem has been converting FLAC files to WAV.

The Switch program comes up with hundreds of "toc" and other bitty files like art and discid to be attended to.

Have seen toc at the end of each album's list of tracks before.

What is it and is it important?

Any advice you can offer, please?

Best regards

iain

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain,

The 'toc' files and 'discid' are not required, nor are 'id' files if you have these, so the best action is to delete/ remove these.  The JB7 cannot do anything with them.  A 'toc' file is 'table of content' data but is not required by either JB7 or B2.

Likewise the art files, don't transfer these over to the JB7 either.

A good rule that I stick to for the JB7 is to only transfer '.WAV' and '.MP3' files; nothing else will be recognised by the JB7.

Regards,

Peter.

[Iain]

OK, Peter,

As ever, perfect, detailed guidance, thanks and

Best regards

iain

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Iain,

No problem, you are now through the trickiest parts of the operation!

By coincidence, I am currently restoring to one of my JB7s which has suffered a HDD failure.  I have replaced the HDD and am now restoring onto the new HDD.

It does underline the importance of doing regular Backups/ Exports!

Regards,

Peter.