The next step is converting each processed WAV file into a set of music tracks that are then imported into the WMP music library. This process is supported using the following steps.
- Split the single WAV file into a number of separate music tracks (i.e. songs).
- Burn the set of selected tracks onto an audio CD.
- Import and compress the tracks from the audio CD into WMP.
- Capture album metadata, including album art.
The splitting of the WAV file into tracks requires some type of software application that is designed to do this, such as:
I personally used the Roxio Sound Editor application, since it the easiest-to-use tool for editing track boundaries and includes a very fast CD burning program. The Roxio RecordNow software also includes a program for creating CD case labels, which I also found useful.
Once the WAV file is split into tracks, use your favorite software application to burn the tracks to an audio CD. The audio CD is required to import the music initially into the WMP music library. Once the audio CD created, the album tracks can be imported into the WMP library using the WMP "Rip" function. Before ripping the first CD, the Rip Format must be selected to be “Windows Media Audio Lossless” so music quality isn't compromised during the compression process. The final size of the ripped album will be reduced by about a factor of two using this format.
As the audio CD is being ripped, right click the blank album art and select “Find Album Info”. Note that the PC must be connected to the Internet to search for album metadata and art. Enter the name of the artist, then select the album from the provided list. Once the album is selected, the song titles for the selected album will be automatically downloaded along with the album art. Occasionally, metadata and album art may not be available. The WMP also supports manual entry of album information and album art. Two others sources of album art if it isn’t automatically provided by the WMP is Amazon and Albumart.org. Simply search for an album then cut and paste the album art onto the blank album art icon in the WMP library. If you are unable to find the album art anywhere on the internet, it is also possible to take a digital photograph of the original album cover, then copy the art to the WMP library.
Although the main focus of this article has been directed toward getting vinyl music into the WMP library, the same import process is also used to transfer standard audio CD’s to the library. Note that when importing commercial CD’s, metadata and album art is sourced directly from the CD. If the album art for commercial CD’s is not included on the CD, use the same “Find Album Info” function that was used for the created CD’s.
Note that once a WMP library exists on one PC, it can be easily moved to a second PC, including all the meta data and album art using a standard file transfer process. Since the metadata files are treated as system files, it is necessary to configure the Windows file options such that system files are displayed. Selecting this option allows you to verify that all files, including metadata files, are properly copied. Once all of the files are copied and the WMP music library root directory is setup, the WMP will automatically compile the music library so it looks like the music library on the original PC. 