Issues with track grouping during import (ref#DOWFL1)

Support
1

What’s happening?

· Other

How can we help?

· None of the above

Other options

· Other

Describe the issue

Track grouping with import

Describe your network setup

iMac/Roon/Bluesound Node 2i

2

Hello @Peter_John_Leeds,

Thanks for reaching out. Could you please provide a bit more detail about the issue you’re seeing with track grouping during import?

For example — what exactly happens when you add tracks to the library, and how does it differ from what you expect?

This will help us understand the problem and suggest next steps.

3

Using Roon through a Bluesound Node 2i. 2017 iMac as server. On some albums that I either burn to the hard drive or get from a high res source (HDTracks or ProStudioMasters) once in a while there will be a track on the album that does not list with the album. 2 examples: Sting’s Nothing Like the Sun (192/24) but one track is by itself under a separate album title. Suzanne Vega’s Tried And True track 2, Tom’s Diner, is actually listed as by DNA feat. Suzanne Vega and is not with the album. How do you ensure when downloading or burning an album you ensure it is grouped by album title and not artist or composer. I think this is problem. I can’t find a way to select this option.

4

Curious if you got my response. I have tried with Roon to select how imported tracks are selected or sorted but I cannot make Album the default. Any help would be useful. Sorting by artist or composer doesn’t work and if you go with Various Artists that would be so full as to be painful to sort through.

5

Hi @Peter_John_Leeds,

Thanks for writing in and for sharing the additional information!

Roon identifies albums based on a combination of tags, not just the album title. The most important ones are:

  • ALBUM (or “Album Title”)
  • ALBUMARTIST
  • ARTIST
  • TRACKNUMBER
  • DISCNUMBER
  • FILE TAG CONSISTENCY
If one track, like “Tom’s Diner” (DNA feat. Suzanne Vega) has different metadata (e.g., different ALBUMARTIST or ALBUM tags), Roon thinks it’s from a different release or compilation and splits it off as a separate album.

One option you have is to check and fix tags before importing into Roon

Use a tag editor like:

  • Yate (macOS, very Roon-friendly)
  • Metadatics (macOS)
  • Mp3tag (Windows, works via Wine on Mac too)

Another option: Disable Roon’s Automatic Grouping

If you prefer Roon to trust your file tags completely:
  1. In Roon → Settings → Library → Import Settings
  2. Set “Prefer file” for “Album title,” “Artist,” and “Album Artist.”
  3. In the album view, you can also click ⋯ → Edit → Metadata Preference, then choose “Prefer File” for album-level info.

If you already see the issue:

  1. Go to the stray track’s album view.
  2. Click the ⋯ (three dots) menu → Edit → Merge Albums.
  3. Select both the main album and the stray track album, then merge.
  4. In the merge dialog, make sure the correct album title and artist are selected.
That usually solves it permanently, Roon will remember the merge and group them correctly.

Let me know if the above helps, thank you! :raising_hands:

6

Hi @Peter_John_Leeds,

Please let us know if we can assist further after trying the suggestions @benjamin shared above.

Here’s an article outlining how to merge albums step-by-step:

Thank you!

7

I looked into this on the weekend. I found that on the import settings on Roon all my options are “file” excusively. I go into the track and do the same adjustments and select “file” and it does not save.

I have tried “merge albums” but it doesn’t work. I will try further but it doesn’t respond. I know my iMac is a bit older but my Roon is always updated and should be able to do what you suggest.

fixing tags prior to Roon is new to me and adds another step I think unnecessary. I will try this last but will hope Roon will be able to correct this one way or another.

8

If you install SongKong and run a Status Report that should make it very easy to see if there are inconsistencies in your metadata such as differences in album title

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3afd43f5d29a786c371f302129d169ed308b2c131733×966 69.6 KB

9

Hello @Peter_John_Leeds

It might be helpful to have the file(s) for testing on our end as well, can please upload them here and let us know?

https://workdrive.zohoexternal.com/collection/nqcgjac23027d90a441bda2c314de49d7958a/external

10

Connor: upon closer inspection I found that if I go into the album and then edit and then album options I do not have a “Merge Album” option. I am not sure if the reason is that my iMac is 2017 but Merge is not an option I have. I will try to fix track grouping later and see how that goes.

11

HI @Peter_John_Leeds,

You’ll need both albums selected in order for the ‘Merge’ option to become available - let us know if that changes any behavior. Thank you! :folded_hands: