Freedb Temp
Freedb is the first database that kJams queries when you plug in a disc that has missing meta data.
Local versus Remote
kJams attempts to find the information about a disc using a local copy of the freedb database. (Local, as in on your computer.) If nothing is found, kJams will then attempt to reach the database over the internet. The local database is entirely optional, and most people should choose not to have the local database installed, as it is quite large and does not automatically stay up-to-date like the internet database. It does come in handy, however, if you plan to play discs when you do not have access to the internet. For example, if you're a Pro KJ and you're taking your laptop to a venue with no internet access.
You may also choose to run a freedb server on your LAN, which would be able to service any computer connected to it. Note that even though this would be technically "local" to you, for the purposes of kJams, this would be considered a "remote" or internet database.
Preferences
The databases that are searched for meta data was indicated under Preferences.
- Edit → Preferences → freedb
| Use freedb Online Database (checkbox) | This instructs kJams to search the freedb database via the internet. You must have an active internet connection for this to work. Note that kJams will always attempt to search the local database first, if one is present, even if this checkbox is checked. |
| Update List button | This causes kJams to contact the freedb (over the internet) in order to get a list of servers to use to search the database. It then puts this list into the popup menu (see "Site List Popup", below), replacing it's former contents. Keep in mind that this list can change periodically, I recommend pressing this button at least once a year to keep the list fresh. |
| freedb Site (text edit) | This is for Experts Only! This is where you can manually edit the URL that kJams will use to query the freedb. You can choose which site to query by entering it in this box. Note: 99% of users will never type in this box; this is only for expert users. What you probably want to do is use the "Site List Popup," see below. For example, you may choose to run a freedb server locally or on your LAN, or your company may do so. You can manually specify host, port and path. For example you could type "localhost:777/~freedb/path/to/db/cddb.cgi |
| Site List Popup (menu) | This menu contains a lsit of sites that kJams can use to query and submit. The freedb is not just in one place. It is spread out geographically in many countries, to help balance the load. Choose "Random freedb server" to have a different server used each time, or pick the one that is geographically closest to you. |
| Server Timeout, in Seconds)(number edit) | If you are on a slower internet connection, it may take some time before you are able to receive a response from the freedb server. In this case, try increasing the number of seconds to wait before
giving up. Default is 10 seconds. |
| Use MusicBrainz.org online database (checkbox) | This instructs kJams to search the MusicBrainz database via the internet IF freedb did not have meta data entries for the CD. |
| Use TrackType.org online database (checkbox) | This instructs kJams to search the TrackType database via the internet IF freedb and MusicBrainz did not have meta data entries for the CD. |
| Use KJPro™ Online Database (checkbox) | This instructs kJams to open a dialog for KJPro IF none of the other databases produced meta data for the CD. |
| Email Address (text edit) | When you submit a CD to the database, this address will be used to notify you if there is any problem with your submission; the nature of the problem is provided so that you can correct it and resubmit. |
Installing a Local Database
This is entirely optional. Skip this section if you don't care. You must download the full database. There are two options. PICK ONE!
Option 1: Mac .dmg The initial download is 1.2 GB. It is a pre-expanded, yet compressed sparse disk image file (and it's zipped). Don't worry if you don't know what that means; basically it'll always be about 1.6 GB (after unzipping), and it's ready to use as soon as you download, unzip and mount the image. (First time you mount, it is slow while it verifies, but you can "Skip" that.)
To download, click here (based on the March 2011 distribution).
To use it, just mount the disc image (double click it), then kJams will automatically find it. kJams will not automatically mount the image, but you can place the disc image into Apple → System Preferences → Accounts →(your account)→ Login Items. That way it will always be there even if you restart your computer.
Option 2: .tar.bz2 The initial download is only 466 MB large, but then it needs to be decompressed. Uncompressed it will take about 9 GB (that's Gigabytes). Decompressing can take several hours, and I've had it fail halfway through several times.
To download, go to the download page, and select a mirror site that is closest to you geographically (currently I see only Germany, but that list may expand later). Then find the file that says "freedb-complete-YyyyMmDd.tar.bz2" (where Yyyy is year, Mm is month and Dd is day—you want the most recent one, of course), and download it.
To use it, uncompress it to the location where you would like to keep it. It doesn't matter where you put the final folder; it is fine to keep it on an external or even a network volume. Once it is decompressed (and it takes more than an hour, by the way), you will have a main folder that contains sub folders with the familiar category names. Select this main folder in the finder and choose "Make Alias" from the file menu. Rename this alias "freedb". It must be named exactly that. Now, drag this alias into your "~/Music/kJams/" folder. Alternately, you could move (or decompress) the original to this location, and give the main folder the name "freedb".
