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  1. Since I've been wanting to reorganise my collection by composer rather alphabetically by album title, I'm curious to know what the lovely people here are doing to arrange all their precious CDs.

    I'm thinking about doing something like, to give you an example of putting the David Arnold's first, with his scores in alphabetical order, then followed by John Barry, and so on. I'm still not sure whether to put the albums in alphabetical order or by release date (so if I arrange the Arnold's it would be like putting Stargate before Independence Day, then Godzilla, then The World Is Not Enough and so on).

    Also, do you have compilation sitting separately somewhere, because with me they're just stuck in there between the normal releases. But just to find one is becoming a major hassle, and if I forget the name of the compilation it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. And my collection isn't even that big.

    So what's your idea of a good and clean organisation?
    "considering I've seen an enormous debate here about The Amazing Spider-Man and the ones who love it, and the ones who hate it, I feel myself obliged to say: TASTE DIFFERS, DEAL WITH IT" - Thomas G.
    • CommentAuthorJoep
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009
    I organizing my cd's by country of the composer.
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      CommentAuthorsdtom
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009
    I'm different and I prefer to go the route of organizing by the manufacturer. I need to remember the label which I can and it is relatively easy for me to find.
    Thomas
    listen to more classical music!
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      CommentAuthorErik Woods
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009 edited
    I have my collection organized by composer but it's rather random. I'd like to have it organized by composer alphabetically but I like to keep my Williams Horner, Goldsmith, Giacchino, JNH, Gerhardt, Kunzel close together. Ever since I started collecting those composer have always sat next to one another. Don't ask why. The rest is spread out by composer but I keep a piece of graph paper with a hand drawn version of my shelving unit with the location of all my music on it. If I need to find my Kamen, I look at the sheet and it tell me where on the wall the Kamen's are. Plus, I also use index cards with the composers name on it!

    There are some exceptions. My entire Naxos/Marco Polo collection is together on one shelf and all my FSM's on together on one shelf. No idea why I did it that way.

    -Erik-
    host and executive producer of THE CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO PODCAST | www.cinematicsound.net | www.facebook.com/cinematicsound | I HAVE TINNITUS!
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      CommentAuthorDemonStar
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009
    Organized by composer currently, makes them much easier to find.
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009 edited
    This is a topic that appears with regular intervals in the film score world, especially over at FSM. It has to be said that I play my collection mostly through iTunes these days (as I've transferred all my CD's there), but I still have this neatly organized shelf system in front of me - part furniture, part statement of who I am. I have somewhere between 900 and 1000 CD's in total.

    It's basically broken down like this:

    1) First soundtracks. There's the "composer sections", which means that I have a considerable amount of CD's of the same composer, so they get their own section. Each section is in chronological order (insert joke here!). John Williams, Danny Elfman, Elliot Goldenthal (these three are complete!), Goldsmith, Horner, Silvestri, Zimmer, Bernstein, Newton Howard, Poledouris, Arnold, Doyle, Kamen and Waxman. Then soundtracks organized alphabetically by title, then composer compilations by composer name, then "various" compilations by title.

    2) Classical music, alphabetical by composer, except the massive Harmonia Mundi 30-CD box, which is at the end.

    3) Electronic music, first by artists of which I have lots of stuff (Oakenfold, Jarre, Vangelis, Shpongle, Juno Reactor, Infected Mushroom), then various.

    4) Pop/rock, first by artists of which I have lots of stuff (Supertramp, Alan Parsons Project, Pink Floyd, Oingo Boingo, Manfred Mann's Earthband, Rammstein), then various in alphabetical order by artist.

    That's it, basically. Here's a picture.

    I'm sure it sounds very anal to most people, but it works for me. I wouldn't necessarily say that it's the best system for everyone else.
    I am extremely serious.
    • CommentAuthorTimmer
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009
    Alphabetically by composer starting with David Arnold, Malcolm Arnold, John Barry etc etc.

    There are exceptions, James Bond scores are in order of movie ( Dr. No, Russia With Love, Goldfinger etc ) with Bond compilations and oddities such as Burt Bacharach's Casino Royale all lined up after the last Bond album ( Quantum of Solace ). The same goes for Star Trek soundtracks.
    On Friday I ate a lot of dust and appeared orange near the end of the day ~ Bregt
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      CommentAuthorsdtom
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009
    I think a lot of it is how we get use to what we have. Having all the Marco Polo/Naxos together is so easy for me. I can find what I need in seconds.
    listen to more classical music!
    •  
      CommentAuthorBregt
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009
    I order by randomness ... euhm mess.
    Kazoo
  2. Bregt wrote
    I order by randomness ... euhm mess.


    We'll see how you'll find anything in your mess if your collection is 100+ and counting, Bregt biggrin

    I need organisation in my stuff, else I just don't function properly.

    Erik Woods wrote
    The rest is spread out by composer but I keep a piece of graph paper with a hand drawn version of my shelving unit with the location of all my music on it. If I need to find my Kamen, I look at the sheet and it tell me where on the wall the Kamen's are. Plus, I also use index cards with the composers name on it!

    -Erik-


    Well judging by the photos of your collection I once saw, you kinda have to do it like that. cheesy

    Thor wrote
    I'm sure it sounds very anal to most people, but it works for me. I wouldn't necessarily say that it's the best system for everyone else.


    Everyone's entitled to their system. That's why it's great to see so many different ones. It's all about the one that works for yourself.

    Timmer wrote
    Alphabetically by composer starting with David Arnold, Malcolm Arnold, John Barry etc etc.

    There are exceptions, James Bond scores are in order of movie ( Dr. No, Russia With Love, Goldfinger etc ) with Bond compilations and oddities such as Burt Bacharach's Casino Royale all lined up after the last Bond album ( Quantum of Solace ). The same goes for Star Trek soundtracks.


    I'm thinking to go with this system, which seems more my style. By composer, then alphabetically, but keeping Star Trek albums in their respective composer spots, compilations go last, then I'll have a special place for videogame based scores, which are essentially a genre in themselves, and of which I have quite a bunch too. cool
    "considering I've seen an enormous debate here about The Amazing Spider-Man and the ones who love it, and the ones who hate it, I feel myself obliged to say: TASTE DIFFERS, DEAL WITH IT" - Thomas G.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteven
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    Bregt wrote
    I order by randomness ... euhm mess.


    Is euhm a Belgian thing?
    •  
      CommentAuthorsdtom
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    I'm making a point of truly organizing since I'm basically starting over.
    listen to more classical music!
    •  
      CommentAuthorEric
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    My collection is organized by composer .
    Except my Varèse CDs , I've put those all together in one section .
    "Simplicity is the key to brilliance"
    • CommentAuthorTimmer
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    Eric wrote
    My collection is organized by composer .
    Except my Varèse CDs , I've put those all together in one section .


    I've thought of doing this in the past. So many albums I have that I can find just by looking at distinctive spines.
    On Friday I ate a lot of dust and appeared orange near the end of the day ~ Bregt
    •  
      CommentAuthorsdtom
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    It works for me especially with Marco Polo, Chandos, Varese, FSM.
    listen to more classical music!
    •  
      CommentAuthorDemetris
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    Easy.






    P.S. Erik, i am sure that you're keeping all those composers together 'cause you essentially play nothing else tongue
    Love Maintitles. It's full of Wanders.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSunil
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    This is a topic that appears with regular intervals in the film score world, especially over at FSM. It has to be said that I play my collection mostly through iTunes these days (as I've transferred all my CD's there), but I still have this neatly organized shelf system in front of me - part furniture, part statement of who I am. I have somewhere between 900 and 1000 CD's in total.

    It's basically broken down like this:

    1) First soundtracks. There's the "composer sections", which means that I have a considerable amount of CD's of the same composer, so they get their own section. Each section is in chronological order (insert joke here!). John Williams, Danny Elfman, Elliot Goldenthal (these three are complete!), Goldsmith, Horner, Silvestri, Zimmer, Bernstein, Newton Howard, Poledouris, Arnold, Doyle, Kamen and Waxman. Then soundtracks organized alphabetically by title, then composer compilations by composer name, then "various" compilations by title.

    2) Classical music, alphabetical by composer, except the massive Harmonia Mundi 30-CD box, which is at the end.

    3) Electronic music, first by artists of which I have lots of stuff (Oakenfold, Jarre, Vangelis, Shpongle, Juno Reactor, Infected Mushroom), then various.

    4) Pop/rock, first by artists of which I have lots of stuff (Supertramp, Alan Parsons Project, Pink Floyd, Oingo Boingo, Manfred Mann's Earthband, Rammstein), then various in alphabetical order by artist.

    That's it, basically. Here's a picture.

    I'm sure it sounds very anal to most people, but it works for me. I wouldn't necessarily say that it's the best system for everyone else.


    Its really amazing, Thor! Honestly speaking, i am no where near to you. 900 to 1000 cds? oh my God, unbelievable. I appreciate you the way you organized your collection. Well done, indeed! Perhaps, i should follow your footsteps. Thanks for posting this.

    Have a nice day!
    Racism, Prejudices and discrimination exists everywhere.
  3. Christodoulides wrote
    Easy.


    biggrin

    Good idea, but I prefer to physically touch my scores. wink
    "considering I've seen an enormous debate here about The Amazing Spider-Man and the ones who love it, and the ones who hate it, I feel myself obliged to say: TASTE DIFFERS, DEAL WITH IT" - Thomas G.
    • CommentAuthorTimmer
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    Me too! beer
    On Friday I ate a lot of dust and appeared orange near the end of the day ~ Bregt
    •  
      CommentAuthorMartijn
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009
    I use a GPS system. My favourite scores are bookmarked landmarks.

    No, actually I simply have two locations: there's the collection downstairs of about 300 - 400 CDs, which is the more palatable mainstream section.
    It's primarily divided by genre:
    - Pop/Rock
    - Jazz
    - Classical
    - World/Folk
    The secondary organization is by artist or, in case of the classical cds, by composer. (When I get more classical performances in of any one work, it will make sense to organize that section by performing artist or conductor or whatever as well, but right now I don't).

    Then upstairs I have my soundtrack CDs, which are organized alphabetically, by title, with the exception of anything Star Wars-related which I have grouped together for ease of reference. I also have a dozen audio plays boxes or so, but these are just lumped together.

    For insurance purposes (I have a few items that are quite rare) I started a database of my soundtrack collection (it was actually a requirement from the insurance company to get them insured separately).

    The added advantage of that is tat it's now very easy to look up things by other criteria as well (edition, company, composer, year...you name it).
    'no passion nor excitement here, despite all the notes and musicians' ~ Falkirkbairn
    •  
      CommentAuthorFalkirkBairn
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2009 edited
    I don't have the space to have my entire collection in any sort of order. The older CDs are arranged by film title and the rest are sorted in boxes and piles.

    But I very rarely touch the CDs after I've ripped them - except to refer to the booklets.

    As with Martijn I've got the majority of my titles on a database - though I have yet to sort out any separate insurance for them.
    The views expressed in this post are entirely my own and do not reflect the opinions of maintitles.net, or for that matter, anyone else. http://www.racksandtags.com/falkirkbairn
    •  
      CommentAuthorSouthall
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2010
    I moved into a new house this week. I've now got onto the important task of arranging my CD collection. In my previous house I had a strange organisation, keeping all the Varese CDs together for instance since it looked nice, but it did make finding CDs a bit of a pain.

    So, this time I'm going for the more obvious alphabetical-by-composer option. I started with Goldsmith - I seem to have about 180 CDs by him, not ignoring ones I'll get rid of (older versions of scores which have since been expanded, where I don't feel I need the original). Much to my surprise, this 180 didn't include the commercial CDs for Star Trek: The Motion Picture, First Contact or Insurrection (though it does feature the bootlegs). I guess I must have lent those to someone many years ago and never got them back. Bummer!

    Anyway, the main reason for this post is that I - perfectly naturally - filed the CD called "Best Shot" under H. It's satisfying doing something which is completely logical, but would seem 100% illogical to almost the entire population of the world.
    •  
      CommentAuthorBobdH
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2010 edited
    Southall wrote
    Anyway, the main reason for this post is that I - perfectly naturally - filed the CD called "Best Shot" under H. It's satisfying doing something which is completely logical, but would seem 100% illogical to almost the entire population of the world.


    Now, since Best Shot is of course Hoosiers I'd say, sure, I'd do the same, however, taken into account your previous rule...

    Southall wrote
    So, this time I'm going for the more obvious alphabetical-by-composer option.


    ...wouldn't this mean you'd have to file it under 'G'? dizzy

    Personally, I file my CD's arranged by composer, alphabetical (surname), and within the composer they're sorted chronologically by year of release (sometimes difficult to return a CD without the assistance of IMDb, though).
    •  
      CommentAuthorMiya
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2010
    My rule is simple.
    I have two boxes: one is for animated, another is for non-animated.

    And I have two baskets beside my CD player, to put my favorites in: one is for animated, another is for non-animated.


    biggrin
    Labels are for cans, not people. - Anthony Rapp
    •  
      CommentAuthorMarselus
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2010
    Miya wrote
    My rule is simple.
    I have two boxes: one is for animated, another is for non-animated.

    And I have two baskets beside my CD player, to put my favorites in: one is for animated, another is for non-animated.


    biggrin

    Easy and simple smile
    Anything with an orchestra or with a choir....at some point will reach you
    •  
      CommentAuthorDemetris
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2010
    Miya wrote
    My rule is simple.
    I have two boxes: one is for animated, another is for non-animated.

    And I have two baskets beside my CD player, to put my favorites in: one is for animated, another is for non-animated.


    biggrin


    I was sure this is how you organize your life anyway wink smile
    Love Maintitles. It's full of Wanders.
  4. I'd like to have a walk-in wardrobe-style arrangement that has plenty of shelving.
    The views expressed in this post are entirely my own and do not reflect the opinions of maintitles.net, or for that matter, anyone else. http://www.racksandtags.com/falkirkbairn
    •  
      CommentAuthorsdtom
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2010
    I separate into jazz, classical, and soundtrack and then do it by company. For some reason I can remember which company released the score.
    Thomas
    listen to more classical music!
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2010
    sdtom wrote
    I separate into jazz, classical, and soundtrack and then do it by company. For some reason I can remember which company released the score.
    Thomas


    By company, eh? Hm, that sounds a bit weird to me, as whoever released the music is quite irrelevant. It's only the composer and the music itself that matter. But to each their own.
    I am extremely serious.
    • CommentAuthorAnthony
    • CommentTimeSep 12th 2010
    I didn't have a system until a couple of months ago whereby finding CD's was a task in itself.

    I've set them up like this, with 90% falling into alphabetical order. However I have a few exceptions for a couple of composers (guess who before clicking the link wink ) and sagas e.g. Jurassic Park and The Lost World are together, as is Raiders with the rest of the Indy scores.