Can SS merge/join/append files?

[Tim]

Is SS able to merge several files into one?
In my case, I want to join several mp3-files (e.g. 1.mp3 + 2.mp3 + 3.mp3 = all.mp3).

Does anyone have an idea?
Many thanks in advance!
Tim

[Mem]

Is SS able to merge several files into one?
In my case, I want to join several mp3-files (e.g. 1.mp3 + 2.mp3 + 3.mp3 = all.mp3).

Yes, using Split&Combine plugin you can also merge files together. But I don't understand why would you use it on mp3's and create a new file with mp3 extension, which will not be real mp3? (Because only the first song's file header and ID3 tag will be recognized and eventually played, the others will be ignored by most players).

Are you sure you want to merge FILES or you want to merge MUSIC? In that case you have to use audio software, not file manager.

[Tim]

Thanks for your reply, Mem!
I mainly need this function to join audio book files.
I don't want single 10 minute bits but rather 60-70 minute files.
So far I've used the software "A.F.7 Merge your files".
I was just wondering whether SS offered an integrated solution.
This way I could get rid of the external program.

Hope that explains it.

BTW: Tested the Combine-feature in SS. Unfortunately, it doesn't work flawlessly.

Best wishes
Tim

[manison]

Of course it does not work. As mentioned by Mem above, you cannot use SS to merge audio files with internal format SS is not aware of. Instead you should use specialized audio editor. Use of external application is in this case necessary. You can try for example Audacity that is free. It may also be possible to "integrate" 3rd party application into SS's user menu. You may also want to submit the feature request. Or you can wait till the SDK is available and some will write the plugin for you.

[Mem]

BTW: Tested the Combine-feature in SS. Unfortunately, it doesn't work flawlessly.

Read my or Manison's post carefully - what Combine plugin does is simply merging bytes of files together without any change. But file formats are complicated - in case of MP3 at the beginning of the file are several bytes of header chunk information (type of encoding, bitrate etc.), then optional ID3 v1 (v2) tag with text information about the song (title, author, genre, ...), and then the song data in chosen encoding. So you can imagine that simply copying these bytes together with bytes from other MP3 file (which has its own header chunk, can be in differenet encoding etc.) can't create new valid MP3 format file, only a mess.

For your needs I also recommend Audacity, it's handy open source (free) software with basic sound editing functions, for MP3 export you need to install additional encoder (e.g. Lame), this is described in Audacity readme or you can contact me with PM if you need help

[Tim]

Thanks for your help, Mem and manison!

Best wishes
Tim

[SvA]

Merging .mp3-files with a standard wave editor like Audacity will cause loss of quality since the files need to be encoded anew. There exist tools which are specialised in joining .mp3 files without the need of re-encoding.

One such too is Direct MP3 Joiner.

(This is not a recommendation. I never had need of such a tool. So I do not know this tool. I provide this link only as starting point for your own investigations)