randomcd is currently only available as a command-line tool. I might build a GUI eventually if there's interest in it
and if time allows. Meanwhile, here's how you use it.
Put a writable disc in your drive; then, assuming you've opened a terminal in the directory containing randomcd.py, the most basic thing you can do is:
$ python randomcd.py
randomcd with the default options: use
Clementine's database to build a random compilation
that will fit onto a 650MB CD, burn it, and eject the drive.
Now, you may be using another music player: you can specify which one using the -p option. For example:
$ python randomcd.py -p banshee
Currently, only banshee, clementine and rhythmbox are available.
Of course, if you don't use
one of them fancy players that use databases and watch music libraries, you could simply use the -d option to specify the directory in which you store your
audio files, and it will be explored recursively:
$ python randomcd.py -d /home/johndoe/Music
Be aware, however, that only files with the following extensions will be considered as songs: flac, m4a, mp3, ogg, shn, wav, wma. On the other hand, if you use the database mode, then any file format that the player can play is eligible for randomcd
However, the nice thing about using a program's database is that you can use the information stored in that database to do things you (currently) can't in directory mode.
If you're set for a four-hour drive, you may want to avoid soporific music. Or if you're just not in the mood today for some particular genres, well, you don't want them on your compilation.
That's what the -x option is for:
$ python randomcd.py -x Soundtrack "Death Metal" Jazz
You can also exclude genres in directory mode, but only if you have the eyeD3 python module installed. Besides, it's going to take a long time since each song must be analysed before it gets selected or rejected.
You may also want to normalise your compilation, so that you don't have to change the volume of your sound system after every song; simply use the -n option:
$ python randomcd.py -n
Your disc may be larger than 650 MB: use the -s to change that setting:
$ python randomcd.py -s 700
Remember that you can use any combination of these options, in any order. Enjoy!
As of version 0.0.6, you can now specify profiles in the file ~/.randomcd/profiles to avoid typing the same things all the time. For instance, the Car profile would look like this:
[Car]
exclude_genres = Soundtrack,Backing Track,Game,Dark Ambient,Classical,Blues
normalize = True
size = 700
And you could then invoke randomcd as follows:
$ python randomcd.py --profile Car
which would result in the same behaviour as:
$ python randomcd.py -s 700 -n -x Soundtrack "Backing Track" Game "Dark Ambient" Classical Blues
Here's a more complete example of what you can specify in the profile (uncomment whatever you need). Unfortunately, there is no way yet to override a profile's settings, but there is no limit to the number of profiles you can configure.
# [Profile name]
# albums = True # False by default, see --albums
# device = /dev/cdrom # see --device
# directory = ~/Music/mp3 # see --directory
# exclude_genres = Hard Rock,Jazz,Dark Ambient # see --exclude_genres
# normalize = True # False by default, see --normalize
# only_genres = Hard Rock,Jazz,Dark Ambient # see --only_genres
# playlists = ~/birthday.m3u,~/calm.m3u # see --playlists
# program = banshee # see --program
# size = 700 # see --size