Join Together v5.3 Released
I've just released Join Together v5.3. This AppleScript Studio application automates the process of joining the files of selected iTunes tracks together with QuickTime and exporting them as a single AAC Music or Audiobook file/track. Optionally, you can create a "chapterized" audio file of the exported AAC file with pointers to the individually joined tracks.
Join Together comes in two flavors:
The basic version of Join Together is free and always will be. It has the same or better features--and performs as well or better--as it ever has without restrictions. Most users will find the free basic version of Join Together satisfactory for their track-joining needs.
Join Together Plus is an optional shareware upgrade that provides additional pre-flight and post-op features that have been requested by power-users. You can upgrade to Join Together Plus from the free basic version for US$7. This is to cover development and support expenses, which, in turn, helps make Join Together work better for everybody. See Join Together's Help pages for more information on its Plus features.
Updated in v5.3:
- Added disc number and disc count tags for final track
- Added "Track Names to Chapter Names" menu item [Plus version]
- Fixed error in "Finished!" dialog [Plus version]
- Updated GUI
- Updated Help pages
- Performance enhancements
Visit the Join Together information and download page.
Buy These
I mentioned previously that we moved and I had to set up My Stuff in a new place. We're apartment renters and we are now on a second floor. Having been a first floor-er for thirteen years I know how unintentionally noisy the second floor people can be (although the guy who was compelled to pace back and forth while on the phone Must Die). In order to ensure as little noise as possible from my studio gets downstairs I have been investigating speaker isolation materials. I highly recommend these Auralex MoPADS babies whether you have sound encroachment problems or not. They will totally isolate your speakers from whatever you have them in contact with. Not only do they isolate your speakers from reverberating through the floorboards, wallboards, studs, rafters, and so on, they will improve the sound of your speakers. I use Behringer TRUTH B2031A as studio monitors and using the Auralex MoPADS not only reduces acoustical coupling but the damn things sound incredible--almost as if they were suspended from the ceiling, which is what we did at radio station studios. So, go to.
iTunes 7.7 Released
Apple released iTunes 7.7 overnight last night. This latest version is primarily designed to work with the new App Store. I had a quick look at its AppleScript dictionary this morning over coffee and found two new artwork properties: description and raw data. There could be other AppleScript changes and/or fixes, but I'll have to give it a better workout to find out.
Back In The Saddle, Nearly
My wife and daughter and I have just finished moving all our stuff from our place in Providence, Rhode Island to a new place in Newton, Massachusetts. Now that about ninety-percent of the move is finished we can proceed with the remaining ninety-percent: un-packing (can't wait to recoup that extra twenty-percent that must be floating around somewhere). I have yet to set up my studio/work area properly, so it will still be a day or two or three before all those emails I said I would reply to actually get thoroughly replied to.
On another note, a concern that some Correspondents have reported is that Apple's ChapterTool UNIX application that is required for some tasks with Join Together is no longer downloadable from the original Apple coordinates. I am working on getting more information about this and developing a suitable workaround. Just so you know.
Tekzilla
Episode 37 of Tekzilla features this site in their "Websites We Can't Get Enough Of" segment. Thanks for the mench! And thanks to Correspondent Perceval McElhearn for letting me know.
MacLife Mench
The July '08 issue of MacLife has a feature entitled The 30 Best Mac Apps You Never Heard Of. This site lands between #17 (Handbrake) and #19 (Cyberduck). Neat! Thanks!
AOL Radio on Safari
The NYT notes that AOL Radio now works with Safari on the Mac. Additionally, the service adds all 140 CBS-owned radio stations. I've been checking it out and, while online radio isn't exactly my thing, it ain't bad.
iTunes 7.7 On the Horizon
The Unofficial Apple Weblog notes that the new iPhone 3G, available July 11, requires iTunes 7.7. Release date unknown, but obviously it will be before 7/11.
UPDATED: Set Video Kind of Selected v3.1
Set Video Kind of Selected had a small problem running in Tiger: it couldn't get the version of iTunes correctly and threw an error. This is fixed in this latest version.
This script will change the video kind property of the selected tracks to your choice of "Movie", "Music Video" or "TV Show". Additionally, "Show Name", "Season Number", and "Episode Number" can also be set or cleared for each selected track.