RB 3.0 - A lot of new columns, but GROUPING still not implemented?

What software are you currently using to manage the grouping tag? If you're using rekordbox, why not use one of the currently available tags?

I'm using Tag & Rename for tagging the music files on my PC and Serato Scratch Live for djing because both are supporting ID3v2 in WAV files.

I also use Keyfinder for the key and foobar2000 to get the dynamic range values of each track. Also both support ID3v2 in WAV files.

I also love the Smart Crates in SSL because I can define rules and in my case the tracks appear based on the values in the GROUPING tag. They will never get lost - the info is stored in the tracks.

Rekordbox 2.x was a try but due the limitations as described above I couldn't use it.

I don't like SDJ (SSL development has stopped) so I was surprised to see the release of RB 3.0 and want to give a try. But the try has stopped because I'm missing the GROUPING tag.

There is also no free tag in RB 3.0 to use it instead of the GROUPING tag. And if - they must be also available in Tag & Rename and Serato (at least during a "switch" period).

LABEL is used with the discogs.com release id, COMPOSER has stored the values DR (dynamic range), RMS and Peak. Label+Composer+Grouping are visible in Serato and Tag & Rename.

I also don't want to update all music files (3 TB), copy/move the GROUPING tag to another one.

The plan would be to convert all required WAV files for djing with Wavelab 8 into MP3. Since Wavelab 8 it is possible to copy all the ID3v2 tags during the conversion. MP3 is ok for djing. I would copy them to my laptop and use RB 3.0 - so no external hard disc with all WAVs is required anymore. However - I would have the MP3's on another external hard disc - but only as a backup if the laptop wouldn't work - to connect it directly on the CD player.

You have to know that I collect and dj music from the 70's - 90's. I buy really much CDs on discogs.com to get the best master of the old tracks. That's why the WAV files changes with info in the GROUPING tag. E.g. I use MSCL = Collection = Best Master, and MSDP = Duplicate - and I need to update the library from scratch on a regular basis. The new better master will be converted and used for djing.

So I really wish the GROUPING tag will be supported. It is not really a great wish and really easy to implement. A lot of Serato people use it to identify the crates.

Maybe there will be more requirements for switching to RB 3.x but the missing GROUPING tag is a no-go.

Thanks a lot.

btw: I just see that "Date Created" is available. I would also need "Date Modified" - that's the really and correct information when a file has changed - e.g. re-read the tags from the files from a specific timestamp. And also the date format e.g. "5/25/2013" is not really international. I highly recommend the ISO date format YYYY-MM-DD. Much better for sorting and reading! However - just my 2 cents as a developer for more than 30 years. ;-)

btw: I just loaded 2 tracks into the library - after the removing of the previous old 4224 not existing tracks on the harddisc anymore from the library has taken 32 minutes (130 tracks per minute!) ... and I just see that some tags will be written from WAV ID3v2 (label, composer, remixer .. but not title, artist ... In title I see the whole filename. Album artist will be read, but not "album".

I also can not remove "Album Artist" from the library view? Why? My collection is track based and I don't need this info. Of course I can move it to the right where I don't see it but ... funny.

PS: I mean "will be read from WAV ID3v2" in the previous post. Sorry.

Is there any support of the GROUPING tag in the meantime - or when can we calc with this new tag?

I don't want to use any other tag in the meantime because all is filled with information - also from other software. No change possible.

To use rekordbox (and buy a xdj1000) - the grouping tag is a must have - because it includes all the shortcuts (identifieres of the crates separated by comma).