COBY Media Manager User Guide

Coby Media Manager user guide

Last update : September 2008

Coby Media Manager user guide...................................................................................1

Contents......................................................................................................................2

I. Device content.........................................................................................................5

1. Device properties..............................................................................................5

2. Device explorer.................................................................................................6

II. The music library ..................................................................................................7

1. Importing files...................................................................................................7

1.1 Importing all files.......................................................................................7

1.2 Importing individual files...........................................................................8

2. Displaying files.................................................................................................8

2.1 Displaying files by category.......................................................................8

2.2 Sorting your music files.............................................................................8

2.3 Hiding/showing files in your library..........................................................9

2.4 Displaying files as thumbnails or a list......................................................9

3. Playing a music file...........................................................................................9

4. Managing playlists..........................................................................................10

5. Synchronizing music files to your player.......................................................10

5.1 Synchronizing individual files.................................................................10

5.2 Synchronizing an album...........................................................................10

5.3 Synchronizing a playlist...........................................................................11

5.4 Synchronizing files with no DRM protection .........................................11

5.5 Synchronizing files protected with DRM.................................................11

6. Extracting tracks from an Audio CD..............................................................12

6.1. Set up.......................................................................................................12

6.2. Extraction................................................................................................13

7. Editing MP3 tags.............................................................................................13

8. Searching for music files................................................................................14

III. The movie library...............................................................................................16

1. Importing files.................................................................................................16

1.1 Importing all files.....................................................................................16

1.2 Importing individual files.........................................................................17

2. Displaying files...............................................................................................17

2.1 Displaying files by category.....................................................................17

2.2 Sorting your video files............................................................................17

2.3 Hiding/showing files in your library........................................................17

2.4 Displaying files as thumbnails or a list....................................................18

3. Playing a video file.........................................................................................18

4. Synchronizing video files to your player........................................................18

4.1 Synchronizing individual files.................................................................18

4.2 Synchronizing all videos of a folder........................................................18

5. Searching for video files.................................................................................18

IV. The pictures library............................................................................................20

1. Importing files.................................................................................................20

1.1 Importing all files.....................................................................................20

1.2 Importing individual files.........................................................................21

2. Displaying files...............................................................................................21

2.1 Displaying files by category.....................................................................21

2.2 Sorting your picture files..........................................................................21

2.3 Hiding/Showing library files....................................................................21

2.4 Displaying files as thumbnails or a list....................................................21

3. Viewing a picture file......................................................................................22

4. Synchronizing picture files to your player......................................................22

4.1 Synchronizing individual files.................................................................22

4.2 Synchronizing all files..............................................................................22

5. Searching for picture files...............................................................................22

V. Configuring your mobile device..........................................................................23

1. Automatic installation.....................................................................................23

2. Adding a mobile device to the favorite devices list........................................23

3. Configuring a mobile device...........................................................................24

3.1 Configuring synchronization....................................................................24

3.2 Configuring the output file format...........................................................24

4. Removing a mobile device..............................................................................25

VI. Registration and software update.......................................................................26

VII. Tabs in Coby Media Manager..........................................................................27

VIII. Menus..............................................................................................................31

1. File..................................................................................................................32

2. Edit..................................................................................................................32

3. View................................................................................................................32

4. Music...............................................................................................................32

5. Movie..............................................................................................................33

6. Picture.............................................................................................................33

7. Tools...............................................................................................................33

8. Help.................................................................................................................35

IX. Shortcut keys in Coby Media Manager..............................................................37

Coby Media Manager is designed for users who want to listen to music or watch video. In a few clicks, you can play your favorite files or transfer them to your Coby mobile device to listen to them later (automatic file conversion into a format compatible with your device).

With Coby Media Manager, you can also directly access the Coby web site and the online music store.

Coby Media Manager supports the following data sources:

● Movies and other video files

● Music and other audio files

● Photos and other image files

Coby Media Manager supports the following devices:

Supported Coby devices:

● MP-200

● MP-300

● MP-305

● MP-345

● MP-550

● MP-565

● MP-705

● MP-715

● MP-735

● MP-805

● MP-C7085

● MP-835

I. Device content

Open the player tab to display its contents (the device must be plugged into your computer).

1. Device properties

When your device is plugged in, you can see its name and picture as well as its available, used and total storage space. The Eject... button allows you to safely unplug the device from the computer (available only for USB Mass Storage). It is highly recommended to use it before unplugging the USB cable. The Format... button lets you erase all the files on your device. Be careful: this operation can't be reversed. You will have to copy all of the files back to the device from your computer. The Device Configuration button allows you to configure your device: you can choose its location (the automatic device detection is set by default) and specify an output file format (wma for example). For more information, refer to the chapter Configuring your mobile device. Two firmware options are available: Firmware upgrade lets you download the latest version of the firmware (only if you have registered Coby Media Manager). Firmware details gives you information about your player's firmware; this information may be asked for by support in the case of a problem.

Note: In the top right corner of Coby Media Manager, the following pieces of information are displayed:

– the device you are using; – the available storage space on your device (if the indicator is full, no free space is

left. You will have to delete files before adding new ones);

– the connection state of your device: connected or disconnected .

2. Device explorer

When your device is plugged in, you can see its content in the Device Explorer.

You can execute the following actions on your player files:

Rename

You can change the file or folder name. Select the file or folder you want to rename, then right click and select Rename. You can also press the F2 keyboard key.

Move

You can drag and drop files from one folder to another. Select the file(s) and move it (them) holding the mouse left button, then release it when you are on the destination folder.

Copy

Select the files you want to copy, then right click and select Copy. Go to the destination folder, then right click and select Paste.

Delete

You can delete files from the player. Select the files you want to delete, then right click and select Delete. This action deletes files from your player only and not from your computer.

II. The music library

You can access the music library by clicking the Music tab.

1. Importing files

You can import files already on your computer to your music library.

1.1 Importing all files

To import all audio files to a folder, select the Music - Music folders menu and check the folders containing your audio files.

1.2 Importing individual files

To import individual files, go to Music - Add an audio file and select the file on your computer. You can also drag and drop files from your windows explorer to your music library.

2. Displaying files

The files you have selected are displayed in the music library. The meaning of the different file icons are described below:

• indicates a file with no protection. You can directly synchronize this file to

your player.

• indicates a file protected with DRM (Digital Right Management). To

synchronize this file, you need to have a DRM player and a valid licence.

• indicates a file with no licence. You will have to acquire the licence

before you can synchonize this file to your player.

2.1 Displaying files by category

To facilitate browsing, you can use the tree located on the left side of your Coby Media Manager window You can display all songs from an artist, an album or a musical genre. It also allows you to display all audio files from a sub-folder of your library.

2.2 Sorting your music files

Coby Media Manager displays the following information (when available) for each music file:

• Title

• Status

• Artist

• Album

• Genre

• Track

• Size

• Date

• Type

To sort the files, select the column header by which to sort the list. For example, if you want to sort your files by artist, click the Artist column header. Click the column header again to reverse the sort order.

2.3 Hiding/showing files in your library

To hide items in your library, select them, right click and choose Hide.

To display them again, click the Show hidden files button on the toolbar . Hidden files appear grayed out. Select the ones you want to display again, right click

and choose Show.

2.4 Displaying files as thumbnails or a list

You can display files as a list or thumbnails. To display files as thumbnails, click the

Display thumbnails/list icon on the toolbar.

The album art will be displayed. Coby Media Manager searches for the album art from the Amazon website. The search is based on the title and artist name. If the album art is not available, you can search for it (specifying a new artist and/or album name) from the Amazon website, or you can import it from your local hard drive. To do so, right click the file, choose Properties, click the album art, and then Import from Internet or Browse file.

To display the files as a list, click the Display thumbnails/list icon again.

Note: the album art set-up is available for MP3 files only.

3. Playing a music file

Select the music file and then double-click it (or click the Play button on the toolbar

If the file is protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management) and has no licence, you will be asked to acquire the licence.

Note: Your media file is played in the now playing tab. To change the media player (if you want to use VLC or another media player), select Tools - Options from the menu bar.

4. Managing playlists

You can create playlists to group songs (example “My favorite songs”).

To create a playlist, right click in the Playlists section (located on the left side of your Coby Media Manager window), and choose Add. A playlist is created. You can rename it using the F2 keyboard key.

To add songs to your playlists, select the songs in your library, right click and choose Add to playlist. You can also drag and drop files from your library to your playlist.

Playlist can be synchronized to your device. To do so, select the playlist, then right click and choose Synchronize. To play all songs of a playlist, select the playlist, then right click and choose Play.

5. Synchronizing music files to your player

5.1 Synchronizing individual files

To synchronize individual files, select them, then right click and choose Synchronize.

You can also click the Synchronize selection button on the toolbar .

5.2 Synchronizing an album

Select the album in the Library section located to the left of your Coby Media Manager window, then right click and choose Synchronize.

5.3 Synchronizing a playlist

Select the playlist, then right-click and choose Synchronize.

5.4 Synchronizing files with no DRM protection

Titles with no DRM protection are displayed with an icon beside their names. You can synchronize them directly to your player. You do not need to acquire licence first.

5.5 Synchronizing files protected with DRM

Titles protected with DRM are displayed with an icon.

Titles with no licence are displayed with an icon. To synchronize these titles:

• Make sure your player is DRM compatible

• Acquire licences for all titles you want to synchronize. To do so, select the

titles, then right click and choose Acquire licence

• Make sure the licence is valid for synchronization. To display a licence, select

the file, then right click and choose Properties. Open the Licence tab.

Note: Your player must be connected to your computer during synchronization.

(check the device connection state on the toolbar: Connected device or

Disconnected device ).

6. Extracting tracks from an Audio CD

CD Rip allows you to extract CD tracks from your CD/DVD drive, and copy them to your music library.

In the Music tab, click the icon (Extract songs from an audio CD). The Audio CD Extraction window shows up.

In the General section, your CD/DVD drive is selected.

Note: If you have several CD/DVD drives, select the one with the CD tracks you would like to extract.

6.1. Set up

Modifying the album information

In the Details section, information about the album, artist and genre should automatically be displayed (provided that you have an internet connection, and that this information is available in our server database). Otherwise, you can type the different values. To specify the Genre, select it in the list, or type its name.

Choosing Album Art

Your CD sleeve should automatically be displayed in the Album Art section (provided that it is available in our database server). Otherwise, click the Album Art section, then specify the location of the picture you want to use. The picture should then be displayed in the frame.

Selecting an audio format

In the Options section, you can choose the audio format (MP3, WMA, OGG) as well as the audio quality in which you would like to extract your files. The mp3 format is recommended for its compatibility with the widest range of devices.

6.2. Extraction

Extracting tracks

1. By default, all CD tracks are selected. To unselect some tracks, uncheck them. You can also click the Title column header to unselect all the tracks, then only select the tracks you would like to extract.

2. Click Extract to start the extraction. The Status column displays the percentage of download complete , and then likewise for the

transformation .

3. At the end of the extraction, the icon is displayed if it succeeded or the

icon is displayed if it failed. Move the mouse over this icon to view the

error details.

Synchronizing selected tracks

You can choose to synchronize to your device the tracks that you have selected. To do so, check the Synchronize selected tracks box under Options.

Canceling an extraction

To cancel an extraction, click Cancel. The icon shows up in the Status column.

Refreshing CD contents

If you change CDs, click the Refresh button to display the tracks of the new CD.

7. Editing MP3 tags

You can edit and change the different information available for your MP3 tags. To do so, select your file, right click, and select Properties.

In the right part, you can modify the following fields: the title, the artist name, the album name, the genre, and the track number. In the left part, you can import album art. Coby Media Manager searches for the album art from the Amazon website. The search is based on the title and artist name. If the album art is not available, you can search for it (specifying a new artist and/or album name) from the Amazon website, or you can import it from your local hard drive. To do so, right click the file, choose Properties, click the album art, and then Import from Internet or Browse file. Each time you modify a field, the box next to it is automatically checked, to indicate that the modification will be saved. If you do not wish to save the modification, uncheck the box.

Note: You can modify the properties of several files at once. To do so, select the files, then right click and choose Properties.

8. Searching for music files

To search for specific music files, click the magnifying glass icon on the toolbar: the Title and keywords field is displayed. Then type the text you are searching for in the Title and keywords field. You can narrow your search by title, artist or album by using the Field drop-down or by file type using the Type drop-down.

To revert to the initial list of files, clear the text from the Title and keywords field.

You can hide the search bar by clicking the magnifying glass icon again.