jack - Online in the Cloud

PROGRAM:

NAME

Jack - rip and encode CDs with one command

SYNOPSIS

jack [options]

DESCRIPTION

Jack transforms your audio-CDs to FLAC, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis files. It uses several helper
programs in order to achieve functions such as ripping, encoding and, tagging files with
meta information. Ripping is either done via cdparanoia (in which case the ripping status
is displayed by Jack as well) or cdda2wav. Jack works with several encoders, namely
oggenc, flac, lame, gogo, bladeenc, l3enc, mp3enc and xing. Any time during operation
(and even when everything is finished and the original CD lost) you can let Jack look up
the track names at freedb.org and rename the tracks accordingly. Tagging of audio files
with meta information about artist, track title, etc. is performed as well.

If no freedb-lookup has been performed, Jack drops all files in a directory ~/jack/jack-
xxx, with xxx representing the CD's CDDB/FreeDB disc ID. This directory is
renamed by Jack when the appropriate information is known.

Most options like ripper, encoder, preferred FreeDB-Server, directory and sound file
format, etc. can be user defined by changing the defaults in /etc/jackrc or by saving them
to ~/.jack3rc. Additional rippers, encoders and FreeDB servers can be defined by users
through the help of a plug-in directory (as defined by the plugin_path option which
defaults to ~/.jack_plugins).

While Jack is running, these keyboard commands are available:

q or Q quit

p or P disable ripping (for example, if you need the CD drive)

p or P (again) or c or C
resume ripping

e or E pause/continue all encoders

r or R pause/continue all rippers.

? toggle the copyright/help box

OPTIONS

Different options need different data-types as arguments:

bool can be "yes" or "no", like in --vbr=yes

string can be anything, like in --rename-fmt "%n.%t"

int an integer number, like in --bitrate 192 (or --bitrate=192 )

list multiple strings, delimited by the final ";". Example: --guess-toc file1.mp3
file2.mp3 ... fileN.mp3 \;

Jack understands the following options:

--append-year string
append this string to the directory name (useful with %y to add the year an album
was released)

-b, --bitrate int
target bitrate (in kbit/s, default is 160).

--char-filter string
convert file names using a python method

--charset string
charset of filenames (defaults to your locale).

-c, --check-toc
compare toc-file and cd-toc, then exit. Jack caches the TOC of a CD in a file
("jack.toc"). If you want to know if the inserted CD matches the toc-file in the
current directory, use this option.

-C, --claim-dir
rename directories even if they were was not created by Jack.

--cont-failed-query
continue without FreeDB data if query fails.

-D, --create-dirs
tells Jack to create sub-directories in which Jack puts all the files for the
current CD. If no FreeDB data is available, i.e. when not using -Q , these
directories will be named "jack-xxx" where "xxx" stands for the CD's
FreeDB ID. Otherwise dir_template (see above) will be used. This option is turned
on by default.

--device string
The device-name of your cdrom-drive. The default is /dev/cdrom

--dir-template string
if directories are renamed, this is the format used (default "%a/%l")

-d, --dont-work
don't do DAE, encoding, tagging or renaming. This may be useful if you only want to
do a FreeDB query, e.g. while another jack is running.

--edit-freedb
open an editor to change the CDDB information which has been obtained previously
(only useful with -Q).

--encoder-name, -E string
use which encoder (default "oggenc")

-e, --encoders int
encode how many files in parallel. If you have a SMP machine or simply want to
stress your system, you can have Jack encode several files at once (default 1).

-x, --exec
run predefined command when finished.

--extt-is-artist
the artist is contained in the EXTT fields. The EXTT fields are lines in the FreeDB
file which contain additional data for each track. As it's the submitting user's
choice what to use them for, Jack can't determine by itself what they were intended
for. You have to provide this information.

--extt-is-title
the track title is contained in the EXTT fields.

--extt-is-comment
a track comment is contained in the EXTT fields.

--force
do not ask. Like when deleting incomplete files.

-f, --from-tocfile string
rip from a cdrdao created CD image on hd. The specified toc-file contains the name
of the image file. Use -F if jack can't find the image file.

-F, --from-image string
read audio data from image file. Like --from-tocfile, but the image itself is
specified instead of the tocfile. If you do not have a toc-file (or don't specify a
toc-file), the TOC is read from the CD itself.

-g, --guess-toc list
make up a TOC from the list of sound file given. The format is track_01.ogg ...
track_nn.ogg ; Note that the trailing " ; " is only necessary if you want to append
more options to your command line. You can use it to do a FreeDB query based on
your sound files alone - no need for the CD. Very useful if you have no idea which
CD the songs are from. The songs must be given in the same order as they were on
their CD. The generated TOC file is similar, but not identical to the TOC of the CD
- do not submit these!

-G, --id3-genre string
set ID3 genre. Use 'help' to get a list of all known genres. (You can also specify
the ID3v1 genre as an int)

-Y, --id3-year int
set the year of the album (the term ID3 comes from MP3 but this option also works
with other audio formats, such as OGG Vorbis and FLAC)

-h, --help
Show summary of options.

-k, --keep-wavs
do not delete WAVs after encoding them.

-m, --mail-submit
submit FreeDB entry via e-mail. HTTP submission is preferred. You will have to
enter the category of the CD.

-l, --max-load float
only start new encoders if your system's load is below the specified value.
/proc/loadavg must be readable by you for this to work.

--multi-mode
try to query FreeDB for all dirs in searchdirs which have no FreeDB data.

--my-mail string
your e-mail address, needed for FreeDB submissions.

-n, --nice int
nice-level with which the encoders are started. Default is 12 which shouldn't hurt
your system much.

-o, --overwrite
overwrite existing files, i.e. do not check if already ripped WAVs or an already
encoded file seem to be OK. Use this if you know something went wrong last time.
This is off by default.

-O, --only-dae
only produce WAVs, implies --keep-wavs. This is off by default.

--otf=bool
On-the-fly operation. Only on some encoders/rippers. Do not create WAVs, pipe
ripper output through the encoder. Default is no as it's a torture for the CDROM
drive.

--quality int
vbr encoding quality. -1 is lowest, 10 highest (default 6). You can also specify a
float.

-q, --query
do FreeDB query when all is done. This is useful if Jack was previously run without
a FreeDB query. If all tracks are done you don't even have to have a CD inserted as
the TOC is cached by Jack. After having finished ripping and encoding, Jack will
rename the files and tag them.

--query-if-needed=bool
like --query-now, but only if FreeDB data hasn't been successfully queried before.

-Q, --query-now
do FreeDB query when starting. Use this if you are connected to the Internet when
starting Jack. Know that the query may need user-interaction. After having finished
ripping and encoding, Jack will rename the files and tag them.

-a, --read-ahead int
read how many WAVs in advance. At most read_ahead + num_encoders WAVs are ripped
before a track has completely been encoded. Default is 99 which will read the
whole CD, provided there is enough disk space.

--remove-files
have Jack remove its temp jack*-files. Be careful - don't delete them too early!

-R, --rename
rename and tag files according to FreeDB file. On startup, Jack creates a blank
FreeDB entry file (except if --query-now is used, then the file is queried from
your FreeDB server). If you have changed its contents (e.g. because the CD was
unknown to FreeDB) and want to rename and tag your audio files accordingly, use
this option. Give all other needed options too, like -t , -E , ...

--rename-dir=bool
rename directory as well (default).

--rename-fmt string
format of normal files (default "%n - %t")

--rename-fmt-va string
format of Various Artists files (default "%n - %a - %t")

--rename-num string
format of the track number (%n, printf() style) used to rename the files (default
"%02d")

-r, --reorder=bool
optimize track-order for disk space. This can save you some peak disk space during
the encoding process; this may make it possible to do a CD which would otherwise
fail to be encoded.

--replacement-chars list
unusable chars are replaced by the corresponding list item (default "%").

--ripper string
which program to use for extracting the audio data (default "cdparanoia").

--save save options to ~/.jack3rc file and exit.

--scan-dirs int
Scan this many levels from the current working directory for a matching toc-file (0
to disable, default 2).

--search list
add these directories to the list of directories searched when looking for the
workdir (default ".").

--server string
which FreeDB server to use. Don't forget to set your HTTP proxy. Currently either
"freedb" (default) or "freedb-de".

--silent-mode=bool
be quiet (no screen output).

-s, --space int
forcibly set usable disk space, in bytes. This option lets you limit the disk space
Jack uses, maybe you need it for something else? Be careful: if set too high or too
low, ripping and encoding will probably fail. The default is to look how much is
free and to use this value.

--submit
submit FreeDB entry via HTTP. You will have to enter the category of the CD.

-S, --swab=bool
swap byte order from image file. As cdrdao momentarily only outputs "raw" .cdr
files, you quite likely want to swap the byte order. Try this option if your WAVs
and encoded files contain only noise. This is on by default as cdrdao currently
generates .cdr files that are "wrong".

--todo print what would be done and exit.

-t, --tracks string
limit ripping and encoding to the specified tracks, use comma to separate tracks.
Ranges are also possible; 5-9 is equivalent to 5,6,7,8,9; 12- is like specifying
track 12,...,last_track. The default is to process the whole CD.

-u, --undo-rename
undo file renaming and exit. If you don't like how Jack renamed your files, use
this option to restore the previous state. Several levels of undo are possible.
Note that meta information tags are not restored.

--unusable-chars list
characters which can't be used in filenames (default "/").

--upd-progress
have Jack re-create its temp files. Use this if you deleted them too early.

--update-freedb, -U
update the FreeDB info and exit.

--usage-win=bool
show the help screen while running.

-v, --vbr=bool
Generate variable bitrate files, only on encoders which support this. Default is
yes.

--various=bool
when parsing FreeDB data, Jack assumes that if the disc´s artist is set to
"Various" the track titles have the format "[artist] - [title]". If the disc title
is set to something else and you still want the above behaviour, use --various.

--various-swap
exchange artist and title, many FreeDB entries have them wrong.

--wait=bool
wait for key press before quitting.

-w, --workdir string
where to create directories and put the files.

--write-id3v1=bool
write a smart id3v1 tag to the encoded file.

--write-id3v2=bool
write an id3v2 tag to the encoded file.

--write-m3u
create a playlist in .m3u format. This has bugs, don't rely on it.

CONFIG FILE OPTIONS

In addition the the command line options, there are some options that can only be set
directly in the config file.

freedb_dir
all FreeDB queries will be done in this (local) directory; failed local queries
will be done via the network. Example: /var/spool/freedb

EXAMPLES

Insert a CD, fire up jack:
jack

Now watch it work. It's fun for a while. After having finished, you have the following
files on your HD: track_01.mp3, track_02.mp3, ..., track_nn.mp3 plus jack.toc,
jack.freedb, jack.progress. The last three are used to store the state jack is in so it
can resume work when interrupted.

Jack will create a directory called jack-xxx for you, there it stores all the file
for the CD whose id is xxx. After a FreeDB query this directory is renamed to
something human readable, like "Artist - Title".

When jack is interrupted, call it again using the same command line as before to resume
work, in this case
jack

Now let's try a FreeDB query:
jack -q
If the query is successful the files will be renamed to something more readable and will
be tagged accordingly using ID3 or Vorbis tags. The file jack.freedb will contain the
queried FreeDB entry, and the original file will be backed up as jack.freedb.bak.

You can use the --rename-fmt option in order to specify the format of the name which will
be given to your audio tracks. A list of valid options can be found below. You may also
want to specify a set of characters which are not usable and should be replaced. For
example, on Unix systems the slash (/) should most certainly be replaced with something
else. The VFAT filesystem also does not support double quotes ("). In order to replace
such characters, you can specify the options unusable_chars together with
replacement_chars. For example,
jack -Q --rename-fmt "%n-%t" --unusable-chars A I ; --replacement-chars a i ;
will query the FreeDB server, rip and encode all tracks of the CD and save the files in a
format which will contain the track number and the title. All occurances of the letters A
and I will be replaced with their lower-case versions. These options can also be put in
one's configuration file using the following format:
unusable_chars:[' ', '/']
replacement_chars:['_', '_']
This will replace whitespace and slashes with underscores. If you want to convert all
characters to lower-case, you don't have to manually specify all of them but can use the
following option instead:
char_filter:.lower()

All in one: query, rip, encode, cleanup:
jack -Q --remove-files

Editing / normalizing / stripping the WAV files before encoding:
jack -O -D --remove-files ; gnoise *wav ; jack -g *wav ; jack
Just replace gnoise by the operation you'd like to perform.

PLUG-INS

Additional rippers, encoders and FreeDB servers currently not known by jack can be defined
using jack's plug-in mechanism. Plug-ins have to be put in the ~/.jack_plugins directory
(or the path defined by the plugin_path option). The plug-ins are simple Python scripts
which define a hash with the values for your ripper, encoder or FreeDB server. For
rippers and encoders, the hash plugin_helpers has to be defined while additional FreeDB
servers are specified in plugin_freedb_servers. Both expect another hash whose names
corresponds to the entry you want to add (prefixed by plugin_) and have to define certain
values. Two examples are provided, jack_plugin_cddb.py (to define a new FreeDB server)
and jack_plugin_lame.py (to show how rippers and encoders can be defined). After defining
plug-ins, you have to manually select them by specifying the ripper, encoder, or CDDB
server. An example would be:
jack --encoder-name plugin_lame --ripper plugin_foo --server plugin_cddb
Plug-ins can also be used to define your own rippers and encoders which uses different
options than those used by default by jack.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

There are several environment variables which can be used in jack's exec hooks:

JACK_BASE_DIR
lists jack's base directory in which files are stored.

JACK_CUR_DIR
lists the current directory of jack in which files of the current album are put.

JACK_JUST_ENCODED
lists all track names which have just been encoded.

JACK_JUST_RIPPED
lists all track names which have just been ripped.

FORMAT STRINGS

%n Track number

%a Artist

%t Track title

%l Album title

%y Album release year

%g Album genre

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