14 DAY TRIAL // A few years back MP3 audio format started a revolution and every user was storing all audio files in this format. And for good reasons: it was the best compromise between quality and size of the file, playable on any player with absolutely no problem. It became so popular it turned into a standard. This audio format is still popular, although there are plenty of lossless alternatives nowadays.
However, MP3 continues to be the most used audio format, regardless of the operating system used. Many users have entire collections of MP3 files or full discographies stored under this format. These are the fortunate cases when all files are neatly organized, but looking on the more turbulent side, I am sure there are plenty of users storing piles of MP3 files with absolutely no order whatsoever. Making your way in these unsorted folders may turn into a time consuming task and finding an automatic alternative soon becomes a priority.
In case you are storing a myriad of MP3 files into one single folder and none of them is sorted out one way or another, MP3 AutoSort comes to the rescue. The application is designed to help you to sort the files out easily and with the slightest effort. For $19 you can be the happy owner of your personal MP3 sorting instrument. Sure, you get a chance to evaluate the application before buying and I suggest you always do this before coughing up the dough, but you will have to test it with the 5 files limitation.
There is nothing special about the interface as the emphasis falls on the functionality of the application rather than its looks. The split screen is intuitive enough on the steps to be taken in order to complete the operation, in the sense that in the left you have to define the path to the folder containing all the mess, while in the right the software needs a location for sorting all of them out. After all this is done, you should be one button press away from ordering all the files out.
Immediately after starting the operation MP3 AutoSort will display the two folders once more, just to make sure it's got them right. Once you agree with the two locations, launch the procedure. A new window shows all processed files and their new locations. Unfortunately, if you take a close look at the information, you will notice that each processed file appears twice in the list, in the same location. During our testing, the only thing the application did was to create folders in the output location, failing to move/copy the files. The only known limitation of the program in trial version is the five files processing restriction, but I guess this is a bug available only in the evaluation edition, as I've seen proof of the app working like a charm (take a look on developer's web page).
MP3 AutoSort relies on a very simple sorting principle that should be quite accurate most of the times. The application reads the ID3 tag of every song and creates folders according to artist's name. Normally, all files with the same artist tag should be copied in the respective folder but, according to our testing, this will not happen in the evaluation version.
In case some of the files do not have ID3 tags, these will be put aside and displayed in a separate window, right under the list of files that should have been successfully copied to artist's name corresponding folders. So basically all the sorting depends on the accuracy of ID3-tags available for each of the file. If this is correct, the sorting should be a success.
Using MP3 AutoSort should not be a problem, regardless of the skills of the user. Unfortunately, the trial version did not work the way we expected. On the other hand, the developer makes available a video file that proves the application to work successfully, given that the files are marked with the correct ID3 tags.
The developer has been notified of the mishap that practically makes the application unusable and we are waiting for an answer which will be published as soon as possible.
Regardless of the above mentioned mischiefs that occurred during our testing, I have to say that the price is a bit high, considering that it relies solely on the song's ID3 tags which sometimes are not at all accurate. Also, limiting the use of the app to five files at a time makes the testing pretty uncomfortable and does not give the user the chance to face it to real conditions, which sometimes involve hundreds of files to be sorted out.
The Good
MP3 AutoSort requires no special skills for a proper use, on the contrary, it can be easily managed by any type of user, even by the uninitiated.
It will automatically create the necessary folders for sorting the MP3s out.
The Bad
The greatest downfall of the software is that it failed to function properly in its evaluation version. It would create the folders but not move/copy the files.
The limitation of the trial version is too strict, not allowing the user to test it under real conditions where hundreds of files could be involved.
$19 seems a bit steep for my pockets and, considering that the evaluation version did not prove its efficiency, I would say it is indeed too much to pay.
The Truth
In its trial edition MP3 AutoSort failed to carry out the job and place the files in the newly created folders, but the video on publisher's website proves it works pretty good, provided that all ID3-tags are accurate.
The developer has been emailed about the mishaps of the trial version and we are waiting for an official answer. Until then, our rating will be stuck to the default values.
NOTE: The developer answered our email and gave us good news. First of all, the price of the application dropped to only $10, which cannot but make the software more appealing. Secondly, the restriction of the demo version is somewhat changed for the better: the first five files are sorted as normal while all the rest will be converted to a "demo version sound" just to show you that the application can actually copy more than five files at once, and speedily, too.
As for the glitch with copying the files, we have re-tested the application and found out that all the files to be sorted have to comply to certain standards in order to be properly processed by MP3 AutoSort. This means that their ID3 tags must contain the name of the artist, the name of the song and the name of the album. If all this information is present, the software will create a folder with the name of the artist, a subfolder with the name of the album and will also copy the files to the newly created location.
We have been provided with a full version of the software and I have to say that, granted all these conditions are fulfilled, MP3 AutoSort will do a terrific job. However, if the files do not comply, you may have a bit of work to do with completing the information in the ID3 tag. However, it sure would be great if the application could copy all the songs based on the name of the artist, not having to provide the name of the album as well.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
