How to catalog recordings, etc.?

[Bob]

I ran across a box of CDs I haven't looked at for... maybe ten years.  But I've been carrying it around with me all that time.  I just didn't realize they were "missing."

I'm wondering if there's a way to just copy the CD information on my computer so I use the find function to find this stuff.  Some of the CDs have several performers, several pieces, etc.  The title alone probably won't cut it if I want to search for something.

Is there a fairly easy way to grab the title, track name, performer name, etc. online somehow?  Then I could copy that into a simple text file and have that to search with.  I'm thinking I could check on Amazon or maybe there's a way to plug that into iTunes.

I also wondering the same thing for books and magazines, but that sounds like more work.  At one time I was thinking about scaning and OCR'ing table of contents and indices but that's a bit nuts for work.  Still... If I could find things I already have in that level of detail it would be nice.  Useful.

[quantum]

There are already databases existing for recordings.  Some media players can auto connect online to a database when you pop the CD in your drive.  It will fill in the track titles, performers, etc. and display on your playlist. 

Here is one:
https://www.freedb.org

That works with this excellent media player.  It is already per-configured for freedb.org so nothing to do but install and use. 
https://www.videolan.org/vlc/

[Bob]

Interesting.  Thanks.

I suppose for magazines I could find a database for them and just copy text that way.  If I know the date I started the subscription (and ended) then I could copy all the titles, etc. that way.  I wish there was a way to just download all that though.  I won't always have access to a database.  I'd rather have something "captured" for myself so I can search it.

Books... Trickier, but I could find them in a library catalog and copy that info.  Except that doesn't have the index.  At most the table of contents.  It could be enough to find things I'm looking for though.  There are subject headings in that stuff.

[quantum]

For books and magazines you could use a good university library catalog.  The librarians do an extensive job of cataloging collections to make them searchable for researchers.  The trick is to find a catalog that does a through job and lists items that are important to you. 

With more and more libraries turning to e-resources a lot of magazines, journals and books are being digitized.  Full text of many print items are now available from places like JSTOR.  The advantage of full text is that every word in the item becomes searchable.  You will need a subscription to get access to these.  Being a member of a library usually grants you access to many of these e-resources. 

[thalbergmad]

I tend to use google docs and produce me own catalogs.

Rather time consuming, but I hope accurate.

Thal

[Bob]

The Library of Congress, loc.gov I think, or worldcat.org would have listings of books.  There's a way, like a staff view, to see the raw information for those records.

I suppose OCR is the only way to get the indices (and table contents if the library records don't have them).

And all that sounds like a huge amount of work.