[Bob in St. Louis]

Hey folks. 

I've got "just enough" music stored on a harddrive that this seems a daunting task.
The issue is that I've got multiple identical files. Obviously that's taking up HDD space. Is there software available that will delete redundant files?

If there is, is it "smart enough" to know that if there's an entire album, and then one lonely straggler of a song that also appears on the album to delete the straggler as opposed to one that's where it should be. That make sense?

Also, for extra bonus points....it would be nice that it saves the highest quality file as opposed to deleting the FLAC file and saving the 15 year old Napster mp3. 

Thanks fellas! 
Bob
 

[Tam Lin]

Clonemaster: removes duplicate files based on content, not names.

[Vincent Kars]

The problem with tools like Clonemaster is that the files must be bit identical.
A FLAC and a MP3 of the same song are certainly not bit identical.

The media player I’m using (J River Media Center) allows you to define smart list.
I can use a modifier displaying duplicates only.
I can control what the criteria will be used for a track to be marked as duplicate
I can also sort by e.g. file type so first the FLAC than the MP3

[Tam Lin]

The problem with tools like Clonemaster is that the files must be bit identical.
A FLAC and a MP3 of the same song are certainly not bit identical.

Obviously! Tell me, how does J River determine that an MP3 and a flac file contain the same recording? Just because two files have the same name or have matching meta data doesn't mean they contain the same music. And what about the case of identical tracks that have different names or meta data? At least when a tool like Clonemaster tells you two files are identical you safely delete one of them. What do you do when J River tells you two flac files are identical based only on their name or other attached data? Which one do you delete? What if the one you choose to save has a defect that makes it unplayable?

[Bob in St. Louis]

Mmmm....good information, from both sides. 

I'm thinking Vincent has the edge at this point, but Tam brings up a good point.

Last I checked, J River was $40, but would be willing to spend that if it works.
Obviously, free is better, but accuracy means more.

Of course, allowing any piece of software access to my harddrive with it's primary goal being the deletion of files, a known good back up is paramount.

Thanks all, but please keep the good info coming! 
Bob

[adydula]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/

Awesome, easy to use, FREE.....

Tried many ...THIS IS THE ONE!!

Alex

[mcoaggie]

I've been using Media Monkey.  It works great and is really extensible.  I've used other people's scripts to find many low quality dups and remove them. 

Has both content and name duplicate find features.  There is alot of info on the web.  I'm using the free version, I can't remember what the paid one opens up.

I cannot by any means tell you about all the features but I've cleaned up over 100 GB of files with it just usign the basic duplicate find, sorts, and filters.

Info...
http://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13000

http://www.mediamonkey.com/support/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=113

[Bob in St. Louis]

Alex, thank you very much!

mcoaggie, I have MM. I've never seen that button, I'll have to check it out. 
Thank you 

Bob