How to use beets to manage SFX library?

I’m trying to use beets to manage my SFX library. I would like the tracks to be indexed using the metadata embedded in the track file themselves.

But I am not currently able to import anything (see below). I assume this is somewhat related to the fact sound effect libraries are not organized using the typical artist/album/track.wav structure used for music.

So, is beets usable for my use case? How?

sh$ uname -a
Linux bulbizarre 4.14.0-0.bpo.3-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 4.14.13-1~bpo9+1 (2018-01-14) x86_64 GNU/Linux
sh$ beet --version beets version 1.3.18 no plugins loaded

sh$ beet -vv import .
user configuration: /home/sylvain/.config/beets/config.yaml
data directory: /home/sylvain/.config/beets
plugin paths: 
Sending event: pluginload
library database: /home/sylvain/.config/beets/library.db
library directory: /home/sylvain/Music
Sending event: library_opened
Sending event: import_begin
No files imported from /media/sylvain/G-Drive/Media/Yes_I_Know_IT/ASSETS/MADS
Sending event: import
Sending event: cli_exit

sh$ ls
00_MA_DS_Metadata.pdf            MADS Spell Large Neutral.wav
00_MA_DS_Metadata.xls            MADS Spell Large Positive.wav
00_README_Magic.pdf              MADS Spell Medium Evil.wav
MADS Acid Arrow 01 Cast.wav      MADS Spell Medium Neutral.wav
MADS Acid Arrow 01 Hit.wav       MADS Spell Medium Positive.wav
MADS Acid Arrow 02 Cast.wav      MADS Spell Small Evil.wav
MADS Acid Arrow 02 Hit.wav       MADS Spell Small Neutral.wav
MADS Acid Ball 01 Cast.wav       MADS Spell Small Positive.wav

FWIW, I tried both import and import -A with the same result. Here is my config file:

sh$ cat /home/sylvain/.config/beets/config.yaml
import:
    copy: no
    write: no

Hi! My apologies, but we don’t currently support wav files. There’s a ticket on GitHub that can tell you more. Sounds like an interesting use case though!

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Thanks for the reply @adrian,

I didn’t even imagine that was the problem :smiley:
I assume this is the issue you are referring to:

I rapidly browse through the discussion. For my use case, file transcoding is not an option. Neither moving the file. Mostly I would need to index the file in the underlying DB to use the search feature. Or did I completely misunderstood how beets is working?

Indeed. It is quite disappointing, but I wasn’t able to find any opensource SFX/sample library manager. In the GUI world, there was AuralProbe but it is no longer maintained.

Yep! You understand correctly, I think.

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