Use of a metadata presort file to sort compressed audio files

A media player, comprising:

• a CPU;
• input controls coupled to said CPU;
• a display coupled to said CPU;
• and
• a storage device on which media files containing media data and metadata are stored and on which a presort file is stored, said presort file includes a plurality of presort segments, each segment including metadata and representing at least some of the media files arranged in a pre-sorted order.

A CD player, comprising:

• a CPU;
• a CD loader coupled to said CPU;
• a speaker coupled to said CPU;
• input controls coupled to said CPU;
• wherein said CD loader operatively interacts with an audio CD containing a plurality of audio files and a presort file specifying a plurality of different orders for playing at least some of the audio files, and the input controls being used to select one of said orders for playing the audio files.

A method for playing digital media files, comprising:

• (a) selecting one of a plurality of sorting criteria;
• (b) matching the selected sorting criteria to a list of media files arranged in an order according to the sorting criteria;
• and
• (c) playing the media files in said order.

A method for burning a CD, comprising:

• (a) storing a plurality of audio files on said CD, each of said audio files containing metadata pertaining to the audio file;
• (b) creating a presort file specifying a plurality of differing orderings for the audio files;
• and
• (c) storing said presort file on said CD.