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[vbphil]

My Main audio library are Apple lossless ALAC files. A 2nd library is comprised of an AAC re-formated copy of the Main, but only songs rated 4-5 stars. I did this because it seemed faster to stream (DLNA) from the AAC library, where Lossless is incompatible with external players, and to make USB Stick copies to play elsewhere. As I'm mostly only interested in the 4-5 rated songs when playing, copying to USB and exporting to iTunes. Also, the AAC copies are in a different parent folder but on the same drive.

Recently I went through an exercise of updating the Genre tag of all Audio files. It was extra work having to tag 2 copies of a song that were in different libraries. So, I wondered should I really be managing the copies together in one Library as a Stack. I suppose Stacked audio files can be stored in different locations as well.

Under this scenario would it be easier to Stack? Or is there another way to manage multiple copies of songs like this?

[JimH]

Use one library, not two.  Set up different views if you feel the need.

MC can convert lossless files automatically if the device you're playing to doesn't support them.  Configure the server to specify what happens.  The wiki should be helpful.

[vbphil]

Use one library, not two.  Set up different views if you feel the need.

MC can convert lossless files automatically if the device you're playing to doesn't support them.  Configure the server to specify what happens.  The wiki should be helpful.

What would be the best way to bring in all the lossy file copies, a Library Import by Folder? Then, would I select all the files in the Library and do an Autostack Files?

[vbphil]

What would be the best way to bring in all the lossy file copies, a Library Import by Folder? Then, would I select all the files in the Library and do an Autostack Files?

Yup, that worked. So, I'm on the road to stacking where my Main Library are ALAC rips with AAC rips as the stacked file. My AAC ripped files are in a different parent folder and have the same file extension: m4a.

I've learned a few important tips.

• For a DLNA server I can set a customized view with a Modifier to Limit Database to Stacks. This way only the AAC files are served to compatible players, like my old Sony TV.
  
• Syncing to portable USB devices where only AAC files are desired you can use SmartLists and set a Modifier to Limit Database to Stacks.
• Clicking on the Stack icon will expand and collapse the stack.
• When a stack is collapsed the hidden files are no longer part of the main database, so they are ignored, unless explicitly programed for as with a Modifier, Limit Database statement.

I'm sure there's more as I'll discover as time goes on.

All in all, I'm glad I stacked and using only one Library.

-phil