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[Osho]

Hi,

I am wondering if it is possible for itunes and MC12 to access the files in the same folders without messing up tags etc.? What I would like is that itunes access all the media files as read only. I don't want itunes to modify any of the music files. I want MC12 to edit these files. Will simply importing these files and syncing them to an ipod in itunes modify them in any way?

The reason why I ask is that I would like some sort of work-around to transfer music to 160GB iPod Classic I have. I was hoping to use the weekend to transfer all/most of my music to it. But, I wouldn't trust itunes to mess with tags/organization of my 250GB audio collection .

thanks,
Osho

[lalittle]

I'm interested in this subject as well.  I'm curious to hear details about the suggested work-flow when using MC12 for managing the iPod lists (and everything else), and just using iTunes for the actual syncs.  I have all sorts of questions in this regard, such as if MC would have to be closed (including Media Server) when doing the sync, and whether or not tag info that is NOT saved in the actual files (such as with aa files, where this info is only saved in the MC Library) can be transferred over to the iPod when using iTunes to sync.

Thanks,

Larry

[Osho]

I heard of one way to solve this problem for iPod Classic right now.

• Create a folder specifically for iTunes. Mount this folder as a device in MC12.
• Sync all the music to this folder (with conversion if it is in format that is not supported by iTunes)
• Import this folder in iTunes and then sync it to iPod.

This will force the same music to be present in multiple place but it should work without risking damage to the "real files" by iTunes (I know I am just being paranoid).

What do people this? Is there any better way to do so?

thanks,
Osho

[BartMan01]

The good/bad news is that iTunes doesn't really store much in the file tags (ratings being a big one).  They store the data only in the iTunes/iPod library itself even when there is a tag for the data in the file. 

Until MC can do everything with playlists that iTunes can (on-the go and dynamic), I would love for a solution that would allow me to use MC to manage my music and iTunes to sync it.

I heard of one way to solve this problem for iPod Classic right now.

• Create a folder specifically for iTunes. Mount this folder as a device in MC12.
• Sync all the music to this folder (with conversion if it is in format that is not supported by iTunes)
• Import this folder in iTunes and then sync it to iPod.

What do people this? Is there any better way to do so?

As long as you don't want play stats/ratings to be able to sync back in to MC you are probably OK.

[lalittle]

Is it really a danger that iTunes might alter the original files?  Can't you set iTunes so it won't do this, or are there situations where iTunes might still alter files?  I TOTALLY understand the idea of being paranoid on this (I've run into this sort of thing with Apple software before), but I'm curious how realistic the danger really is.

Thanks,

Larry

[Osho]

I heard of one way to solve this problem for iPod Classic right now.

• Create a folder specifically for iTunes. Mount this folder as a device in MC12.
• Sync all the music to this folder (with conversion if it is in format that is not supported by iTunes)
• Import this folder in iTunes and then sync it to iPod.

I tried this and it almost works. The main problem is that all multiple artists album are not showing up as compilations in iTunes library. And also on iPods subsequently. Any suggestions?

thanks,
Osho

[olarte]

Hi,

I am wondering if it is possible for itunes and MC12 to access the files in the same folders without messing up tags etc.? What I would like is that itunes access all the media files as read only. I don't want itunes to modify any of the music files. I want MC12 to edit these files. Will simply importing these files and syncing them to an ipod in itunes modify them in any way?

The reason why I ask is that I would like some sort of work-around to transfer music to 160GB iPod Classic I have. I was hoping to use the weekend to transfer all/most of my music to it. But, I wouldn't trust itunes to mess with tags/organization of my 250GB audio collection .

thanks,
Osho

Hi Osho, I do this with MC and assume it will work with Itunes too. I do this so my kids don't mess up the music with MC.

Create a share on the PC where you keep the data, and give it read only permissions in Windows.

Then map a drive with the Net Use command to that share, and use that to import the files into Itunes.

So for instance I do a net use of M: to \\mycomputer\Music$ this share is read only. If you access it via M: instead of the actual location, you can read but not alter the files.

Also, as I mentioned earlier do your syncing into the Ipod then change the tags (like for the compilation problem changing artist to one thing etc) on the IPOD only... it will not alter the original tags in the PC only on the Ipod.

Hope this helps.

[Osho]

Hi Osho, I do this with MC and assume it will work with Itunes too. I do this so my kids don't mess up the music with MC.

Create a share on the PC where you keep the data, and give it read only permissions in Windows.

Then map a drive with the Net Use command to that share, and use that to import the files into Itunes.

Good idea. I just did that and imported my music folder into iTunes.

Also, as I mentioned earlier do your syncing into the Ipod then change the tags (like for the compilation problem changing artist to one thing etc) on the IPOD only... it will not alter the original tags in the PC only on the Ipod.

Hope this helps.

Can you explain what tags on the IPOD do I need to change?

thanks,
Osho

[olarte]

Good idea. I just did that and imported my music folder into iTunes.

Can you explain what tags on the IPOD do I need to change?

thanks,
Osho

Hi Osho, regarding the compilation problem, just go to music on the Ipod, select the compilations, get info, and change the original artists to a single generic name, like soundtrack compilation. This way all my soundtracks show up under that in the coverflow or compilations, and will have individual album covers.

I still mark all my compilations as "part of a compilation" even though I'm changing the artist to something like Soundtrack Compilations etc... so they still show up under compilations etc.

Effectively you will end up with two different kind of files since you are changing tags on the ipod, so if you re-sync with the desktop or whatever, you could end up with duplicates, or change the originals etc...

[Osho]

Well mounting the media file folder as a samba drive did not work out exactly as planned. I couldn't import any of the FLAC files in the iTunes (which is 70% of my collection).

So, I am thinking of going to the approach of having a folder that is configured as a handheld in MC12. Copy all music to that folder in MP3 format and then import this folder in iTunes. I just wonder what tags should I set for the music in this folder so that the compilations will appear as compilation in iTunes. Currently, the compilations don't appear as compilation even in iTunes, let alone iPod.

thanks,
Osho

[olarte]

Well mounting the media file folder as a samba drive did not work out exactly as planned. I couldn't import any of the FLAC files in the iTunes (which is 70% of my collection).

So, I am thinking of going to the approach of having a folder that is configured as a handheld in MC12. Copy all music to that folder in MP3 format and then import this folder in iTunes. I just wonder what tags should I set for the music in this folder so that the compilations will appear as compilation in iTunes. Currently, the compilations don't appear as compilation even in iTunes, let alone iPod.

thanks,
Osho

Osho, I don't know about FLAC format, but in regards to tunes, don't forget you'll still need to select the files, do get info, then check of the "part of compilation"