Topic: How do I convert MC PC playlists to MC MAC Playlists? (Read 5784 times)

madplanet · « **on:** April 25, 2014, 07:12:43 am »

Use MC for PC, and have hundreds of playlists.

Have bought MAC and MC for MAC and want to convert my playlists from my PC To Mac. All the music on the PC MC playlists is on external drive.
Any ideas?

Even better would be function to import PC MC back up library to MAC MC. Can this be done?

Help going to have to ditch the mac if cant solve this soon?

Dan

MrC · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2014, 12:57:13 pm »

Are your hundreds of playlists external files (such as M3U files), or playlists within the MC library?

madplanet · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2014, 12:59:11 pm »

Hi
thanks for your quick reply.
They are standard media centre playlists created through media center.

cheers
Dan

MrC · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2014, 01:07:35 pm »

There's still some ambiguity here.... So they are in the Media Center tree (on the left) under Playlists?

madplanet · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2014, 01:23:20 pm »

yes correct! Itching to get them on to my apple mac media center!

MrC · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2014, 01:45:20 pm »

Ok. I don't think importing a Windows Library Backup via Restore Library is officially supported in MC Mac.

However, I tested the import and was able to correct the audio paths and then correct the paths in the playlists. Here were the steps required:

1. Make a Library Backup of MC on Windows.

2. Copy that backup zip file to the Mac.

3. Create a new Library on the Mac, and switch to that Library (or use your existing one if you don't care about the content).

Everything else from here on is from the Mac MC

4. Restore the Library from the Backup zip you created on Windows and copied to your Mac. Select Files and Playlists only - don't import Settings.
5. Now you need to change the file paths for your audio files. Select all the Audio files via the Audio > Files view, and use the Rename, Move & Copy tool in Update mode. Change the Base path, and set a Folder rule to mimic and match your existing folder structure. You may need the rules FileFolder(,0) and FileFolder(,1) (or more...) to match your existing folder structure. Unfortunately, Find & Replace is not sufficient to change a drive letter or path components. Play with rules or settings here to get the paths to match.

Your audio files should now be playable in MC (but not via playlists yet).

6. Go to your Audio Playlists. You may want to place them all in a Playlist Group so you can select the Group and make changes to all the entries at once. But first, try just one file within a playlist. You need to make the paths match your new paths on the Mac. This can be done via expression. If you don't know how to do this, show an old path and a new path so that I can help you create such an expression.

Once the path conversion is done, you should now be able to play the files via these playlists.

madplanet · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2014, 03:14:44 am »

going to try this now. Cheers

1 more question? Is it possible to batch convert media centre playlists into itunes?
Would be useful? You can do one at a time, but not the lot.

Any pointers would be great..

cheers,
dan

MrC · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2014, 11:41:48 am »

Quote from: madplanet on April 29, 2014, 03:14:44 am

1 more question? Is it possible to batch convert media centre playlists into itunes?
Would be useful? You can do one at a time, but not the lot.

Any pointers would be great..

Once your files and playlists have been converted using the above methods, you can Export Playlists or Export All Playlists in MC to create one or all of your playlists in M3U format. These can directly import into iTunes via Library > Import Playlist, so long as they are on the same platform.

If you need to switch to another platform, or the music location changes, this should help:

http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=88329.msg605680#msg605680

madplanet · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2014, 09:45:05 am »

excuse me for my ignorance, but can you help some more.
Ive done the easy bits. But i'm stuck from here onwards.

""Change the Base path, and set a Folder rule to mimic and match your existing folder structure. You may need the rules FileFolder(,0) and FileFolder(,1) (or more...) to match your existing folder structure. Unfortunately, Find & Replace is not sufficient to change a drive letter or path components. Play with rules or settings here to get the paths to match.

Your audio files should now be playable in MC (but not via playlists yet).""

1.Can you explain how to mimic existing folder structure. Its a new mac and all the music is on my old pc drive (formally known as "f" drive. Approx 234699 audio files in 23 folders.

2. is it a question of changing the location once for everything, or is it by individual folders?

Your the man,
Dan

MrC · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2014, 10:09:46 am »

Can you show the non-common parts of the new path and the old path? I'll help you construct a rule.

The idea is a simple one, but can be more difficult to implement if you're not comfortable using MCs expression language. You want MC's Filename field values to match where the new music is located (because now, Filename contains old locations).

madplanet · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2014, 05:50:40 pm »

have sceen grabbed the relavent sections.
Let me know if you need any more info,
Dan

madplanet · « **Reply #11 on:** April 30, 2014, 05:54:46 pm »

and the other..let me know..
and thanks,
Dan

MrC · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2014, 05:58:46 pm »

I can't tell from the screenshots the full path names.

Go to the Audio > Files view. Expand the Filename column to be large enough, and capture that field for a few files.

What I need to know is how much of the old base of the Filename field you want removed and replaced so that it maps to your new location. I'm assuming from your rename screenshot it will be /Users/dannypockets/Music/....

madplanet · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2014, 03:49:17 am »

there is audio in all the 25 different files on the external hardrive, and in different sub folders with in those files.
Will there be one path change to direct to all? IE its the same hard drive, all that has changed is one drive letter!
Heres a screen shot as requested. Hoping this can be done!

Dan

MrC · « **Reply #14 on:** May 01, 2014, 10:46:44 am »

Quote from: madplanet on May 01, 2014, 03:49:17 am

there is audio in all the 25 different files on the external hardrive, and in different sub folders with in those files.
Will there be one path change to direct to all? IE its the same hard drive, all that has changed is one drive letter!
Heres a screen shot as requested. Hoping this can be done!

Great.

So assuming your music is in:

   /Users/dannypockets/Music

Select your files, and do Rename, Move & Copy, and set the Update database... mode from the pulldown. Check only Directories, and uncheck Filename and Find & Replace.

Under Directories, enter the following values:

  Base Path: /Users/dannypockets/Music
  Rule: replace([filename (path)], F:\,)

You should see your new paths under the New column. Verify these match where you've copied your existing files. If not, adjust the rules above. The Base Path portion sets the base of where the music is now located, and the Rule portion strips of the old stuff that is no longer valid.

madplanet · « **Reply #15 on:** May 01, 2014, 11:42:08 am »

not sure that my music is in "/Users/dannypockets/Music"
Its all on external portable hard drive. How do I work out that filepath?
regards,
Dan

madplanet · « **Reply #16 on:** May 01, 2014, 11:44:24 am »

IE i want to leave all the music on the external hard drive.
cheers,
Dan

MrC · « **Reply #17 on:** May 01, 2014, 11:44:55 am »

On the Mac, external drives and remote file systems will be found under /Volumes.

You can navigate to a track via the Finder, and then do a Get Info on the file. Copy and Paste the value under General > Where.

madplanet · « **Reply #18 on:** May 01, 2014, 12:03:13 pm »

your a genius, think its worked!
Yeaahh wont have to be subjected to windows 8
Dan

MrC · « **Reply #19 on:** May 01, 2014, 12:04:39 pm »

Thanks for the update - glad it worked out.

madplanet · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2014, 01:49:19 pm »

On PC mc19 I'm trying to "export all playlists" in m3u format, so i can open them on my itunes library as well.

When i do this it says;

"all of your playlists have been exported to the standard m3u format. Exported playlists have been placed here;
c\users\sony\appdata\jriver\media center 19\library\playlists\"

The folder seems hidden, as I can't find corresponding folder on my computer in order to import in to itunes....

Am I missing a trick here, or just plain dumb>?

Dan

MrC · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2014, 02:50:00 pm »

AppData is normally hidden. Enable hidden folders in Window's Control Panel > Folder Options > View > Hidden files and folders > Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

madplanet · « **Reply #22 on:** May 08, 2014, 04:04:16 pm »

thanks. Do I have to import the play lists one by one? Or can i batch import.
cheers,
Dan

madplanet · « **Reply #23 on:** May 08, 2014, 04:46:13 pm »

worked it out.
Just drag and drop them all in to itunes playlists.
Sweet!
Dan

p.s media centre kicks itunes ass, but need the itunes playlists as virtual dj reads em.

cheers,
Dan

madplanet · « **Reply #24 on:** May 09, 2014, 05:10:51 am »

also how do i do the same as this for the mac? As well....
cheers
Dan

AppData is normally hidden. Enable hidden folders in Window's Control Panel > Folder Options > View > Hidden files and folders > Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

MrC · « **Reply #25 on:** May 09, 2014, 09:34:49 am »

The path is listed in the Information dialog box that pops up when you Export All Playlists. In Finder, use Go > Go to Folder and enter that path (at least up to the Library sub-folder, and from there you can use Finder to drill down).

madplanet · « **Reply #26 on:** May 09, 2014, 09:44:02 am »

ok thanks. Is there an easier way to batch import the m3u playlists into media center than drag and drop?
D

MrC · « **Reply #27 on:** May 09, 2014, 11:06:05 am »

I don't think so. Playlist files that are auto-imported don't pull in files too. I believe this file-dragging import feature requires you manually importing a a playlist file (and File > Import Playlist, or Drag-and-drop are manual).

madplanet · « **Reply #28 on:** May 09, 2014, 11:11:53 am »

thnxx

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Author Topic: How do I convert MC PC playlists to MC MAC Playlists? (Read 5784 times)