If we could make yes/no custom fields, then my "Master" iPod smartlist could look like this:
[MyNeatYes/NoCustomField]=1
Kurt,
You can do this with custom fields already. Just create a basic text field and assign whatever value you want to it. Because I have a hodgepodge of APLs, APEs, their derivative MP3s and some unique MP3s, I created a field called "Duplicate". All of my derivative MP3s are given a value of "y" in that field.
For you, call it "PutOniPod" and give those songs a "y" in tagging mode. I don't think it needs to be a specific boolean data type--it's the results that count, right?
Adam,
Thanks for the pointers. I think a lot of my problems stem from having too much music! I'm trying to manage the equivalent of ~40GB MP3s and fit them onto a 30GB iPod. I don't like synching more than needed. I only do it about once every 2-4 weeks.
1. I have found the "one-click synch" option. Again, since I actually download music to the iPod so infrequently, I'm more interested in updating MC's DB with the iPod's playcounts, times, etc. That's why I use the contextual menu.
As for the convert-on-the-fly functionality... I love that it's there, but since I have the storage space for both the APE & MP3 versions of my files, I'd rather preconvert everything instead of waiting even longer during my infrequent synchs.
However, when the iPod info gets copied back and there are 2 versions of the file (APE & MP3), which one gets the rating/playcount info updated? I'd assume the MP3 version, since that's the one actually on the iPod, but I think it might be better to match based on Artist/Album/length/etc., so those of us keeping multiple versions can have everything updated...maybe...?
2. Aha! Thanks! I always uncheck my smartlists because of the amount of stuff synched with my iPod. What usually happens is that I synch 3-4 smartlists, which fills up my iPod. I then navigate to the iPod directly and delete tracks that I didn't want included. I clear out enough space to synch up 1-2 more smartlists, and so on.
It's not very efficient, but I hate managing playlists/smartlists.
If I keep the lists checked in order to update tags, I get "full iPod" errors because MC tries to restore the songs I deleted.
3. Yep. I've seen and tried the "master" method of synching. I found it really wasn't for me, but that's not so much the point here. My suggestion is that for folks who do NOT exclusively use playlists/smartlists to synch can have a way to assign tracks on the iPod to playlists already on the iPod.
For example, I synch 2 smartlists, one with the rules "Genre=Rock/Pop; Sub-Genre=Rock/Pop" and the other with the rule "Genre=Soundtrack". I have all my Rock/Pop songs tagged with that genre, and all my soundtrack songs tagged with "Soundtrack", but some of them with the sub-genre "Rock/Pop".
This way, when I play my iPod playlist "Rock/Pop" I not only get all my Rock/Pop songs, but also my soundtrack tracks from albums like "Dazed & Confused" or "The Blues Brothers" that have a sub-genre of Rock/Pop. Works great.
The problem is that if I find a track in the library that isn't already synched to the iPod, I use "Send To.." to put it there. Once that track is on the iPod, I have no way of associating it with my "Rock/Pop" iPod playlist, so it will never play unless I find it specifically.
It would be amazing to be able to type (or select) existing iPod playlist names in the "Playlist" column when looking at the docked iPod in MC. Make sense? It is kind of odd....
Best,
Brad