Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[rhaehnel]

I'm a new user looking to find *one* piece of software to both manage my MP3 collection and my IPod.  I was hoping MC9 would be it, however, it would seem that MC9 has some issues w/ the 'Pod.

-  after filling my ipod I try to sync a newly created playlist w/ songs that already exist on the IPod and one of two things happen:
1)  it puts an 'empty' mp3 on the IPod(no tag info huge song lenght, not playable)
2)  it puts the song on the IPod -  again.  It adds duplicate files rather than just adding the new playlist w/ pointers to existing songs.

So as it stands now I create the playlists in MC9 and then export them to .m3u format for import thru Ephpod.  I'd really rather do it all thru one program.

I hope this makes sense.

[SteveG]

Sorry for the delay in response, I was out yesterday.

If you don't mind losing your files on iPod temporarily, I think the best solution is to right-click on your iPod drive letter and then select "Format". My best guess is that your database is somewhat goofed up from using a variety of programs. If you format from within MC I think things will be better. Please let me know if you are still stuck.

Steve

[rhaehnel]

I've tried reformatting ... I still cant get it to work.    Very frustrating behavior from an otherwise excellent product.

Syncing results in dupes, adding to playlists by using drag and drop result in 'garbage' mp3s(track#2013550797, 93 minutes long, bitrate of 6015303, no tag info etc).  Creating new playlists from MC9 results in the IPod showing the new playlist w/o names and no songs.  Creating new playlsits from my MC9 library w/ songs that are already on the IPod and adding that playlist to the pod results in dupes ...

I'll just stick w/ XPlay for IPod management and MC9 for media in general.

[SteveG]

rhaehenel,

There are a lot of people using this successfully so the problem is most likely something pretty basic that you are doing wrong. If you want to work on it, email me at steve @ jriver.com and I can make some suggestions.  Please include the version fof MC that you are using and the version of the Plugin.

Steve

[Kurt Young]

I am surprised that you're having such difficulty with the iPod on MC, it's really well built, IMHO.

Rather than manipulating the playlists on the iPod I would like to suggest manipulating the playlists within MC instead.  For instance:

1.  Start from scratch again by using MC's "format iPod" option on the right-click.  If this works, you won't have to do this all the time anymore, I promise,

2.  Go to the Playlists tree node in your media library.  Not the Playlists node that's a subnode of the iPod, but the one that has all the playlist groups in it.

3.  Make a quick playlist.  Just a couple of songs.

4.  Go right-click the iPod again and select "Synchronize"

5.  When the sync dialogue opens up, click "Select None", which will de-select all of your playlists; just in case they were selected.  Now go find your quickie playlist that you just made, and put a check in the box by it.

6.  Before you hit "OK" make sure that the "Delete files not in list" and "Update tags" boxes are checked.  You can use "Auto Sync" if you like (it will bring up this dialogue every time MC starts if your iPod is connected... mebby do that later)

7.  Hit OK and see if it transfers the music.  Once you dismount and unplug your iPod, it should have a playlist on it that's identical to the quickie playlist in MC.  Now, build a lot more playlists and smartlists and enjoy!

The key here is to get all of your music "looking pretty" in MC's media library.  The plugin will only transfer music that's in your library, so be sure it's all imported and tagged properly.  Have all the "artist" and "album" and "name" and "track number" fields filled out as a minimum.

[SteveG]

Thanks Kurt.

Steve

[TimB]

Thanks Kurt

He's not just a pretty face!

-=Tim=-

[rhaehnel]

STEVEG-
I'm interested in getting this to work, however, it would seem that the basic functionality is not working properly.  I'll give it one more attempt tonite(format and sync w/ small playlists to see if I get dupes) and report my progress tommorow.

Quick question(that seems straight forward ..):  What exactly does the "Delete files not in list"  option in the sync dialog do?  Does it actually delete songs from the 'pod that are not on the currently syncing list?  Say that I have my IPod loaded w/ 3000 songs and I create a 40 song playlist in MC9 w/ songs from my library(some on the IPod and some not) and I check the "Delete files not in list"  option.  What is supposed to happen?  Do I end up w/ 40 songs on my IPod w/ 2960 deleted songs?

KURT YOUNG-

<<  
Rather than manipulating the playlists on the iPod I would like to suggest manipulating the playlists within MC instead
>>

In general I do(although I quickly stopped when I discovered that creating new playlists in MC9 and adding them to the IPod resulted in duplicate songs everywhere), however, I sometimes get the urge to create playlists at work when I dont have access to my home machine and my main MC9 library-  darn firewall at work blocks me from conneting to my home machine remotely!

<< The key here is to get all of your music "looking pretty" in MC's media library.  The plugin will only transfer music that's in your library, so be sure it's all imported and tagged properly.  Have all the "artist" and "album" and "name" and "track number" fields filled out as a minimum
>>

All of my stuff is tagged properly and has been imported into the MC9 library.  Before getting the IPod I had a RioRiot which also only used tags, so I carefully tagged everything about a year ago.  Thanks for the suggestions though.

[SteveG]

Does it actually delete songs from the 'pod that are not on the currently syncing list?

Yes.

Say that I have my IPod loaded w/ 3000 songs and I create a 40 song playlist in MC9 w/ songs from my library(some on the IPod and some not) and I check the "Delete files not in list"  option.  What is supposed to happen?  Do I end up w/ 40 songs on my IPod w/ 2960 deleted songs?

Yes.

[rhaehnel]

I gave it one last try tonite and ... boy am I glad I did-  it works!

I started fresh-  I used the apple updater to restore the Pod back to 1.26(I was at 1.3 which may have been the problem)
and then did a format in MC.  I've imported playlists, created playlists, synchronized, updated tags and *everything* has worked perfectly!  

thanks for the assistance.

[SteveG]

I am glad it worked out. Thanks for hanging in there and for letting me know it worked out.

Steve

[Kurt Young]

Woot!  Let's hear it for another happy podder!

[pimpin']

There's a forum over at iPodlounge.com dedicated to MC9 if you'd like to read more about it (or tell others how you fixed your problem).  Spread that happiness around!  

[/pimpin']

[rhaehnel]

I'd love to know exactly what the problem was, but now that its working properrly I'm a bit reluctant to start mucking around w/ it again.

I'm mostly suspicious of the 1.3 firmware I was using.  Is anyone else using the 1.3 firmware for the IPod and MC9?

[paulj]

I'm mostly suspicious of the 1.3 firmware I was using.  Is anyone else using the 1.3 firmware for the IPod and MC9?

Yep, I'm using the 1.3 firmware from Midfield and it's working flawlessly with MC9.

I never mess with the playlists on the iPod. I just use smartlists in MC and sync them up. I can't imagine life without smartlists anymore. How do those Ephpod & Xplay users manage? 

[JimH]

Please use the iPod support thread whenever possible.

The reason is that many questions are answered there and it saves us from answering them again.

Thanks.