Compare two iTunes music folders and eliminate duplicates

Through various Mac upgrades (MBA to Mini-both with Yosemite), as well as HD storage changes, I've ended up with 3-4 music folders with 80-95% correlation among them. They are not exactly alike, however, and I fear losing some good toons if I don't pick a "master" and transfer missing files in other folders into the master, so I end up with all my tunes in one music folder.
Can anyone point me to an AppleScript or other alternative that will allow me to semi-automate my search process? I've been doing it manually, and I've got about 4-5 weekends of part time efforts into it with no end in sight - boring!
Thanks in advance to anyone with more advanced knowledge and experience than I.

What exactly is the scenario? Do you already have multiple media folders but only one iTunes library? If that is the case, consolidating should get iTunes to put all the files listed in that library in the main active media folder and the others can be deleted (or better yet, put on an archive drive, then delete and see if everything is as it should be).
I use an older iTunes so I can't give you a step-by-step in new iTunes. Here's some references. I guess "consolidate" is now called organize.
iTunes 11 for Mac: Change where your iTunes files are stored - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12165 - Unfortunately this is misnamed. It should say "Change where your media files but not where your library files are stored" - more information at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/22026652 - and steps 5-8 in https://discussions.apple.com/message/24491967 -- you don't need to actually change it from default, just ensure everything end up in one folder.
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
Sept. 2010, Consolidate selected content - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2589812 and April 2014, https://discussions.apple.com/message/25414357#25414357
turingtest2 post on consolidating old and new iTunes library structure into one - https://discussions.apple.com/message/18327128

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Keeping two iTunes Media Folders (and libraries) in sync

Hi all,
Here's my situation... I can't be the only person looking for an answer to this. (Can I?)
At home I have a Mac Mini with my music collection on it managed by iTunes. I have the same at work. I also have Chronosync set up to nightly syncronize my iTunes Media folders. Obviously, this is just step one.
What I'd ultimately like is to be able to change files or add media at either location (through iTunes) and not only have the files moved by Chronosync but also have the iTunes libraries updated. Is there a way to do this via AppleScript or some other solution? I looking to keep two iTunes Media folders mirrored and have iTunes' library be updated at the same time (or on a regular basis).
Thanks in advance!
A

It sounds like a question for whoever wrote Chronosync. I have never heard of it and have no idea what it is or what it does. Generally you ask questions related to third party software on the software's own support forum. What you need it to do is synchronize the whole iTunes folder, not just media files. The library.itl file contains most of the actual playlist and content data but things also get updated in the artwork folder, and some other files (mostly also in the iTunes folder).
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
Apple's solution is to have you buy all your music from Apple and use the automatically download new purchases set on both computers. Of course it isn't a complete solution. For example, if you change the rating on one computer it won't change it on the other since all you're doing is downloading a file from a third place (the store) to both other places (computers).

How do I determine what folder my library is attached to if I have two iTunes music folders on my computer?

I am trying to backup my music to an external backup disc. The problem is that I have two iTunes folders on my computer. So I need to determine which is the correct folder to backup. Please help.

Run iTunes, select any track, and Get Info on it (File menu). On the Summary page it will show you the path to the file which will tell you the correct folder. This of course presumes that your iTunes library isn't split between two folders, which is entirely possible, so you may wish to check more than a single track.
Regards.

Can I have two identical iTunes Music Folders for my Laptop and my desktop

I have an iMac Flower Power, 20GB of HD running OSX 10.2.8 as my desktop, 2 users, with an 80GB External HD (Firewire). I also have my new MacBook. Right now all my music and pictures are in my MacBook and I have BUps of everything in my external HD. My problem is that when I'm away, my wife can't listen to our music with the iMac 'cause I have all the files (iTunes is using the Library located at my Laptop). My questions are... Can I have 2 identical iTunes Music Folders, one in the XHD and one in my MacBook? How can I do to have both Folders sycronized so when I add music being away with my Laptop, then when I get back home the "home" Folder gets updated with the new music or viceversa? I have an iPod but I want to have the ability to also change the playlists in my iPod when I'm away. I hope this is not too hard to do.

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MacBook Black Mac OS X (10.4.7) 2GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB RAM

Is there a way to have two iTunes music libraries: a library on my computer and a shared library on a NAS server (cloud box)?

I would like to know if I can have two iTunes music libraries: a library on my computer and a shared library on a NAS server (LaCie CloudBox). I want to have some music files on my computer and a larger collection of songs with cover art on a shared CloudBox (NAS server) so that also my family members can listen to the music on the Cloudbox. Is there a way to do this?
I know I could just copy the music files to the CloudBox, but that way only the songs are shared, not the cover art. I could also just keep the files on my computer and share the library via home sharing, but that way my computer would have to be always on. So is there a way to have a shared library on the cloudbox that works regardless of my computer being on or not?
Thanks,
Jay

Try homesharing. I am not sure if this will keep them seprate but this is really close to what you are looking for.http://www.apple.com/itunes/inside-itunes/2010/01/sharing-itunes-libraries-at-ho me.html

Need help merging & consolidating 2 iTunes Music Folders on the same drive

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Natalie Beresford, "Multiple iPods/iTunes Installations", 04:04am Nov 26, 2004 CDT

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settings - app/iTunes store - sign out and sign back in with your new id.
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I have added many CD to my iTunes music library and then synched them with my iPhone so that I have all music in both places. Then I could the play them in iTunes or iPhone with no problems. Recently, my iTunes "sees" the music library but won't play any of it becuase "the original could not be found". If I attach my iPhone, then it pays them through the iPhone, but still not through the library in iTunes. How can I get the music library on my iPhone to transfer (i.e. restore it) to iTunes? I have iPhone 4S but have not upgraded to the iOS 6, and have not had any problems until last week. Help! Thanks.

Check the manual for whatever backup program you used, or, if you just copied the files over, copy them that.
How to restore data to your PC is outside the scope of these forums.

I plugged my iphone into my desktop mac to put my itunes music on and now all my contacts and photos are gone can i get them back?

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tonefox wrote:
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I am experiencing the same problem, not being able to access internet at the same time as streaming iTunes music through an Airport Express.
Our configuration consists ot; an iMac G5 and an AirPort Express connected to a cable modem.
This problem first occurred using iTunes 7.0, now updated to iTunes 7.0.1, along with OS X 10.4.8
I have followed the Apple troubleshooting guide - without success to this point. The internet can be accessed (although slower than usual). However when the AX is set, using the AirPort Admin Utility to provide an AX provided IP address to the computer, the internet disappears, but iTunes can play over the network via the AX station.
I am suspecting a damaged preference file, or something of that nature, but am not sure what file(s) to be searching for.
Any help here would be appreciated.
thanx

Compare two iTunes music folders and eliminate duplicates

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