Extract music files out of itunes library

i was adding cd's to my computer and had a setting wrong. Now all my files are IN the itunes library, but i cannot access them outside of itunes. Grrr!! I have changed the setting now, to import cd files to my music folder, and ADD a copy in the itunes folder.
Anyway....ideas on accessing music files, or tring to'extract' them from itunes. I would like to be able to use media player sometimes with my entire library.
Thanks!

I wish it were so easy. That is the first thing I tried.
It now seems that the file type in the itu es library is not compatible with media file. So I am tring to change the file type, but this is a mundane, slow process.
How come itunes cannot sync with other types of mp3 players?? That is where my problem starts. I bought cheap players for my kids - sansa clips....and itunes does not recognize it.

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Moving music files out of itunes

Hi,
I've finally maxed out my 20GB on my device and once I did, I experienced hard drive problems, with the hard drive whirring and clicking and struggling along. I believe I may have finally solved that problem, but now I'd like to separate out a significant amount of my music from my Itunes Library. Is there a way I can keep my music on my hard drive, but not immediately accessible to Itunes so Itunes will load more quickly?
Thanks for your time!
~daniel
Windows XP

daniel,
There is a way but, to be honest, I don't think it will make any difference in how quickly iTunes starts running. The reason being that iTunes only contains a list of references that point it to the location of your music files - and that location is not within iTunes itself.
You can delete those references by simply selecting (highlighting) them in your iTunes Library display and pressing the Delete key on your keyboard. (Ctrl-clicking or Shift-clicking will help you select multiple items.)
If iTunes asks you about deleting the files from your hard drive as well, just say no.

How can I put my mp3 files into my iTunes library? Every time I download a song from a website and try to drag it to my library, it won't add on. How can I fix this?

Back then when I had the older update with iTunes i never had this problem with trying to put my mp3 files of music into my iTunes library. Now it doesn't want to be put into the library. Once I try to drag the music file to the iTunes library nothing happens, it just keeps showing a cancellation sign with my mouse. So how can I fix this?

Hi William.
The problem is probably that the index is corrupt and you need to completely re-create it rather than rebuilding individual mailboxes. I have no idea what the situation really is now after having tinkered with the contents of ~/Library/Mail/, though, so the following procedure may or may not work.
Verify/repair the startup disk (not just permissions), as described here:
The Repair functions of Disk Utility: what's it all about?
After having fixed all filesystem issues, if any, and making sure that there’s enough space available on the startup disk (a few GB, plus the space needed to make a backup copy of the Mail folder), try this:
1. Quit Mail if it’s running.
2. In the Finder, go to ~/Library/Mail/. Make a backup copy of this folder, just in case something goes wrong -- e.g. by dragging it to the Desktop while holding the Option (Alt) key down.
3. Locate Envelope Index and move it to the Trash. If you see an Envelope Index-journal file there, delete it as well.
4. Open Mail. It will tell you that your mail needs to be “imported”. Click Continue and Mail will proceed to re-create Envelope Index -- Mail says it’s “importing”, but it just re-creates the index if the mailboxes are already in Mail 2.x format.
Note: For those not familiarized with the ~/ notation, it refers to the user’s home folder, i.e. ~/Library is the Library folder within the user’s home folder.

Can I add a lossless file to my itunes library?

Can i add a lossless music file to my itunes library? Usually what i do is drag the file or folder into music/itunes/itunes media/automatically add to itunes and it works fine, everything shows in my library and plays perfectly. But with this lossless file i drag it into the automatically add to itunes folder and it goes into the folder but doesnt show up in itunes. I think i know that itunes doesn't support lossless files, so can somene tell me how to convert them into apple lossless or MP3s (preferably apple lossless). Please help.

The are a variety of different lossless audio formats, some supported by iTunes, some partially supported and some not at all.
The best lossless audio format to use from an iTunes point of view is Apple Lossless aka. ALAC. iTunes can import (rip) audio CDs using this format. Other lossless formats supported by iTunes include WAV (partially) and AIFF, however these formats use more disk space than Apple Lossless and do not sound any better, and further more do not support meta-tags as well as Apple Lossless.
Another lossless format you may hear of is FLAC, iTunes does not support this format but it can be otherwise considered equivalent to Apple Lossless in file size and capability. You can convert FLAC to Apple Lossless with of course no loss of quality but you will need to use another utility to do the conversion.
There is also WMA Lossless, this is not supported for playing by iTunes but I believe can be imported (only in iTunes for Windows, not Mac).
So, contrary to your message, yes iTunes does support lossless audio files.
For what its worth I have all mine in Apple Lossless and share it with Windows Media Player and Microsoft Media Center which can also play Apple Lossless (with an additional free directshow filter).
Note: Music purchased from the iTunes store will all be in AAC format which is a lossey format.

ITunes 10.5.2 will not let me add files to my iTunes library. What do I do?

Hello,
Ever since I downloaded iTunes 10.5.2, I have been unable to add music files to my iTunes library. Whenever I am browsing for the file and double-click it, I am immediately given the "This program has stopped working... Trying to find a solution to this problem." box.
Any help is appreciated.

Of course not. Reinstall and if the Libraries are in the standard location in your computer (i.e. iTunes placed them and not you), it will immediately find the libraries. Just don't throw away the libraries. You can reinstall over the existing iTunes. BTW never forget to backup your computer.

Very Strange Problem w/ external HDD - MP3 files missing on iTunes Library

I'm using a late-2007 MacBook, iPhone 3gs and an HP "SimpleSave" external HDD (500GB) which is NTFS-formatted. Since I wanted my media files on my ext. HDD, some of which exceed 4GB, to be read/written on both Windows and Mac, I had no choice but to use such applications as Paragon NTFS or MacFUSE, and I'm currently using Paragon NTFS on my Mac.
As mentioned, so.. I manage my media files - music, videos & photos - on my ext. HDD. I listen to a great deal of classical music, so managing my media files on my iTunes Library is so critical. I found iTunes suitable for managing classical music, because it provides diverse methods of managing, sorting and viewing my music list.
Disappointingly, however, I lately found that some of my music files on my iTunes Library as well as on the hard drive's actual location of the files were missing, even though I didn't change or delete those files. Those files, literally, vanished for no reason, and this happens occasionally on my ext. HDD. Now I have to identify those missing files and do the ripping, converting & putting in the DB again, having absolutely no idea as to which files are going to be deleted by itself again or what on earth the reason is.
It's unlikely that I accidentally deleted the files somehow, since I'm well aware of whereabouts of the files and I manage my iTunes Library 100% manually.
I googled the issue, but the clear reason is yet to be found. I would be grateful if you can help me with this.
Thank you.
Message was edited by: Shramana

> To Urami: Some of us hate newsreaders. Agreed, the web
based Adobe forums are
> pathetic and slow. But newsreaders are not for everyone:
yet another program
> running on the desktop, when people edit their posts
you're not assured of
> seeing the edited versions, and most are simply ugly
interfaces that are not
> comfortable to browse through. Please don't criticize
anyone for bumping a post
> or not using a newsreader. Chances are that someone has
the perfect answer for
> Nemesis, but doesn't obsessively check the forum every
day (and happens to also
> dislike newsreaders), and will have missed seeing it on
the top page. I don't
> find the bumping rude at all.
It's not about "like" or "not like", it's about following
common code of conduct of
this forum specified by the posting guidelines, to which by
the way you agreed upon
singing up in here.
Secondly, regardless your personal feeling on the topic, it
simply works against you
whether you like it or not. Regular forum participants will
ignore bumped posts,
bottom line just to prove that pushing your way while others
wait nicely in the queue
is plain rude. All posts are equally impotent and equally
urgent, it's rather arrogant
to climb your way back just so you can get answer faster.
So go ahead, bump away...tho, don't ***** about no body
entertaining your questions
but before you do that, familiarize yourself with posting
guidelines and general forum
ethics.
http://www.adobe.com/support/forums/guidelines.html
the "Don't..." section, topic "Don't 'bump' post."
Best Regards
Urami
<urami>
If you want to mail me - DO NOT LAUGH AT MY ADDRESS
</urami>

I have multiple libraries on an external drive. Somehow all the iTunes library files i.e. iTunes Library.itl, xml, itdb, Media folder, etc disappeared! Only the music files remain. Now when I start iTunes w/option it can't find any of the old libraries!

Help! I 'm using an old G4 powerbook, Mac OSX 10.5.8, iTunes ver 10. I have multiple iTunes libraries on an external drive. Everything was fine for a while, then all of the iTunes library files, i.e. iTunes Library.itl, xml, itdb, artwork folder, Media folder, etc mysteriously disappeared! Only the music files remain (thank god) So now when I start iTunes w/option key to choose a library, I can't choose any of them because iTunes won't recognize them. Because all the library stuff is missing. So can I re-create the library files? (I don't care if I lose my ratings)
Or should I create a new empty library on the external drive, then manually move all the music files to the Media folder in the new library?
I tried some stupid ideas like creating a new library just to start iTunes, then going into prefs and advanced, then under iTunes Media folder location, selecting the location of the old library on the external, to see if iTunes would then find all the music which is still there, but no workee.
I'm out of ideas, and I searched the archives.
Help! anyone?
Scott

I don't know if this is me adding files to iTunes when the external wasn't connected
it is.
is it OK to just keep deleting that library on the Air?
i wouldn't - at least not until i
mount the external
point iTunes media folder location back to the external via preferences > advanced
consolidate my library via file > library > organize library
The ntfs hasn't seem to be causing any problems, but I've always wanted to know.
in order for your Mac to write to NTFS drives, it needs some help by installing e.g. the NTFS 3G driver. apparently that or something similar is installed on your Mac already. preferably, it would be formatted for Mac but then windows machines would need to have e.g. MacDrive installed to recognize the drive.

Help! (please :) I have a 1GB iPod that's loaded with music for which my computer can no longer find the original files-due to external mass storage crash during recent move. Is there a way to import iPod music back into my iTunes library on computer???

Help! (please I have a 1GB iPod that's loaded with music for which my computer can no longer find the original files-due to external mass storage crash during recent move. Is there a way to import iPod music back into my iTunes library on computer???

Or If there is any purchased music then you can try to transfer purchases
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1848
If you're in the US you can reload purchased music
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519

I have all my music on an external hard drive. I just transferred all my files to a new hard drive . How do I sync all my files with my itunes library without losing all my playlists etc and keep everything intact?

I have all my music on an external hard drive. I just transferred all my files to a new hard drive . How do I sync all my files with my itunes library without losing all my playlists etc and keep everything intact?

Launch iTunes with the Option key held down, click on Choose Library, and specify it. If the external drive doesn't contain the iTunes database files, create a new library there and import that music.
If the library contains any rented movies, they won't play on a different computer.
(109334)

I changed from manually manage music to create more space, and lost a LOT of my music from my current Itunes library. I HAVE to have that music back! How do I go about getting the missing/lost files back on my library and IPod?

I changed from manually managing music to create more space on my IPod and lost a lot of the my music since it synched with another library. ( I think off another long gone computer!) I HAVE to get this music back! There are songs I can no longer find! How do I get this "Cannot locate file for this song" music back on my ITunes library and IPod?
Thanks for any and all help!!

See this article for more help and information.
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
B-rock

Will using an external hard drive cause me to have duplicate files on my itunes library?

I put all my ITUNES MEDIA folder on my external hard drive from my older computer.. I recently bought a new computer and installed Itunes. I synced some of my Itunes purchased songs back on by using my Ipod.. however the songs I ripped from my cds are still not reinstalled in my library.. I will have to use my external hard drive or re rip those.. and there are a lot of them.. since I have already replaced some of the ones I purchased back on using my Ipod will it duplicate them if I use the prefrences method and return them all from my external hard drive? If i delete my files that I have already returned on my new computer before using my external will Itunes remember which are Itunes purchased music and which arent as well>??? also how exactly do you move music from an external? just plug it in and click the prefrences box about syncing files and keeping Itunes library organized?? any other thing to click?

An iTunes library consists of both the media and the database that knows which files are in the library and hold details of ratings, playcounts, playlist membership and other details not stored in each file's metadata.
Depending on how you have moved content to your external drive you may find you are only moved the media, but not the database. If you import this media into a new library it will work, but your library will be seen as "new" with respect to any devices that you have and iTunes will want to erase and reload them, losing you current selections, settings and data on the device.
These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.
Method 1
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.
If you have an iOS device that syncs with contact & calendar data on your computer you should migrate this information too. If that isn't possible create a dummy entry of each type in your new profile and iTunes should offer to merge the existing data from the device into the computer, otherwise the danger is that it will wipe the information from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See make a split library portable. Alternatively you could copy over the iTunes folder and make sure your external drive has the same drive letter on the new system as the old, however moving the library into a portable form will make every subsequent move that much easier.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library, or a backup of it, then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
tt2

"iTunes Media" file in "Previous iTunes Library" taking up 50Gb of much-needed hard drive space. Can this be safely deleted?

Hi everyone,
My 3.5 year old 15" Macbook Pro is running out of hard drive space, so I have been trying to clean out some of the dross. I recently found that there is a file called "Previous iTunes Library" in my iTunes folder that is taking up approximately 50Gb of space. I would love to delete this folder and reclaim the space, but I am not sure what it is or where it came from, and I don't want to lose music files accidentally. Can someone tell me (1) what this folder is and (2) if I can safely delete it?
Here is a screenshot of these folders and their sizes:
Thanks for the help!

Hello facetious1212,
Take a look at this part of the article named iTunes: What are the iTunes library files? Found here http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1660.
Tip: New versions of iTunes sometimes include enhancements to the iTunes library. When you open the new version of iTunes, iTunes upgrades your existing library to the new format and places a copy of the old library in the Previous Libraries folder. If everything goes fine during your upgrade to the latest version of iTunes, you can delete the older iTunes Library files.
All the very best,
Sterling

How can I copy mp3 files from my Itunes library to an SD card for use in a non-apple phone?

How can I copy mp3 files from my Itunes library to an SD card for use in a non-apple phone? I can physically copy the tunes as mp3's but the phone does not seem to be able to play all of them. Do I need to copy an entire album or can I just pick & choose individual songs? The phone is question is an LG running who knows what for an operating system.

AAC is Advanced Audio Coding. Basically it's a format that sounds better than MP3 but doesn't take up as much space as a lossless format (like you'd have on a CD). More than likely you've had that encoding turned on when you ripped your music into itunes (it's the default encoder). Therefore your LG phone won't play them.
You need to turn off the AAC format by going to the iTunes menu, Preferences, General (at the top), then clicking the "Import Preferences" button. Change the AAC Encoder to MP3 Encoder. After that you'll have to make MP3 copies of your songs by right clicking them and selecting "Create MP3 Version." You'll get a copy of the song that should transfer to your SD card and have MP3 encoding. Hopefully your phone will play that.

How can I find out which iTunes library my computer is using?

I have a desktop Mac Mini at home that my wife uses and a MacBook Pro that I use at home and in the office. I wanted to be able to access all the music we have on both machines from both machines, even when I am out and about and have no network connection for my MacBook Pro. So, I uploaded all the music we had on iTunes to Dropbox, and this now syncs on both computers. So, whenever either of us adds music to iTunes, the songs are saved on both machines within the Music folder in Dropbox, which syncs in real time across both computers. So far so good.
However, what I am finding is that, when either of us adds new music to our respective iTunes, it only shows on the computer on which it's been added. So, within a matter of weeks, our computers no longer show the same music in our respective iTunes windows, even though the music is present on both machines in the synchronised Dropbox folder.
I realised that the computers must start using different iTunes library to each other when new songs are added to either machine. So, I figured that, when we add music to one of the computers, if I pointed iTunes on the computer that has the less up-to-date music to the latest library that is being used by the computer with the more up-to-date music, this would ensure that both machines showed the same music in their repective iTunes windows. The problem is that I cannot work out which iTunes library is being used by the computer with the more up-to-date music on it. I know how to choose a different library when I open iTunes (hold down alt) but that doesn't help, because I all I want to do is to FIND OUT WHICH LIBRARY IS BEING USED BY ITUNES ON THE COMPUTER WITH THE MORE UP-TO-DATE MUSIC. I simply can't find a way of getting iTunes to show me which library it is using, although this must be the simplest thing in the world. An additional issue is that I want to playlists we have created to appear on both machines - will that be the case if I point the less up-to-date iTunes (on my wife's Mac Mini) to the library of the more up-to-date iTunes (on my MacBook Pro), since my computer with the more up-to-date iTunes shows all the playlists, whereas my wife's doesn't?
So, can anyone help? Plus if anyone knows of any software that can automatically ensure that two different Macs both use the same and most up-to-date iTunes library and therefore always show the lastest music collection, whichever machine the music has been added to, that would be fantastic. Thanks.

You could have all the computers point to the same library but it can't be opened by more than one at any time.
No answer for knowing which library is in use other than selecting it at startup. This question gets asked here occasionally but I don't think it is a high-demand feature since most people have just one library. I guess you could put in an empty playlist with the library name so you have an identifier.

How do I "link" my music folders to the iTunes Library?

I have recently upgraded my computer. I have formated my disk and installed a new XP, Office, iTunes etc.
Now I have all my music files on a disk D: and my iTunes at C: but I can't manage to "add"/"link" my music folders to the iTunes Library. After iTunes installation, I have changed the path at Edit/Preferences/Advanced/iTunes Music Folder Location to D: ... but the iTunes Library keeps "empty".
Help please !!!
Thanks.

Goncalo,
Changing the location of the iTunes Music folder will only affect songs you add with iTunes in the future.
To add the songs you already have, use the File menu > Add Folder to Library ... option and select the folder that contains your music in the navigation pop-up window that appears.

Extract music files out of itunes library

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