How do I tame itunes?

I have just decided to take the plunge and purchase my first ipod. I've used various MP3 players over the years and two of my children have ipods but my new 80 gb ipod classic will be my first Apple product. I've heard a lot of things about itunes that have me feeling a little apprehensive.
I will not use itunes as a music player. I have another product I am very happy with and, honestly, I really don't listen to music on my computer all that much anyway. I rip my music using Exact Audio Copy and tag all my files myself with a nice third party tagging application I purchased so I will not be using itunes to rip or tag my music. I do not purchase digital music. I am in the process of ripping my collection of 500+ CDs and feel no need to purchase digital music. Therefore, the only thing I will really be using itunes for will be to update the software on my ipod when it needs updating and transferring files to my ipod. I do not want itunes to take over my computer and my electronic media like so many horror stories I've read about. I don't want itunes to modify any of my files, add or update album artwork, modify file associations on my computer or anything else along those lines. Is there anything in particular I need to do or settings I need to change in order to make sure itunes takes a back seat and let me drive so to speak when it comes to my electronic media? Am I reading too much into the horror stories I've read and worrying too much over nothing?
Any information or advice would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance to anyone who will take the time to reply.
Sincerely,
- Byron Followell

Although I use iTunes I do not let it manage any of my music. I do it all manually. The best way I have found is to keep the default music library folder completely empty. Turn off all iTunes assistance, ie let iTunes organise my music and folders and turn off all syncing. You might have to look around iTunes a bit to turn it all off.
Add music to iTunes by going to add folder to library and locate your ripped music, add it and you can then make playlists and drag and drop the music to the iPod. In my opinion iTunes does a lousy job of actually managing the music files, much better to do it all yourself. Mind you there are many who would disagree, it's a personal preference.

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How do I get iTunes to refresh its database?

I have now twice imported an mp3 Audiobook into iTunes, attempting to get it onto my iPod.
Both times the tracks don't show up in iTunes but I can hunt for them in Finder and they are there in iTunes' folders, duplicated!
Searching on any of the album name, composer etc or even individual track names in iTunes, shows up nothing. This is not the only time this has happened. The other instances I find the tracks in iTunes' folders and drag them back into iTunes and mostly they show up. This set stubbornly won't.
iTunes is so unreliable, it's been losing material on me for years but due to the complexity of how it handles media, it is hard to pin down under what circumstances exactly it is doing this. Or whether it is just random or due to my library being so large.
How do you tame this donkey?

Steven
Not offended at all, just clarifying what I do. I'm pretty anal about this.
I had looked under Recently Added and have now looked with Date Added under all the categories and it still fails to show up.
I saw another post which said to tickle the database by bringing up some other tracks and just changing them to force the database to rewrite, but I have already been through a series of other imports which should do that.
This is what I really dislike about this all in one database style that Apple has chosen for iTunes, iPhoto, Bento etc. All your eggs are in the one basket when things go wrong, and go wrong they seem to do with depressing regularity.
I am in full agreement with all the PC users who detest the iTunes ecosystem for this very reason.
Because iTunes is stuffing up I can't do a straight forward import on to my iPod.
Apple insists on ATV2 using iTunes as well, the very worst system, to manage its media with the added complication that it does it exclusively over wireless network. Crazy as, when most other systems allow a direct connection between the media and what it is displayed on.
Apple has strayed a long way from its previous pursuit of simplicity and "It just works".
Peter

How can I tame Time Machine?

I have a single-user Mac with very few applications, only about 600 songs in iTunes and a very modest iPhoto library. Yet Time Machine, keeping 30 days of backups, nearly fills my 300 GB Passport external drive. On my Mac hard drive I only have a grand total of 45 GB of used space and 98% of that doesn't change, or if it does it's just a change, not more data. I don't even use Apple Mail...I use Gmail.
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Larry McJunkin wrote:
I may not understand TM...but I've been in the computing business for 25 years and something like this just doesn't compute.
Welcome to the club! I've been at it about twice that long, and I'm here to tell you that Time Machine is a whole new sort of critter!
Under normal circumstances, it manages to do only incremental backups hourly, of what's been added or changed, but each backup is, in effect, a *full, complete copy of your entire system* at the time of that backup!
Even stranger, when it automatically deletes your oldest backups to make room for new ones, all the remaining backups are still, in effect, full, complete copies!
You might be interested in these:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/12/roadto_mac_os_x_leopard_timemachine.html
and: http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2007/10/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/14
and perhaps the Frequently Asked Questions post at the top of this forum.

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JasonFromSK wrote:
With the newest Airport firmware (7.6.1), it seems I should be able to do this.
Really? I need to check that out!
You should certainly be able to add content by reference to itunes from such a disk (even before the update) - so long as itunes knows the location of the file (set Preferences not to copy to local library when adding the media) it will stream it to AppleTV if the disk is available.
I hope you're right, but I'd be surprised if current Extremes can be upgarded to provide a full Home Sharing service - marvellous if they can but I'd be surprised as i've long said we need an Apple media server either based on TC or AE to do this kind of thing.
AC

How to I unauthorize iTunes on a Mac that no longer works, it's dead.

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Click here for information, or fill out this form.
(35361)

How do I stop iTunes from automatically importing songs I listen to from my external hard drive into the music library?

How do I stop iTunes from automatically importing songs I listen to from my external hard drive into the music library?

Mac OS X: Double-Clicking a File Opens the Wrong Application - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2291
-= Changing the application used to open all files of a certain kind (written with reference to OSX 10.4 but may not have changed) =-
1) In a Finder window highlight a file of the kind you want to change the application to open that kind of file.
2) While that file is highlighted, select File > Get Info or press command (apple or propeller icon) + i to get a file information window.
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4) If your application is already in the box then it is the default application for opening that kind of file and you don't need to do anything more. Close the get info window.
5) If the application showing in the menu is not the one with which you wish to open the file then select a new application. If your application does not appear there then select the "other..." and track down the application (usually in the Applications folder at the main level of the computer).
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I have been using itunes all day and then it wanted me to install a newer version. When I did it said I can't because it's missing mdsvr80 or something so i downloaded that now it has another error. How do I get itunes back the way it was or to work?

See this User Tip by turingtest2
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6562

How do I remove iTunes 11 and go back to iTunes 10?

I truly dislike iTunes 11, for reasons I won't bore you with. How do I remove it and go back to iTunes 10?
Thank you!

=Downgrading from iTunes 11 to iTunes 10.7=
Try activating the sidebar, menu bar, and status bar and see if this is close enough to the previous version to make you content. It is easier than downgrading and eventually you will be forced to run a newer iTunes unless you have an endless supply of the model computer you currently own.
You may be able to go back with Time Machine but this may involve restoring other items too (https://discussions.apple.com/message/20441404). Alternatively:
Back up your computer first, in case the unexpected happens.
Quit iTunes.
Get iTunes 10.7 from http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1576 or the direct download link at: http://appldnld.apple.com/iTunes10/041-7195.20120912.d3uzQ/iTunes10.7.dmg
Do a few preparatory steps by making sure all iTunes components are not running and cleaning old files.   See https://discussions.apple.com/message/20475394. Do steps 3 and 4. Steps 6-8 may be also useful but I don't know if they are essential. Some of the other steps are not necessary, duplicate steps listed later in my post or are perhaps even unhelpful in the process.
Replace the iTunes 11 application with iTunes 10.7. Simply dragging the application to the trash may not work. Lion (OSX 10.7) and newer systems have iTunes integrated into the operating system and deleting is a bit more involved. Two ways to do this are:
1. (Easier) Use the shareware Pacifist utility (http://www.charlessoft.com/) to install iTunes 10.7 including all associated system files. Details at http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=16400819&postcount=6
2. (More work) Check this reference on how to delete the iTunes application itself:
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AirTrafficHost.framework
CoreFP.framework
DeviceLink.framework
iTunesAccess.framework
MobileDevice.framework
After doing one of the two procedures above you will have to rescue the most recent old iTunes library from your iTunes > Previous Libraries folder. Rename it "iTunes Library.itl" and replace the existing one in the iTunes folder. A newer version of iTunes irreversibly updates your library file so you have to replace it with the old one or you will get an error message. Note, this will revert your library to the version at the time of the upgrade and you will have to update any changes made since. See:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/20401436 - turingtest2 11/2012 post on rebuilding empty/corrupt library from previous iTunes library file after upgrade/crash.
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451
Other issues:
- https://discussions.apple.com/message/20432309 - solution to mobile devices saying they need to be restored after downgrading
- If you encounter error -42408:
iTunes: Advanced iTunes Store troubleshooting - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3297 > Specific Conditions and Alert Messages: (Mac OS X / Windows) - including specific error codes.
Alternatively, check https://discussions.apple.com/message/20441424 which requires you have a Time Machine backup (though possibly if you remove the newer version of these files old ones may be installed with the iTunes 10.7 installer - untested). A variant of this is at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/20448184
- Persistent "Show in iTunes Store" arrows after downgrade - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4567064
Send feedback to Apple telling them why your downgraded: http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

Hi can some one help me..i dont know how to use my itunes gift card.

hi,
i need help on how to use the itunes gift card on the itunes store..i only have my credit card on file and i am trying to add it to my account but theres no where that its says i can add a gift card..can someone please help me w/this.
thanks,
veronica

http://www.apple.com/itunes/
Go there and scroll all the way down to the bottom. At the links at the very bottom, all the way to the right, there will be a link under 'iTunes Store' that says 'Redeem iTunes Giftcards'
Hope that helps

I have a MacBook Pro 17" computer, and I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone, how do I get iTunes on my Android device?

I have a MacBook Pro 17" computer, and I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone, how do I get iTunes on my Android device?

You don't get the itunes program on your Android devise at all.
You would need to read the directions for your phone to learn how to put music on it.

HT2731 i have a new computer windows 8 how do i install itunes on this new computer in order to update my ipad/iphones

I have both a iphone and an ipad
Recently I purchases a new computer. I believe it is Windows 8
How do I install itunes in order to update my phone and ipad

Try http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1024
Allan

How do I install iTunes on my iPod?

I just bought a new 5th Gen iPod (80 gig, Black model). It doesn't come with an install cd. I hook it up to an iMac at school that already has itunes installed. The iPod appears on the desk top, but not in iTunes, and I get a dialog box that says the iPod "iPod" can not be used because it requires iTunes 7.0 or later .
When going through the iTunes install the select destination dialog box, if I select the iPod it says that I can't install iTunes on this volume. This software may only be installed onto the start up volume. I can't install it on the computer because of it needs an administrator's name and password but I can't get it since this is a university.
I've reset the iPod, and set itto disk mode. So how do I install iTunes on my iPod?

Jeff, he was refering to the school computer, in which he does not had admin rights. Then he said his OWN computer.
If you were able to install itunes, I don't understand how or why you can't get the correct itunes version. If you said you went to the apple website and downloaded it, it should be the current version, here it is again anyway:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
once installed, you can plug in the iPod and it should work now.

I imported a cd that I purchased and I can't get it to sync to my phone. All the songs have a grey circle in front of them and the names of the songs are grey as well. How do I get iTunes to see them so they can sync to my iPhone?.

I've imported 3 cd's to my iTunes, but they continue to be "grey-ed out" with a dotted grey circle in front of them. The music will not sync to my iPhone. How do I get iTunes to recognize them so that they will sync?

Thanks Chris CA.
In the Gen 4 they offer "Settings" then "Reset Settings" Then it asks, "Do you want to reset your iPod?" I click on "reset" but then nothing resets. :-( This is what makes me think it might be locked or something....

How can I get iTunes to display the tracks from a CD in their original (album) order?

To be absolutely honest, I don't really understand what this box is for, so I shall just use it to repeat and expand on my question. (I have already sent a "Feedback" comment on the same topic).
How can I get iTunes to display the tracks from a CD in their original (album) order?
It seems to me that there is something very basic wrong with the way iTunes handles CD Tracks.
Professionally produced CD tracks are seldom if ever in a randomised order. Why then does iTunes seem unable to display the tracks in the order they appear on the original CD source - whether from a personally owned CD or from a download from the iTunes Store?
Some music demands a specific, non-alphabetic sequence in order to make sense. Why does it seem that iTunes only offers Alphabetic, or reverse alphabetic order - both of which make a nonsense of the original, often intended order of tracks?
Why not replace the so-called "cover-art" in the bottom left hand corner if the iTunes window - which, while it may look attractive to some, gives the barest of information concerning the original disc, with a list of the original CD tracks in their original order, so that the user can easily reestablish the order in which they should be played.
As I would expect legibility might be a problem with doing this, why could not the original contents, (in their original order), at least, be displayed when the "cover art" is double clicked-on - the result of which at present gives me an enlarged version of the "Cover Art". While on the subject of the contents of the source disc, what about all the album notes which someone takes trouble to write in order to increase the appreciation of the music on the CD and the listener's general background knowledge of the artists involved. Such notes, it seems to me, have considerable intrinsic value in their own account. I would, I think, normally be prepared to buy such "Sleeve notes" - so long as a "taster" was supplied (as it is for the music) - for something like the cost of a single 'Tune" on iTunes.
These two aspects let Apple iTunes down enormously, in my opinion. I think that by chopping even quite protracted sequences of music up into bits does no one any favours - except perhaps Apple's already quite substantial bank balance. People have to be aware that two and a half, to three and a half minutes is a very short time to develop a piece of worthwhile music, and that there are many, many composers, not all of whom are alive today who have written music that huge masses of mankind value for the enrichment of their lives and the human condition in general.
Please make the viewing of iTunes tracks in their correct order by default possible. By all means have the alphabetical variations available as offering a different approach to the music, but not the sole approach to it - PLEASE.
Frustratedly yours
Alan Whitaker
PS I work at my old 24" iMac Intel Core 2 machine which runs OS "Tiger" - because it is more beautiful to look at, the screen is more pleasant to work on, and because, in some ways it is more capable (it will run FreeHand MX without needing a "patch"), than my more recent 21.5" which runs "Snow Leopard". (I don't find it that much slower, either).

Dear Mike
Thanks for the support. I am utterly amazed that after all the hype about how good iTunes is that it cannot play a downloaded CD in the correct order, and that what that order should be is not available directly from within one's own iTunes installation. (I know that one can go back to the iTunes Store to check what the order should be, but having downloaded the tracks surely iTunes is clever enough to retrieve this important information.
My iTunes to differ from yours in that I have also noticed that it seems unable to download copies of my "talking books" in the correct order either. But in my case it downloads them - from a CD - in order, but with the first track downloaded first - so that it appears at the bottom of the column of tracks so that it would get played last! (At least this is, while being inexplicable, a relatively "logical" bit of blundering and because of this is relatively easy to put right!).
I like many genres of music, some of which are not really programmed except perhaps by the artist performing them. I know that Frank Sinatra was very careful to programme his album songs to obtain a particular effect and in relation to the keys of the music. iTunes presumes to know better.
Film scores may be totally randomly put together, in some cases, but in others the order is vital to one's appreciation of the music as a whole and how it relates to the plot of the film.
In symphonic music most works are divided into sections and are conceived by the composer that way. Some individual sections may gain a life of their own if played separately, but they are never complete in the sense that the composer envisaged them without being placed in their proper context.
Opera and probably most choral music too, is similar except that the words may well become meaningless if the order is changed at the whim of a piece of ill-written computer code, while ballet music has to be heard totally within its sequential context or it becomes meaningless.
Finally, I would venture that iTunes, by jumbling up the order of the tracks as recorded on a CD, does an immense disservice, not only to the music on a particular CD, but to music in general, by expressing everything in terms of "Songs" - which it seems to interpret as stand-alone items of between 2 and 4 minutes whatever the genre. Even the way the iTunes publicity speaks of how many "songs" it can store instead of how many minutes or hours of recorded sound. This has to be another brick in the wall of "dumming-down" of people's expectations, and the shortening of their attention spans.
I don't know about anyone else, but I feel betrayed by Apple over this. Perhaps the look, feel and general presentation of an item are not the most desirable features of a consumer product. Maybe it should be judged more on it fitness for the purpose for which it was sold. There is one other possibility - that Apple are trying to redefine "Music" - and that everything that lasts longer than about 3.5 minutes or is in the form of what could for want of a better term be called symphonic in the broadest sense is something else - not "Music" within Apple's new definition, at all!
Well that's off my chest! now I can get down to creating some sort of order in my iTunes Libraries, knowing that I have to reconsult all the sources in order to confirm the source playing order.
Anyway thanks again. At least I know that it is not just me
alanfromthatcham

How do I get iTunes to keep playing (radio) when I am not using the compute

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Vlasta

Hey vlasta4444,
It sounds like you'll want to change the time it takes for the computer to goto sleep from System Preferences> Energy Saver.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/10330.html
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How do I tame itunes?

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