ITunes song classification, categorization, grouping, advice . . .
I just purchased an Ipod Touch which required the installation of iTunes. Upon using it - its pretty cool. You can rip, download, import, sync, etc. Wow!! Now on each song on your library, you can add further classification by clicking on a 'Get Info' option and categorizing it further by putting the name of the song, the artist, the composer, etc. Now when you syncronize, that info will appear on your portable device once it is playing. However, there are some fields that I wanted further advice from the members of this forum on what to correctly put in there. For example, the 'Artist' field is very self explanatory. You just put the name of the guy playing or singing in there. But I am also told to write an 'Album Artist'. What the difference ?? Would this always be the same as the 'Artist' ?? Also, there is a field called a 'Grouping' where I would like example advice on what goes in there. And last but not least is that large 'Comments' field. Hopefully this will not be too much of a silly question, but its just something that I want to begin by entering correctly. The Help features on the Itunes program showed nothing about what to properly put here.
The *Album Artist* should be the same for all tracks on an album whereas it is possible that guest or featured artists may be listed in the artist field for individual tracks. (For reasons why you might not want to list featured artists in the Artist field see here.) Compilations may typically be given an Album Artist value of "Various Artists", soundtracks might use "Original Broadway Cast", etc.
The Grouping field is apparently supposed to "join together" a number of tracks so that they are treated as a unit when shuffling. The examples given are usually for classical music where a Work is split into a number of Movements. In this case you would enter the name of the Work in the Grouping field of each track of that work. I suspect that since this feature was first introduced it has been neglected as there is no obvious evidence that it works as advertised in my library even when I've tried to explicitly test for it. The field also corresponds to that for Sub-Genre or Mood in other players. I use the field to store one or more tags separated with / that I can then use as the basis for Smart Playlists.
Comments is for just what it says - you don't need to put anything in there, but you might find, for example, that you want to note that something is a bonus track here rather than in the track name.
tt2
Similar Messages
-
I cannot access iTunes songs showing in external hard drive
I recently closed my dropbox account and moved its content to an external hard drive. This included iTunes songs and now the songs and related albums no longer show in iTunes when I open it up, although I can see the individual songs (but not in albums) in the external hard drive. There are a limited number of albums still showing when I open up iTunes but they are albums I have recently added to iTunes.
However I can see the albums and tracks in the iTunes media folder on my Mac internal hard drive, but they do not show up when I actually open up Itunes.I have followed advice found on this website and have tried to move my iTunes folder to the external drive so all the music is in one place, but i keep getting an 'error code 50' message appearing. I have also tried to select the individual songs on the hard drive and move them to the media folder but there are no 'albums' to move them into and they just sit there as individual songs. I have a macbook air which is one year old and a WD My Passport ultra 1TB external hard drive. I am using OSX version 10.9.5 with 8GB of memory. As you can tell from my endeavours, I do not really understand the way iTunes works and it may be that the various songs and albums in the media folder need to be organised in a different way perhaps, so that they are visible when I open up iTunes?
As I have lots of space on my external hard drive and am running out of space on my Mac hard drive, ideally I would like all my iTunes folders to be held on my external drive, as it is always plugged in to my Mac, and for iTunes to be 'pointed' to the hard drive. Any advice please?
Thanks
ElizabethAll kinds of things going on.
About the error code. Do you men "50" or do you mean "-50"? It is critical things get reported exactly here. Error -50 is a very unhelpful generic communications error with a number of possible causes. Something between the drive to which you are downloading and the drive from which it is all coming is not working correctly, with probably dozens of possibilities. I guess one simple possibility is if this is a brand new drive it likely came formatted for Windows use and needs reformatting for Mac.
Kappy's brief drive formatting instructions (12/2012) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/20571091#20571091
Pondini: Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks... - http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html, specifically http://pondini.org/OSX/DU1.html
Basic workings of iTunes. When you add a file to iTunes it puts the file in a specific location designated in you Media Folder preferences setting and makes a note in a database file (library.itl) of where it put it. When you want to play the track iTunes looks up where the file should be, goes there and plays that file. iTunes does not inventory its media folder for new additions. For iTunes to recognize tracks they have to be added to iTunes either by importing, dragging to iTunes, or dragging to the Automatically Add to iTunes folder. If files added to iTunes are later moved by you in Finder, particularly to another drive, iTunes loses track of them completely and give you a broken link indicator " ! ".
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
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.
I don't know exactly how Dropbox works but basically by moving all your files instead of letting iTunes do the relocating you have broken all the links to your older files in iTunes. You can either repair them one by one, by one, by one.... or you can rebuild your library, or essentially create a new library and start over again (you did read those links I provided didn't you?). If you are prepared to start over, hold down the option key while starting iTunes. Create a new library on the external drive. Drag all your media files to the Automatically Add to iTunes folder in the iTunes folder on that drive. -
Restoring itunes songs kep on external hard drive
hi all - some time ago on my power pc mac I put my entire itunes songs on an external drive, whilst keeping the song details on the computer. My power pc gave up the ghost and I transferred the contents of the old power pc mac to my new intel imac. The problem is that the intel mac cannot read the external hard drive and therefore cannot play the songs. Thankfully all the songs were backed up onto my time capsule and I have them all on the next intel mac - it is just that the computer cannot read the correct path to match the songs to the titles. Any advice? No data has been lost - I just want to avoid spending hours recreating my playlists etc.
Lewis,
I truly hope you have your current working iTunes Library and music files still on the original PC. From what I read of your process, you did not backup the music files at all.
There is little need to backup the iTunes Program Files as long as you have the installer file available (or can download the most current one from Apple).
Here is a link for my method to Completely Backup iTunes.
This is somewhat similar, but helps with moving (cloning) iTunes to another PC: Move (Clone) Your iTunes
Give them a read over and post back here with any questions. -
Can't Get Apple Authorization to Play Purchased iTunes Songs
I purchased over 200 songs from iTunes on another computer and Apple ID. When I moved and got another PowerMac, I let my .Mac account expire and later I opened another .Mac account with the different Apple ID (the one I am currently using). When I try to play any of these many songs I get an error message saying that my computer is not authorized to play the sing. It lists my old Apple ID and password, but when I put them in another error message pops up saying that the Apple ID or Password was incorrect. Since I paid for all these songs and have not exceeded the allowable 5 computer for authorization, is there any way that I can get Apple to authorize these songs on my current Apple ID? Thanks for any help you can provide.
Dave- Fort Collins, COTake a look at the iTunes Store Password FAQ. That may provide some tips, and a form through which to contact the iTunes Store customer service group if you need further assistance.
Good luck. -
Trouble adding iTunes songs to slide show displays
When displaying a group of photos in a slide show (view photos in full screen), I am unable to use my iTunes songs. I know how to "browse" and add the sample music from my music files (and that works fine), but it won't work w/my iTunes songs. I click on the iTunes file and it shows me the artists. I can then click on the folder and choose one of the songs. However, when I try to "Select" or "Open" the song, the title of the song disappears and it reads "No items match your search".
I am able to open and listen to my iTunes songs when I am not in PSE. I have PSE 7, and am new to PSE.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.My guess is that your songs in iTunes are not in a file format that PSE can use - what format are they? And they might also have DRM (digital rights) restrictions.
I suggest that you try using iTunes to burn an mp3 file of one of the songs that you wish to use and then try that mp3 file in the PSE slide show. -
Trouble downloading ITunes songs; Error -100000
Have been trying to download an album (purchased using a holiday giftcard). While some songs have downloaded successfully, the majority of downloads were interrupted and report the following error: -100000.
Any thoughts on how to fix this? Have also sent off a note to Apple and will post if they send along anything useful.Install 7-Zip (free), or a free trial of WinRAR, and use one of them to extract the contents of the iTunesSetup.exe or iTunesSetup64.exe installer file, then try installing AppleApplicationSupport.msi as a standalone component. Even if it won't install you may get a more useful error message as to why not.
Alternatively see Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for advice on removing and then reinstalling all iTunes related components,
tt2 -
Itunes songs no longer accessible
I put my itunes songs on an external disk because I didn't have enough memory. My computer disk crashed/became nonfunctional and we then had it fixed. Now my itunes songs are still on the external disk but my computer does not see them when I go onto itunes. What can I do to fix this problem?
thanks, Nadianads58 wrote:
Its the whole folder called iTunes Music.
... which is a pity because at least one crucial element is missing (unless you have a backup of it somewhere else) - your iTunes library file. it contains ratings, playcounts, and playlist. inside the iTunes folder is also another folder called +album artwork+. it contains the artwork you have added manually to your tunes.
i reckon your only route now would be to connect the external to your machine, launch iTunes and, from the file menu, choose +add to library+ and navigate to the iTunes music folder on the external.
if you want to keep the music on the external, be sure to disable +copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to library+ via preferences > advanced like so
if you decide to keep the tunes on the external, be sure it is mounted each time you launch iTunes.
post back if you need further advice.
good luck ! -
I have an old IMac with 10.4.11 & the most uptodate Itunes it allows me to download (this isnt the most uptodate as u'd imagine) I now have new Iphone 5 i want to add my itunes songs etc to but when i plug it in it doesnt register the device. Any advice?
Printed on the side of the box your phone came in:
Requirements to sync with a Mac:
OSX 10.6.8 or higher & iTunes 10.7 or higher.
You need to update your computer, if you can or purchase a new computer, if you want to use your phone with your computer. -
When I try to play a song from my re-installed iTunes library, I get the error message: "Song xxx could not be played because original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" > "Locate" or "Cancel." When I click on "Locate" I can't figure out how to get the song to play from any of the places that were "located." The path is C:\users\Janet\libraries\music\iTunes
However, iTunes songs chosen from my library will play in iTunes (current version) when I have the external back-up drive plugged in! I recently copied my backed-up iTunes library from my external back-up drive to a new computer.
Most of the songs, but not all, magically appear in Windows Media Player and I can play those just fine.
I can see my iTunes library in the newest version of iTunes, recently downloaded to new computer, but can't play songs without connecting to the external back-up drive - so maybe there is something else on that external drive that needs to be on my C: drive?
I am using an HP Pavillion Notebook, Windows 7, 64-bit. My previous computer was Windows Vista. Before Vista, I had XP.
Back when I had XP, I wanted to purchase some songs to download to my computer. Because iTunes had the ability, I used it to create a massive library of songs, most of which were ripped from my CDs. I don't have an iPod and iTunes worked fine for creating playlists and then burning them to CDs.
Also, I'd like to know if there is a way to get back my playlists.
And another thing - in the older version of iTunes, there was a folder in the lists on the left-hand side of the screen where I could click to see all the songs I had purchased. I'd like to get that ability back if possible.
In hindsight, iTunes was probably not the best choice for me to build my music library in a Windows operating system, but it seemed to be the best choice at the time. I really wish I could convert all the songs to mp3 format.
I have been working with computers since the days of DOS, black and white screens, and no mice. The first computer I bought for my own use at home was a Mac and it had "Flying Toasters" as a screensaver. (I miss that screensaver.) It did not have a tower and I believe they called it a laptop, even though the thing was as big as a suitcase and probably weighed around 30 pounds. However, I am by no means a computer expert. In other words, pretend you're trying to tell your mother how to do what I am asking. =)
Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help me.I copied the iTunes file from the external drive and it's in both places. I thought all I would need is the iTunes program (which I downloaded to new computer) and my iTunes library file. There must be something else that's missing. My iTunes library looks the same on the new computer as it does when I open it on the external drive. If I click on an iTunes library song from my new computer, it will only play if I have the external drive plugged in.
My back-up drive is a mess. I have multiple copies of music, video, photo, and document files and I don't know how that happened. ={ Obviously, I don't know how to back up stuff properly and there are back-up files extending over a 6- to 8-year period. I think all I did was just drag and drop the main folders from the back-up drive to the same main folders on the C: drive. Also (and I'm kind of fuzzy on this) Windows used to automatically save music files in a folder within my document files (which makes no sense to me). As my Jewish friends would say, "Oy Vey!" -
I "downloaded" songs from my CD, but they do NOT show up in my iTunes "Songs". Tried it two times = zero, what's up?
Wow, I just checked & all the DOWNLOADED songs MADE it into my iTunes "Songs". Thanks anyway!
-
I have bought itunes songs on an ipad with my daughter apple id. i would like to back them up on the same computer I sync my iphone with using my apple id but they will not transfer. Both iphone and ipad have only been synced on the computer mentioned since they were purchased. Is there any way to get the ipad music transferred to the computer?
And they were definitely purchased from the iTunes store, they show on the account's purchase history (Store > View Account on a computer's iTunes, or you can view the last 90 days purchases via http://reportaproblem.apple.com) ?
You could potentially log into the account on that computer's iTunes (Store > Sign Out to log out of your account, that will then change to a Store > Sign In option) and redownload them by clicking on the id towards the top right of the iTunes screen and Purchased on the popup :
But that will potentially tie that computer to that account for 90 days : Manage your associated devices in iTunes - Apple Support
Or do you have a different computer that you could redownload them on and then copy them over to that computer via a flash drive or memory card, and then add them to its iTunes via File > Add To Library ? -
I updated to 7.0 and now my ipod wont play in my car stero. I have reset, bought an itunes song and reset again but nothing is working. Pandora wont play. I can hear it very slightly in my speakers if I turn up the speakers but it is so faint. It plays thru its own speakers and my radio plays thru my speakers in my car so my its not my speakers.Help! Thank you!
Hi Novagurl2369!
I have an article for you that can provide some helpful troubleshooting steps to address your issue:
No sound through stereo headset1
Inspect the headset jack for debris and clean if necessary.
Connect the headset and make sure the connector is pushed in all the way.
Check the volume setting. Adjust the volume by pressing the volume up and down button on the left side of the iPhone.
If you are trying to listen to music and cannot hear any audio, make sure that the music on iPhone is not paused. Try squeezing the headset microphone to resume playback. Additionally, from the Home screen you can choose iPod > Now Playing, then tap Play.
Make sure the latest version of iTunes is installed on the computer that you are syncing the iPhone with (songs purchased from the iTunes Store using earlier versions of iTunes won't play).
Try another Apple headset (some third-party headsets require an adapter to be used with original iPhone).
Try a different song or video.
Check to see if the iPhone alert sounds or other iPhone sound effects exhibit the same audio issues.
Disconnect the headset from the iPhone and see if sound comes from the built-in speaker.
iPhone: Hardware troubleshooting
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2802
Take care, and thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities.
-Braden -
I am trying to create mp3 version of itune songs. I have gone through the preference sequence to be mp3 encoder but this is not having any effect. I have also tired from file tab to create a version but this is not available to action showing as lite grey.
Any help would be appreciatedI am trying to create mp3 version of itune songs. I have gone through the preference sequence to be mp3 encoder but this is not having any effect. I have also tired from file tab to create a version but this is not available to action showing as lite grey.
Any help would be appreciated -
Trying to download previously purchased iTunes songs that are firmly embedded in the iCloud. At one point these songs were all on my computer. Then I idiotically joined iCloud. All the songs were sucked off and into iCloud. iCloud couldn't provide more than twenty seconds of any song without freezing whatever device, Macbook Pro, iPhone 4s, ipods, or breaking up the playback into fits and starts and finally silence, ever, no matter if the connection was cable or wireless.
I have ever update on every device, I have the max. RAM, excess disk/flash space. The problem is the difficulty of downloading. Oddly the download to my ancient PC went almost without a hitch, it is with Apple devices that the trouble lies.
About 2/3 of the songs have successfully downloaded to my computer. However the purchase date, which I used frequently as a search/sort function, have on many of the songs been switched to today's date, or the date of the latest download instead of my original purchase date.
Many songs downloaded, many remain in the cloud with the 'cloud' icon beside them.
Clicking on the "download all" icon doesn't download them all.
They begin to download and then stop/freeze.
I'm reduced to manually scrolling to each song and clicking on the 'cloud' to download, this works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. The whole thing usually crashes after a while.
This is where I am now, at the iTunes store on the "Purchased" page with all my songs in a list with "downloaded" or a "cloud icon" in the far right column, frozen once again.
I really would like to maintain the original purchased date(the day when I purchased the song from iTunes) but I'm to the point where I'd just be happy to get them downloaded onto the Macbook Pro, and hopefully never deal with the cloud again for the rest of my life.
Lastly, if anyone can recommend an alternative music site to iTunes it would be welcome.
Thank you.I copied the iTunes file from the external drive and it's in both places. I thought all I would need is the iTunes program (which I downloaded to new computer) and my iTunes library file. There must be something else that's missing. My iTunes library looks the same on the new computer as it does when I open it on the external drive. If I click on an iTunes library song from my new computer, it will only play if I have the external drive plugged in.
My back-up drive is a mess. I have multiple copies of music, video, photo, and document files and I don't know how that happened. ={ Obviously, I don't know how to back up stuff properly and there are back-up files extending over a 6- to 8-year period. I think all I did was just drag and drop the main folders from the back-up drive to the same main folders on the C: drive. Also (and I'm kind of fuzzy on this) Windows used to automatically save music files in a folder within my document files (which makes no sense to me). As my Jewish friends would say, "Oy Vey!" -
I just got an iPod 4th generation and Im trying to sync my iTunes songs and books from my dell laptop on to my iPod but it says I need iTunes 10.6.3. So I tryed to download it on the apple website but it keeps saying that there is an error. I have already tryed uninstalling all Apple Inc. programs on my laptop then trying to install iTunes again but that has had no success what so ever. I have started to get very frusterated with this . Hopefully someone can help. I would really appreciate it. Any suggestion?
So I tryed to download it on the apple website but it keeps saying that there is an error.
What does the error message say? (Precise text, please.)
Maybe you are looking for
-
Windows 7 wont recognize photos or videos from my iphone 5's.
Greetings! I pluged both my iPhone 5's into my computer running Win7. Upon being prompted to import pictures it will read "No new photos or videos found". Not even Adobe Bridge will recognize that the phone has importable files. Any idea?
-
How to pass along BOM info to vendor on PO?
One of the moderators of the Metalink forum has told me that there is no connection between an item's BOM and a PO for this item. Say I have an item which I purchase over and over, other than setting up a BOM with the components and vendor instructio
-
Why can't flash player be installed on ipad? what tablets does flash player work on?
-
Why does this loop works well if I COMMENT OUT the second node - but I get a NULL document if I try to add the second node ? //Loop through the result set for (int i=0; i < iRows; i++) { System.out.println(result.getString("SiteID")); Node newSiteIDN
-
Elements 12 and Revel integration
...and it does really not look good so far. 1) Created a new Revel library and album in Elements and added some photos. Nothing happened in Revel. Waited for a long while, and suddenly Elements reported that the disk where it was supposed to download