Move my media files

If I move my media files to a second EHD will time machine back up the media on the first EHD? How many EHD can run time machine?

I have iTunes on a Mac with the iTunes Media folder stored locally and the music on an external USB-HD. The music files are Not copied to iTunes Media folder when added to the library.
How are you achieving the above? What are your copy setting in preferences? If you are manually overriding the copy-to by holding down the option key while adding media then that won't apply when you import a playlist (as in importing the .xml). When you import a playlist like that you are essentially adding the files to the library again and it will obey the preferences setting since you can't option add them that way.
Correct on the .itl. Only iTunes itself can edit that file.
I think you need to review your basic wants/needs in doing all this. If your reason for not wanting to use the Media Folder settiing is because you do not want it to go on the internal drive, but you don't actually mind if it organizes it as long as it is on the NAS, change the Media Folder preferences setting to the NAS and let it consolidate to there. If you want to move the stuff but keep it organized in your own folder structure you may need to do it as I suggested initially. Once it is on the NAS and iTunes recognize the file locations you can do what you can only do if you manually manage music which is move it around in Finder afterward once it is on the drive and recognized to tweak location to your final wishes.

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HT1391 How to move my media files to another drive with Itunes 11

I am using Itunes 11 on a Windows 7 PC. My C Drive is full and I am trying to move all my media files to D drive. While previous versions of Itunes seem to allow this, the instructions for doing so with Itunes 11 state that files already on the drive will stay where they are even if you change the location of the media file. Only new files will move to the new location.

About the iTunes library files
Your iTunes library files track the media you add to iTunes, how you've organized it, and other information such as playlists. By default, these two files are in your iTunes folder:
Mac OS X: /Users/username/Music/iTunes/
Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\
Windows Vista: C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes\
Windows 7: C:\Users\username\My Music\iTunes\
Windows 8: C:\Users\username\My Music\iTunes\

How can I move my media files from USB-HD to NAS without having to copy the media files to iTunes Media folder?

I have iTunes on a Mac with the iTunes Media folder stored locally and the music on an external USB-HD. The music files are Not copied to iTunes Media folder when added to the library.
Now I want to move my files from USB-HD to a NAS without losing any information or settings. I want to do the similar to my iPhoto library. I do not want to consolidate my files to iTunes Media folder. The articles I’ve read only discuss how to do if the files are copied to iTunes Media folder when added to the library. Any tips or trix?

I have iTunes on a Mac with the iTunes Media folder stored locally and the music on an external USB-HD. The music files are Not copied to iTunes Media folder when added to the library.
How are you achieving the above? What are your copy setting in preferences? If you are manually overriding the copy-to by holding down the option key while adding media then that won't apply when you import a playlist (as in importing the .xml). When you import a playlist like that you are essentially adding the files to the library again and it will obey the preferences setting since you can't option add them that way.
Correct on the .itl. Only iTunes itself can edit that file.
I think you need to review your basic wants/needs in doing all this. If your reason for not wanting to use the Media Folder settiing is because you do not want it to go on the internal drive, but you don't actually mind if it organizes it as long as it is on the NAS, change the Media Folder preferences setting to the NAS and let it consolidate to there. If you want to move the stuff but keep it organized in your own folder structure you may need to do it as I suggested initially. Once it is on the NAS and iTunes recognize the file locations you can do what you can only do if you manually manage music which is move it around in Finder afterward once it is on the drive and recognized to tweak location to your final wishes.

A solution to having media files in your iTunes library on multiple drives

After searching on the web for threads of people with this issue, I found this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1483694
I wanted to reply, but the thread has been archived and locked, so I figured I could make a new post offering my new solution.
The application I have written to allow users to easily move the media files in their iTunes library to multiple drives is called TuneSpan (http://www.tunespan.com).
TuneSpan is user friendly, freeware, native OS X app. It does the whole process of moving files and having iTunes know the new location for you, just as you would expect from a full featured app for OS X. Symbolic links are used to point iTunes to the new file locations, but in some cases, TuneSpan can actually get iTunes to learn a new location for the file, without the need of a symbolic link. Also, TuneSpan never removes any tracks from iTunes (preserving playlists, play counts, etc.) and there is no need to adjust any settings in iTunes such as the "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" setting.
Lots of important information about TuneSpan and how it works can be found on http://www.tunespan.com/help.html
I do not mean to completely self-promote by posting this, but I realize that I am doing so. I am hoping to reach out to users who have had the desire to do this task but have been overwhelmed or hindered by past solutions technicality, inflexibility, etc. I am hoping that making this posting in the location that some may look for a solution will give TuneSpan more exposure, and help more people have their iTunes library the way they want it to be. TuneSpan is freeware, but donation are accepted though not forced nor nagged for. If you choose to donate through my site, I will, of course, be receiving compensation which I would be grateful for, but that is not the intention of this post. If this posting does not meet the guidelines of this forum, I apologize.

Very useful app, thanks! But i've noticed it is still a O.xx beta. Do you intend to go on with it?

I have a new windows 7 pc and i want to move my iTunes mediathek (Music, movies) to it. by using an external driver (Hd.). But On the new pc iTunes does Not integrales the Media files.

I have a new windows 7 pc and i want to move my iTunes mediathek (Music, movies) to it. by using an external driver (Hd.). But On the new pc iTunes does Not integrales the Media files.

Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder from old computer to /Music/ on new computer.
Launch iTunes.
That is all you need to do.

I accidentally deleted my media files from iTunes and Trash when I was trying to move the files to an external hard drive. Is there a way to restore the media files from a Time Machine backup or from iTunes Match? What are the steps to do this?

I accidentally deleted my media files from iTunes and Trash when I was trying to move the files to an external hard drive. Is there a way to restore the media files from a Time Machine backup or from iTunes Match? What are the steps to do this?

If you have been backing up on Timemachine.
All you need to do is enter time machine... Then the rest is obvious.
Find the iTunes folder and hit 'Restor'.
If not the only way to get all your iTunes music back is to enter iTunes Store.
On the right hand side you should see 'Purchased'.
Click 'purchased' and there you have it.

Firefox 3: QuickTime Poster Movie does not load QT media file when clicked

I have a video podcast website (thomasbrin.com) that uses the the Apple-provided JavaScript utility and the QTWriteOBJECTXHTML function call on each of my podcast episode webpages to automatically generate the proper object and embed tags. The page loads with a poster movie which, when a user clicks on, should connect to the podcast media file and begin playback.
This coding technique works fine in Safari and IE but fails in Firefox. Instead, when a user clicks on the poster movie, nothing happens. No errors are generated, the webpage just remains unchanged.
This issue came to my attention from a viewer of my video podcast. I loaded Firefox 3 and am having the same issue my viewer reported.
You can visit this page to see the issue directly: http://www.thomasbrin.com/GOT3mov.html Load the page in Firefox 3 and click on the poster movie.
I've verified that on my system the QuickTime plugin is properly installed and Javascirpt is enabled in Firefox.
I have searched the Firefox and Apple support forums but have come up empty. Any ideas?

Okay, problem solved. And, of course, it was a very simple solution.
Baby Boomer, if you read this post would you please retest this page (http://www.thomasbrin.com/GOT3mov.html) in Camino and let me know if it works for you now.
The issue with the Camino browser got me thinking about the differences between the Gecko rendering engine (used by Firefox, Camino, SeaMonkey, and more) and the WebKit rendering engine used by Safari. I realized that Safari may be better at inferring MIME types than Firefox et al. In other words, since the target file in my Javascript script is clearly a QuickTime file (it has a .mov extension after all), Safari implicitly assumes the correct MIME type. On the other hand, Gecko-based browsers may be more strict and require an explicit reference to a MIME type for certain media files (like QuickTime) to load properly.
So, all I did was add an attribute pair to my script that declares the proper media MIME type and it works.
Here's my old script (without the script tags):
QTWriteOBJECTXHTML('BrinPoster2.jpg','640','376','',
'HREF','http://www.thomasbrin.com/QTEncodings/GOT3NS.mov',
'TARGET','myself',
'CONTROLLER','False');
Here's my new script (without the script tags):
QTWriteOBJECTXHTML('BrinPoster2.jpg','640','376','',
'HREF','http://www.thomasbrin.com/QTEncodings/GOT3NS.mov',
'TARGET','myself',
'TYPE','video/quicktime',
'CONTROLLER','False');
The explicit MIME type made the difference.

All media files lost from folder while editing! Entire movie now gone HELP!

After a dozen painstaking hours of editing a movie (iMovie 3.0.3) on my iMac G4 with OS 10.2.8, all of my media files mysteriously vanished from the media folder. The trash is empty both in iMovie and in my desktop trash. Files nowhere to be found. They were there one second... the next, gone!
I was undoing a transition deletion at the time and may have hit command-x instead of command-z or some other crazy key combo. I have no idea how this happened of what happened for that matter. I need these files! Can they be recovered somehow? My available disc space has changed to about 5GB more. I quit out of iMovie hoping to not save these changes to no avail.
Is there a utility that can recover lost files? I'm not too knowledgable in this department. YIKES! Has this happened before to anyone?

I'm afraid the news isn't good, truegrit.
Older versions of iMovie had a bug that could delete all the clips in the Media folder, causing the loss of everything. That may have happened to your project.
If it helps, it's probably not something you did. That version of iMovie did it on its own. It can follow emptying the iMovie trash.
Emptying the iMovie trash could cause lots of different problems; that was the worst of several. Fortunately, iMovie 5 and iMovie 6 do not have this bug.
Karl

Utility or script "each clip = new movie and let media file = name"

I've found out that if I want to split a clip at the playhead and make it a new AS-IS original with a unique media file name designation; I have to go through:
file>export> as full quality movie > check the "selected clips only " box > copy and paste the name and then designate destination folder> CLICK and then wait until done. (Thank you Karl)
Unfortunately, completing this process with 180 clips per project x 15 to 20 projects per quarter... well it was more than I was prepared to do.
Therefore... is there anyone out there who could (or has already) program(ed) some kind of script/utility/add-on that would create a new AS-IS clip from each clip that was "split at the playhead" and ALSO, make those final clips as well as every other existing clip in the project have its media file designation the same as its name.
ie "each clip = new full quality movie and let its media file = name."
This would save me around 10 hours per week.
mac pro Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Karsten is correct. iMovie itself does not support AppleScript.
But for applications that don't support AppleScript, Apple offers a "System Events" AppleScripting alternative. It lets an AppleScript script use System Events to do things in OTHER applications. It can act on window objects, like click on a button. Theoretically, System Events can do just about any task in iMovie.
Except, unfortunately, select a clip.
That's right, there is no way to select a clip with a script. So a script can't control which object to act on. YOU have to select the clip manually. That's not an insurmountable problem, but it does mean you can't tell the script to export every clip in the Timeline.
Probably the easiest way to do what you want is with QuicKeys, the third-party software that lets you define tasks, then assign a key to perform that task. Just about any task you can imagine. One kind of task is a macro to perform a series of actions. QuicKeys lets you record macros in any application. Its record function makes macro-writing pretty easy.
(QuicKeys is one of those utilities I wouldn't be without. I use QuicKey keys hundreds of times a day for repetitive tasks.)
Back to AppleScript. Theoretically, QuickTime Player Pro can do what you want. QuickTime Player is VERY scriptable.
Here's the trick: Each time we save the iMovie project, iMovie updates the "Timeline Movie.mov" that's inside the Cache folder (inside the project package). When iMovie saves, it sets the selected frames of that movie to match the selected clip in the TimeLine. When you open the "Timeline Movie.mov" in QuickTime Player, the selected video/audio matches the clip selected in iMovie.
So after you select a clip in iMovie, an AppleScript could save the iMovie project (to update the Timeline Movie), open the Timeline Movie in QuickTime, Copy the selected frames, Paste them into a new movie, then save the new movie.
Back to QuicKeys. QuicKeys can work across multiple applications just like an AppleScript. So theoretically you could run part of a macro in iMovie and another part in QuickTime Player. And, if I recall, QuicKeys can run AppleScript scripts.
What you REALLY want is an application that knows how to read iMovie project files and automatically exports each clip to its own movie.
Maybe I'm missing some simple work-around. That'd be sweeeeeet!
Yup. Sometimes the best solution is to avoid the problem, not solve it.
We can export a project to the camera, then re-import it to a new iMovie project. When we do, most clips on the Timeline return as discrete clips. Clips like titles will not be editable, of course.
That is best done early on, before we add titles, transitions and such. Import the newly-shot video, do a rough edit to get rid of the stuff you don't want, export the Timeline to the camera, re-import to a new project. All the junk will be gone and now each clip is a discrete clip with its own source file. NOW add titles and such.
Karl

Where do the MEDIA FILES live after I import them from camera to iMovie (Mac Mini OS X 10.9.2)? I need to MOVE MEDIA FILES to external hard drive.

Where do the MEDIA FILES live after I import them from camera to iMovie (Mac Mini OS X 10.9.2)? I need to MOVE MEDIA FILES to external hard drive.

Hello bbryson68,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
From your post I understand you're wanting to move iMovie project and event data to another drive. I found the following information in the iMovie help that answers your question.
Copy or move projects, events, or clips between libraries or storage devices
Connect a storage device that contains the target library to your Mac, or copy the target library to your Mac.
Choose File > Open Library, and choose an option from the submenu.You can choose from recently opened libraries, locate an existing library on your Mac, or create a new library.The selected library is opened in the Libraries list, with the first event selected and its contents displayed in the browser.
In the Libraries list, select the event that contains the item you want to move or copy.
In the browser, select the item you want to move or copy.Tip: To select multiple clips or projects in the same library, hold down the Command key as you click the items you want to select, or drag a selection rectangle around the items.
Do one of the following:
To move items between events or libraries: Drag the clip or project to another event or library.
To copy items between events or libraries: Option-drag the clip or project to another event or library by first starting to drag and then holding down the Option key as you drag.
Work with multiple libraries
http://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.0/#mov3fa25bae7
Take care,
Alex H.

Where can I find my movies saved in itunes media file

I have followed itunes' suggestion to back my movies in itunes media files, now I can't watch them because apparently itunes can't find the original file. When I try to locate these files they do not appear under the itunes media files. Help me please.

What are you talking about?
Perhaps if you explained your situation, then someone could help.

Quicktime.mov file to Windows media file?

Question what is the best settings to convert a Quicktime.mov file (40mb) done in HD 1080i wide formate to a windows media file so I can send in an email for review. I use FCE 3.5.1 apple G5 computer, I'm not sure of the settings in FCE for output to compres the file, I know it won't look very good it is just for a review of content
Regards
Merlote

The settings will depend in part on how small you need to get the file. And exactly what format you want to use. Are you talking Windows Media literally (wmv) or just something that will open on a windows machine (such as mp4)

Exporting my movie to Windows Media File

I am trying to export a thirty second movie to a Windows Media file in Final Cut Express. However, every time I export it, it only does the first 14 seconds and I do not know why. My in and out points on the timeline are at the beginning and end of the 30 second clip. I have no other idea what could be causing the problem. Help!

You are using a demo version of the Flip4Mac plugin which only exports half of your clip, up to a maximum of 30 seconds.
To do the entire clip you will need to purchase the software.
http://www.telestream.net/flip4mac-wmv/overview.htm

Quicktime movies will not play if I delete 'media' files

I have created several Quicktime movies so that I can see the movies after I delete the imported media files which are quite large. But after I delete those files I cannot play the Quicktime movie. I get messages saying that the parts cannot be found. If I reinstall the 'media' files, the movie plays again. It seems that the Quicktime movie is somehow linked to the media files. This shoudn't be, should it?
I might add that I was able to export a web size file and sucesessfully upload it to YouTube though.

Well, I'm just saving the movie to the desktop and then trying to play it back after I've deleted the media files.
If by "saving" you mean you are using the "Save As..." QT Pro (or similar menu option) to create a very, very small "reference rather than "standalone" file, then this is your problem. Such a work flow merely creates a QT MOV file that points to the original "media" as the "resource" for playback. Thus all files must be kept on hand for playing. Even moving the resource files from one location to another can break the "path reference" and prevent the files from opening/playing. You best solution is to export your files to a target compression format that meets your playback needs. E.g., if you source media files are DV or AIC (large files), you can export them as "Medium" H.264/AAC files which can be easily viewed on your computer iPod, and/or TV device but take up only a fraction of the original space.

Promt of lost media files for a QT.mov?

In imovie 09 I created a quicktime movie through the share tab and uploaded the QT.mov into a powerpoint presentation (.pptx) I then saved it as a .ppt to be able view it on my 04 powerbook. The presentation opens but can't play the movies.
My powerbook can't find the media files. When exporting a movie project to QT does a media file get stored on the computer I created the movie on, like it does in final cut pro?
Where do I find the media file.
Thanks

When I select the image in the timeline and select reconnect media, the files are not listed in the resulting dialog box as missing (whether the online or offline buttons at the top of the box are selected). It does not list them as missing, basically.
I tried selecting the files in the browser; the reconnect media dialog box listed the files, I found the directory, and it indicated it knew where they were (moved them to the files located box), but still did not connect. I tried it again in the browser and they were not listed a 2nd time.

Move my media files

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