Rip CDs to a different location than the iTunes music folder?

I just got my first iPod about two weeks ago: a 32 GB Touch. It's awesome. I started ripping a ton of music to my PowerBook G4's 80 GB hard drive. Now it's running out of space. I was thinking of buying a USB external drive to store all the music I want, but I'm afraid the USB speed will cause trouble ripping CDs.
So, I was thinking I could rip the music to my desktop and then just copy it to the external drive. Is there any way to do this in iTunes? Rip here and play from there? Of course, I know I could just change the setting for the music folder in iTunes each time, but that seems a little more tedious than merely copying.

This all hinges on the precise sequence and nature of CD rips in iTunes. If you rip a whole CD, then my assumption is (I don't know 100% about all these steps) :
1. the read is local, from the CD drive
2. the conversion of a particular track is done in RAM
3. once a track is processed (and while the next one is being read and converted) it is written out to your Library.
This means that even with slow USB, iTunes can still read and convert a track, while writing the previous track to disk. But I don't know what happens if iTunes finishes the second track while the first is still being written. I'm guessing that all converted tracks "back up" into a queue waiting to be written (hypothesis only - I have never been faced with this particular problem).

Similar Messages

  • I have 100's of CDs that I have downloaded to my itunes library and they are in the library playable but they do not show up in the C drive under the iTunes Music folder under users.  Why are they in the libary and not in the itunes music folder. Win 7 OS

    I have 100's of CDs that I have downloaded to my itunes library and they are in the library playable but they do not show up in the C drive under the iTunes Music folder under users.  Why are they in the libary and not in the itunes music folder. Win 7 OS.  When I look in the library under the get info screen it says they are in the folder itunes music, under the c: drive but when I actually go to that folder to look for them they are not there....HELP!

    Hello RumDog,
    I think this article will help you find the media in your library.
    Where are my iTunes files located?
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
    Discovering and changing the iTunes Media folder location
    Note: You would usually only change the iTunes Media folder location to share music between accounts on the same computer. See this article for specific steps on how to accomplish this. Also, see this article if you want to know how to move your music to a new computer.
    Mac OS X: Click the iTunes menu and choose Preferences.
    Windows: Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
    Click the Advanced pane. iTunes displays the location of your iTunes Media folder.
    You can then:
    Note where your media folder is, such as for backing up your media.
    Use the Reset button to reset it's location to the default (which is the iTunes folder).
    Click the Change button to select a folder for a new location. Once you change this location:
    If you make a new or alternate iTunes library, the new location will be used by that library.
    Existing files will not be moved unless you choose File > Library > Organize library and choose the option to "Consolidate files."
    From: Where are my iTunes files located?
              http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
    Cheers,
    Sterling

  • HT1364 I have moved my library to an external hard drive and changed the location of the iTunes media folder in Preferences, but every time I close and re-open iTunes, I have to do it all over again.  How can I make the iTunes media folder change permanen

    I have moved my library to an external hard drive and changed the location of the iTunes media folder in Preferences, but every time I close and re-open iTunes, I have to do it all over again.  How can I make the iTunes media folder change permanent?  I have an older machine with Windows XP.

    I don't believe mounting the hard drive should be necessary, unless you have several external drives and want your computer to recognise them as folders, rather than drives. I've never had to mount a hard drive, ever. If you don't know how to do it, then it shouldn't be necessary now.
    Try this:
    Prepare iTunes so that it can see the external drive.
    Make a note of which drive-letter the external drive has been allocated. (Look in Windows Exploer)
    Look at the file location for a song. Make sure it plays (and therefore that iTunes has found it). Highlight it and select File/Get Info/Summary>Where: and make a note of the drive letter for that song.
    Close and shut down the computer.
    The next time you turn the computer on again, connect the external drive
    Before you start iTunes - check the external drive in Windows Explorer. Is it ready, does it have the same drive-letter that it had last time? Can you go into the drive and see the files on it?
    Once you can, start iTunes. (If the drive lettter has changed, you need to work out why before going any further.)
    If iTunes fails to find your external drive, you need to check where iTunes is looking for your Library.
    Select the same song you checked before (presumably iTunes can no longer find it). Follow the procedure for locating it. You should be able to see where iTunes thinks the file is. It's the drive that counts. Which drive letter is iTunes looking at? Is it the same one that it was previously (which should also be the same one that the drive has now).
    What happens, which step do you have problems with?
    Message was edited by: the fiend

  • Restored my Macbook Pro but my iTunes content was saved on a separate partition. When I re-setup iTunes the status bar reports 30gb less content than my iTunes Music folder. How can I find what is 'missing'?

    My Macbook Pro software was failing and the Apple Store was able to restore it without removing the partition on my hard drive that contained most of my files including all my iTunes content. Initially when I re-setup my library I simply went to file--> add to library. Shortly after I realized that was essentially copying the library to the other portion of the partition because I forgot to change the location of the library. So I deleted the content already copied & then I re-setup the library, by asking it to be pulled from the previous location using this pages advice: iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
    It appeared to work & everything I thought was imported. But on closer inspection, it appears that I have 30gbs less appearing on the status bar in the iTunes app than I do when I pull up the info on the iTunes Music folder in my finder. I'm not sure if this means somehow I have 30gbs of duplicates in my finder folder or if (most likely) I somehow didn't fully import the library from that file. Any advice? Is there a way to restore iTunes to factory settings again & set it up correctly this time?
    Also I never actually trashed the original content I accidentally transferred to the other drive but when i skimmed those in my trash bin it appears they ARE indeed in iTunes, so I have no clue what didn't actually import. Any ideas?! I'd greatly appreciate it!

    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.

  • Any ideas or thoughts on how to locate JUST the iTunes music?

    I’d like to know if there is a way to run a program/script to identify the songs purchased from iTunes only?
    I have my CD’s uploaded digitally to an external drive and purchased iTunes songs and I’m trying to organize what I have.
    Any ideas or thoughts on how to locate JUST the iTunes music?

    Found a solution, but it's not ideal or what I was really requesting. However it will work for now.
    Add the "Kind" column and sort by "ACC Purchased audio file" and you can get what you need.
    I was really looking for a shell script to do this.... If anyone has a way of doing this let me know.

  • HT1364 How do I uninstall Itunes for windows7 without losing my playlists and other data? My library is on another drive rather than the My Music folder?

    How do I uninstall Itunes for windows7 without losing my playlists and other data? My library is on another drive rather than the My Music folder?

    Your iTunes library isn't deleted when you uninstall it, so uninstall iTunes without worrying about this

  • Can the path to the iTunes Music folder be locked?

    I'm trying to simplify the results of my own occasional user error.
    Can the path to the iTunes Music folder be locked?
    I have my library stored on an external drive that I keep turned off when not in use. If I accidentally start iTunes with that drive off, it recreates the original iTunes Music folder and directs itself there.
    Can that behavior be stopped? It seems like there should be a way for iTunes to send a pop up or something, rather than this automated over ride to manual settings.

    Yeah, I know I don't have an end of the world scenario here.
    But just remounting the drive doesn't do it. I have to go back into iTunes and reset the folder location. Then wait several minutes as it all reorganizes itself.
    I know just leaving the drive on is the easiest answer. It causes too much of a domestic dispute about all the blinking boxes I have running all the time. I have convinced her that the green one on the AEBS has to be on if she wants internet.

  • How to set up iTunes with an external hard drive so that there is not a double location for the iTunes Media folder

    Hi,
    A very helpful postee got to the end of his knowledge level, so I am posting this for you tech guys to sort out. Bit long because I've tried to set it out step by step. Briefly I'm new to iTunes and my laptop has a very small hard drive and is virtually full and due to be replaced. So I want to use an external hard drive.
    Now I know that iTunes installs itself to two locations: 1. Programs Files 2. Music. And its the Music location that bothers me.
    I asked about using an external hard disk to store the actual AAC files. I was advised that in order to change the loaction of the iTunes media folder I was should employ preferences/advanced/ and this is what i saw (as you would expect):
    Then I hooked up my hard drive, hit 'change', and this is what I saw:
    I was a bit worried by the lack of pathway details, but assumed it must have done something on the external drive, so I looked on  it and this is what i saw (highlighted):
    But compare this with what was in the directory I attempted to reproduce, viz in the iTunes folder in /laptop/Music/iTunes:
    A ton of stuff. The only stuff that corresponded with what iTunes had created on my external hard drive was in Music/iTunes/iTunes Media folder:
    Now this suggests that there are TWO locations for my preferences. The advanced tab only allowed me to ADD an extra location, not REPLACE the original.
    So:
    1. Which of the two locations will iTunes choose when I add music? Surely it will go with the original pathway laid down in the directory when iTunes was installed, and ignore my external Hard Drive? I mean, how can there be two automatic locations?!!!
    2.. I don't mind itunes library being on my laptop as this is just a list, but it obvoiusly has to have a pathway to the site where the actual AAC files are stored.
         so surely it won't work unless the whole lot is on the external hard drive: library, extras, genius, the lot?
    4. How then do I get it all on the external since merely changing "preferences" doesn't do the job?
    5. Is this perhaps the reason why so many people report that iTunes does not recognize their external hard disk:
    http://www.ehow.com/info_12199596_external-hard-drive-not-recognized-itun es.html
    I just don't want this to happen to me. Any answers?
    Philip Joy
    UNITED KINGDOM

    As I've replied to your other threads...
    Easy method 1:
    Move or Copy entire working library from current location to the root of your external drive. Press & hold down shift (option on a Mac) as you click the icon to start iTunes. Click Choose when prompted, then browse to ..\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl on the external. If you copied the library across then test your new library works properly after renaming the original folder, before deleting the original folder to recover space.
    Easy method 2:
    If you haven't really started to build your library. Press & hold down shift as you click the icon to start iTunes. Click Create. Browse to the root of the external drive. Create the library as ITunes. Drag your media into ..\iTunes\iTunes Media\Automatically Add to iTunes.
    Complex method:
    Required if you've already tried other things and now have media & library scattered around. See the post make a split library portable.
    in addition...
    In all cases the idea is to get a library folder called iTunes containing a media folder called iTunes Media with all media inside this media folder. Once you have the library in this shape it is easy to reconnect to the library with the shift-start-iTunes method if the drive letter changes, move the library to another computer, and backup the library by cloning the folder to another drive.
    tt2

  • What is the "iTunes Music" folder for?

    I am looking for confirmation that it is a folder dedicated to holding converted files that i already have stored on my pc, and not doubles... Converted from WMA to w/e

    Here are typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
    If you have upgraded from version 8 (or earlier) to iTunes 9 (or later) at some point, then your media folder (everything inside the red outline) may still be called *iTunes Music* instead of *iTunes Media*. The extra Music folder inside the media folder is used if you have allowed iTunes to *Upgrade to iTunes Media Organization* (iTunes 9) or used *File > Library > Organize Library > Reorganize files in the folder "iTunes Media"* (iTunes 10). Depending on your choices for *Keep iTunes Media folder organized* and *Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library* plus a little bug in which one build changed the name of the file storing the choice of layout it is quite easy for some of your files to be organized according to one layout and some the other.
    Assuming you're happy letting iTunes organize your files the following steps should tidy things up (should it be necessary):
    1. Select *File > Library > Organize Library... >* Tick *Reorganize files in the folder "iTunes Media"* and click OK. Skip if this option is greyed out (already upgraded) or you prefer the older layout.
    2. Select *File > Library > Organize Library... >* Tick *Consolidate files* and click OK. This will bring any files currently organised outside the designated media folder into it.
    NB This will create duplicate copies of any file that needs to be consolidated, and you will need to manually clean up afterwards. If space is at a premium try my scripts Unconsolidated to find out what would need moving and ConsolidatebyMoving to move rather than copy it.
    3. Select *Edit > Preferences > Advanced* tab, uncheck *Keep iTunes Media folder organized* and click OK.
    4. Select *Edit > Preferences > Advanced* tab, check *Keep iTunes Media folder organized* and click OK. This triggers iTunes into reorganizing everything according to your preferences.
    5. (Optional) Close iTunes, rename the folder *iTunes Music* as *iTunes Media* then restart iTunes. Check under *Edit > Preferences > Advanced* tab that the location has automatically updated. If you can't access the media for any reason just undo the folder rename.
    6. (Optional - Windows only) If Windows Media Player has ever had access to your files it may have liberally scattered folder artwork files about which iTunes won't tidy up when it reorganizes things, thus leaving behind a heap of folders with artwork and no media. I've written a script for cleaning this mess up which you can find at http://samsoft.org.uk/iTunes/CleanDeadArt.asp
    PS If you really prefer the older layout, but it is already in the new one then edit the file called *.iTunes Preferences.plist* in your media folder and change the integer from 1 to 0 before doing step 3.
    tt2

  • Is there a way to have iTunes show what is in the iTunes music folder?

    I have several folders that I moved from an old iTunes music folder into a newer one on a different HD. I just put the music into the folder, but not into iTunes. So now, I have a huge folder of music that doesn't show up in my iTunes library. I was cleaning off the HD to make room for something else, so I deleted the "old" iTunes folder with all the music in it. The music is in my new iTunes folder, but not in my iTunes program. Sorry this is so convoluted!
    What I want to know is this: Is there a way to have iTunes recognize and check for music in the iTunes folder that is not already in the iTunes program? Exactly what does consolidate library do? Could that solve the issue? I am a little intimidated because it says that it cannot be undone.
    Thanks,
    Jim

    Chris,
    You're a GENIUS!! Thank you!! That's exactly what I was looking for. I am in the process of doing it right now. Hopefully, everything goes well. You just made my day!
    Happy 2009,
    Jim

  • Itunes cannot see the itunes music folder on my external hard drive

    I recently put all of my music on an external hard drive to free up space on my computer,
    However, when I am in itunes and trying to point the library to the music folder, itunes still cannot see it. Instead all it can see is the E drive WD Passport, and folders named autorun, WD Sync Data Wd Windows Tools.
    Can anyone tell me how I can see my itunes music folder on my external hard drive while I am in preferences, advanced, library location, change??

    I don't know enough about iTunes for Windows to help you with this. But if you post your question in the Using iTunes for Windows forum you will get help from people who know more about this.
    (This is the forum for Apple's Mac OS X web browser, Safari.)

  • How do I change the default locations for the iTunes music and iPhone back-up folders?

    My computer's hard drive is partitioned, with one partition having all of the Windows system files, and the other having all of my documents, music, videos, etc.  When I installed iTunes, it automatically created its music and iPhone folders on the Windows partition.  I've been able to change the default save folders for other programs to the second partition, but I'm having troubles finding this option in iTunes (I even went back and re-installed it to see if I could find it that way, but no dice).  Is there a way to change the default folders for the iTunes library and iPhone files?  It takes up A LOT of space on my Windows partition, so it would be very great to get that moved over.
    Thanks!

    You can't selectively move individual folders withing the iTunes  folder, but you can move the entire folder to, say, an external dive. To delink the iTunes application to the new library location:
    Open iTunes while holding down the Option key (Mac) or Shift key (Windows).
    In the resulting dialog, click the Choose Library button.
    Select the iTunes folder you moved to the external hard drive.
    Click Choose (Mac OS X) or Open (Windows) and then choose the iTunes Library file inside .

  • ITunes isn't using the iTunes music folder location listed in Preferences

    I recently moved my music folder from an old computer to a newer one. the newer machine is authorized by the iTunes store. But iTunes is not accessing any of the music in the folder. How do I fix this?

    Hello ksr3571
    Have you tried the more advanced cleanup article below? This gets into a more in depth cleaning of iTunes applications and also provides a Microsoft program to help uninstall programs that will not uninstall correctly from Add/Remove
    Trouble installing iTunes or QuickTime for Windows
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1926?viewlocale=en_US

  • How do I sync my iPod from the iTunes Music folder?

    So basically, I have a bunch of bad songs on my iTunes that I would like to delete, but I want to keep the music files. I want to sync every single song I have on my computer right now (which are all currently on iTunes) to my iPod touch. The problem is, I want to delete all of the bad songs from iTunes so I only have the good songs left on iTunes and then sync them to the iPhone. So I want to have all my songs on my iPod Touch, but only the good ones on iTunes and my iPhone. So what I want to do is delete all of the bad songs from iTunes, but keep the files so that they stay on my computer. All of my songs are currently located at C:\Users\Owner\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Music so if I delete all the bad songs from iTunes but click Keep Files, then all of my songs will stay retained in that folder, but will be gone from iTunes. I want to know if there is some way to sync all of the songs in my Music folder to my iPod without them being in iTunes.
    Long story short, I want to put all of my entire Music folder on my iPod without using iTunes.
    Thanks for any help.

    Chris CA wrote:
    fromsouth wrote:
    1. you have to disable auto sync and continue sync manually ( which all advanced users with multiple devices do anyway)
    Very doubtful even a majority of advanced users with multiple devices "sync" manually.
    I don't.
    (FYI: You don't "sync manually" You "manually manage" without syncing at all).
    I have never called you names - like "advanced user" for example- I do not know or presume to know you or your habits, personally. I actually do sync manually (by clicking when I need to chose those little checkboxes), or I actually manually manage by dragging and dropping - I can do both. I also do not presume that I can teach you anything, but I can definetly help OP.
    @Original Poster
    Once you enable "manually manage option" and after you delete content that you don't want to have in your itunes, imagine you got something new that you want to put in your ipod. You add that movie to itunes and you instead of syncing it ( that would remove from ipod all content that is not itunes anymore.) you literally drag that movie from itunes library to the icon/image of your ipod in itunes on the left side. And it will sync only that movie/song/playlist, without affecting other things

  • HT3847 is the Itunes music folder no longer used?  having trouble getting Itunes to read music files

    Copied files from old computer to new computer and put in itunes/itunesmusic folder.  The only files being read it appears are my purchased files from the itunes store and it looks like those are in  itunes/itunesmedia/music.  But when I copy into the media folder I still can't see songs that were not purchased from the itunes store.  The old computer can still see the entire library, what is wrong?  Running Windows 8.1

    Hi BO2006,
    Welcome to the Support Communities!
    Try following the instructions in this article to move your music to a new computer.  I like the External Drive option the best because it creates a backup in the process.
    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
    Cheers,
    - Judy

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