Q: Itunes has classified many songs as "Unknown Artist" after transferring them to a WD MyCloud. It appears that all the affect ... more
-
Jul 15, 2014 2:01 PMby Limnos,HelpfulThat is standard for WAV format. WAV format does not include information "tags" that embed track metadata as in other file types such as AIFF, mp3, AAC, etc.
Solutions:
Convert to other tag-enabled format before exporting,
Export a text playlist, then use this playlist to add the files to other library (if applicable).
Use a somewhat complicated process to rename all your WAV files to include the data you wish to transport, then use another process to use this to generate tags in whatever program it is you are using with the files at the other end.
-
Jul 15, 2014 2:53 PMby steved99,Thanks Limnos,
Please can you expand on how to implement the solutions?
What confuses me is why the WAV files were correctly assigned to albums/artists etc. on ITunes on the Windows PC (Vista) that originally stored the files (and fortunately still do) but when they were copied to the WD MyCloud the tag info all gets lost. Incidentally, if I use Windows explorer to look at the MyCloud it still looks fine (e.g. \\<IP Address>\Public\Shared Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Music\Elton John) then has separate folders for each of the Elton John albums within which are all the right songs in WAV format). However, looking at ITunes on the MyCloud has all my Elton John music in the "Unknown Artist" category.
Anyway, a solution is more important than understanding why it happened.
Thanks again.
Steve
-
Jul 15, 2014 3:10 PMby Limnos,I don't know how Windows stores information but lack of tags in WAV has been a feature since day one. iTunes Stores data in two places for most files. One is in the library file (iTunes Library.itl) file itself. It then embeds the data in the media file if such is supported. As long as the files are used with the iTunes library storing the data then the data is there, but if the files are moved for use with a different library then the data are lost.
At this stage it might help to know what exactly you are trying to do. If you are moving a library from the PC to a Mac then you are going about it wrong and the right way will solve your problem.
Implementing by changing format is easy. Select a format such as Apple Lossless which will also compress the files to a smaller size but retain their full quality. When you convert them to that format the data will be embedded as tags. Only do this for those WAV files.
I can elaborate on the other methods but the last time I did it 36 hours ago it involved 15 minutes typing for each method so if you go with the convert method it will be easier for both of us.
iTunes: How to convert a song to a different file format - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1550 - including information about different formats and discussion about compression. Instructions are for iTunes11. In iTunes11: File > Create New Version In iTunes11 "Create..." is in the File menu, not the Advanced menu. Prior to iTunes11 use iTunes menu > Advanced
-
Jul 17, 2014 10:31 AMby steved99,Hi Limnos,
That's very helpful. This is what I am trying to do:
- My "master" ITunes library is stored on a Windows (Vista) PC which is getting a bit clunky
- I have a Mac but don't want to use up a significant amount of the disk space with my ITunes library.
- Therefore I've purchased a WD MyCloud from which I want to stream music from my ITunes library to my HiFi via an Apple TV.
What I have discovered:
- Although theApple TV will not communicate directly with the MyCloud device I can use the Mac or PC to connect to the MyCloud within ITunes and stream my music as I aimed to at the start. I have successfully achieved this.
- This requires my Mac or PC to be on (I can live with this)
- By copying all my iTunes media from the PC to the WD MyCloud everything works as I expected EXCEPT that any files in WAV format have been categorised as "Unknown Artist" when viewed in ITunes.
I thought that I was copying my ITunes library from PC to MyCloud. From what you have explained already I guess that I copied the media files but not the ITunes Library.itl file which is why the tags for the WAV files "got lost"?
Is the easiest way forward now to convert all the WAV files to another format such as Apple Lossless as you described above? If I was starting again with no data on the MyCloud device how should I have gone about it?
Thanks again for all your help.
Best wishes
Steve
-
Jul 17, 2014 11:17 AMby Limnos,HelpfulIf you want only media on the WD you can do so, and then have two independent library files. The problem behind this is if you make changes on one computer the other won't know about it. iTunes doesn't search the media folder, it only know what is there if that library was used to put it there. You add something new and you have to remember to add it on the other computer. To do this you will need to use iTunes to relocate the files to the WD, via advanced preferences consolidate/organize. That way it will change its own internal reference in the library file and all metadata will be kept including WAV data.
Alternative: Have the complete library on the external drive. The drive will have to be FAT formatted since PCs can't use Mac format and Macs can't write to NTFS. Okay as long as no one file is >4GB (you can look into Ex-FAT). Advantage is both computers will be using same library file so no need to update. disadvantage is library file can only be open by one iTunes at a time so no playing music on PC and Mac at same time.
You may understand the above better if you read on how iTunes works:
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 Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392
To move whle library, quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the 'iTunes Library.itl' file in the moved iTunes folder.
To move only media: iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
-
Jul 20, 2014 3:11 PMby steved99,Thanks Limnos,
The conclusion I've come to is that as the WD MyCloud doesn't get recognised by the Apple TV I'm compromising on functionality. I've seen a review of a Seagate Central which is supposed to be recognised by Apple TV (but another review said it wasn't). Anyway I've ordered one and I'll (hopefully) be able to transfer my ITunes library to it "properly" using the advice that you have given. I'll return one of the drives depending on whether the Seagate recognises the Apple TV or not. I'm lucky that the department store that I purchased the MyCloud from has a really good returns policy.
Thanks for all your advice. I've learned a lot in the process and hope that I can implement it successfully. I'll let you know in a few days how I got on.
Best wishes,
Steve
