Getting ipod to shuffle and select least played songs

Question

Getting ipod to shuffle and select least played songs

I use my ipod when I travel. Each time I listen to playlists set to 'shuffle.' But every trip the lists start over at the top (now getting boring!). How do I set it to select the least played songs instead of just the top of the so called shuffle list? Shuffle is not really shuffling but simply creating a standard random playlist. I mean, the third song it plays, is ALWAYS the third song! I

MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.4.9), Ipod Fifth Gen

Posted on Apr 27, 2009 10:05 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 28, 2009 9:26 AM in response to Daniel Elliott

A couple of things...

You can create a Smart Playlist and add the option that selects items by Least Recently Played. Or you could add a rule where songs not played in the last xx days are added to the list. This would create a dynamic playlist that changes each time you sync the iPod.

Also...if your current list always plays in the EXACT same order, then it sounds like you don't have Shuffle enabled. Or perhaps you have it on Shuffle Albums instead of Shuffle Songs???

And to avoid always playing the first song on a list first, hit play at the menu with the name of the playlist (with shuffle enabled) instead of selecting the playlist and then hitting select.

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Answer 2

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Apr 28, 2009 9:51 AM in response to Daniel Elliott

To clarify Diane's post a bit. You have two issues. She already mentioned that you can create a SPL of the least recently played songs or perhaps songs with play count less than xx.
But the shuffle part, what Diane meant to say is that your iPod may not be set for shuffle. In the main menu of the iPod, go to settings and then the shuffle option. Choices are OFF (which sounds like you iPod is current set), Songs, and Albums. You want songs. This setting basically tells the iPod that no matter which "list" you are playing out of on the iPod, shuffle the songs in that list.
So when you go your "least played" playlist and begin playing it, besides the first song you pick to start playing, all the rest of the playlist should play in a random order.
Patrick

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Answer 3

Apr 28, 2009 10:41 AM in response to PT

Yes, PT. That is what I meant. Thanks for assisting. 🙂

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Answer 4

May 4, 2009 8:38 PM in response to Daniel Elliott

Thanks a bunch. That worked! Now I get to hear all my songs eventually.

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