Re-inserting lost release dates to iTunes podcast

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Level 3

750 points

Re-inserting lost release dates to iTunes podcast

I have noticed that recent downloads of ABC Radio National podcasts do not have release dates - this makes viewing the collection for currency very difficult, the podcasts without release dates are put at the bottom of the "album" - in some albums I have 3 years worth of podcasts, it means lots of scrolling.
Can I re-insert the release date? So far I can find no entry in the Get Info window for gaining access to this element of info. I have Amadeus Pro and this will allow access to the Metadata of the Podcasts but not the release date.
Anyone know of a way?

Mac Pro 2.66ghz DP 1 x 300 Gbs and 3x500gb with 6 Gigs SDRAMM, Mac OS X (10.4.10), ext FW 400+800 Terabyte LaCie Big drives

Posted on Aug 13, 2009 9:41 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 11, 2009 6:52 AM in response to philip howe

Hi, I am suffering from the same problem with release dates ever since downloading itunes 9! Please - if you get help pass it along. The problem is huge when you have hundreds of podcasts that don't sort by release date! Sometimes it loads podcasts on my itouch oldest to newest, sometimes newest to oldest, and sometimes, just random! But it is impossible to tell without the dates loading! Thanks for bringing this up!

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Answer 2

ramoz

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Oct 13, 2009 5:37 AM in response to dflatlanta

Gonna bump this since I have the same problem and can't find an answer anywhere...

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

272,811 points

Oct 13, 2009 6:43 AM in response to ramoz

You can't edit the fields in iTunes, but any tag editor which can expose all custom fields should do. Just compare the those with a date to those without to work out where to make the adjustment. Then *Get Info* & click OK in iTunes to make iTunes refresh it's copy of the data. If you've made the correct change the podcast should move to the correct place in the list.

tt2

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Answer 4

ramoz

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Oct 13, 2009 7:28 AM in response to turingtest2

Got any tip on an app that will let me edit those fields?

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Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

272,811 points

Oct 13, 2009 8:43 AM in response to ramoz

A program called mp3tag did it for me in Windows. I've just looked again and it seems I was editing a field called iTunesPodcastID to reorganise my Stephen Fry podcasts - the feed changed and one of the old episodes wasn't included in the new feed which is why I was looking for a hack. The vaule for one of the files is http://fry-2.simonwheatley.co.uk/?p=548 so I'm guessing that iTunes simply sorts podcasts on this field, or at least the number at the end of it. I've seen some links to EasyTag which is multi-platform and might be able to do it but I can't get the latest Windows version to work so I can't test it.

tt2

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Answer 6

philip howe Author

Level 3

750 points

Oct 28, 2009 12:46 AM in response to turingtest2

I use Amadeus Pro as an audio editor when not working in our Music room with ProTools. Amadeus will allow you access to ID tags but there is nowhere in that set of info that relates to release date - it is rather strange. I also tried PodCaster but there is a battle going on between the developer and Apple and you can't download a free copy to try it out, you HAVE TO Donate first to get the download URL.
There is a new version of Amadeus Pro (you can download Amadeus Pro or the older 3 for free 30 day try out) that I will download and see if ID3 tag info editing now lets you get at Release Date.
I'd love to resolve this.
pip

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Answer 7

philip howe Author

Level 3

750 points

Oct 28, 2009 1:26 AM in response to turingtest2

The EasyTag app is at Sourceforge but seams to require that you load a whole bunch of other apps and plugs for it to work - I get nervous of adding too many other apps to my already over large collection because eventually they get to be problematic, either because other software gets updated and conflicts or because operating or security updates change circumstances and you get problems that are difficult to trace - I have exactly such problems right now, haven't found solutions to them yet and they cause big apps to crash - I don't wish to add more.
Oh, and Amadeus update hasn't added anything to the Metadata editing fields - there is no "Release date" and the only unused field visible is Track Name, and that doesn't relate to Release Date.
pip

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Answer 8

turingtest2

Level 10

272,811 points

Oct 28, 2009 4:14 AM in response to philip howe

Yeah I know what you mean about prerequisits. I've had some useful stuff out of Source Forge but too often stuff is "released" without a proper installation mechanism. I'm a geek and if I have trouble getting stuff to work how are non-tech users supposed to manage?

Have you got access to a PC or an emulator? MP3Tag may be the best bet...

tt2

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Answer 9

philip howe Author

Level 3

750 points

Oct 28, 2009 6:11 AM in response to turingtest2

I don't have access to a PC normally but occasionally at a friends place, will look then but just now seem to have found separate presentation at Freshmeat.com - might prove more useful. I find it really rather silly that something as important as the release date is not included with the Title, the Author and the Name (in iTunes or Amadeus, even ProTools and Soundtrack Pro have no entry for Release Date) - within Metadata.
Needing a separate editor is pretty odd, sort of overkill.
pip

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Answer 10

Oct 30, 2009 7:03 PM in response to ramoz

Ever since I installed iTunes 9.0x, I've noticed that the RELEASEDATE tag is no longer included asa a tag in the podcast file.

What I used to do:
I keep all podcasts on a separate drive, which means after downloading them (into \"My Documents\My Music\iTunes\Podcasts\<folder name>"), I then move the folders to my other drive, and drag and drop the new folder back into iTunes. Then after deleting the broken links to the original download location, all would be fine, and the podcasts were sorted by release date.

What I have to do now:
Because the RELEASEDATE tag is no longer included in the actual file, when I move he file and re-insert it, iTunes loses this information, as it is now only contained in the iTunes library file.

The options are either:
1. After moving the file, double click on every broken link, and relocate the file, attaching it back to the original entry in the library;
2. Edit the individual podcasts, one by one, with MP3TAG, to insert a RELEASEDATE tag; or
3. Edit the "iTunes Music Library.xml" to point to the new location, delete the "iTunes Library.itl" file and then restart iTunes - which means play count and other info is lost.

None of these options is particularly pleasant when dealing with 10+ podcasts per day.

The easiest thing would be for APPLE to fix the bug, and have the RELEASEDATE tag again included back into the podcast MP3.

Is anyone in Appleland listening...

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