😮 Too bad 'juniortai' never responded back about what happened? I know I wrote a lot of info, but it may help? Once I started typing I couldn't stop. Sorry In Advance For The length! LOL
I'm just an average Mac consumer and a local DJ. I felt compelled to add my own 2 cents here, along with many others regarding this discussion relating to .XML files, iTunes, other Apps that use iTunes information, DJ Software, importing and exporting Libraries, ETC. It's amazing how one question can lead to many other questions or relate to an issue that one may have. I've also learned that there is more than one way to achieve the same results. I apologize if this seems like a blog, but its not. I just thought maybe if I write some information that I found useful from my own experiences here, that maybe it could help another.
I'm pretty simple, I have 2 Mac Computers, a late 2008 MacBook 13" (aluminum unibody) with Processor 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 2GB 1067 MHz DDR3 Memory and a Late 2008 iMac 20" with Processor 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with Memory 2GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, both were purchased in Feb 2009. I currently use Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard and I'm going through the process of verifying, repairing, cloning or copying my files along with other steps I may need to do for all my apps, 3rd party apps, disks and files before I upgrade to Mac OS X Lion. I was looking for discussions regarding ".XML" files to see if I really needed them, but now I see that if I delete the ".XML" file it won't hurt my actual media files. I understand how they operate with other apps, etc. However, in reading this discussion I realized this discussion kept piling on more and more information that was also connected to previous questions and troubleshooting issues I had in the past regarding my DJ Software. Some of which I managed to find answers to. Everything everyone has added is thought provoking and necessary. Thanks.
Since, I'm a DJ, I utilize iTunes with almost 25k worth of files. Tons of which are duplicates, triplicates or even garbled texts and languages in their titles and descriptions making it difficult to utilize at times, however, through a lot of patience, reading, and much input from Apple Communities, I now understand how to manage my libraries a little better. I can see how having a problem with iTunes and questions on what to do about troubleshooting can be very scary. Although, I've never actually asked a question, I've realized the key is understanding which words to type when searching discussions to maximize results for answers.
I've come across similar issues and questions pertaining to the various issues and responses outlined in the midst of this entire 3 year discussion. I've also wondered about ".xml" files, which to use, which to delete, what programs use them, why do they even exist? AND Even though this discussion isn't marked as an answered question, I do believe there are numerous answers in here pertaining to the many different ways to ask the same question: Why iTunes Music Library.xml doesn't update? Among others, this XML question seems to affect DJ's the most who use DJ Software via iTunes and/or Music Library?
While iTunes is opened in the background, as you add a file into iTunes, you should simply be able to use the added song, even on the fly, while in a DJ session using DJ Apps and Software in the front. From what I've learned Serato is an advanced DJ Software system, notably one of the best and quite expensive. So, I understand how Serato users may be frustrated when the system doesn't work correctly.
I've been a DJ for over 15 years and most of what I've learned has been from trial and error, to say the least. I come from an older generation of DJ's who still utilizes the Analog style of DJ'ing i.e. 2 turntables or Dual CD systems connected to Mixers, EQ's, Compressors, Crossovers, Amps, Speakers, and other sound equipment. It's only been in the last 3-4 years that I've switched to a Digital DJ System but I still utilize all my sound equipment for maximum performance along with my iMac. The DJ Software I use is Virtual DJ Pro for Music and Video Mixing along with the modest Numark iDJ3. Its simple, easy and cost effective for my needs. I also use MixMeister Fusion on occasion (rarely because it can be buggy with Mac OS X) for pre-recording and mixing songs that need adjusting down to the most specific wave. It works well if you aren't running too many apps in the background, otherwise it could quit unexpectedly. The problem with MixMeister is they don't seem to keep up with their updates as fast as Mac does causing some compatibility issues. This can be very frustrating for the DJ who doesn't understand how to configure their Mac. You can get Virtual DJ Home edition Free online from their website. Its safe to use or I wouldn't post that. After downloading and trying it out, you can purchase or upgrade Virtual DJ like others, or keep the basic version, depending on the level you desire, so on and so forth. I like Virtual DJ, it seems to be very compatible with my iMac. Plus I have monthly, unlimited access to any song in the world that I may need on the fly. The best part is Virtual DJ helps me keep an eye on my CPU usage. This is great since some apps can overload or cause the internal temperature too get to high making apps quit unexpectedly, too. Virtual DJ has an iPhone App and iPad App to use remotely. Its totally awesome! I digress!
Most DJ Software requires you to use specific formats when playing media i.e. MP3 or MP4, etc, when you download a song from a cd or from the Internet it may download based on the default settings from their sites or that are set in iTunes Preferences. If you have a song that's not MP3, iTunes can convert a new file format for you. I say MP3 as an example because most DJ software utilizes MP3. Sure, the quality may be not as good as others, like AAC but it is easier. This is all based on preferences.
Also Use iTunes Help > iTunes Overview > Import Music, Videos, and More > Ways To Import > Import Songs From CDs > Choose Import Settings.
Playlists are used by iTunes and other Mac Apps or DJ Software. To learn more about Playlist, Saving them to other computers or devices, and How XML is used for importing and exporting playlists to and from libraries:
Go to iTunes Help > Organize Your iTunes Library > Create Playlists > Save a Copy Of Your Playlists
Click either show or hide > Here are ways to save copies of playlists or use playlist on another computer
Or Click either show or hide > Here are ways to transfer song information into an applications
Now, getting to the Garbled Texts in Titles of songs: Some Software requires certain codes that make songs compatible with the software your using when DJ'ing a session. Also, in Safari Preferences you might consider changing the Default Encoding to Unicode (UTF-8). This may help when downloading stuff from the internet to minimize garbled codes and weird text you may see in iTunes or other Apps that are Foreign i.e. Japanese or Chinese symbols and text. Just saying it may reduce some of the mumbo jumbo. Believe it are not I feel this is all related, I don't speak computer but this is stuff I've come across and it may help?
However if a song title doesn't appear the way it should with weird symbols and such, this can affect ".XML" files from working properly in another program. Again XML are files that store information about a song (not containing the actual song) and relays that info to other program, software or apps needing to access that information about a song. The information its interpreting contains basic info as well as the extra stuff we, DJs may add into certain fields like description, play count, play list, ratings, BPM, title, etc etc, XMLs can also help keep songs organized or help command functions within whatever program we need to use the song for. If another APP from the Internet stores the information of a song in a different format than iTunes or our Music Library, then it can create a problem with using that song in other Apps like whatever DJ Software you use. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. So, as a DJ, I found that I may have to keep duplicates, even triplicates of certain songs, because different programs may need one format versus another format and that's ok. Another way to resolve format issues may to convert the song's information tags AKA (ID3 tags). Yeah? There's More:
Go to iTunes Help > Organize Your iTunes Library > Add and Edit Information > If Song Titles Don't Appear Correctly > Click Show or Hide > To Change The Format of The Song Information Tags:
Or Click Show or Hide > If a Song Title Looks Scrambled After Converting information Tags:
Also, you can add songs under your User in Music Library (which is the actual main library on your computer under your user name) without adding the song to the iTunes folder (keep in mind iTunes {Home/Music} is not the main original file location of a song, its just an app like any other apps that can pull your music from the main library). The iTunes library can be re-populated or completely deleted as long as you have original files under the music folder in your user library you van add them back to iTunes. Under iTunes Help, type in the search bar > Add items to your library without copying them to your iTunes folder. You can also Import music already on your computer into iTunes so that it appears there and you can add a file as an alias without creating a copy.
I just update iTunes, so this may not matter anymore, but I would like add my thoughts regarding Cannot Find Location of a file or Song in iTunes that someone previously mentioned:
If the original file has been moved or relocated, it may cause an issue in iTunes. It might say something like, can't find the location of the song. Then it may ask you to locate it? If you are identifying duplicates, one may be completely there while another is just a title and can't be found, but its difficult to tell which song is there and which song can't be located until you click on it or try to get info (Command > I). if you have more than 10k songs, this can be a long and painful process.
A shortcut I found was to click on:
open iTunes.app > iTunes Library > Highlight All Music by Selecting All Songs (Command > A)
Then > Get Info (Command > I ) - like your going to add something in a for all songs highlighted in a field, but you don't > Then exit out of Get Info, after which all the songs will run through (may take minutes depending on the amount of files you have).
The songs that can not find a location will show a little (puffy exclamation point ! like) icon to the left of the song. You can either delete them because they won't play without locate path to the file in your music library. Its easy to delete if there's only a few of them like that and if they have a duplicate title. Click on view options or the name by alphabetical order and see the duplicate name with the icon. Delete all the one's one with the icon. Otherwise, you can go one by one to find the location of each.
Bear with me here - When a window pops up: Do the same location for all? Click No or Cancel because every time it performs the task of locating a missing file, it will continue to go to that same file over and over again, as when it first popped up to ask. Lets say your trying to locate Twinkle Little Star? The music library pops open, at which point you'll find Twinkle Little Star.MP3 or what ever format its in and select it. Thereby, attaching the song in the music library you picked from to the title of the same name in iTunes solving that files location problem. Then before, during or after a pop up window may ask you something like Do you want to locate all files this way? Misleading you to think it will take you to exactly where the song is located in the music library of your hard drive, every time there's a location problem with a song. Nope! Not every time, it's hit or miss, you may think? However, If it could do that in the first place "Locate The Same Way", then why would it pop up that it cannot locate file or ask you if you want to locate the file from the get go? HMMM? Confusing? So when it asks to locate a file its really asking you permission to place the title in question into a search box per se, leading you to your music library. Which must happen in order to find it. You must remember : When the pop up ask you to locate all files this way, click No or Cancel, otherwise when it's time to find a different file like Moonlight Sonata, instead of opening up your music library to find Moonlight Sonata.MP3 yourself, it will take you back to Twinkle Little Star.MP3. Get It? I'm trying to be as generic has I can, layman's phonics, I guess?
Meanwhile, iTunes runs you through finding each songs location in your original music library when its missing or you've moved some files around in your music library.This occasionally happens on accident with DJ's, those who have huge libraries, or folks who don't understand how to move files around or what the XML files represent and what the consequences are if we do or don't delete them, like my self in the past. LOL. All this is related somehow. I'm not 100% sure how, all I know is it does and Apple has provided awesome tools like Communities to discuss. If you find that there are way too many questions and not enough answers for .xml, .it, .itdb, or files that are missing locations, you can back-up, erase, and re-populate iTunes again and again.
You can delete the older .xml files, because new ones will be created as time goes by. Or you can use a previous .XML file to help rebuild a new library, etc. Be careful when opening XML files because they are like files from Word Excel or Numbers and can be misread or interpreted incorrectly, if not used properly.
Refer to iTunes Help, Apple Support Communities, or Call, but keep the conversations flowing for people like me.
So when the next time you open your DJ Software, hopefully you can update it to match iTunes as its designed to be. Don't worry if a songs missing, its just been moved around somehow and can be put back. Create a new library or play list in your DJ software before your DJ Gig! Good Dj Software should update files automatically. I'm sure there's an App for that. It's more difficult to lose your files these day when backing up your files daily using Time Machine and iCloud. Unless you erase it completely, like Prego, it's in there.
These are some things I've had to manage in the past. I hope this helps or if anyone wants to add or give me some ideas, I always welcome them, too. I'm always learning. Lastly, I have a few things to check and do for my Virtual DJ Pro, then we'll update to Lion at the last minute, like usual. LOL After all I only have 4 days left before MobileMe ends.
DJ Jenn 😁
Jenntonic
June 26,2012
