Flummoxed by files not transferring then disappearing....

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Flummoxed by files not transferring then disappearing....

I want to transfer the files I have in iTunes (WAV format) from my 21.5" (Late 2012) iMac to my 27" (Late 2013) iMac. Both are supporting Catalina 10.15.7.

I dragged numerous Artist folders containing the files onto a USB stick from the 21.5 iMac. I then transferred the folders from the stick to my 27" iMac desktop. So far so good.

Unfortunately it appears that no matter how I try to import the folders into iTunes (File > Import or dragging the folder directly into the main iTunes window), iTunes will not take them. I get a blue outline around the window and also the silly little 'job done!' sound but nothing actually happens, iTunes isn't updated with the files.

Then I noticed that it's not simply that the files aren't appearing in iTunes, they're disappearing from the original folders on the desktop! Furthermore no files are appearing in the 'Bin', they're seemingly just vanishing into thin air.

Can anyone possibly assist please?

Thanks.

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 10.13

Posted on Oct 15, 2020 1:48 PM

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Answer 1

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turingtest2

Level 10

278,179 points

Oct 16, 2020 3:00 PM in response to Stevie.G61

See Move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Community to move over the whole library.

What happens if you copy one of these .wav files into ~/Music/Music/Media/Automatically Add to Music? On your old machine convert a single file to Apple Lossless, copy that over, and then import it to the Music library. You should see it gives better results. See Convert a song to a different file format with the Apple Music app or iTunes for Windows - Apple Support for advice on converting. If that would be the way to go you can give iTunes the job of converting all your .wav tracks as longs as there is room for the newly created files.

tt2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,179 points

Oct 15, 2020 5:03 PM in response to Stevie.G61

Files in .wav format don't carry a tag. If you import them into a new library they will be treated as Unknown Artist/Unknown Album and the song name will be set to the file name. You can transfer an entire library complete with links to .wav tracks and it should work OK, but it you want to transfer files on a piecemeal basis that converting to Apple Lossless first would be a reasonable approach. This is a lossless conversion so there is no degradation of audio data, and Apple Lossless has full tag support including the ability to embed artwork.

tt2

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,179 points

Oct 17, 2020 3:15 PM in response to Stevie.G61

I was suggesting using iTunes on the original computer to convert to Apple Lossless as this will embed the metadata that is in that library, something that won't happen when you use Audacity. Converting 4.5 Gb of data just takes time and space, but once you've settled on a working strategy you can just let it run overnight.

I'm still tempted to think this is a permissions issue if the files are disappearing completely.

tt2

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Answer 4

Stevie.G61 Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 16, 2020 2:35 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for the prompt reply. I'd love to say that I understood your reply and it undoubtedly makes perfect sense to yourself but I don't entirely follow. I'm afaid you're dealing with a computer ignoramus.

"If you import them into a new library they will be treated as Unknown Artist/Unknown Album and the song name will be set to the file name"

It's not even doing that, if it was I'd at least have a clue as to what was going on. They're not appearing in any way, shape or form in iTunes and they're then disappearing to boot.

"You can transfer an entire library complete with links to .wav tracks and it should work OK"

I've absolutely no idea how I would even begin to go about doing that.

"...but it you want to transfer files on a piecemeal basis that converting to Apple Lossless first would be a reasonable approach"

Unfortunately we are talking about 450GB of files so I strongly suspect that's a non-starter.

2020 and computers are still coming up with rubbish like file incompatability, it's pathetic.

Ah well. Thanks for your help and taking the time out to try and assist, it's greatly appreciated.

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Answer 5

Stevie.G61 Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 17, 2020 1:36 PM in response to turingtest2

I have the .WAV files in a folder on the desktop. If I drag a .WAV file the 'Automatically Add to Music' folder (within the 'iTunes Media' folder) it immediately disappears. I've no idea where it goes to as it's not in the Bin.

If I convert a WAV file to AIFF using Audacity and then use the import function the file appears within iTunes but without the file info. As stated previously there's also the issue of there being about 4.5GB that would have to be converted of files so it isn't really a practical solution.

Guess I'll have to wait 'til the year 2100 for computers treat all files equally and not have massive compatability issues.

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Flummoxed by files not transferring then disappearing....

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