Songs Matching to Cloud. How do I disable this?

Jimzgoldfinch wrote:

Hi,

If you have Apple One, you will have Apple Music. Part of its function is to Match your Music with the version on Apple’s servers. You cannot disable this.

You can't disable it?

Then what is this "Sync Library" checkbox in Music > Settings that I turned OFF, as soon as I saw that it was turned on? Or the "Automatic downloads" checkbox below it?

I don't want iTunes Match messing with the songs that I bought and paid for (on CD, or from the iTunes Store), period. That goes double for Apple Music "Sync Library" if there is any chance that it will replace my paid-for music with DRMed tracks.

Hi,

If you have Apple One, you will have Apple Music. Part of its function is to Match your Music with the version on Apple’s servers. You cannot disable this. However, the matching process does not affect the original files unless you opt to remove download and download matched version. The matched version will be available on your other devices.

Jim

Hi,

You are not forced to downgrade lossless tracks. Tracks added to your main library are not altered. It only affects matched music when you use other devices.

I would add that Matched music can be streamed or downloaded as either lossless or hi-res if available. Any music downloaded as such on your other devices contains DRM.

Jim

Hi,

Yes, you can turn off sync library but you lose the ability to sync your library across multiple devices. That probably is not an issue for many users as they can get access to Apple Music without the fear of their library being compromised. In such circumstances I would recommend creating a second library for purely Apple Music and adding selected tracks that are not included in Apple Music.

I have used iTunes Match and Apple Music for a number of years. I have never had a purchased or imported track changed to DRM. Matching can sometimes be a problem as it uses sound fingerprinting to determine matches - usually problems occur with matching older music that may have remastered or reissued. I have not had mismatches with studio v live versions. when problems do occur I still have the original CDs plus back up all my music on external hard drives.

I maintain a few separate libraries , one for streaming , one with the downloaded content and a third which has mainly music ripped or lossless digital purchases.

Jim

Yeah, I've been struggling with this for about two years now, it is REALLY frustrating for people who imported .wav files from an old CD or something like that, Apple keeps "reorganizing" and changing my files. It is so confusing and frustrating. I think that they just want everyone to stream music. Sad, because I love using Apple products, but I guess I'm a dinosaur when it comes to music, haha. Plus I have a great stereo and a hard drive of amazing hires music collected over a lifetime, stuff that you can't always find on Apple Music....

Hi,

Tracks not available will be uploaded “as is” except if it is ALAC or AIFF when it would be transcribed to 256 Kbps AAC .

Jim