Rebuilding iTunes library from AAC files after drive failure

Okay, let's take this one step at a time. Check the following and either complete the step mentioned or confirm that the step has been done.

The first thing to do is identify and find a file (or a few) on the SD card (or wherever you're getting them from) that don't make it into playable condition in iTunes. Ensure that the files are in a recognised audio format, such as m4a (AAC), mp3 etc. (not .flac).*

Now copy them to the usual storage location used by iTunes. Next, add them to the iTunes library by using File/Add Folder to Library (or for single files) File/Add File to Library.

The files should now appear as music in your library.* Are they there and do they play? If they do not play, what happens, do you see an exclamation mark to the left of an unplayable song?

* If there appears to be an issue, what format are the missing or unplayable files?

castrecording wrote:

I used foobar2000 to convert the files from the Itunes files to AAC for the Fiio unit.

There should be no need to convert a file from "iTunes" to AAC for the Fiio unit because the default format for iTunes files is AAC (file extension appears as .m4a). To be more precise, music purchased from the iTunes Store will be in AAC format. The default setting for music ripped from CDs is also AAC, although you as a user can change the import setting to another format (such as the universally recognised mp3).

This means the files on the SD card (which I believe you're saying are as used by the Fiio) should be recognised by iTunes. Most other formats are recognised by iTunes, although one that is not is not is flac. Perhaps the missing files are in .flac format.

It has just occurred to me though, that if you copied the music files from an iPod or iPhone (rather than from iTunes) they will not be in any format useable by other players and not recognised by iTunes.