Copying music from NAS to library/devices

Question

Level 1

8 points

Copying music from NAS to library/devices

Hi,

I set-up my MyBookWorld NAS as my main music hub and iTunes can see it and play music from it. However, if I want to drag and drop music from the NAS to my local library, iTunes won't allow it. I plan to purchase an iPhone from Verizon and I am assuming I will have the same problem so if anyone has any solutions please share.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 23, 2011 4:04 PM

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Answer 1

ed2345

Level 9

62,996 points

Jan 23, 2011 4:16 PM in response to Kaptemplar

In Finder, copy the selected music from the NAS to your local hard drive. Then go into iTunes and add it to your library using the command File > Add File (or Folder) to Library.

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Answer 2

Kaptemplar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 4:26 PM in response to Kaptemplar

That's a workaround. I am interested in a solution that does not involve copying things into my computers and THEN transferring. The beauty of iTunes is that once I access my drive, it takes seconds to narrow down albums and play. If I am able to quickly transfer those albums from NAS to a device, it would be incredible.

In reality, I am not interested at all in transferring things to my local library, I was just trying to see if it was possible because I am assuming that if I can transfer to my local library, I should be able to transfer to a device like the iPhone I am about to purchase.

The reality is that Finder is much slower and inaccurate in finding the stuff I need. I have over 20000 songs. I just tested how quickly Finder could find my FFVII OST in comparison to iTunes and it is not pretty.

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Answer 3

ed2345

Level 9

62,996 points

Jan 23, 2011 4:32 PM in response to Kaptemplar

Kaptemplar wrote:
In reality, I am not interested at all in transferring things to my local library

Kaptemplar, Your original post said the opposite of that, i.e. "I want to drag and drop music from the NAS to my local library."

If you clarify what you are trying to do, I am sure somebody on this Forum will be able to help.

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Answer 4

Kaptemplar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 4:45 PM in response to ed2345

Fair enough.

I would like to transfer music from a NAS device to a device using iTunes without having to copy files to a local library.

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Answer 5

ed2345

Level 9

62,996 points

Jan 23, 2011 4:59 PM in response to Kaptemplar

Kaptemplar wrote:
I would like to transfer music from a NAS device to a device using iTunes without having to copy files to a local library.

Your iTunes library can reference the song even if the main file is on the NAS or other external drive. iTunes does not require a copy on the local drive.

So, look in iTunes and make sure the song is present and can play. If so, go ahead and sync the iPod in the normal fashion.

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Answer 6

Kaptemplar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 5:10 PM in response to Kaptemplar

I think I understand what you're saying so let me clarify some things. Right now, I have playback when I go under Shared and MyBookWorld, however, I cannot copy to my local library in iTunes. I have NOT told iTunes that my library is located in the NAS device so is this the solution that you're suggesting? And if this is the solution, do you know a way to tell iTunes to not create a bunch of folders in my NAS device? I know that by assigning a location of a library in iTunes, it makes the program create a few folders in that location and I would like to avoid that if possible.

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Answer 7

ed2345

Level 9

62,996 points

Jan 23, 2011 5:26 PM in response to Kaptemplar

Kaptemplar, there are a couple of cases you might be dealing with:

(1) If the song is visible in your iTunes library, and plays when you double-click it, you are ready to sync your iPod.

(2) If the songs are not already in iTunes, do the following.
-- First go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and make sure the option "Copy files..." is *not checked.*
-- Now add the songs to your iTunes library by dragging the song icons into the open iTunes Music pane. This action causes iTunes to add them to its library, but iTunes will reference the files in their existing location, without making a copy.
-- Now proceed as in step 1.

If you are dealing with case 2, start by adding 3 or 4 songs so you can see exactly how it is behaving. When you are comfortable, you can do larger batches.

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Answer 8

Kaptemplar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 5:43 PM in response to ed2345

The song DOES play under shared and MyBookWorld but it cannot be transferred to my local HDD or an iPod in iTunes. Here is a picture to try to explain.

http://img696.imageshack.us/i/screenshot20110123at737.png/

In here you can see the song "Assault" playing from "Shared/MyBookWorld", however, it cannot be transferred to my local library OR the iPod I just plugged in. I would like to do that.

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Answer 9

ed2345

Level 9

62,996 points

Jan 23, 2011 5:55 PM in response to Kaptemplar

Kap, it has to be playable from your iTunes library, not from a shared library. Apparently you are in case 2 above.

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Answer 10

Kaptemplar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 6:04 PM in response to ed2345

Alright I understand what you're saying. I cannot directly add songs to a device, I would have to add them first to my local library without copying and THEN move them to the device. Not perfect but simple enough. Now we run into the earlier issue I mentioned. I cannot add files from my shared library to my iTunes library. I can only play.

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Answer 11

ed2345

Level 9

62,996 points

Jan 23, 2011 6:09 PM in response to Kaptemplar

Kaptemplar wrote:
Alright I understand what you're saying. I cannot directly add songs to a device, I would have to add them first to my local library without copying and THEN move them to the device.

Yes, exactly. And as long as they are on a device that is accessible from your computer, you can add them to your iTunes library without copying.

I cannot add files from my shared library to my iTunes library. I can only play.

Yes that is how sharing is designed. You need to access the files directly.

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Answer 12

Kaptemplar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 6:36 PM in response to Kaptemplar

We are almost there. So should I use "file/add to library" and reference the NAS device? Will it add to library anything that I put in the NAS AFTER I have added to library the first time? Or will I have to add to library over and over?

It seems like this method makes sharing pointless in iTunes since you still have to add things to library first to move things to a device. If I understand this correctly, once I get my iPhone, I would be searching for songs in the music pane as opposed to the shared pane so in my case the shared pane is completely unnecessary.

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Answer 13

Kaptemplar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 6:45 PM in response to Kaptemplar

For that matter, will it automatically remove anything I delete from that folder? Will it refresh when I make changed to that folder.

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Answer 14

ed2345

Level 9

62,996 points

Jan 23, 2011 7:29 PM in response to Kaptemplar

Kaptemplar wrote:
So should I use "file/add to library" and reference the NAS device?

Yes, exactly.

Will it add to library anything that I put in the NAS AFTER I have added to library the first time? Or will I have to add to library over and over?

It adds what you tell it to add at the time you tell it to add it. It does not do anything automatically.

It seems like this method makes sharing pointless in iTunes since you still have to add things to library first to move things to a device.

The purpose of iTunes Sharing is to allow different users on the same network to hear each other's stuff. The way you are using it is indeed kind of pointless!

If I understand this correctly, once I get my iPhone, I would be searching for songs in the music pane as opposed to the shared pane so in my case the shared pane is completely unnecessary.

Correct, that Music pane is your iTunes library. That is what is available to sync to your iPhone.

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Answer 15

Kaptemplar Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2011 7:54 PM in response to Kaptemplar

So if I understand this correctly, since nothing is added automatically, I would have to add to library the NAS device every time I put something new. Will it take forever to add to library every time? or will it recognize that most of the stuff is already added? if it does take a long, do you know a simple and better way to do what I am trying to accomplish?

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