Exporting Itunes Library and Playlists to MyBookLive.
So here my home setup:
Two computers (HP & Dell – Both running Intel I7 with 8GB RAM and Intel Centrino Wireless N-1030 (2.4 ghz band).
One WIFI router: 2Wire Gateway 2701HG-S - Wireless mode: 802.11b/g (Right away some of you will point out that my router can be upgrade to a 802.11N to offer up to 600 Mbit/s instead of just 54 Mbit/s generally achieved with a 802.11g – Upgrade to come…).
One MyBookLive (2TB) via network cable for initial setup, WIFI when everything is done.
I keep my Master/Updated/Current Itunes Library and Playlists on my HP computer. I want to be able to play my music from other devices even when my HP computer is off. If I would always leave my HP on, I would be able to directly share my Itunes Library and Playlists on my home network. Actually it works pretty well - just turn on your Home Sharing on both computers in Itunes. The thing is, I don’t want to leave my HP computer running all the time. Also, you have to always leave Itunes running in order to have access to the shared material from the source computer.
That is why I bought a MyBookLive. This thing is always on so I can access it anytime.
So, in order to be able to use your Playlists on another computer from your home network, you will have to do the following:
Initially, copy your Itunes Library on your MyBookLive (I recommend to use the default folder “Z:\Shared Music”). I also recommend to directly connect your MyBookLive via the network cable into your computer to copy your files. It took me about 20hours to copy 40Gb but it’s a lot faster than over the WIFI. Usually you will need a special cross connect RJ45 cable (network cable) to have two machine directly communicating via a network cable but the beauty of this drive is that he will automatically detect that he is connect to a computer and not a router so he will switch his communication protocol to communicate directly with the computer without the need for a router in between. It will take about 3-5 minutes for your computer to detect your MyBookLive. Over the WIFI, my copying rate is not even 1MB/s but I can achieve 10 to 30 MB/s when I directly connect MyBookLive in my computer with the network cable.
If you need to update your music folder (on you MyBookLive) later on, it is a lot easier to just update it instead on deleting it and replacing it with the new updated music folder. One good way to update your music on your MyBookLive is to use software that will synchronize your Itunes folder from your “Master” computer with your MyBookLive. Software like “ViceVersa Pro 2” is working just great for me. The trick is to put all your music into ONE folder. This part is essential because it is a lot easier to synchronized/update your music folder when everything is under the same folder. Just start “ViceVersa Pro 2 (Mirror Source to Target)” and have him synchronize all my music once in a while. Again, connect the MyBookLive directly in your computer because it will take forever otherwise.
The good news is that Itunes will help you keep all your music into the same folder. ON YOUR MASTER COMPUTER ONLY!!! Click “Edit/Preference” and then select the far right tab “Advanced”. You can select the folder you want to use in the “Itunes Media Folder Location Menu” at the top. Select “Keep Itunes Media Folder Organized” and “Copy Files to Itunes….”. This way, when you are adding new songs, they will be located in the same folder with all of your actual music. ON YOUR OTHER “READING ONLY” COMPUTER, LEAVE THESE OPTIONS UNCHECKED AND LEAVE THE FILES ON YOUR MYBOOKDRIVE.
Then, export your Library file on your MyBookLive (click file/Library/Export Playlist). Itunes will give the default name “Library” – XML format.
Now all your music and your Library files are on your MyBookLive but the “link” is missing between your Itunes (reading computer) and the MyBookLive.
Create the final “link” so Itunes can locate the music and the Playlists you want to play.
Open Itunes on the computer you want to play your music. Click “File/Add Folder to Library” and browse your network and select the folder where you have put you music into “Z:\Shared Music”. This step took me about 80 minutes for 40GB or 5000ish songs.
Import your Library (Including your Playlists) file. Click “File/Library/Import Playlist” and then browse your network to “Z:\Shared Music” and select the Playlist file “Library”.
Now you will see the Playlists on the left menu under “Playlist – Linked to my MyBookLive”. In my case, since my “Home Sharing” is activated, I can see my Playlist under “Shared – Linked to my HP” as well. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE PLAYLIST UNDER “SHARED” ARE A PEFERCT MATCH OF MY ACTUAL “MASTER & UPDATED” VERSION OF MY PLAYLIST. THE PLAYLIST UNDER “PLAYLIST” WILL ONLY REFLECT MY PLAYLIST AS THEY WERE WHEN I EXPORTED THEM ON MY MYBOOKLIVE – WILL NOT BE UPDATED AUTOMATICLY.
To re-synchronize later on:
Delete all your Itunes music and Playlists in the READING ONLY computer. Synchronize your music folder from your master computer and the MyBookLive. Re-export my Library file on to MyBookLive and re-import them in my other/reading computers.
General note:
This setup is working well for listening music. It takes less than 1 second from to time that I click on a song and to moment it start playing. Unless I am downloading a lot, there’s generally no lagging while the music is playing. When I open a 500MB movie, it takes 25 second to start and there sometime lagging when I load to network – I will buy a new 802.11N router in few days and let you know if there is any improvements.
Thanks for reading.
