When does iTunes embed artwork?

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Level 7

20,560 points

When does iTunes embed artwork?

I'm setting about re-ripping my CDs that are variably stored compressed as MP3/AAC files into Apple Lossless.

The idea was to rip lossless on one machine then transfer over network to second Mac using Home Sharing.

On one album it downloaded the artwork but got it wrong for a few tracks with different artwork.

I transferred across to second machine, and this time different tracks had the wrong artwork, so presumably it was fetching from internet each time and had not embedded the artwork initially on machine 1.

Another album had the wrong artwork entirely so I manually changed it with Get Info, and I believe this embeds the artwork in the file (so long as the files aren't referenced and are actually in the itunes music folder?) - copying this via Home Sharing and the manually added artwork was retained and presumably embedded.

Seems daft that itunes doesn't have a preference to always embed artwork.

So, anyone have any clear guide as to when artwork is or isn't embedded? Which file types (some won't support artwork/metadata) ?

I'm sure someone has a logical explanation of all this !

Cheers.

Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 5, 2011 3:45 AM

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Answer 1

ed2345

Level 9

63,584 points

Mar 5, 2011 4:59 AM in response to Alley_Cat

As you have figured, there is no such preference. However, go to Edit > Preferences > Store, and uncheck "Automatically download missing album artwork." Then at least it will not add artwork to tracks that do not already have it.

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Answer 2

Mar 5, 2011 5:01 AM in response to Alley_Cat

The best explanation is that itunes is horrendous at getting art work for ripped cd/songs. Use a third party app. If you are redoing your entire libary, I would suggest Muvundercover. It will go out and a bunch of covers to choose from, and then embed the one you want into each file as well as a folder jpeg for the album. You can rip all your albums, and then do your entire library at once if you wish. It is not free but it works.

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,079 points

Mar 5, 2011 6:31 AM in response to Alley_Cat

iTunes only embeds art if you choose your own image and paste it in. When it automagically downloads art from the store it uses a separate folder for the image cache and doesn't embed the art. The process is slightly more efficient for storage but can fail when tracks are moved from one system to another and the artwork isn't available to 3rd party systems. Also iTunes may be able to get the correct art for an album today but if, for example, you move it in six months time to another system it may fail because a similar title has been added to the store and it can guess which one to pick.

To embed art into all your tracks that can handle it (e.g. not .wav, .mid, .mov) use this script:
http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=embedart

tt2

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Answer 4

Alley_Cat Author

Level 7

20,560 points

Mar 6, 2011 4:39 AM in response to ed2345

Most of the time it gets the artwork right so I guess i'll leave it checked and just manually embed when it doesn't.

Thanks. AC

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Answer 5

Alley_Cat Author

Level 7

20,560 points

Mar 6, 2011 4:48 AM in response to dbjordan66

dbjordan66 wrote:
The best explanation is that itunes is horrendous at getting art work for ripped cd/songs.

It can be, yes.

Use a third party app. If you are redoing your entire libary, I would suggest Muvundercover.

Good to have a recommendation, but unfortunately i'm not currently running Windows.

One issue I have with simply using search engines is that while you can often find decent cover art manually, the links seem to increasingly point to dodgy sites talking about file-sharing etc, and I am very wary of even clicking on the links.

One advantage of music downloads is that you do tend to get decent artwork even if it's not embedded, but until I can get lossless audio I see little point for most stuff when the CD is just as cheap - convenience factor and impulse buys after a few beers tend to scupper this plan though!

If itunes can rip CDs losslessly then I see little reason why the content vendors are so obstinate about allowing CD (or better) quality uncompressed legitimately purchased downloads.

AC

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Answer 6

Alley_Cat Author

Level 7

20,560 points

Mar 6, 2011 4:51 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks, I'd come across that script, but good ot have a recommendation before using it.

Works well.

Seems stupid that Home Sharing does not transfer the Artwork when not embedded as you can end up with different cover art work downloaded even within minutes of ripping a CD on one Mac and then transferring to another by Home Sharing.

AC

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