Confused: Remove/Delete Music from Finder or iTunes?

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Level 1

7 points

Confused: Remove/Delete Music from Finder or iTunes?

Hello All,

Upon wanting to add a large amount of music to my library I got a warning sign that not everything will be imported because insufficient space. So I am venturing out to "clean up" older stuff I no longer listen to.

I went through my itunes music folder in finder and removed the files and put them in a folder on the desktop to rip to a dvd or my ext. HD. Then I would delete these files from my Mac HD.

Question is, where am I really supposed to remove music from? The iTunes application or finder? If I remove them from finder, why are they still in my iTunes library?

I apologize if this has been covered before...yet, again having trouble finding a solution with the search.

Thank you for any input you can lend.

S

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.7), iPod Classic 80GB

Posted on Apr 3, 2011 8:16 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 3, 2011 8:21 AM in response to sicjoy

You should never tamper with the iTunes folder in your (user)/Library. ITunes stores songs there but keeps its own record of what's there and where it is. If you just remove files from the Library in the Finder iTunes thinks they are still there and will put up an error message if you try to play them.

If you want to remove a song you should highlight it (or a group of songs) in the Music display in iTunes (not a playlist) and hit delete. You will be asked whether you want to move the song to the Trash and you should say yes, otherwise iTunes will remove the song from the listing but keep it in the Library.

Doing this will of course delete the songs altogether: if you want to keep songs elsewhere outside of iTunes you can drag them to the Desktop or a folder first; this will make a copy.

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Answer 2

sicjoy Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 3, 2011 9:20 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Thank you so much Roger.

So in order to keep those songs organized in a folder on the desktop (from dragging them into the folder from iTunes library) I would need to create sub-folders in this one folder?

Since I tampered with the iTunes folder...should I return all the items I placed in these folders on my desktop back into the iTunes folder in order to do the above?

Am I correctly understanding you when you write:

move the song to the Trash and you should say yes, otherwise iTunes will remove the song from the listing but keep it in the Library.

In that if I hit yes it will remain in the library, but just out of view? Even in the main listing of music?

Thank you for your insight with this; I appreciate your patience, as I am still learning about this system and computer daily.

S

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Answer 3

Apr 3, 2011 9:27 AM in response to sicjoy

So in order to keep those songs organized in a folder on the desktop (from dragging them into the folder from iTunes library) I would need to create sub-folders in this one folder?

You can organize them any way you like as they are no longer associated with iTunes. If you want to restore them to iTunes you can just drag them back in and they will be reindexed into the original albums. It doesn't matter where you've been keeping them in the meantime.

Since I tampered with the iTunes folder...should I return all the items I placed in these folders on my desktop back into the iTunes folder in order to do the above?

I should put them all back and start afresh.

Am I correctly understanding you when you write:
'move the song to the Trash and you should say yes, otherwise iTunes will remove the song from the listing but keep it in the Library.'
In that if I hit yes it will remain in the library, but just out of view? Even in the main listing of music?

Yes: still in the iTunes folder in your Library folder and visible in the Finder but no longer visible in the iTunes Music list in iTunes itself. Obviously this won't save you any space.

Although it's stating the obvious, if you follow this procedure and then empty the Trash your songs will be permanently deleted. If they are purchased songs you won't be able to re-download them. Therefore you need to be very certain which songs you can afford to lose permanently, and which you want to store elsewhere: and you must copy the latter out first, before deleting from iTunes. Sorry if all that seems glaringly obvious, but I'd rather state the obvious than risk unwanted deletions.

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Answer 4

Rob X

Level 1

11 points

Apr 3, 2011 11:09 AM in response to sicjoy

Use iTunes to delete songs, not the Finder. If you delete with the Finder, the iTunes database will not be updated and you'll see little exclamation point icons next to the missing tracks. For managing an unruly library, check out Doug's Applescripts and Dupin:

http://dougscripts.com/itunes/

When you delete with iTunes, it will ask you if you want to keep the file in the library or move it to the trash. Keeping it simply removes it from the iTunes database, but leaves the file itself in the iTunes library. Moving to trash removes it from the iTunes database AND moves it to the trash can.

Best,
Rob

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Answer 5

sicjoy Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 3, 2011 11:39 AM in response to Rob X

Thanks so much guys.

So, in the situation I am in now (some files not in the iTunes folder, but the data from these folders is/are still in my iTunes library b/c I took them out from the finder and put them in a folder on my desktop), I can just delete the songs/artists from my iTunes library, then when I am done backing up the files in the folder on my desktop, I can delete the folder from my desktop and gain that "space" (i.e. gb's)?

How can I give points to both of you? If I hit solved does that give more points than helpful? I don't want to insult anyone with giving them more points or anything. I just truly appreciate both of your input.

Thanks again!
S

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Answer 6

Rob X

Level 1

11 points

Apr 3, 2011 11:51 AM in response to sicjoy

Happy to help. I have no idea about points. I'm not even sure what those are. 🙂

I believe Doug's Applescripts offers a free Find Dead Tracks script that will run through your library and remove all dead tracks (songs in the library with no corresponding file on disk).

If you delete a dead track, it will just delete. If the track has an associated file in the library, it will ask you what to do. Give it a try with one of the songs you know you've moved out of the library.

Best,
Rob

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Answer 7

sicjoy Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 3, 2011 11:54 AM in response to Rob X

Thanks.

I think you get points or something (rating?) for "helpful" and "answered" responses.

Is Doug's Applescripts safe to download? I am apprehensive about anything like that? Also, I don't even know how to use it.

Thanks again bro.
S

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Answer 8

Rob X

Level 1

11 points

Apr 3, 2011 11:58 AM in response to sicjoy

I've used a few of them over the years. And I've paid for Dupin, his app that scans your library for duplicates. No problems ever.

Once you install an Applescript for iTunes (in the /Library/iTunes/Scripts folder within your home folder), it will show up in a little Applescript menu in the menubar (next to Help) when iTunes is running. Select the script and let it do its thing. The dead tracks script will simply find and remove dead tracks. It doesn't manipulate files the way some of the other ones do.

Best,
Rob

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Answer 9

sicjoy Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 3, 2011 12:11 PM in response to Rob X

Thanks Rob. I just did it, but nothing was found (???). The files I moved are still on my desktop. Should I attempt to play one of the tracks that I put in the folder, in iTunes to see if the ! comes up?

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Answer 10

Rob X

Level 1

11 points

Apr 3, 2011 9:12 PM in response to sicjoy

iTunes has the ability to include songs outside of the managed library. In Preferences, under the Advanced tab, there are two library-related options (in case you want to check them out). My guess is, iTunes still sees your song files even though you've moved them out of the library. If you delete them from the drive, my guess is, the little "!" icons will appear.

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Answer 11

sicjoy Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 4, 2011 1:50 PM in response to Rob X

Gotcha. Thanks a bunch, bro. I really appreciate it. I am going to take care of this stuff and get back here once it goes through. May take a few days. Cool?

Thanks again!

S

Message was edited by: sicjoy

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Answer 12

sicjoy Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 10, 2011 5:09 PM in response to Rob X

Rob,

This is sort-of unrelated, but think its a basic question and do not want to aggravate others.

I want to burn the files we have been discussing, but what is the best way to do this? Disk Utility? Finder? What exactly is a disk image? How would doing that (disk image) impact the process when I want to add the music to the itunes library in the future?

If you are not clear on what I want to do, I can provide greater details. Thanks so much for all your help with this entire process. I really appreciate it.

S

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Answer 13

sicjoy Author

Level 1

7 points

May 9, 2011 12:46 PM in response to sicjoy

Need some assistance with this stuff...

So if I am in iTunes and drag an artist out of my library onto the desktop, all of the artist's songs are individually placed (copied) on my desktop.

Instead of each song, how can I just get each artist on my desktop (like how the files are organized in the iTunes folder: by artist)?

Thank you for any input.

S

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Answer 14

May 9, 2011 2:20 PM in response to sicjoy

What do you mean, 'just get the artist'? Dragging any single song, or any selection of songs (however made) to the Desktop copies the files as you've found. Selecting the artist selects his songs, so that's what you get. Or you can search by him and then make a selection.

To answer your previous question: disk images aren't really anything to do with what you want to do. To burn a selection of songs, create a playlist and drag the required songs to it. Control-click the playlist and choose 'Burn playlist to disk'.

You will be offered a choice of audio or data CD and it's important to understand the difference. An audio CD will play in a normal CD player, and will be limited to 75/80 minutes depending on the capacity of the blank. A data CD will burn copies of the AAC, MP3 or whatever files: the number of files will be much greater - determined by the actual file sizes - but the resultant CD won't play in a CD player (if it contains only MP3s it will play in some DVD players).

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Answer 15

sicjoy Author

Level 1

7 points

May 9, 2011 4:42 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Thanks Roger; I really appreciate the input.

What I mean, is when you go into the iTunes folder from finder, the artists are listed as folders. If you double click on the folder then it opens to either albums or songs (if you have only one album from that artist.

As for the disk image, I want to back up some/all of my music. I understand I can click file and then back-up or something, but do I need to create a disk image using disk utility in order to be able to add more files to the DVD?

If I am not explaining it thoroughly or clearly please forgive me and I will try again. 🙂

Thanks again for your time and patience.

S

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