Can someone help walk me through the iflicks thing, all my movies are i-tiunes compatible, as I get them as .m4v or .mov files.
Since you did not explain your typical work flow, I will simply explain what I do. I just upgraded to an 8-bay direct access RAID unit which I am using as my dedicated iTunes library drive. I keep all content consolidated on this drive. All files are targeted in a single compression format suitable for use one TV 1/2, iPhone 4, and iPad 1/2 devices. All files are compressed externally and are either already added to my iTunes library or added to the iTunes library using the iFlicks app. No files are duplicated.
To add metadata to files already in the the iTunes library:
1) I first select/highlight the files I wish to work with in the open iTunes listing
2) I then select the "Update Metadata of Selected using GUI" option
3) When the iFlicks widow opens, I ensure the "Add to iTunes" option is on and the "Move Original to Trash" option is off.
4) I then allow iFlicks to add metadata automatically if it can, modify file name/media category if needed to get metadata if not automatically recognized, and edit the metadata if necessary or desired
5) When satisfied that all files contain the correct metadata, I then press the "Start" button to transfer the updated metadata to the iTunes library.
In this case the metadata is normally copied to the file which appears unchanged within the iTunes library. If the metadata includes a name change to the file, then the library is updated accordingly with the files appearing in their renamed path location.
To add metadata to files not already in the iTunes library:
1) Ensure no files are selects in the iTunes listing and select the "Update Metadata of Selected using GUI" option
2) When the empty iFlicks window opens, ensure both the "Add to iTunes" and "Move Original to Trash" options are on
3) Drag 'n Drop the files you wish to add metadata to from their original location to the empty iFlicks window
4) I then allow iFlicks to add metadata automatically if it can, modify file name/media category if needed to get metadata if not automatically recognized, and edit the metadata if necessary or desired
5) When satisfied that all files contain the correct metadata, I then press the "Start" button to transfer the updated metadata to the iTunes library.
In this case, the metadata is incorporated with the original file, then the newly updated file is physically copied to iTunes, and lastly the original file is deleted from its original location. As this work flow requires the re-write of the entire file to the iTunes library, you will quickly note this operation takes much more time to accomplish.
As all of my files are prepared externally and either processed within the iTunes library or placed in a temporary "shared" location for transfer to the iTunes library, no files are converted/flattened/maintained by iFlicks and there is no need to create/use the default "iFlicks" or other folders. And, since all of the files are physically in the iTunes library and database, they all show up in the TV menus which may or may not be the case with some work flows that use content aliases and/or reference files. If forced to store files across multiple drives, my advice is to use the built-in iTunes method of not consolidating your files physically to a single location. As to metadata itself, the only problem I have noted is with TV show air dates which display incorrectly even though they are entered correctly in the iFlicks GUI window.
