Q: iTunes Match - download all songs?

lkscovil wrote:

 

I have done that - BUT the library file (.itl) on the external hard drive I copy and pasted - the default library file created by iTunes on the local hard drive.

I'm afraid I do not understand what this means.

On the computer disable iTunes Match. Go to ~/Music and move the iTunes folder to the Trash. Launch iTunes while holding down the Option key (Shift for Windows) and select Choose library. Navigate to the iTunes Library.itl file on th external HDD and choose it. This should add all the music to the iTunes library along with playlists and all associated metadata. Once you have determined that is down you may enable iTunes Match.

Did that, no go.  Match turned off, original default music folder and all iTunes files on the local drive trashed.

What I meant (sorry for the confusing explanation) is that to get an .itl on the exteneral HHD, I went to the default ~/Music on my local hard drive, copied the .itl file, then pasted it into the folder on the external HDD, then told iTunes to use that library.

Do I need to some how tell iTunes to create a new .itl file on the HDD rather than copy and paste the default one there?

I think you need to make an appointment with the nearest Genius Bar. The usual stuff isn't working for you, so you need personal, hand-on help.

I have recently bought a new Macbook and have all my music on my old windows computer, apart from the music purchased from iTunes.

If I download iTunes Match on my Macbook will I will able to download all of the music from CDs etc that is on my Windows? I don't currently have access to my Windows laptop as I have moved.

Is this how iTunes Match works or not?

No, that is not how iTunes Match works. The service must scan an iTunes library before the tracks will be available in the cloud.

I haven't seen anyone else with this issue but I'm hoping someone knows how to help...

I had the full 25000 songs allowed in match plus 1000's of others that I had purchased through itunes (yes.. I am a music hoarder). My external HDD that held the library crashed. I have used itunes match for years and all of the eligible songs were loaded. When I started the library on a new external HDD I'm only able to download the songs in the cloud or from previous purchased library but NOT in Match. Now here's the interesting thing... on my phone I have access to download ALL of the songs, some 28358 of them. Even with 64g on the phone that's not enough room, and since I'm currently overseas with only 3g cell coverage that's not a feasible option. What I would like to be able to do is get the "matched" music from my phone to the computer/library and to download the rest with internet to the computer/library so that I can USB it to the phone at will.

Now.. how the heck do I do that???

Anyone? Somebody? Please??

You will be lucky if it downloads all songs. Its unreliable

Never tought of that (so) easy solution. Thanks!

(sometimes it's the most obvious)

eodduck69...

I'm curious what answers you found.

I will tell you that if you create a new library, on any new computer.  And then set up Itunes match with the same itunes match username and password that you use for everything you should then see your complete library from the old computer, (except those that didn't make it to itunes match because of a format issue - which could include less than 128kb bit rate, or unaccepted format.)

Downloading songs

Now the songs won't be in the library, it will essentially just be looking at the Imatch cloud, from there you can hit play and you're good to stream to the computer.  OR you should see a cloud with a down arrow in it.  This means the music is in your imatch library but not on your computer.  Once it is on your Itunes library that will turn into a blank space, if you see a cloud with a back slash through it, that means the file format is not supported by Imatch.

So essentially, what you can do from there is select the songs tab and click on each of the clouds with the down arrow and begin to download your music to the new computer.

The slightly better option is to select Albums view where you will see a cloud at the top right of each album. Hover over the cloud and a down arrow will appear to download it.  Clicking there will trigger the download of the whole album.

I was hoping a similar feature existed for playlists, then I could just select all songs throw them in one playlist and bam hit download, but I'm not seeing that as a possibility.

What I am looking for is the "Download All" feature, it may not exist, if you found it, let me know. 

I'm on a Macbook Pro 15" latest edition with latest os 10.9 and 11.1.3 build of Itunes.

I did make a new library on my computer, I then had to go into match and delete several hundred songs to get to the 25k limit. Once I did that my old library had access to the icloud music, including my existing playlists. Once I had access back to the music in the cloud I could select all in the playlist bring up the "right-click" menu and download them all at once. I suppose you could do the same with the whole library but since I'm very limited on bandwidth I've been selective on what I download.

Dang wish I would have checked back before going through each album, good call on that.

So if anyone else wants to download their whole library, just click songs, "command" & "a" so select all songs then right click and a "download" option is right at top. 

I did this to grab the 200 songs I missed when doing it the album way.

Thanks

MindPlay....  WOW!!  you sure are out of touch..  I have an 18+ hour flight monthly and want ALL my tunes on all my devices..  Ipad Air, Ipad Mini, IPhone 5s - well those devices that are not sitting in a drawer at home .  You just seem to have drank the kool-air and offer NON-ANSWERS..  obvious tailored to your view of the world.  If you cant offer answer to folks questions regardless of your limited view of the real world then....GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!! 

Paul,

Match now has my 7000+ songs. I would like to replace the old library currently on my iMac and replace it with the upgraded Match version so that I have a physical version always available. I do have a SuperDuper backup. Should I delete the library on the iMac and then "download all" from Match?

If I select a song in the library, a playlist or "select all," I do not see a right click "download" as described earlier in this thread. I am using iTunes 11.1.4. How do I download all my music to have a "hard copy" on my iMac?

Hi,

Use ctrl+click on a Mac.

Jim