iTunes can't locate my CD imported songs

>iTunes can't locate my CD burned songs.

I don't think I have ever seen anybody mention this error before and I don't get any hits on the web when I search for, "iTunes can't locate CD burned songs". Are you trying to import songs from a CD that you burned yourself?

If iTunes is importing a track it will immediately appear in the library and there's no need to restart. If it is having an error reading the CD it should say so when it happens. Do you see files in a folder that correspond to the number of tracks you just imported?

I think iTunes database is corrrupted.

Did you select iTunes > Preferences > Advanced Keep iTunes Media folder organized and Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library.

Also in iTunes > File > Library > Organize Library... > Consolidate files

Two directions one can go with iTunes. 1) Let it do things as it wants to (99% of users) and sit back and mostly not worry about it, but you have to not, errr, mess with it or do anything out of the ordinary. 2) Learn how iTunes functions and uses files and then do things as you want because you know what to do and how in order to not upset it.

Things not to do in case 1). Do not move files manually. Do not rename or move anything in the iTunes folder. If something was outside of the iTunes folder and you added it, it will place a copy in the iTunes folder and leave the original in place. Do not add it again or you may end up with a duplicate. Once you have verified iTunes did place a copy in the iTunes folder (highlight a track, press command+r to reveal it in Finder and check it is in the media folder it should be), trash the original.

Compiling takes the files already added to iTunes and organizes them as set in the preferences. It won't find files not added.

If you add files, then bring over more copies of the same and add them again, it will generate duplicates. I suspect multiple ripping will do the same (never done that).

Don't be fooled by duplicates. Make sure they really are. iTunes may call something a duplicate if it is the same track on two LPs (unless you use exact duplicate view), or maybe a live version and studio version with the same name. Unless a script takes you through them one by one so you can call it, I don't really use them.

There's a Dougscript that will wander through folders looking for music and add it to iTunes.

How to Consolidate Your iTunes Library and Keep It Organized - http://www.switched.com/2010/11/02/itunes-consolidate-library-keep-organized/

What actions take place when itunes "consolidate library" is used?

Yes, that is how iTunes wants to structure things when you set the preference to let it organize media.

itunes doesn't see the files on the external, given your configuration. Spotlight does see the files though, unless you disconnect the external.

[iTunes' folder structure, March 2010|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=11260991] - Topic : What/where is my iTunes "Media" folder?

On mine in Lion is ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music then in there

band name/band album/band songs.

Example #1 is how iTunes now does things, #2 is how iTunes used to do music. Back then there was almost no other kind of media commonly available whereas now movies take equal ranking to music.

Are both listed in the iTunes library? If only the ones in iTunes/Music/Artist vs iTunes/Artist... are listed then that is how it should be (assuming you are running a newer version of iTunes). In that case if only the one in the iTunes/Music is appearing in iTunes you can just drag the spare one to the trash. If both are listed then you'll want to delete them from inside of iTunes to make sure it remove the reference there.

Before dragging stuff to the trash I would make sure you have everything backed up by cloning your drive to an external hard drive. That way if something unexpected and undesirable happens, you can recover.

Before you do anything make a copy/backup of the library.

The path iTunes uses:

One way to find out is to drop a NEW song with all the correct data using Get Info (could be something you will never listen to for testing) into ITunes and see where iTunes put it in Finder.

hotwheels 22 wrote:

So, the test here is to /Import/ for instance an m4a file (or whatever) with a name that I will remember and to verify that it is going to where iTunes SAYS it is going to go in Preferences, yes? I mean, the location I show in Preferences is where the music /should/ go, yes?

Yes, after importing, select the newly imported song and use File > Get Info in Summary tab to find out where the song is found. (Preferences show where the folder is, but the effect is the same)

hotwheels 22 wrote:

Also, does it sound like a good idea to manually move music to THIS SAME folder? I mean, does it seem like iTunes will recognize this new music in this way or do I need to somehow /move/ this out to the desktop and import it through Import in iTunes? I'm a bit confused by this one...I have music in two locations. Is there a good way to MERGE this automatically...?!

It is much safer and easier to let iTunes do the indexing and manageing your music. iTunes use its' database to keep track.

As for the music that is not in iTunes, first make sure you have in iTunes Preferences > Advanced tab:

1. Keep iTunes media folder organized CHECKED

2. Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library CHECKED

Now just select the songs not in the library and drop them in iTunes and it will make a copy and save them in iTunes Media folder location.

After verifyng, you can delete those selected song in their original location from your hard disk.