alan from ilkley
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: A large number of my albums in i Tunes have all the tracks duplicated.  I want to delete the duplicate tracks but can't see a way of doing this other than a track at a time.  Is there an alternative?

A large number of my albums in i Tunes have all the tracks duplicated.  I want to delete the duplicate tracks but can't see a way of doing this other than a track at a time.  Is there an alternative?

Posted on Dec 8, 2011 7:54 AM

Close
alan from ilkley

Q: A large number of my albums in i Tunes have all the tracks duplicated.  I want to delete the duplicate tracks but can't see a ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Dec 8, 2011 8:50 AM in response to alan from ilkley
    Level 10 (85,368 points)
    iPod
    Dec 8, 2011 8:50 AM in response to alan from ilkley

    Are these physical dupes, with more than 1 copy of the file in either the same folder or two different locations? Or are they logical dupes, multiple entries in the library to the same physical file? Worst scenario is that there is a mix.

     

    If everything is one type or the other then:

    • Select the List view
    • Hold down Option, then click iTunes > Show Exact Duplicates (Hold Shift, File > Show Exact Duplicates on a PC)
    • Turn on the Date Added column if not already present
    • Sort the listing on Date Added
    • Scroll down the list to the point when all the duplicates were created
    • Select all the duplicates to delete and delete them
    • For physical dupes allow the files to be sent to the trash, for logical dupes keep the files

     

    If there is a mix, or they've built up over time, then it probably best to use a third party tool such as Dupin or Dupin Lite.

     

    tt2

  • by Lucasda,

    Lucasda Lucasda Apr 21, 2014 8:44 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2014 8:44 AM in response to turingtest2

    Thank you for this, I will try it.  Using the 'date added' is logical, hadn't thought of that!  Its the physical dupes that are driving me mad, I have upto 7/8 on some albums!!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 21, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Lucasda
    Level 10 (85,368 points)
    iPod
    Apr 21, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Lucasda

    I've a nifty (if I say so myself) script for cleaning up on Windows which merges ratings play counts & play list membership. I don't how Dupin or Dupin Lite compare on that front. The main piece of advice I omitted earlier was to take a complete backup of the library before you start just in case you find that you get over zealous at some point and remove more than you should.

     

    tt2

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Apr 21, 2014 10:14 AM in response to Lucasda
    Level 9 (53,685 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 21, 2014 10:14 AM in response to Lucasda

    You should also review what you are doing with iTunes to cause this.  I create and delete dozens of files daily in iTunes, yet I only get maybe one or two duplicates per year, and I often expect them to be formed by what I know I am doing.

  • by JBurga29,

    JBurga29 JBurga29 Jul 13, 2015 4:47 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 13, 2015 4:47 PM in response to turingtest2

    I tried your script for batch deleting duplicate songs ( I have approx. 32,000 songs with at least 1 dupe)

     

    It went thru 6 passed processing 1002/17780  when I received the below message

     

    Windows Script Host

    Line 421

    Char: 15

    ERROR: Object required 'T"

    Code: 800A01A8

    Source Microsoft UBScript runtime error

     

    Please advise.

     

    Thank You