Is it just me, or is iTunes Match a "scam"?

It isn't necessary to re-import anything from CD. Just convert them in place. If it doesn't work, delete the new files from your computer and the cloud, then you can try reimporting them, but then you wouldn't need to get them matched I would guess.

Or, you're free to turn the service off and request a refund.

As was said earier, highight the songs you have identified as ineligible. Then go up to the "advanced" menu and select "create AAC Version" In short order, you will have duplicate AACs next to your originals. Then go to the Store menu and select "update iTunes Match" Your AAC versions should now either match or upload.

You're welcome.

Unless you just want to keep them then you can delete the originals. Although I'd keep them around just a little bit in case you need them again. Make sure you're satisfied with the results, then delete them if you want. Or have a backup. Either one, really.

I haven't bought iTM but just from reading all these posts I have come to a conclusion that iTunes Match is really only so that when you import a CD you can download it on iTunes any where rather than having to sync your device with your computer. Reading all of these has changed my mind about buying iTM as I thought what you all thought, because I have a lot of imported songs from CDs that arent full so it would be very helpful. Although I haven't completely change my mind as it would be quite good to have all your songs in one place in iCloud and available to download were ever you are. This has disappointed me though as I was looking forward to buying iTM for the reason all you wanted it. I hope that soon Apple will make a change although it would be hard as someone could copy the previews and put them in their iTunes library and get iTM to match to the full song therefore possibly getting thousands of songs for free.

I'm not sure if you are after any feedback, but I'm not really sure exactly what you are saying.

However, as you mention what we all thought iTunes Match was, perhaps I had better clarify.

I, and many others, thought iTunes Match was a service whereby our music library is made available via the cloud so that it is available for downloading (or streaming on some devices) via the internet.

If iTunes Match is able to match the song with one in the iTunes Store (with caveats about it being the same version) then it will make the store version available. If it doesn't recognise the song then it will upload your file.

iTunes Match will keep your metadata synced between devices, so it is easy to keep your library in sync everywhere.

That's what I thought, and that's what it is. If you thought anything different then I suspect that you may be disappointed if you sign up for it.

That is what I figured out it was and I thought that the others that had posted thought it was something that you import a CD and if its got missing bits or extra bits iCloud will fix so I was just clarifying that I don't think it does that.

Morning KeithJenner,

I don't have to tell you that the service is far from perfect, but the expecations some have had for the service still surprise me. Sure, matching rates could stand improvement. Sure, some work needs to be done in how the service handles album art. Sure not having smart playlist functionality on iOS devices at launch was a big mistake, one I hope they'll correct soon.

But still, with all its flaws, this service has proven itself on a daily basis to be an incredible deal for $24.99 US.

Having my music available on my Apple TV is great. Knowing that if I rip something new that it is immediately available to my wife at work on her iPhone is great.

Getting matches for my vinyl rips . . . Well I'm not quite to getting a match success rate on par with my CDs, but it is improving. 9 of 12 matched or better is becoming more common.

In this context, I'm not talking about whether iTunes Match does what it is supposed to do very well, but what it is actually supposed to do.

This is one of the great problems with the service right now. This board is full of people who are having trouble because they signed up to backup their music, fix metadata, stream to their iPhones, convert all their songs to higher quality, or a wide range of other random things that they decided it was for.

If you understand what match is before you sign up then you are likely to be pleased, if a bit frustrated at times. If you don't understand it then you are likely to disappointed, bugs or not.

Um... see myprevious post.

I can actually answer all three of your concerns (I've been using the service since it went live in the US, last month).

1- I also agree that iTM is not using tags. It's using waveform analysis. Even if you had no tags at all, or the wrong tags, it will match the local song with a song in their database, if the waveforms match whatever threshold they've set.

2- iTM does either a "Match" or an "Upload". You can see the status of each song via the "iCloud Status" column which you can enable in your album grid. I'm going to take a guess here that your Telepopmusik song was likely an "Upload", which mean it used your local copy as it didn't find a match on their servers (remember, they aren't using tags, only waveforms).

3- "Create AAC Version" is completely different than when you get a Match. What the former does is transcode your local file into an AAC file - assuming the original file was a MP3 or AAC file to begin with, this is BAD thing. Trust me. MP3's and AAC files are "lossy", and you don't want to trancode them to another lossy file as you will lose some data in the process. But when you get a Match on Apple's servers, you get an AAC 256kps file in iCloud that (we hope) is a direct transcode from whatever master source they use. So the sound quality will be improved, sometimes significantly depending on your orginal source file.

For #3, think of it this way. "Create AAC Version" is like making an analog dub of a VHS tape. It will never look as good as the original as artifacts creep in every time you make a copy. But iTunes Match, when it works, is like taking a VHS tape to a store, and you get an exchange for a brand new copy. Maybe the orginal tape was pretty beat up, or maybe it was still in decent shape - it depends on your collection.

If that one song of yours was actually matched, then it's probably in their database as eight minutes long, then. Here's the kicker, though - you may not see it in their database. I've actually matched entire albums that I cannot view in the US database, and there have been reports that AC/DC albums (which are not available in any iTunes Store regions due to the band's refusal to allow digital downloads) are actually being matched.

With that in mind, you have every reason to be suspicious. But I would suggest the following test, if you have some time: create a low bitrate MP3 or AAC and add it to your library. It has to be at least 96kps to be "Match eligible", so try to keep it low enough to hear some audible artifacts but not too low to stop the match. Then attempt to match it. If it matches, backup the old file, then delete it in iTunes (just the local file) and then download the matched file - at this point you have your original low-res file and the matched file. Then, listen to them closely and compare them - do they sound exactly the same, artifacts and all? If they do, then your suspicions may be warranted. But if they have a clear difference in sound, then it's more likely that Apple is doing what it's advertising.

I've done this myself with vinyl rips, as well as the Beatles Mono. When I match (which, in these cases, I actually didn't want them to) and checked the matched file after download, it's clear that the files are different than my local file. In the case of the Beatles in Mono, my matched files are in stereo. 🙂

The OP had legitimate concerns, imo - I personally don't agree with them because my own testing has shown otherwise, but the OP is showing some critical thinking and I think that's a good thing to have.

Imo, you shouldn't buy into a service with both eyes closed - understand what you're getting and understand how it works, and that way you can decide if the service is right for you. There's nothing wrong with being critical as long as you have some metrics to back it up (again imo).

@ESMP, I still think there's something amiss with your process. I've been doing matching since GA Day One and haven't experienced the issues you've seen, which is Match > delete local > download and file is the same as original local file but just transcoded. I would find it hard to believe that Apple is doing this on purpose and misleading us but if this is what you're seeing and can replicate it at will, then you should call them. We know that this happens when a file is uploaded, but it shouldn't happen if it's matched.

I know my stuff is really matching because I can hear the difference. And unlike some of the other members here, the Matching process to upgrade my old music is actually the primary reason why I bought a subscription. So if it was not doing what I expected it to do, I definitely would have noticed by now. And to use the Beatles in Mono as an example again, it's a clear difference when matched as the local file is mono, but the Matched / downloaded file is in stereo.

@Asherek, I'm not sure if I'm reading your post correctly. If you renamed the LL album you had to look like the DT album, but your iTM tracks that you downloaded ended up as the same LL tracks (audibly), then that makes sense and it's what I woud expect. Waveforms aren't going to look at tags or filenames, it's only going to look at waveforms. Your downloaded files may have the wrong tags and filenames if you altered them, but it's the waveforms that matter and it should match the LL album and not the DT album, if the waveforms match.

Want a better test? Try to add a small but audible glitch in an audio file that you know should match. Then, upload that slightly altered file and verify it matched (try to make the change closer to the middle of the file, since I believe the beginning of the file has a heavier weight with the matching process). Then, delete local file / download iTM version and check that new file - I bet you that the glitch is now gone because the version of the file you now have is the iTunes database version and not the version you altered.

Converting in-place sounds great. How do I convert my songs in-place so that ITM will match them?

The only clue I have to the problem is a little icon and hover text that says ineligble.