iTunes Library Function?

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Level 2

230 points

iTunes Library Function?

Since I have many songs digitized from both my vinyl and tape libraries, I have chosen not to have iTunes automatically organize my iTunes Media folder.

In iTunes Preferences, I have NOT checked: Keep iTunes Media folder organized.

The same for: Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library.

The PLAYLISTS section in the iTunes source panel contains only songs that I have added there by dragging from the Finder. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the songs in the PLAYLISTS section reside within the iTunes Library or elsewhere within my Music folder.

If I organize all of my music within the Music folder of the Finder, what is the function of the iTunes Library? It seems that iTunes works just fine without it.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), iPhone 3G

Posted on Apr 17, 2012 12:17 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 17, 2012 12:58 PM in response to Ralphjh

Ralphjh wrote:

The PLAYLISTS section in the iTunes source panel contains only songs that I have added there by dragging from the Finder. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the songs in the PLAYLISTS section reside within the iTunes Library or elsewhere within my Music folder.

iTunes library = iTunes folder and all contents and all media in iTunes, regardless of where it is located.

If a song is in an iTunes playlist, it is in the iTunes library.

If I organize all of my music within the Music folder of the Finder, what is the function of the iTunes Library? It seems that iTunes works just fine without it.

So you can use iTunes.

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Answer 2

Ralphjh Author

Level 2

230 points

Apr 17, 2012 1:30 PM in response to Chris CA

Hi Chris, Thanks for the reply.

If a song is in an iTunes playlist, it is in the iTunes library.

It may be listed in the file named: iTunes Music Library.xml but it is not located in the ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music folder where it would be if iTunes organized my music. I assumed that the iTunes Library is that folder. Yes or no?

Ralph

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 17, 2012 2:34 PM in response to Ralphjh

Ralphjh wrote:

It may be listed in the file named: iTunes Music Library.xml but it is not located in the ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music folder where it would be if iTunes organized my music. I assumed that the iTunes Library is that folder. Yes or no?

Ralph

No. iTunes library is not a single item nor is it simply a folder..

The iTunes library is what you see when you open iTunes plus the iTunes folder and all contents plus all media in iTunes, regardless of where it is located.

If you say it is in the iTunes library, that means you can see it in Music under Library at the top left of iTunes.

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Answer 4

Ralphjh Author

Level 2

230 points

Apr 17, 2012 4:06 PM in response to Chris CA

Hi Chris. Thanks again,

I can't believe I am asking these questions after using Macs and iTunes for years, I won't say how many 😟

One final question:

I'm trying to get my stuff more organized than it is. If I let iTunes do it, it will put 90% of what I have into Unknown Artist/Unknown Album. I once checked "Keep iTunes Media folder organized" and that is exactly what happened. If I leave most of my songs outside of the iTunes Music folder, that can't happen

accidentally.

The way I mostly use iTunes is either listening to Internet radio streams or using the iTunes Playlist to identify files to be transferred to my iPhone. Sometimes, I will also stream music to another room via airport express.

So, my question is: Assuming that most of my music has been converted from analog, and would be considered "Unknown Artist" by iTunes, is there any advantage to moving all of the music files into the iTunes Music folder?

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 17, 2012 5:05 PM in response to Ralphjh

If the songs are showing up in iTunes with titles/artist/album info, then the files are already tagged.

Letting iTunes organize the files will put them into Artist/Album folders by track name.

If you add tracks with no tags, iTunes will use the filename as the track name.

Ralphjh wrote:

I'm trying to get my stuff more organized than it is. If I let iTunes do it, it will put 90% of what I have into Unknown Artist/Unknown Album.

You need to organize it by tagging it with at least Album & Artist.

Here's a few apps designed to do it but I don't know how good they are.

-> http://www.wildbits.com/tunatic/

-> http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tagalicious/id409877277?mt=12

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