Q: Sync iTunes between Macs

DJ.Rumpy wrote:

 

Although i'm sure you may think your definition of what is and isn't 'syncing' is clever, someone just wanting to sync their iTunes library can indeed use iTunes to sync data

No, they cannot. iTunes does not sync between computers.

The 'import' button would tend to disagree with you. Connect to any home shared computer in iTunes and you can import any files from that computer as long as it's in the same Home Sharing network.

DJ - why are you still banging on about copying files as if this is some new found functionality??? As I said earlier, any idiot can do this.  This does not imply any abilty of iTunes to keep seperate libraries in sync.  It implies that the user can fiddle about to keep files in sync, which is blindingly obvious.  Anyone with a brain, keyboard or mouse can copy files themselves.

Keeping two sets of data in sync requires the ability to Create, Update and Delete data on both systems.

You are demonstrating how you can Create data on 1 system only, in response to added data on the other system.  Using your proposed functionality, how would one propagate Updates, or Deletes?  Bi-directionally.

What you describe is not syncing.

DJ.Rumpy wrote:

 

The 'import' button would tend to disagree with you. Connect to any home shared computer in iTunes and you can import any files from that computer as long as it's in the same Home Sharing network.

Importing is not syncing.

iTunes does not sync between computers.

Home Sharing (as I noted in my first post in this topic) will copy media between computers.

Chippy, it's a public site. If you don't like it, don't read it. You'll find the unsubscribe at the top.

Thanks.

Pot, Kettle, Black.

You get the point though, surely.  How would you use the functionality you propose to update the metadata in one library in reponse to changes in another?  Or to delete tracks in one library having deleted them in the other.  The "import button" as you describe it cannot do this can it.  And that being the case, it cannot be descibed as a method of syncing data.  It's just a data import facility, nothing more.

Thank you.  This worked perfectly for me.

cole ragland

Is this thread dead?

I'm trying to sync an iTunes library on a computer linked to my amplifier and television and an iTunes library on a Macair that I travel with. I'd like to be sure that the music on my computer at home and my laptop are synced when I leave the house, and that when I return with new music I've copied into my MacAir is automatically synced to my iTunes library connected to my amplifer.

Sharing won't achieve this, as it's simply copying, is manual, and will leave me with lots of duplicates.

Also, I'd like a free solution, so SuperSync aren't options?

Alternatively...is there a different music platform that will allow this?

Any ideas?

Semrys wrote:

 

Is this thread dead?

 

I'm trying to sync an iTunes library on a computer linked to my amplifier and television and an iTunes library on a Macair that I travel with. I'd like to be sure that the music on my computer at home and my laptop are synced when I leave the house, and that when I return with new music I've copied into my MacAir is automatically synced to my iTunes library connected to my amplifer.

 

Sharing won't achieve this, as it's simply copying, is manual, and will leave me with lots of duplicates.

 

Also, I'd like a free solution, so SuperSync aren't options?

 

Alternatively...is there a different music platform that will allow this?

 

Any ideas?

You can copy the entire /Music/iTunes folder from old computer.

They won't be "sync'd" but they will be identical copies.

Hi Chris

Thanks for that. The point is that I'd like them sync'd - I dont want to have to manually copy my library every time I leave and return to the house. The more I think about it the more ridiculous it seems...and will probably push me to ditch iTunes altogether, which would be a pain, unless I can find a solution.

So...any way to dynamically sync an iTunes library between two or more computers?

Thanks again    

You could use DropBox but you'd have to pay for that.

-> http://lifehacker.com/5715126/how-to-sync-itunes-across-all-your-computers-with- dropbox

Depending on the amount of work you want to do, you can setup some folder actions to sync and import any items from one library to the other. Any free sync program can be used to copy the raw files files, or an automator script, from one PC to the other, including simple folder actions using the build in Automator app. If you leverage the built in iTunes folder "Automatically Add To iTunes", anything you drop there is imported into the iTunes Library.

The Automator will also let you setup Folder Actions, one of which is to Import Files Into iTunes, which essentially Adds them to a playlist, or to the general iTunes Library. Just open Automator in your Apps folder, create a new Folder Action, select the Library item in the top left, and search for iTunes to see all of the available actions.

For syncing files between computers, you can use simple shell scripts, or any number of free apps like Synkron. The App store also has a good selection ranging from free to a few dollars.

Glad this thread is still alive!

Chris, I saw that - but my music library is 70+GB so Dropbox is an expensive option.

DJ.Rumpy - is that going to allow automatic, dynamic syncing?

It seems to me that the only real option is to drop iTunes altogether, and have a separate music library - would it be possible to have a folder with all my music in that iTunes can then read?

Or is there another sollution out there?!

The automator will only handle adding new items to iTunes as I don't see an automator action to remove an entry.

That said, depending on how quicly you need to see the updates, there is another option in syncing hte entire iTunes library. For example, you could schedule a reboot at 3AM or some odd time, and post-reboot, sync the iTunes library files. This would require that teh volumes and locations that your store the files are idential on both computers though, but it is do-able.

You can also get fancy with the XML to force it regenerate your library based on the XML, but that woudl require some substantial scripting work.

In short, the automator would only handle new updates, but not deletes. Syncing the library files would give you an exact clone of the library, but requires identical setups on both machines.

I should note by saying that when I mention syncing the iTunes library, I'm talking only about the library file itself, which is relatively small, and whatever media files you need to sync. You wouldnt' copy and recopy the entire iTunes folder.