Eremin Andrey
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Store music files for iTunes on separated storage

Hello Guys.

i've got macbook with itunes and a NAS server with my music library.

i imported all the music files from the NAS to my iTunes on my MacBook. it's okey.

but, next time a launch the iTunes its mark all my music files in the library as broken or unavailable. so i cannot sync it with iphone or other i*-devices.

so i have to double-click on each song to force iTunes recheck the location of a music file.

is there any other way?

 

i cannot store my music on my macBook because i don't have enough free space for it.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Jun 6, 2012 4:54 AM

by turingtest2,Solvedanswer
turingtest2 turingtest2
Level 10 (88,293 points)
Apple TV
A:

If a storage location is unavailable when iTunes starts it very quickly "knows" that all the files are unavailable, but won't notice if the location comes back online. Close iTunes, connect the external drive/network share/network attached storage, then start iTunes. It should all be OK.

 

tt2

Posted on Jun 13, 2012 1:09 PM

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Eremin Andrey

Q: Store music files for iTunes on separated storage

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jun 6, 2012 11:09 AM in response to Eremin Andrey
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 6, 2012 11:09 AM in response to Eremin Andrey

    How exactly do you have your library structured? Is it just media on the NAS or the whole iTunes collection including media files, library files, artwork, etc?

     

    iTunes does everything through a central database file (library.itl).  This stores the information as to where your media files are located.  If for any reason you start iTunes and it cannot find the media in the location exactly as listed in the database file you get broken links. A common thing to happen is starting iTunes before the external drive is turned on.  Sleep can cause issues, as can anything that changes the identity of that drive as iTunes expects to identify it when iTunes first starts up.

     

    From reading posts here I'd say in general that seeing issues with NAS and iTunes is not too uncommon and the situation where the glut of media outgrowing internal drive storage on the small computers people want these days is still outpacing the ability of iTunes to truly handle network storage that this glut is requiring.

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

     

    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html

  • by Eremin Andrey,

    Eremin Andrey Eremin Andrey Jun 13, 2012 11:30 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2012 11:30 AM in response to Limnos

    Thanks Limnos. That is my case. My NAS server was suddenly disconnected. So when i connect it again to my macbook is there any way to tell iTunes that all my files exist?

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Jun 13, 2012 11:47 AM in response to Eremin Andrey
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 13, 2012 11:47 AM in response to Eremin Andrey

    I still don't know how you have your collection structured....

     

    If the library file is on the external, hold down the option key while starting iTunes and guide it to the external.

     

    If just the media are on the external, try relocating one of your missing files.  I believe the new iTunes presents you with the option of trying to hunt down the other broken links based on the criteria used for that one, but I run an old iTunes and also don't have this problem.

  • by Eremin Andrey,

    Eremin Andrey Eremin Andrey Jun 13, 2012 11:52 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2012 11:52 AM in response to Limnos

    iTunes library (files with *.itl, *.itdb) are stored on my mac, but media files (books, images, video, music) are stored on external server. iTunes sometimes shows me a dialog to choose the proper path to missing media files, but i have more than 1000 files. is there any way to force iTunes to recheck each file? (Windows Media Player did the trick)

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jun 13, 2012 11:59 AM in response to Eremin Andrey
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 13, 2012 11:59 AM in response to Eremin Andrey

    Did you try doing what I suggested in my second paragraph above?

  • by turingtest2,Solvedanswer

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jun 13, 2012 1:09 PM in response to Eremin Andrey
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 13, 2012 1:09 PM in response to Eremin Andrey

    If a storage location is unavailable when iTunes starts it very quickly "knows" that all the files are unavailable, but won't notice if the location comes back online. Close iTunes, connect the external drive/network share/network attached storage, then start iTunes. It should all be OK.

     

    tt2

  • by Eremin Andrey,

    Eremin Andrey Eremin Andrey Jun 15, 2012 9:30 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 15, 2012 9:30 AM in response to turingtest2

    turingtest2, Limnos  - thanks you guys.

    your advices work.