How do I keep MY folder and song names when converting?

The problem is, that iTunes whether you've checked or unchecked the 'Keep iTunes Music folder organized' always organizes imported music.

Converting is considered importing the copy (in the new format) to the iTunes Music folder. So, iTunes will 'organize' it.

When iTunes organizes a track, it will get the information from the ID3 tag.
If you renamed a song in the Finder, you will not alter the info in the tag.

On the other hand; if your songfile has the (Finder) name 'track 01' , but the tag of the file contains all information (name, artist, album, genre etc.), iTunes will name the converted song using the tag information.

A few years ago, I also had my own naming convention. But eventually I gave up and have let iTunes do the organizing. And I'm happy with it now.

Although I do understand, why you want your music to be organized according to your own rules, you might consider letting iTunes do the job.

M

As I noted in your other post. Select the songs that are in the "Latin Mix" album via the iTunes main window - Do a CMD-I and select the yes to compilation option. This will group those tunes into one folder nested in the Compilations folder.

MJ

On a related note...

I was deleting some duplicate songs and noted that under an artist folder called "Compilations" there are several album folders that are not in fact, compilations. They are albums by a single artist/band.

I checked for some of the songs in iTunes and they show the correct artists in the library. I chose the songs and did Command-I to see what info was recorded and it all appears correct. Any thoughts?

Select the songs of the album that appears in 'Compilations' and Get Info.
You will see the 'Multiple Song Information' window.
At 'Part of a Compilation' change 'Yes' to 'No'.

M

In iTunes Music foloder is another folder called Compilations. Nest in that folder are all of your compilations.

No you don't have to drag a folder to the iTunes window. What I an referring to is that you have selected the top tab of the Source column, named "Original" and that is how you are viewing the tunes in the main window. What you could do is take your tunes and assign them to various albums named the way that YOU want the music files to stay nested. For example - X-mas 1 mood 1 - X-mas 2 mood 2, Latin mix Salsa, Latin mix Samba. Assign the tunes to those various folders then make sure that you have told iTunes that those songs belong in a compilation.

Ok you have sorted your tunes and assigned them to an album named XXX. sort your tunes in the iTunes window with "Album", then select all the tunes assigned to album XXX, CMD-I, and Part of a compilation=Yes, now all those songs are nested in the album name XXX nested in Compilations, nested in iTunes Music. That is provided that you selected in iTunes prefs>advanced>general>keep itunes music folder organized. If you already have these tunes in play lists then you can do the same by selecting the playlist instead of Original as the source.

As noted in another forum where you posted, I have 9000+ tunes in about 400 folders in iTunes music with 130+ folders in the Compilations. iTunes can do alot of the work for you. As you probably know, to locate where a tune is do a CMD-R and it will take you directly to the song file. Also note that iTunes will name the song file the with the iD3 tag "Name" (of the song) info. This is very handy.

Clear as mud??

MJ

Since you appear to have it figured I won't get to involved. Learning by your own experience is usually the best way - not always the easiest.

You failed to mention - or I didn't read it - that you have music on various hard drives. A good strategy is to use 1 external hd and use a script from http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/index.shtml for multiple iTunes libraries. It really is easier to let iTunes manage the volumes of info for you. Another reason for using the script is that iTunes looks for certain files and they need to be in the correct location or it will create a new file. Specifically iTunes Library and iTunes Music Library.xml. These 2 files need to reside in user>music>itunes on your boot drive.

In reference to "original" I was referring to the iTunes SOURCE column on the left side of the iTunes interface. I usually work in the this mode and reduce the number of items that I an working with by using the SEARCH option (upper right). For example I will do a search for ACDC so I am viewing ONLY ACDC. This is just as easy as using a playlist or other folder in the SOURCE column but once I am done I just clear the SEARCH window and everthing is back.

iTunes as you probably know by now, will organize by artist>album. As you have learned the Compilations option can do a lot to reduce the clutter within the iTunes Music folder. It is your business if you want to keep music scattered over multiple locations. I have too much time invested in my collection and have mutiple external hd's for backups and also dvd hard copies. I find it much easier and efficient to keep it all in one location so I can easily manage b/u duties.

As for the least perfect - take those loose items and group them into a seperate compilation and go back to edit/move them later. At least that way they will be in 1 place and easier to find.

If the question is answered then mark it as answered.

MJ

http://www.dougscripts.com/itunes/itinfo/ituneslibrarymanager.php