Medickep
Level 1 (10 points)

Q: iTunes mirroring

With a new MacBook Pro ordered and small SSID in it I was exploring some things I'd heard about mirroring an iTunes library. I thought I heard it was possible to store the actual files on a NAS device, such as my Drobo, but have all the songs listed on my computer for viewing and creating playlists.

 

I'm not sure if this is simply a matter of changing we're iTunes copy's the files in the preferences, but I'm sure I'll eventually have two libraries with the majority of the music on my Drobo.

 

Thanks,

Mac Book Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 29, 2012 3:07 PM

by Limnos,Solvedanswer
Limnos Limnos
Level 9 (54,642 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Look in your iTunes folder. You will see there is a media folder which contains the files iTunes plays. There are also various other files and folders which support what iTunes does. Most importantly the library.itl file which contains your list of music, playlists, ratings and basically what you see when you open iTunes.

 

If you move just media, you could open iTunes without the external attached and it would show you everything, but would obviously refuse to play anything without access to the files.  If you turn on the NAS at this point it will still think the files are not there, though if you play one it would hopefully have another look and work. It will, however, think all the others are missing until you play each one, or restart iTunes with the NAS on.

 

There are other disadvantages to just keeping media on an external, mostly when it comes to moving the library in the future, or if you're in the habit of renaming your drives.

 

If you keep the whole iTunes folder on an external, if you start iTunes and the external is not on, iTunes will say it cannot find a library folder and default to the internal drive. If this happens you need to start iTunes with the option key as described in my earlier post.  If you do keep the NAS on all the time, iTunes will always just start up with no problem.  You could also use any computer with the NAs because the complete set of things needed for iTunes to work are on there.

 

Keeping it all in one place makes it a lot easier to move the collection in the future.

 

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

 


iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847

 

Image of iTunes folder structure Dec. 2011 - https://discussions.apple.com/message/16923545
see also:
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605

Posted on Jun 29, 2012 3:58 PM

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Medickep

Q: iTunes mirroring

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jun 29, 2012 3:24 PM in response to Medickep
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 29, 2012 3:24 PM in response to Medickep

    Sure, you can set it up so either just your media (not so good) are on an external drive, or your complete iTunes folder (better).  That said, browse back posts for issues people have had. Not so much with plain external hard drives but I specifically recall some people not being happy with the way NAS would drop out in times of inactivity and force them to restart iTunes so it could find the files again.

     

    iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527

     

    Quick answer if you let iTunes manage your music:  Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive.  Start iTunes with the option (shift on Windows) key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.

     

    Do not confuse the above which moves the whole library collection (better) with:

     

    iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449

  • by Medickep,

    Medickep Medickep Jun 29, 2012 3:46 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 29, 2012 3:46 PM in response to Limnos

    Limnos-

     

    I'm following you on transferring all the contents and not just the media. I guess I don't understand the difference between copying the library to a new location In preferences versus option key at launch and creating a whole new library.

     

    I essential want all of my media on the network drive, but want to see the

    Lists of media on the Mac book pro and hopefully play it in real time!

     

    My NAS never goes down as its directly connected

    To my time capsule and I've been streaming movies on it for months to a wdtv.

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Jun 29, 2012 3:58 PM in response to Medickep
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 29, 2012 3:58 PM in response to Medickep

    Look in your iTunes folder. You will see there is a media folder which contains the files iTunes plays. There are also various other files and folders which support what iTunes does. Most importantly the library.itl file which contains your list of music, playlists, ratings and basically what you see when you open iTunes.

     

    If you move just media, you could open iTunes without the external attached and it would show you everything, but would obviously refuse to play anything without access to the files.  If you turn on the NAS at this point it will still think the files are not there, though if you play one it would hopefully have another look and work. It will, however, think all the others are missing until you play each one, or restart iTunes with the NAS on.

     

    There are other disadvantages to just keeping media on an external, mostly when it comes to moving the library in the future, or if you're in the habit of renaming your drives.

     

    If you keep the whole iTunes folder on an external, if you start iTunes and the external is not on, iTunes will say it cannot find a library folder and default to the internal drive. If this happens you need to start iTunes with the option key as described in my earlier post.  If you do keep the NAS on all the time, iTunes will always just start up with no problem.  You could also use any computer with the NAs because the complete set of things needed for iTunes to work are on there.

     

    Keeping it all in one place makes it a lot easier to move the collection in the future.

     

    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

     


    iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847

     

    Image of iTunes folder structure Dec. 2011 - https://discussions.apple.com/message/16923545
    see also:
    Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605

  • by Medickep,

    Medickep Medickep Jun 29, 2012 4:09 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 29, 2012 4:09 PM in response to Limnos

    Thanks for the help!