Artwork when Alac importing

Question

Artwork when Alac importing

I am changing my collection from AAC to ALAC and getting rid of CDs. However, when I import as ALAC it does not come up with album artwork.

Why is this? How can I get the artwork when importing?

Also, on my AAC versions all the artwork is there - is that stored within the files themselves? When I delete the song does it take out the artwork too from the album artwork folder within the itunes main folder?

thanks

2Ghz Intel Core Duo Macbook, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 1 GB 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Aug 28, 2012 4:21 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

427,955 points

Aug 28, 2012 7:14 AM in response to Mister Rollover

Sometimes artwork is "embedded" in the files too, but in all cases iTunes keeps a copy in its artwork folder. If you delete all tracks from an album then presumably it deletes that copy too. However, if your ALAC files are given the exact same album name as the AAC files it should keep it since there are still technically tracks from that album. If your ALAC files are not intermixing with the AAC files as you ript them then they are not being regarded as from the same album.

Do not get rid of your CDs. They are your license for listening to the music. If you sell/donate your CDs then you are also supposed to delete the copies on your computer.

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Answer 2

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Aug 29, 2012 7:37 AM in response to Mister Rollover

ie. The metadata is intrinsic to the ALAC file itself, but the album artwork is not (unless you copy and paste art direct into the file in itunes). Does that sound right?

Yes.

If you let iTunes get artwork, the artwork is only linked to the song file thru the iTunes database files.

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Aug 28, 2012 7:39 AM in response to Mister Rollover

If you are reimporting the CD, iTunes will ask if you want to replace the files. Everything will be the same.

Note that the physical CD is your license to keep the songs.

Get rid of the CDs, you are obligated to get rid of the RIP'd songs.

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Answer 4

Aug 29, 2012 7:26 AM in response to Chris CA

Well turns out I did not have retrieve artwork ticked when importing which is why new ALACs were without artwork. Replacing AAC direct is probably simpler and easier tho and is working for me.

Also I did a few tests as was interested where the artwork goes. Seems copying and pasting artwork directly into iTunes artwork player adds to the the actual audio file (and when it is dragged to desktop the icon is the artwork), whereas when it adds it via the automatic method on import or after, deleting this artwork does not seems to alter the audio file at all. Can anyone shed more light on this?

ie. The metadata is intrinsic to the ALAC file itself, but the album artwork is not (unless you copy and paste art direct into the file in itunes). Does that sound right?

Thanks for the CD license info.

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