Randyman94
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Need Help With Multiple Drives

I posted this on macrumors and didn't get an answer so ill come here with it.

 

I'm a long time Windows user and I recently bought a 13" Macbook Pro with a SSD. In order to save space on that SSD, all of my iTunes files went onto my 3 TB external hard drive and I had my iTunes running on that. After awhile, to save myself the trouble of lugging out my hard drive every time I wanted to add something to my iTunes, I decided to put my Music and Apps on a 64GB flash drive since I use those the most. I also put the .xml file on my internal hard drive per advice I read.

 

At the moment I have it set up where I can only play the flash drives files when it's plugged in and the external's when it's plugged in which is what i'm after.

 

Now, no matter what device is plugged in (I can't plug in both at the same time) everytime I go into the advanced pane on the preferences, it says my media location is on my internal hard drive, which is where I do not want it. I have both the boxes under the advanced settings unchecked. So,

 

1. Is there anyway to set it so that if I were to import a CD, it'll know to send it to the flash drive if it's plugged or if I import a movie that it'll know to go to the external if that is plugged in?

 

2. I haven't synced anything with this new set up so is that going to be a problem? (I have movies, apps, and music on my iPad; apps on my iPhone; and music on my iPod.)

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 27, 2012 4:24 AM

by Limnos,Solvedanswer
Limnos Limnos
Level 9 (54,635 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Right now you have everything on 3 drives.  You have your media split between 2 externals and the library files on the internal.  This will make it tricky to manage because if iTunes doesn't find a drive it starts reverting to the internal drive.  At best you end up with it report a bunch of broken links (which will repair themselves when you re-attach the drive and restart iTunes).  I don't know anything about the TuneSpan application and if it can overcome the issues.

 

I would look at TuneSpan and see what it does.  I am not overly optimistic though.  We might hope Apple will realize that a more robust iTunes is needed because more people are buying computers with small SSD drives and Apple is selling more drive-greedy media such as movies.  Still I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

Personally, if it was me I would review library usage.  I know there are things I really don't use at the same time or even frequently.  I don't have movies in iTunes but if I did I might consider setting up a separate library for movies.  This would make for a smaller, faster library and then it wouldn't matter if my movie drive wasn't attached all the time.  I don't watch a movie, listen to 3 music  tracks, then watch another movie all without pause.  I would also put complete libraries on my drives, not just media.  This makes it easier to transfer them from drive to drive.  Yes, you need to have the drive plugged in before starting iTunes but there may be workarounds such as starting iTunes using a script which double checks a specific drive is attached first.

 

I don't use ratings of date added so it doesn't matter to me if I delete a track from one library or add it to another.  In fact almost all my playlists are smart playlists so they are self-generating.

 

Okay, this is getting long but another option is to take over media management yourself.  This changes a bit how iTunes behaves but some people (like me) prefer it because then I can put things pretty much where I want them without sending iTunes into a tizzy.

Posted on Nov 27, 2012 9:46 AM

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Randyman94

Q: Need Help With Multiple Drives

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Nov 27, 2012 7:29 AM in response to Randyman94
    Level 9 (54,635 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 27, 2012 7:29 AM in response to Randyman94

    Read the below.  iTunes needs multiple files and folders for a complete iTunes.  For example, you did not mention the library.itl file which is in fact the central controlling file of all iTunes.

     

    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 folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605

     

    At the moment I have it set up where I can only play the flash drives files when it's plugged in and the external's when it's plugged in which is what i'm after.

    This is working successfully? 

     

    1. Is there anyway to set it so that if I were to import a CD, it'll know to send it to the flash drive if it's plugged or if I import a movie that it'll know to go to the external if that is plugged in?

    No.  iTunes is not currently set up for using multiple hard drives, nor is it even robust about using any external drive. You can do it but it's like working on your own car. I haven't tested this but I suspect if you have a drive designated as the location to save media and then unplug that drive and start iTunes it will default back to the internal drive.  Somebody a while ago posted about this utility but the only information I can provide is a link:

     

    TuneSpan: (OS X app) A utility that allows you to distribute the media files in your iTunes Library across multiple drives. - http://tunespan.com/ - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tunespan/id528459889?mt=12

     

    Requirements: OS X 10.6.6 or later, 64-bit processor

     

    2. I haven't synced anything with this new set up so is that going to be a problem? (I have movies, apps, and music on my iPad; apps on my iPhone; and music on my iPod.)

    As long as iTunes is working it should sync regardless of the location.  To be honest I am kind of surprised you aren't seeing many broken links with your setup but that's great.

  • by Randyman94,

    Randyman94 Randyman94 Nov 27, 2012 9:27 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 27, 2012 9:27 AM in response to Limnos

    Thanks a lot for the response.

     

    I think I confused the .xml with the .itl file. Either way, both are on my internal drive. So far, everything is working alright with my set up the way I have it. I don't have any broken links. I will look into that app though.

     

    Would you recommend moving everything to my flash drive and use that until I run out of space and then move it all to the external like I had it?

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Nov 27, 2012 9:46 AM in response to Randyman94
    Level 9 (54,635 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 27, 2012 9:46 AM in response to Randyman94

    Right now you have everything on 3 drives.  You have your media split between 2 externals and the library files on the internal.  This will make it tricky to manage because if iTunes doesn't find a drive it starts reverting to the internal drive.  At best you end up with it report a bunch of broken links (which will repair themselves when you re-attach the drive and restart iTunes).  I don't know anything about the TuneSpan application and if it can overcome the issues.

     

    I would look at TuneSpan and see what it does.  I am not overly optimistic though.  We might hope Apple will realize that a more robust iTunes is needed because more people are buying computers with small SSD drives and Apple is selling more drive-greedy media such as movies.  Still I wouldn't hold my breath.

     

    Personally, if it was me I would review library usage.  I know there are things I really don't use at the same time or even frequently.  I don't have movies in iTunes but if I did I might consider setting up a separate library for movies.  This would make for a smaller, faster library and then it wouldn't matter if my movie drive wasn't attached all the time.  I don't watch a movie, listen to 3 music  tracks, then watch another movie all without pause.  I would also put complete libraries on my drives, not just media.  This makes it easier to transfer them from drive to drive.  Yes, you need to have the drive plugged in before starting iTunes but there may be workarounds such as starting iTunes using a script which double checks a specific drive is attached first.

     

    I don't use ratings of date added so it doesn't matter to me if I delete a track from one library or add it to another.  In fact almost all my playlists are smart playlists so they are self-generating.

     

    Okay, this is getting long but another option is to take over media management yourself.  This changes a bit how iTunes behaves but some people (like me) prefer it because then I can put things pretty much where I want them without sending iTunes into a tizzy.

  • by Randyman94,

    Randyman94 Randyman94 Nov 27, 2012 12:08 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 27, 2012 12:08 PM in response to Limnos

    Thanks a lot. I have it set up now as two libraries.