Previously Uploaded Tracks

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Level 7

28,669 points

Previously Uploaded Tracks

Hi,

Has anyone else noticed this odd behaviour?

I had reason to delete and redownload a couple of albums. Both had been uploaded as 320 Kbps MP3 files as they were not available in the Itunes store at time of adding to my library. Both are now available in itunes Store. The tracks were downloaded as Matched AAC files whilst Icloud Status was still "Uploaded.

I had another Album from same source as the others (Tangerine Dream purchased directly from their website). for this one, I opened itunes on my other computer that only showed music in cloud. Despite being shown as 320 MP3, they downloaded as 256 Matched.

By the way, I removed all tracks from cloud so that they appeared as "Removed" in my main library. I then added them back to cloud - all tracks now matched.

Does this mean that Apple are replacing previously uploaded tracks with Matched version?

Jim

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 2, 2013 2:44 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 2, 2013 4:47 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Jimzgoldfinch wrote:

Does this mean that Apple are replacing previously uploaded tracks with Matched version?

It a possiblitly. I haven't noticed the behavior you describe but I do notice that iTunes will sometimes rescan the library. In fact it just did a rescan when I launched it just now. It's possible that tracks that were previously "uploaded" are being "matched."

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Answer 2

mracole

Level 4

1,102 points

Jul 2, 2013 9:39 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Not seen, however ...

An easy route to determine would be to set up a series of smart playlists for all Matched; Uploaded and Purchased Songs - once totals are noted, remove and download 'test' Songs that are marked 'uploaded' but known to be in the iTunes Store.

Given the way Match operates suspect that this is dynamic based on rescan of library content and current iTunes Store content. It would be efficient for Songs > 256 AAC, if the service simply checked fastest download route, if Song matched to provide the 256 AAC version.

Given you should still have the 320 kbit version in your backup there should be no loss.

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Answer 3

Jimzgoldfinch Author

Level 7

28,669 points

Jul 2, 2013 10:00 AM in response to mracole

Hi,

I keep a number of playlists to monitor matched, uploaded etc.

Only a small percentage of my tracks are uploads. The majority of the tracks is Classical music where I have combined the movements and therefore are unlikely to match. I also have a lot of vinyl rips that are not likely to ever match.

I have tried to sample other tracks that I thought should have matched first time around. Still no match.

However the tracks I am referring to were added before they were available in iTunes Store.

It seems likely that they were rescanned and then matched but there was no way of knowing that this had happened. It was only by chance that I found out when I downloaded them again.

Jim

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Answer 4

Jul 2, 2013 11:48 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

You'd think that if the tracks were "matched" after they were re-scanned, then the display in iTunes would change. Perhaps it's a big that it doesn't.

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Answer 5

mracole

Level 4

1,102 points

Jul 2, 2013 5:49 PM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Jim, will check on my library and report back. Surely the way to tell is simply to restore a backup from 6 months or so ago and explore the iCloud Download and iCloud Status fields in the Song view?

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Answer 6

Jul 2, 2013 9:48 PM in response to mracole

That's a lot of work, mracole. 😁

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Answer 7

Jul 2, 2013 9:50 PM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Jimzgoldfinch wrote:

By the way, I removed all tracks from cloud so that they appeared as "Removed" in my main library. I then added them back to cloud - all tracks now matched.

I want to try this, Jim, but I want to make sure I understand what you did.

You used another computer/another iTunes library and removed the tracks from the cloud, then went to your "master" iTunes library where the iCloud Status was "removed" and added the tracks to iCloud and let the scan run. When it was finished the previously uploaded tracks were matched. Is that correct?

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Answer 8

Jimzgoldfinch Author

Level 7

28,669 points

Jul 3, 2013 12:05 AM in response to Michael Allbritton

Hi,

Yes, your interpretation is correct.

Managing my iTunes library this works extremely well. It helps me keep the number of matched or uploaded tracks within the 25k limit and I can keep those tracks in my main library.

Jim

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Answer 9

Jul 3, 2013 1:53 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Coolio. I'm gonna try this on some tracks by Rush I have have in my library. I bought the remastered boxset before the latest tracks were released on the iTunes Store. Wanna see if the "uploaded' tracks will now be "matched." Scientific curiosity. 🙂

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Answer 10

mracole

Level 4

1,102 points

Jul 3, 2013 2:25 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Jim, Michael, reporting back as promised. No evidence found in my library. Selecting Songs readily available in the current iTunes Store that were uploaded at 320 kbits - post backup, removing from the local library and downloading again - all Songs tried downloaded as 320 kbits and were consistently marked as 'uploaded'.

Jim, suggest you try to restore the suspect collection from backup to determine objectively if this behaviour is reproduceable for the Songs in question.

Michael, will watch with interest for the results of your trial.

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Answer 11

Jimzgoldfinch Author

Level 7

28,669 points

Jul 3, 2013 3:20 AM in response to mracole

Hi,

I am not worried about getting back the mp3 files. I am happy with 256 kpbs matched versions. My ears tell me I cannot hear any difference.

I have the mp3 versions store elsewhere. My main interest was the fact that they had been matched but iCloud status was still uploaded. I suspect that they don't have to be 320 Kbps mp3 files but any other format as well.

I regularly check my "removed" files to see if I can get a match for previously uploaded files. Sometimes success but most times no success.

Jim

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Answer 12

mracole

Level 4

1,102 points

Jul 3, 2013 3:47 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Jim,

Noted, just have been unable to see this in my library to date. Can you share some before and after screen shots to illustrate?

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Answer 13

Jimzgoldfinch Author

Level 7

28,669 points

Jul 3, 2013 4:52 AM in response to mracole

Hi,

Sorry - no. Have changed all tracks to matched.

Jim

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Answer 14

Jul 3, 2013 7:31 AM in response to mracole

mracole wrote:

Michael, will watch with interest for the results of your trial.

So I tried my little 'xperiment and it was not successful.

I used Rush's first album, which I ripped from the recent Sector One boxed set release that had 4 of the tracks uploaded. Using my streaming-only library, I removed the entire album from the cloud, switched back to my main library and watched the tracks change to "removed." Added them to the cloud, let the scan run and they were right back where they were.

Obviously this is not a very representative sample since it is so small but I was hoping perhaps it would work. I probably won't be trying it on any other tracks. At least not right now.

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Answer 15

Jimzgoldfinch Author

Level 7

28,669 points

Jul 3, 2013 8:08 AM in response to Michael Allbritton

Hi,

I have looked other albums from the same source. I have five albums all added to my itunes library from late 2010 to earlier 2012. They have only appeared in the itunes store in the last six months. All tracks apart from 2 are now matched. I knew these albums were available in itunes but had not bothered trying to get a match.

I don't have any other tracks that I could test out. The majority of my uploads are either classical or tracks that are not available in the store and not likely get matched.

I know that I have had success in the past in getting some track that had previously uploaded to now match but have never come across this situation before.

Jim

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