How to sync two iTunes libraries between two Macs?

Question

How to sync two iTunes libraries between two Macs?

I have two macs (Mavericks) plus the latest version of iTunes. What I want to do is to mirror any change I do on one library to the other iTunes library using Google Drive (iTunes Library Mac 1 to iTunes Library Mac 2 and vice versa).

I installed Google Drive on both of my Macs. It works pretty well at mirroring changes in .mp3 files names changes I do (i.e. My_Song.mp3 to MY_SONG.mp3), new files I add or files I delete...

But there are two things I can't sync right now. Playlists and files info attributes (i.e. when I change the soundtrack Genre of one of my soundtrack it doesn't sync with the same soundtrack on my other mac).

I know I can export+import playlist but I don't know how to actually sync playlists using Google Drive. iTunes has a special way of "storing" playlists. What I want is, for example, I create/modify a playlist on my Mac1 and it sync to Mac2 via Google sync.

So, how can I make my playlists + any changes I make on my soundtracks (not the mp3 files) sync between my Macs using Google Drive?

Thank you.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Apr 24, 2014 9:58 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

427,379 points

Apr 24, 2014 10:15 AM in response to Politicus1000

Periodic posts on people wanting to do something like this and no good answer.

All that information is in the library files.

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

Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391

Apple's attempt at doing this is Home Sharing but that's more of a track by track basis, not the whole library. The only way you will get it to automatically "sync" is to share a common set of library files with both computers (note, only one computer can open a library file at a time).

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Answer 2

Apr 24, 2014 10:47 PM in response to Limnos

@Limnos, thanks for your answer.

Useful information. iTunes Library.itl and iTunes library.xml files do store playlist infos according to Apple documentation. This is very hard to understand why placing them in my Google Driver folder do not help syncing my 2 iTunes libraries... I think I will have to do it manually...

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

427,379 points

Apr 25, 2014 6:19 AM in response to Politicus1000

This is very hard to understand why placing them in my Google Driver folder do not help syncing my 2 iTunes libraries...

What exactly are you doing? If you want the computers to use the same library file you have to start iTunes from the library file by holding down the option/alt key and point it to the .itl file you want it to use. Furthermore, you can't just move iTunes files around. As the links indicate, iTunes works off groups of files and folders, some of which you can split (not always a good idea) and some of which need to stay together.

Incidentally, iTunes does not actually use the .xml itself, it makes it for other applications to use. Not all the .itl data is in the .xml by the way.

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Answer 4

Apr 28, 2014 10:32 AM in response to Politicus1000

To make it fast, it looks like it is working (one change in a song on Mac 1 in its title for example is mirrored on Mac 2).

I already pointed my two iTunes library to the same .itl file. But this time I launched iTunes without using Alfred.

It remains kinda magic as I updated iTunes index Alfred uses so changes should have been taken into account. Let's get down to the nitty gritty, it is working.

Thanks for you help. Will gonna spare a LOT of time 🙂

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