iTunes Library Portable Version

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Level 1

43 points

iTunes Library Portable Version

I have a Mac Mini running Mavericks and this Mini is my main computer. I am running the latest version of iTunes. I have an external drive which is a WD My Book attached to the Mini which stores my iTunes library and related folders. I like to keep the WD external drive stationary and not carry this external drive around with me. I use a Macbook Air running Mavericks when I am on the road and away from my house. I would like to carry around a portable version of my iTunes library and related folders on another external drive such as a WD My Passport. The purpose of this, is to use it with my MBA and when I am away from my home. Obviously, I want to connect my iPod Touch or my iPhone 5 to sync photos or music.

One problem to this ideal situation. Obviously, I will have 2 different versions of my iTunes library. I will have my home version and portable version. The home version is the master library and is used with the Mini. The portable version is the one that I travel around with making changes as I go along and is connected to my MBA.

The second problem is duplication. I don't want to add music and apps to the portable version and sync it with the home version and I have a huge mess.

The big question, how do I keep both iTunes libraries in check without duplication of songs or Apps? No, I am not going to pay $25 dollars a year for iTunes Match. Putting my library to Apple servers for that much money is not answer. If iTunes Match was cheaper, I would consider it.

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on Jul 22, 2014 9:01 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 22, 2014 10:22 AM in response to pfisher112

At first I thought this was going to be complicated, but it isn't. Before you travel drag copy your whole iTunes folder from the main drive to the travel one. Travel but don't add apps and music while you travel, or if you do, copy the travel drive iTunes folder to the main external when you get home since the main drive won't have been modified since you were away from home during that time. The travel one at that stage will be the main one plus any additions you made. Use a tool that only copies modified files in order to speed up the copying process and not have to copy your whole iTunes folder each time. There has to be one. I use CarbonCopyCloner but I don't do exactly what you are doing so I can't recommend one in particular, particularly not for an OS higher than 10.4.11 🙂

Now if you have a spouse + 3 children doing things on the main computer while you are gone then that's another matter, but you didn't say that.

Of interest: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4104153?answerId=18908357022#18908357022 - turingtest2 post on how iTunes uses internal library IDs for unique syncing and how to utilize this to get a device to sync with two different library contents.

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Answer 2

pfisher112 Author

Level 1

43 points

Jul 22, 2014 10:53 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks for the response. There is 2 reasons to carry a portable version of your iTunes library. The obvious reason, I don't make any changes to the library. What I mean, I don't add any music or apps to the portable version. I transfer music TO the iPod. The second reason, I want to make changes to the iTunes library. In this case, it would be a TO/FROM the iPod or iPhone. I would be adding music or apps to the portable library.

In my opinion, those are two reasons that anyone would carry a portable version. This brings me back to the original question, how do you sync 2 libraries without creating a mess? I want to sync the portable iTunes library with me home "master" library. Obviously, if I didn't make any changes to the portable iTunes library, I don't have to sync anything. However, if I make changes to the portable version, I need to see those changes in the home library. I understand you can maintain 2 separate iTunes libraries and you switch back and forth between the two libraries. I get that. I am trying to cut out the switching back and forth business.

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Answer 3

Jul 22, 2014 11:08 AM in response to pfisher112

Okay, let's try this again.

1) Copy main iTunes library folder to portable drive.

2) Leave home. Computer sits unused at home, no changes. Sitter feeds goldfish and waters plants and that's it.

3) You're on the road. Start iTunes to library on the portable by holding down option/alt key while starting iTunes. You're basically playing your home library from the portable. You'll only need to do the option key thing once as long as you always have the external drive on and plugged in before starting iTunes per normal.

4) Do what you want. Add music, apps, whatever.

5) Arrive home.

6) Start main computer.

6b) Do NOT start iTunes.

7) Plug in portable drive.

8) Copy iTunes folder from the portable drive over the one on the main external drive. The only changes that have been made have all been to the portable drive which is a copy of the main drive library (I get the feeling I said this before...). By copying over the main drive you are simply replacing the old one with the updated one.

9) Start iTunes. It will look for the library on the external drive as normal and start from it, but tricky you, it will be the updated one it is using.

Make step 8 a bit faster by using some sort of sync copy tool so instead of it copying back a library that is only 5% changed it only copies that 5% rather than the 95% that hasn't changed. That's just trimming on the process.

You are only using one library but you have two copies of it. One gets modified slightly during your travels but that doesn't matter because you then update your main external drive to that one upon return home.

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