Russ Clark 1964

Q: Tranferring Music Playlists from new Macbook Pro to iTunes

Hi

I have just bought a new Macbook Pro 15" with Retina Display - quad-core i7 (2.5Ghz 512Gb). I have 108Gb of music, which I use to DJ and had loads of playlists in iTunes, which took years to put together (iTunes is mirrored in the DJ software I use - Serato Scratch).

I have transferred all my music over to my new laptop ok but when I tried to import my music into iTunes (using iTunes - File - Add to Library) it imported al the music but none of the music is in its playlist i.e. just one long list of thousands of tunes.  It would take me forever to try and reorganise into playlists and I wouldn't be able to remember most of what was in what playlist...!

I have searched the net and youtube but all the info seems to be on about transferring music FROM iTunes to Mac and nothing of any use on how to do what I want to do - transfer my music (in their playlists) from my Mac TO iTunes.

I'm guessing I'll have to delete all the music out of iTunes and start again, which is fine but I wish someone could just tell me how (if) you can get all your old iTunes playlists back into iTunes.  Very frustrating that there seems to be no clear information on this.  Surely anyone who buys a new Macbook Pro has the same problem and doesn't want to have to start all over again setting up playlists and trying to remember what was in them?

 

Any help would be so much appreciated as I cannot DJ again until I get this sorted out.

 

Many thanks

Russ

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4), Also have iPhone 6 64Gb (2015)

Posted on Sep 21, 2015 12:10 AM

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Q: Tranferring Music Playlists from new Macbook Pro to iTunes

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  • by Mike Johnson12,

    Mike Johnson12 Mike Johnson12 Sep 21, 2015 1:06 AM in response to Russ Clark 1964
    Level 5 (6,536 points)
    Sep 21, 2015 1:06 AM in response to Russ Clark 1964

    The easiest way to move to a new rMBP is to use Migration Assistant.

     

    If you decide against using MA then the best way to bring the iTunes to the new Mac is to drag the entire iTunes folder to the new Mac. Just drag it to the Music folder.

     

    By using this method ALL the relevant files that iTunes uses are moved.

     

    If all the tunes are already moved then copy all the files that are on you old Mac's iTunes folder over to the new Mac.

     

    You need to also check that in iTunes prefs>Advanced - that the path to iTunes is correct.

     

    Need more info: How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Support

     

    MJ

  • by Russ Clark 1964,

    Russ Clark 1964 Russ Clark 1964 Sep 22, 2015 10:44 PM in response to Mike Johnson12
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2015 10:44 PM in response to Mike Johnson12

    Hi and thank you for your reply.

    First of all I am not a "techy" person and do not know what rMBP stands for so would appreciate a "dummyies" guide to transferring my music library back onto iTunes.  Also you have given no information on where to find, or how to use Migration Assistant.  I need laymans step by step instructioons if possible please.

    As I said in my previous message, I have transferred all my music over to my new laptop already but when I tried to import my music into iTunes (using iTunes - File - Add to Library) it imported all the music but none of the music is in its playlist i.e. just one long list of thousands of tunes.  What I need is information on how to transfer the music I have already transferred over onto my new computer (from my external hard drive, which when backed up was done using Time Machine back up.  My old Mac was liquid damaged).

    When you say "If you decide against using MA then the best way to bring the iTunes to the new Mac is to drag the entire iTunes folder to the new Mac. Just drag it to the Music folder".  What do you mean by "Just drag it to the Music folder".  How do I drag iTunes to my music folder on my new Macbook?  Do you mean the iTunes folder on my external hard drive?

    As I mentioned before, I'm guessing I'll have to delete all the music out of iTunes and start again, which is fine but all I want is a step by step guide on getting my iTunes library (complete with all the playlists, folders etc), either from my new Mac  (or deleting all the music off my new Mac (and out of iTunes)) or from my external hard drive back into iTunes so that it was like it was before.

    One last thing, you mentioned "You need to also check that in iTunes prefs>Advanced - that the path to iTunes is correct" - What is the correct path?

     

    I really appreciate your help and really need to get this sorted but please remember I am a layman.

     

    One last thing, I have also lost all the folder names for all my photos in iPhoto (I dragged the photos from my external drive to the photos folder (under favourites on my new hard drive)).  I'm guessing there is a similar process for moving your photo library without losing folder information.  This is far less important to me than the music as the photos are all still in date order but the folders and folder names have just gone.

     

    Thank you very much for any further help you are able to give.

     

    Sincerely

    Russ Clark

  • by Mike Johnson12,

    Mike Johnson12 Mike Johnson12 Sep 23, 2015 12:54 AM in response to Russ Clark 1964
    Level 5 (6,536 points)
    Sep 23, 2015 12:54 AM in response to Russ Clark 1964

    rMBR=Retina MacBook Pro.

     

    Drag the iTunes folder to the external drive if using an ext HD for your iTunes.

     

    It keeping the tunes on your internal drive then drag the tunes folder to the Music folder on the internal drive.

     

    How to use Migration Assistant - Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support

     

    The correct path is the one that points iTunes to the location of where your media files will reside - I use an external SD card - so my path is /Volumes/iTunes SD Card/Master Library/iTunes Music - all you need to do is to go to iTunes prefs>Advanced> - select the Change option - you will get a dialog window and you select where the files would be. As an additional example - if using the internal drive it would be Users>Your Account>Music>iTunes>iTunes Music - do this after you have moved your iTunes folder.

     

    If you cannot understand how to 'drag' a folder then I cannot help you.

     

    iPhoto does not work the same as iTunes. Go to the iPhoto discussion groups for assistance. Just remember if you work in the Finder and move files that are relevant to a program - you can break the link and the program will not be able to 'see' the move you made in the Finder. It is important to do all changes with in a particular program. iTunes is a data base manager - if you move files in the Finder and iTunes does not 'see' the move then it might not be connected to that file.

     

    If you do not understand what I am writing the do a Google search and you will find lots of relevant info on the Internet.

     

    MJ