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Q: Using iPod Classic as iTunes library for mac

My macbook doesn't have enough room for my itunes library on it, so I wanted to use my iPod classic as a a sort of external hard drive that my iTunes library will be saved to so when it is plugged into my mac iTunes will recognize it not only as a sync device but as the library destination. I also want the iPod to be able to be used stand alone as a listening device but I have heard that it wont recognize the music files if it is being used as an external hard drive. Does anyone have a solution?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 5:38 PM

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Q: Using iPod Classic as iTunes library for mac

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  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Sep 12, 2016 5:44 PM in response to dudetato
    Level 10 (312,075 points)
    Sep 12, 2016 5:44 PM in response to dudetato

    Use a regular external drive to hold the iTunes library, and a second one for a backup copy of it.

     

    (144584)

  • by dudetato,

    dudetato dudetato Sep 12, 2016 5:54 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 12, 2016 5:54 PM in response to Niel

    I don't need a backup, and I don't want to buy an external drive. I want to use the iPod as the library and as a player

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Sep 13, 2016 7:55 AM in response to dudetato
    Level 9 (53,717 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 13, 2016 7:55 AM in response to dudetato

    I doubt you can do exactly what you want to do.  While the older iPods do have a disk mode it basically turns the iPod into a plain external drive while used in that mode.  However, you can use it either in disk mode or you can use it in iPod mode but not both at the same time, and the two modes do not overlap.  While I guess you could store your library on the iPod I don't think you can get access to the music files when in iPod mode. Additionally, if you are using your iPod in library storage mode with iTunes you cannot at the same time be attaching it to iTunes to sync media files to the iPod functional area which requires the iPod be in iPod mode.

     

    Oh, you do need a backup drive. One day your computer drive and you iPod drive will fail.  Even if Apple says you can re-download media purchases this is not guaranteed. An artist can remove a song you have purchased and it will be gone except for any copies you have on your devices.  And what Apple stores does not include ratings or playlists or playcount or custom artwork or...  I would also think that any iPod classic is getting on in age is is a good candidate for drive failure.  I wouldn't want to risk my only copy of my library on such a drive.

  • by dudetato,

    dudetato dudetato Sep 13, 2016 9:50 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 13, 2016 9:50 AM in response to Limnos

    My macbook has an ssd and i upgraded the classic to an ssd, plus my library is all from cd's so i have a backup there, but there is no way to overlap the disk mode and sync mode even with modding or jailbreaking?

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Sep 13, 2016 9:57 AM in response to dudetato
    Level 10 (312,075 points)
    Sep 13, 2016 9:57 AM in response to dudetato

    It's theoretically doable but would require a large number of Terminal commands as well as knowing exactly how both modes are structured, and almost certainly isn't worth attempting.

     

    (144596)

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Sep 13, 2016 10:02 AM in response to dudetato
    Level 9 (58,522 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 13, 2016 10:02 AM in response to dudetato

    dudetato wrote:

     

    I don't need a backup, and I don't want to buy an external drive.

    Everyone needs a back up. Drives are cheap.

  • by roaminggnome,

    roaminggnome roaminggnome Sep 13, 2016 10:15 AM in response to dudetato
    Level 10 (96,916 points)
    Sep 13, 2016 10:15 AM in response to dudetato

    You certainly need a backup.   It has always been very basic to always maintain a backup copy of your computer.