How can I import CD Tracks into iTunes in Correct Order?

Question

Level 1

8 points

How can I import CD Tracks into iTunes in Correct Order?

I'm trying to import a 4-CD, 4-hour long, grand opera into iTunes but cannot get the tracks in their correct order (that's the way an opera recording should work, from the Overture on track 1 on CD 1 all the way to track 40 on CD 4 when the curtain falls on a stage littered with the dead). Instead I get track 1 followed by track 5 then by track 17 etc., and that's no way to listen to an opera. I've tried shift-selecting each track of CD 1 and making sure that the INFO box for that collection of tracks is filled out with identical information (except that for track #, I leave the specific track box blank and then put the correct number of tracks in the of ... tracks box, and for the disk boxes I've put "1 of 4" and "2 of 4" and so on. If you've got any ideas, especially if you've succeeded in importing a multi-CD work with each track in the correct order, I'd appreciate your help. I've got a 2009 iMac (still working, though slowly) and iTunes 12.7.3. I'm willing, though barely, to delete all the mixed-up tracks and import each CD again one at a time, re-doing the INFO box for each CD in the way you suggest if that would help. I'm many decades older than my iMac, so please be clear as well as kind.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), Early 2009 iMac

Posted on Jan 25, 2018 9:59 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

PeterBreis0807

Level 8

41,241 points

Jan 27, 2018 9:19 PM in response to coradcor

It should import in the correct order, but occasionally iTunes stuffs up.

It sometimes takes a few changes in the metadata (all the associated information on the tracks) to get iTunes to update its files metadata.

1. Ensure all the common data: Album, Artist, Conductor, album cover, number of tracks etc are identical by selecting all the tracks at once in iTunes and Getting Info (command i). If that doesn't update correctly force it to refresh by temporarily changing the spelling or adding extra text in something like the Album name, Artist etc clicking OK then after it has saved, changing it back again*. This should correct any errors.

2. If the Artists vary over the tracks Under Details check Compilation

3. Apple has a special Category of Album Artist which you can leave blank or better fill in. There may be an Artist or Composer who is the one for whom the Album is identified even though it is principally say Mozart's music or a lead singer like Joan Sutherland it may be sorted by the Conductor. btw Mozart is not the Artist he is the Composer, and hasn't played anything for quite a while, certainly long before CDs hit the stores. But you can nominate him or anyone as the Album Artist. The Albums(s) will then be stored in a folder in iTunes collection under the Album Artist's name.

5. Make sure you have not made any spelling errors and kept all your names in the correct order. I use Surname, First Names even though now Apple has a sort as that lets you have First Names Last Name as the entry but a Last Name sort order.

4. Once you have all those set, pick through the tracks individually ensuring they have the correct track number and total number of tracks. If they are a series of CDs then fill in the CD number and total number of CDs, with all the tracks on each CD selected at once..

5. You can check what iTunes has labelled the tracks by looking in Menu > iTunes > File > Show in Finder

Peter

* If this does not work, do it again. iTunes can be stubborn.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 28, 2018 3:39 AM in response to coradcor

The tracks should have imported in the correct order and numbered, if you imported them from a CD, using a correct reference to the online Database of CDs. You may have selected a sloppily imported version from the database ( some people are just amazing - everything is half effort and guesswork) in which case you can reimport next time from a better reference. Unfortunately you don't know what you have got until after it is done.

If you imported them from a previously RIPed file there should have been an independent cue file that contains all the information. If you select that to convert your file, the cue file will correctly number and label the tracks.

As to manuals Apple doesn't do manuals anymore, concentrating instead on counting its billions.

Peter

Reply

Answer 3

coradcor Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 27, 2018 9:38 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

Thank you VERY much, Peter. I selected ALL of the 48 tracks, right-clicked INFO and refilled each space with slightly different but accurate information. I also checked the COMPILATION box, which I hadn't done before (that seemed to help). I then found all the tracks grouped together, although out of order, under Album Artist. Then, following the track guide included with the libretto, I numbered, by hand so to speak, each of the 48 tracks and each of the 4 disks (eg track 1 of 10, Disk 3 of 4). And success! One track and one disk at a time, each aria of each act fell into the proper sequence. It was more work than it should be, but then so is life. And I didn't have to delete the whole thing and start all over. Apple should really devote a HELP page to this process since there must be at least a few hundred thousand if not millions of users who like classical music, where track sequence is essential. Again, thank you for taking the time to reach out and help a fairly green tyro unscramble a well-loved opera now engraved, for at least one lifetime, on my iMac. Coradcor

Reply

How can I import CD Tracks into iTunes in Correct Order?

Similar questions