iTunes -- multiple libraries?

[ArcticStones]

.
I have been re-ripping my CDs with the aim of establishing a separate, lossless iTunes library. After all, storage is cheap these days and space is no longer an issue. I’m going with FLAC format and have lots that are now ready to import. There is a nice little app that makes this possible.

Does anyone have experience with Multiple Libraries in iTunes?

We’ve previously used multiple libraries for our photographs with iPhoto Library Manager, with success. A really nice app!

I understand that the same developer offers something called PowerTunes that supposedly does exactly the same thing for music.

However, before proceeding I would like to hear the advice of someone who has multiple iTunes libraries. Are there better alternatives? Things to watch out for or consider? What is your experience?

Anyone?


Best regards,
ArcticStones
.

[soho]

If you hold down 'alt' whilst opening iTunes you can create multiple libraries.

[ArcticStones]

.

Quote: Originally Posted by soho If you hold down 'alt' whilst opening iTunes you can create multiple libraries.

My belated thanks! But I don’t think that is going to give me the ease of use and transfer between libraries that I want.
.

[ArcticStones]

.
To test this, I held down the Option (Alt) key under start-up of iTunes. Then I quit without choosing a new library. Now I cannot get iTunes to open my library and playlists.

Sure, the playlists are there. But even choosing iTunes Preferences > Advanced > Change folder location --->and setting it to where all my music is, it won’t play any tune. The message is "Original file not found". But they’re there! And I would rather be spared the effort of "locating"/setting each and every of my thousands of tracks.

Suggestions?
.

[Hal Itosis]

Quote: Originally Posted by ArcticStones . My belated thanks! But I don’t think that is going to give me the ease of use and transfer between libraries that I want. .

Post #1 only mentions "establishing a separate" library. Now you briefly mention "transfer between" libraries. Speaking for myself, it's not totally clear what all you wish to do. I've never tested PowerTunes, but i can just imagine how monumental a task it would be to bidirectionally sync two music library files (which contain metadata such as playlists and volume adjustments) that change on both sides between syncs. Is that the sort of functionality you need filled?

Or what then?

[ArcticStones]

.
Thx for your lightning-quick reply! Apologies if my 1st post may have been unclear.
With iPhoto Library manager it was easy to move images and albums.

But that’s not where I am with iTunes yet. I have not yet installed PowerTunes. I’ll wait until I get my new iMac in a few days. That’s when I hope to establish a Flac-only iTunes library, in part by moving an existing Flac playlist. But that’s later.

Now I just want to get my single library working.
How do I fix it?

[Hal Itosis]

Quote: Originally Posted by ArcticStones .Thx for your lightning-quick reply!

It wasn't fast enough... sorry, (i actually missed your 3:30 post when i posted at 3:34, since i had started writing it about 10 minutes before that. )

Quote: Originally Posted by ArcticStones .Now I just want to get my single library working. How do I fix it?

Okay, hmm... having done this part:

Quote: Sure, the playlists are there. But even choosing iTunes Preferences > Advanced > Change folder location --->and setting it to where all my music is, <snip>

I think the way it works is: that much tells iTunes where to put new items (downloads and rips).

To have it acknowledge old stuff that's already there, we need to mouse: File menu --> "Add to Library..." (or type command-O), and choose the folder there too. Then iTunes will scan the chosen hierarchy and fix up the references it has (and add new ones for items it encounters which it didn't already know about).

I recommend doing that "Add to Library..." step after a fresh launch, as i think that minimizes the possibility that iTunes will view the additions as duplicates.

[ArcticStones]

.

Quote: Originally Posted by Hal Itosis Okay, hmm... having done this part: I think the way it works is: that much tells iTunes where to put new items (downloads and rips). To have it acknowledge old stuff that's already there, we need to mouse: File menu --> "Add to Library..." (or type command-O), and choose the folder there too. Then iTunes will scan the chosen hierarchy and fix up the references it has (and add new ones for items it encounters which it didn't already know about). I recommend doing that "Add to Library..." step after a fresh launch, as i think that minimizes the possibility that iTunes will view the additions as duplicates.

Ah, hadn’t thought of that! Can I be sure that iTunes won’t add duplicates? I would really like not having to deal with thousands of them...
.

[Hal Itosis]

Quote: Originally Posted by ArcticStones . Ah, hadn’t thought of that! Can I be sure that iTunes won’t add duplicates? I would really like not having to deal with thousands of them... .

Well it shouldn't... but just backup the 2 library files to feel safe. That's a given btw... we should have Time Machine (or something) taking snapshots of those 2 often as possible, so we have a few versions to revert back to. [technically, Time Machine doesn't backup the xml version... just the binary "iTunes Library" file.]

Also heed my "fresh launch" advice. The one time i did see the whole db duplicated was after iTunes had been up a while (downloading, playlist editing, etc.)

If massive dupes do result, either revert to an older pair of library files... or try a dupe-removing AppleScript from http://dougscripts.com/itunes/

[note: after the 'Add to Library...' bit finishes checking the music, it goes into a loop where it checks the artwork for that hierarchy as well. You can cancel that part or just let it run. --- where do you store the artwork?]

[ArcticStones]

.
Great! I’ll give it a shot.
.

[Hal Itosis]

An older thread with a slightly different situation, but maybe something useful: Couple of iTunes Questions

[ArcticStones]

.
I think I’ll head out and do my shopping. This process is clearly going to take a long time. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thx so far!
.

[ArcticStones]

.

Quote: Originally Posted by Hal Itosis If massive dupes do result, either revert to an older pair of library files... or try a dupe-removing AppleScript from http://dougscripts.com/itunes/

Thanks for your recommendation!

I did get massive duplicates, but following your advice, I purchased Dupin from Doug Adams. It required a loooong time, but Dupin nicely purged my duplicates. Great filtering controls!

Dealing with unplayable FLACs?
My next challenge is to resuscitate my FLAC files. Let me explain... The problem is that FLACs imported into iTunes by way of a handy little app called Set OggS have suddenly become unplayable, i.e. they are "dead".

From the same site, I also picked up Super Remove Dead Tracks. As the name suggests, it removes "dead" tracks.

That is fine and well. But obviously I don’t want to delete the FLACs, and I see no information on where the "trashed" files are moved to... Wrote an email to Doug asking. If I found out where they are, then I could merely re-import them via Set OggS.

Anyone have experience with this?
Is there a better way to "resuscitate" FLACs in iTunes?

Grateful for any suggestions!

-- ArcticStones
.

[Hal Itosis]

Quote: Originally Posted by ArcticStones . I did get massive duplicates, but following your advice, I purchased Dupin from Doug Adams. It required a loooong time, but Dupin nicely purged my duplicates. Great filtering controls! .

Hmm, then there is probably a significant path difference between those libraries. I do this almost daily, but the paths i deal with only differ by disk name. [i.e., /Volumes/thisStringDiffers/MP3s/ ] When i force my PowerBook library onto an iMac for example, iTunes sees that they only differ by the name of the target disk... and manages to clean up all the paths instantly, without producing a single duplicate.

Quote: Originally Posted by ArcticStones . From the same site, I also picked up Super Remove Dead Tracks. As the name suggests, it removes "dead" tracks. That is fine and well. But obviously I don’t want to delete the FLACs, and I see no information on where the "trashed" files are moved to... Wrote an email to Doug asking. If I found out where they are, then I could merely re-import them via Set OggS. Anyone have experience with this? .

I don't know anything about FLAC, but my understanding of Super Remove Dead Tracks leads me to conclude that it doesn't delete actual "files". It just removes library entries (text/strings/records) for items that iTunes has lost track of. Surely if they still exist physically, then Spotlight can find them?

Wish i could help more.

Anyone?

[ArcticStones]

.

Quote: Originally Posted by Hal Itosis ...my understanding of Super Remove Dead Tracks leads me to conclude that it doesn't delete actual "files". It just removes library entries (text/strings/records) for items that iTunes has lost track of. Surely if they still exist physically, then Spotlight can find them? Wish i could help more.

That would make sense.
And thanks for the suggestion of using Spotlight. That is helpful, and I just may be compelled to go that route. But first I’ll keep looking a bit to see if there are other alternatives.

I’ve searched and searched for solutions with FLACs & iTunes, to little avail so far. There just doesn’t seem to be anything elegant. The best would be a "plug-in" that allows iTunes to play FLACs natively. No such luck!

Perhaps I should start a different thread for that issue?

Thanks again!
.