Help With iTunes

[aaron_wsu]

I am really enjoying using iTunes, however I have one issue. I have some mp3s on my powerbook, and I have some on an external hard drive. Now if I open iTunes and my external hdd isnt plugged in, all the files still show up in the library. This is a problem because I don't know which files are available when the external hdd is not plugged in.

Is there a way to tell iTunes to check certain locations for files everytime I open it? So it checks my hdd on the pb and the location on the external hdd and only puts what files are available in the library?

Please help me with this as I am getting very frustrated with this aspect of iTunes. Thank you very much everyone!

[stoid]

Well, you could put a copy of the iTunes Library file on the external HD and make an alias of that, and an alias of one library file when the library contains only music on your laptop. Then just switch them depending on whether the external HD is plugged in or not. I think that works.

[aaron_wsu]

what about if i want all of them in the library? if i have the external hdd plugged in plus the ones on my internal hdd? Thanks for your help, I just got my very first mac yesterday :D pb G4 1.33Ghz

[stoid]

Congrats on the new Mac!

Anyway, I didn't realize that you are new to the Mac, so I'll explain in more detail, since much of my previous post would require that you have decent experience with the Mac. Let's see if I can explain simpler.

First off, iTunes keeps track of where each song file is located in a single file. This file is located in your home folder in Music/iTunes/iTunes Music Library. What I am suggesting is that you make two copies of this Library file. This would best be done by duplicating the file now when all your music is in your library, then modifying the original to contain only music on your laptop HD. Then move the copy to the external drive and the original to some other location. Make an alias (like the Windows shortcut files) of each and simply place the appropriate alias in the Music/iTunes directory depending on whether or not the external drive is plugged in.

[Awimoway]

If you want all of them in one library, you need to put all of them in one library. Is there a reason you need to keep some of them separate from each other, on different drives? It seems like the easiest way would be to keep them all on the same drive, together. This is easily done. iTunes will move and organize all of your music to your internal hard drive if you let it. In iTunes, go to the preferences and, under the Advanced tab, select "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library."

Otherwise, no, I don't know how you would do this. But I wonder if there is an Applescript out there that would do it for you when you open iTunes. I would Google for iTunes and AppleScripts and see what you come up with. There are a lot of free scripts out there that people have written. Perhaps one will cater to your need. But it would obviously take a little time every occasion that you open iTunes while it scans the whole drive or folder on each respective drive.

Frankly, it doesn't sound like your setup is a very good one.

[bella716]

How can I convert AAC's to mp3's? Please help would be appreciated very much. My itunes won't let me burn any songs, is this because they were free from the pepsi promotion? Really would like to know how to convert since I can't burn, tried everything. Thanks! :)

[stoid]

How can I convert AAC's to mp3's? Please help would be appreciated very much. My itunes won't let me burn any songs, is this because they were free from the pepsi promotion? Really would like to know how to convert since I can't burn, tried everything. Thanks! :)

Have you tried to just do a regular Audio CD? I have not had problems making Audio CDs with iTMS music Pepsi or otherwise. Regular AAC's (not DRMed) can be converted to mp3, by setting mp3 as your import choice in iTunes preferences and then selecting "Convert to mp3" from the Advanced menu.

[bella716]

Have you tried to just do a regular Audio CD? I have not had problems making Audio CDs with iTMS music Pepsi or otherwise. Regular AAC's (not DRMed) can be converted to mp3, by setting mp3 as your import choice in iTunes preferences and then selecting "Convert to mp3" from the Advanced menu.

[aaron_wsu]

Thank you for the help. The reason that I want to do this is as follows: I keep my entire music collection stored on my external hdd, so as to not take up all the space on my pb, plus i have ~80gb in my collection. So when I am at home or at work and i have the external hdd with me it is no problem. If i want to take some music with me when traveling, then i can transfer some music to my pb for the trip. Or, if i want to go to the coffee shop for the afternoon in a matter of minutes i can transfer music to my pb that i would like to listen to that day, much more convenient that lugging my external hdd along with me and trying to find a plug to power it. I thought this was really the best option since i have such a large music collection.

[Frisco]

http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/itinfo/ituneslibrarymanager.php

Doug Adam's iTunes Library Manager is what you need. This AppleScript applet creates backup copies of your iTunes 4 Library database file, so you can save and load different music libraries.

[jemeinc]

http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/itinfo/ituneslibrarymanager.php

Doud Adam's iTunes Library Manager is what you need. This AppleScript applet creates backup copies of your iTunes 4 Library database file, so you can save and load different music libraries.

I can't play any of my purchased music w/ iPhoto now... WTF???? I haven't tried iMovie yet, I wonder if it will work there...

[aaron_wsu]

Stoid and Frisco, thank you guys so much for the help. i love this forum, and my new powerbook, so glad i made the switch!

[Frisco]

I can't play any of my purchased music w/ iPhoto now... WTF???? I haven't tried iMovie yet, I wonder if it will work there...

You need to update Quicktime. See if it's in Software Update. If not:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/products/qt/