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How to synchronize folder with iTunes?

G

Gary King

macrumors 6502
Original poster
How can I synchronize a folder with iTunes, so that any files I add to the folder will be automatically added to iTunes?
 
Why not just drag'n'drop the files to the iTunes dock icon (or any playlist in iTunes app)?

This wouldn't by any chance be a folder where files magically appear from the web, would it...? 🙄
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
This wouldn't by any chance be a folder where files magically appear from the web, would it...? 🙄
Click to expand...

Maybe he's just ripping his music cd's. 😀
 
Hey,

I'm looking for a solution similar to Gary's. I often download a bunch of tracks from epitonic, download.com, and purevolume, to try out new bands. I like to listen to all of them at a time, in a playlist, instead of randomly trying to find them in my library. I put them in a separate folder [for the new tracks] when downloading them, so after listening the music after a few times, I can decide whether to delete the songs or move them into my library. I'd prefer not be required to have select each track in the library and then move it over to the playlist...

I tried to use the script mentioned above, however, I can't get it to work on itunes 6.0.0 🙁
[using tiger, iBook G4]

If there's another version of this script besides Doug's, that could accomplish this, that would be appreciated.

Thanks,
will.
 
Maybe I am not understanding this correctly, but what about just plopping those new songs in the itunes folder (say, by having a shortcut on your desktop that points to 'unknown artist' or whatever) and then have iTunes do a rescan of your library (do File, Add to Library and choose your iTunes folder) ?

Agreed, it's not completely automatic, but it's not exactly hard either...
 
Make a smart playlist in iTunes set to only contain songs that were added 'today'. Then drag your files in whenever and they'll all be in that playlist.
 
Gary King said:
My iTunes is on my Windows XP, not OS X 🙂
Click to expand...
I agree with Blaster Boy. It's really not hard to do this "manually".

Then again it also shouldn't be hard to do this as a script using the COM interface SDK either. http://developer.apple.com/sdk/itunescomsdk.html

Looks like a simple call to the AddFiles method should do the trick, you could proabably build something out of the RemoveDeadTracks.js example. Select the library and directory and your most of the way there...

B
 
Gary King said:
This is an old thread. I have a solution already.
Click to expand...


would you like to share that solution with us 😀

EDIT:

I've found a solution to my issue - Audion3 [an audio player] has the feature to link a playlist to a folder.

Regards,
keyshawn
 
I simply added the new songs to my main 'Audio' folder (which contains folders with each letter in the alphabet, and each letter is the first letter of my artists. So, 'The Beatles' would go in 'Audio\B\Beatles' folder 🙂)

And then every so often, I would simply re-add my entire Audio folder and it would only add the new songs and not remove anything. Also, I have a script that I use on Windows to remove dead tracks.
 
I'm back...Audion3 is constantly crashing after playing a song or two. This happens even if I don't directly link the playlist to the folder.

So, I'm at square one again...If you can help me out, that would be great,


thanks,
keyshawn
 
keyshawn said:
I'm back...Audion3 is constantly crashing after playing a song or two. This happens even if I don't directly link the playlist to the folder.

So, I'm at square one again...If you can help me out, that would be great,


thanks,
keyshawn
Click to expand...
How about using the solution that I used?
 
Gary King said:
How about using the solution that I used?
Click to expand...

Sorry Gary for not clarifying myself previously. What I'm trying to do, is create a playlist is specifically plays a only one folder of songs, separate from the rest of the songs in my library. I want to listen to this folder of 'newer' songs (I use 'newer' loosely, because I can't simply use the 'date added' or 'date modified' options in the smart playlist. This is because there's some songs in my library that have recently been retagged and in my library, I have albums that I've just ripped after purchasing, and don't want them included into the playlist)
After listening to the new songs for a couple times, I'll decide to move them pernamently into my main library and tag them properly [a bit time consuming, as it's indie artists and I don't want to waste time if I'm not going to keep the songs].

Meh, it wasn't this hard in winamp or xmms.... I'd just create a playlist simply including only that folder and no more.
[sorry for the slight bitterness...My post sounds specific, but I just like to be in control and like things to how they were previously organized].

[Maybe I'll just have to make a script in applescript, 🙁 ]

thanks,
will.
 
Gary King said:
And then every so often, I would simply re-add my entire Audio folder and it would only add the new songs and not remove anything. Also, I have a script that I use on Windows to remove dead tracks.
Click to expand...

I'm using WinXP. What script is it that you're using?
 
I was searching for a way to do this too when I came across this thread. Personally I don't trust iTunes to tamper with my music. I manually organise my collection exactly how I like it and want it to stay that way. What I'd like to happen is for iTunes to periodically scan my music folder and synchronise it with the iTunes playlist so that it includes any new additions and removes any tracks I've deleted.

If it wasn't for the shuffle feature I'd probably abandon iTunes altogether and just play music an album at a time using something like VLC.
 
Dreamkatcha said:
I was searching for a way to do this too when I came across this thread. Personally I don't trust iTunes to tamper with my music. I manually organise my collection exactly how I like it and want it to stay that way. What I'd like to happen is for iTunes to periodically scan my music folder and synchronise it with the iTunes playlist so that it includes any new additions and removes any tracks I've deleted.

If it wasn't for the shuffle feature I'd probably abandon iTunes altogether and just play music an album at a time using something like VLC.
Click to expand...

Wow, I've been saying this exact same thing forever now. I love iTunes layout, but I absolutely refuse to let it run my music... I need my own folder to back everything up. I think what you're looking to do would be perfect, but of course I myself have no solution. Anyone?😀
 
I've finally found a program how to do this !

It's called playlistbot [on VT: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14078 ], and available for the OS x'ers !!! I'm using it on iTunes 6.0.0. and have had no problems with it !

The only minor quibble, is that, in addition to adding the folder and its songs, it also creates a separate playlist for each and every subfolder in the original parent folder.

Other than that - totally solves my dilemma !!

Thanks,
keyshawn
 
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