Apple Launches iTunes Match with Release of iTunes 10.5.1 [Updated]

SOMETHING is happening to my iTunes library

iTunes tells you that you are free to use it while Match is setting up. So I am. And I've noticed one thing. I started the process with 4237 tracks, and iTunes is currently reporting 4242 items, midway through step 2. Not sure what the additional tracks are yet.

Additionally, there seem to be 'cloud' icons of various types next to songs, apparently indicating the state "matching, matched, not matched?" AND strangely enough, certain songs cannot be located at this time. Stuff from my own set, not iTunes purchases. When I tell itunes to locate them, it opens the folder up and I find that all of these older tracks have a '32' before them in the song title. So again, Something is happening to the library. Not sure if it will fix itself after the process is done or not yet.
 
I'd assume it runs the scan, fetches the meta-data, matches the song in the cloud, allocates a copy of the song to you, but replaces the meta-data with yours.

So now your cloud copy and local copy match, meta-data-wise, and if you delete your local copy you'll get the cloud copy which retained your custom tags/attributes[?]

That would be ultra-cool if that's what really happens. I assume then that this applies to all match and unmatched songs. It would even be cooler if in fact that meta-data such as lyrics gets transfered to your DEVICE when downloading from iCloud.

Can anyone verify this?

Tony
 
Looks like no return policy:


Dear Zachary,
This email confirms that you have purchased a 1-Year subscription to iTunes Match for $24.99 on 11/14/11. This subscription will automatically renew each year unless you turn it off no later than 24 hours before the end of your current subscription period. To cancel the automatic renewal of this subscription, sign in to iTunes with your Apple ID and go to your Account Information page.

Regards,
The iTunes Store team


I think you have like 15 days or so to cancel for a refund. At least us beta testers were given that option.
 
Can you pay more. Multiple of $25. if you have more songs? I have about 60K songs..


Posted this last night in a different thread, but it might help here too.

Been working with Match for a few weeks and thought I would post a FAQ type response here to what I see people asking over and over again.

1. When you enable Match it goes through a three step process. Analyzing your library, matching songs, uploading non-matched content. It does this for your whole library. You can't choose to exclude songs other than taking them out of your library.

2. If a song is matched, it becomes available to download in 256K AAC. If a song is not matched it is copied in its current format and bit rate up to 320K. If the file is Lossless however, it is converted (presumably by your computer) to a 256k AAC file and then uploaded.

3. Nothing happens to your local music when you run match. If you have a lower quality song that was matched you can remove it from your local library and then replace it with the 256k version. What happens is you delete the song, but the entry in iTunes stays, but a little cloud now shows up in a newly added column that shows you that you have a song that is in the cloud but not in your library. You can click on the cloud and it will download it to your local library, where again it is now permanently yours at the higher bit rate.

4. Match uses your meta-data. If you in an anal-retentive fashion have made lots of custom edits to your files, that is what gets copied to the cloud. Even if you replace your songs with the upgraded versions you keep your previous metal-data.

5. Your limit is 25,000 songs and purchased from iTunes don't count, but matched does. Again if you have personal recordings etc. they won't match (obviously) but will be copied to the cloud in their current format (see above for Lossless exception)

6. Songs below 100k (I couldn't tell if it was below 128K since I don't have any at 100k) are listed as ineligible and nothing happens with them.

7. iTunes runs match on any new material that is added. I.e. when you rip a new album it is matched or copied to the cloud depending on how the match worked. Also, when you change meta-data, it immediately moves that meta-data to the cloud. So, if you correct a name on your iMac, it fixes the name in match. However, if you already had it downloaded on your phone, it would not be changed. But if you delete if from your phone and download it again you would see the new information.

8. iTunes match is not an amnesty program. Because there is no way to prove that matched songs came from a legitimate source, you can't claim you "own" the songs simply because you have a matched version. The RIAA might still prove that your IP address downloaded a file and sue you. Also, since meta-data is preserved if there is a comment like "ripped by mega-thief" it's still going to be there, unless you clean it manually. This does reduce the likelihood that they could prove it was illegally obtained because it had say a specific bit-sum, but it was never a crime to be in possession of files if it couldn't be proven that you up or downloaded it. So, be aware, this does little to protect you from the RIAA.

9. You have reasonable control to get songs off the cloud that you don't want there, but if you keep it in any iTunes library that has match enabled, it will re-upload it when you update the library.

10. I still have a good number of non-obscure albums that end up with 9 out of 10 songs matching. So, when I download to my phone I end up with 9 256K AAC songs and 1 128k MP3. I don't like that.

There are probably more things that people are asking, but hopefully this helps relive some of the FUD about match.
 
I just finished with the sync process on my MacBook Pro. My iMac and iPhone are now joining. So far I am very impressed with this. I am watching my iMac rebuild the library exactly the way I had it on the MBP. Awesome! I've been wanting a feature like this forever. So far nothing bad to say.
 
Couple of questions:

1) Is there an option to download lower than 256kbps quality files? iTunes currently has an option to downsample any music synced to an iOS device or iPod to 128kbps; I'd hate to have to exchange freedom from syncing for files that waste twice as much of my limited iPhone space as before.

2) Is it enabled on PowerPC Macs / Macs running Leopard? Are there hardware requirements?
 
Thank you so much for this FAQ. I have some additional questions: if you answer them, please edit them into the FAQ for everyone to enjoy in one place.

3. Nothing happens to your local music when you run match. If you have a lower quality song that was matched you can remove it from your local library and then replace it with the 256k version.

Are the downloaded songs DRM Protected in any way? Some of my rips were done with early versions of iTunes and there are small skips/repeats in the material. And I have an early version of Rush's "Moving Pictures" CD with the first-song defect. I'd love to permanently replace them with better rips.

6. Songs below 100k (I couldn't tell if it was below 128K since I don't have any at 100k) are listed as ineligible and nothing happens with them.

Do you mean 100k bytes in size? Or are you talking about a bit rate of 100k bits per second?

10. I still have a good number of non-obscure albums that end up with 9 out of 10 songs matching. So, when I download to my phone I end up with 9 256K AAC songs and 1 128k MP3. I don't like that.

Any hints for us about why that happens?
 
Where does stolen music come from??
If I make a recording from a live show, That I paid to see, is that stolen??
If I bought say 50 cd's for $10 and downloaded to my computer is that stolen since the artist does not get his share??

Seems like CD's may have been a bad medium for artists to give their music to well anyone who had it and downloaded the music, they get paid once for the cd sale!
Can I borrow your cd's for an evening?
 
So can someone tell me....how does the process work?

You sign up for Match and it...well....matches your music. Does it give you a report allowing you to see what's going to happen.....or does it just start downloading/uploading stuff?

-Kevin

I too am interested to see how this works? I am also wondering if you stop the service do you get to keep the files? I am looking at the iTunes site right now and there isn't any info showing up right now.
 
Is anyone else having trouble getting past step 1 (gathering information). My setup seems to be stuck on this stage. Initially I was getting errors saying my iTunes library couldn't be saved but after clicking "don't show me this again" now it just stays stuck. This is really frustrating!
 
I love the idea of Match and would have paid the annual fee to have my library in the Cloud, available on all of my devices. Unfortunately, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I have entirely too much music. I thought I might be in the ballpark of the 25,000 song limit but when I actually looked I am hovering right around 56,700. Majorly bummed. :(
 
Up here in Canada

So Software Update is not showing this version of iTunes yet here in Canada. I'm guessing I should not proceed with the Website download until it does. Or is it safe to go ahead and it will be ready when Canadians can sign up?
 
I too am interested to see how this works? I am also wondering if you stop the service do you get to keep the files? I am looking at the iTunes site right now and there isn't any info showing up right now.

This is my biggest concern too.
 
Thank you so much for this FAQ. I have some additional questions: if you answer them, please edit them into the FAQ for everyone to enjoy in one place.



Are the downloaded songs DRM Protected in any way? Some of my rips were done with early versions of iTunes and there are small skips/repeats in the material. And I have an early version of Rush's "Moving Pictures" CD with the first-song defect. I'd love to permanently replace them with better rips.



Do you mean 100k bytes in size? Or are you talking about a bit rate of 100k bits per second?



Any hints for us about why that happens?

Songs have no DRM. Yes 100K bit rate, actually I think it is 96K.
 
Have a question for beta testers or those that know...

I have my 12,000 song library on my home PC.
I turn on iTunes Match.

I have zero songs on my work PC, I install iTunes and authorize the computer.

I buy a new CD at lunch time and rip it to my work PC.

Will Match take those songs and upload/match to the cloud and when I get home, I will see them in my library?

It should...
 
Music with low bitrates seems like it's not eligible.
 

Attachments

  • iTunes-1.jpg
    iTunes-1.jpg
    74.6 KB · Views: 353
Anyone know if iTunes 10.5.1 fixes the scrolling issue?

It was reported fixed in the last beta in that thread as well as the last thread here about Match.


What? Why was beta 3 released the other day if they were going to release this so soon?

To test it a bit. With OSX 10.7.2 they ended up releasing a beta that never even went to outside testers first.

it found several songs that weren't eligible for the service.

Were they at a bitrate below 128k?


Does anyone know if the downloaded replacement songs maintain your meta-data (lyrics, genres, etc)?

It has maintained meta data for a while. In the last Match thread someone confirmed that this latest build finally added lyrics.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top