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iPad Pro How to Copy Audio Files to iPad?

N

Newbert

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 17, 2015
138
18
Sigh -- Even after a few years of using an iPad, I still find it frustrating to accomplish some things which should be simple.

Unlike most users, I generally DON'T use my iPad for music. However, now that I'm taking music lessons I finally have a need to transfer music files to my iPad and, for the life of me, I can't figure out how it's done. Please note that I already have the files I need in iTunes on my PC (Somehow, I was able to manage that....)- but I can't figure out how to transfer those files so they reside on the iPad. I know that's probably a simple thing to do, but my feeble mind can't figure it out.

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks.
 
joeblow7777 said:
I know that I'm beating a dead horse but this is why iOS needs a file management system. It shouldn't take multiple 3rd party apps and a tutorial just to transfer some audio files.
Click to expand...

It doesn't. OP already had the files in iTunes, and had no idea how to sync his iPad. Unless he left out some crucial details, this has nothing whatsoever to do with a "file management system". You really are completely fixated on this silly complaint.
 
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M. Gustave said:
It doesn't. OP already had the files in iTunes, and had no idea how to sync his iPad. Unless he left out some crucial details, this has nothing whatsoever to do with a "file management system". You really are completely fixated on this silly complaint.
Click to expand...

It shouldn't even require iTunes. It may seem silly to you, but to me, this is the main thing that sets iOS devices apart from actual "computers". I get that you don't agree an that you've achieved an iOS only workflow but for me (and many others) the restrictions and sandboxing can be a bit frustrating when you're accustomed to having so much more control with a simple "save as" or "open with" command. Or a drag and drop.
 
joeblow7777 said:
It shouldn't even require iTunes.
Click to expand...

It doesn't, which you of course know already, but that's the road the OP was already on. Or did you not even read the original post? Simply seizing an opportunity to bleet on about how much better iOS would be if only it could work like Windows?

Yes, if only I could sit at my desk, with a mouse and keyboard plugged into the USB ports on my iPad, and an external monitor plugged into the hdmi port, and then I could click around in Windo... er, I mean iOS Explorer all day, renaming files, deleting operating system files, dragging and dropping stuff. Ah, what a sweet sweet dream that would be...
 
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M. Gustave said:
It doesn't, which you of course know already, but that's the road the OP was already on. Or did you not even read the original post? Simply seizing an opportunity to bleet on about how much better iOS would be if only it could work like Windows?

Yes, if only I could sit at my desk, with a mouse and keyboard plugged into the USB ports on my iPad, and an external monitor plugged into the hdmi port, and then I could click around in Windo... er, I mean iOS Explorer all day, renaming files, deleting operating system files, dragging and dropping stuff. Ah, what a sweet sweet dream that would be...
Click to expand...


You know, you don't have to keep arguing with me about this. We can just agree to disagree. I respect that your way works for you. I'm not trying to convince you of anything and you don't have to try and convince me either. Different viewpoints, different users, different opinions, end of story.

But out of curiosity, how would you suggest getting music onto an iPad without using iTunes or a third party app. iCloud Drive? Can an MP3 in your iCloud Drive be sent to your music library and stored locally rather than on the cloud? I'm honestly asking. I've always synced music through iTunes. I'm not always sure what apps can interact with what other apps.
 
joeblow7777 said:
It shouldn't even require iTunes. It may seem silly to you, but to me, this is the main thing that sets iOS devices apart from actual "computers". I get that you don't agree an that you've achieved an iOS only workflow but for me (and many others) the restrictions and sandboxing can be a bit frustrating when you're accustomed to having so much more control with a simple "save as" or "open with" command. Or a drag and drop.
Click to expand...

This is also the reason why iOS devices are immune to viruses. They are locked down pretty good.
 
joeblow7777 said:
But out of curiosity, how would you suggest getting music onto an iPad without using iTunes or a third party app.
Click to expand...

Why is a "third party app" off limits? Nearly the whole App Store is third party apps, and it's one of the best things about buying into the Apple 'ecosystem'.

I personally get music onto my devices via Apple Music. But if I had to listen to a special file someone gave me, I would just pop it in my wireless card reader (which can also access USB sticks, and hard drives).
 
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Eric5273 said:
This is also the reason why iOS devices are immune to viruses. They are locked down pretty good.
Click to expand...

True. I'm not saying that iOS is without its advantages. It's definitely smooth, stable, and secure.

M. Gustave said:
Why is a "third party app" off limits? Nearly the whole App Store is third party apps, and it's one of the best things about buying into the Apple 'ecosystem'.

I personally get music onto my devices via Apple Music. But if I had to listen to a special file someone gave me, I would just pop it in my wireless card reader (which can also access USB sticks, and hard drives).
Click to expand...

Nothing against 3rd party apps but you said neither they nor iTunes were needed for this so I was curious what other options there were. Although, since you asked, I do feel that content management should be better integrated into iOS itself (ie. a file management system) but you already know my thoughts on that so we don't need to go over it again.

I've never given much thought to a wireless card reader though. I can see how that would be a handy accessory. I usually use iTunes or a cloud storage option to move content from my PCs to my iPad.
 
joeblow7777 said:
Nothing against 3rd party apps but you said neither they nor iTunes were needed for this
Click to expand...

As far as I can tell, all Gustave said was iTunes wasn't required. He didn't say one thing or other about third party apps.

Personally, when I want to transfer just a few music files to my iPad (as opposed to syncing my entire music library), I tend to upload files to OneDrive or Dropbox, or transfer them to the iPad using FileBrowser.
 
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M. Gustave said:
No, I said iTunes wasn't required. I said nothing about third party apps.
Click to expand...

Night Spring said:
As far as I can tell, all Gustave said was iTunes wasn't required. He didn't say one thing or other about third party apps.

Personally, when I want to transfer just a few music files to my iPad (as opposed to syncing my entire music library), I tend to upload files to OneDrive or Dropbox, or transfer them to the iPad using FileBrowser.
Click to expand...

Sorry. I misunderstood.
 
The OP already had the files in iTunes - I just would have thrown all of the files I wanted on the iPad into a playlist, then downloaded that playlist onto the iPad.

But, yes, you can also use iCloud drive to get files over. The downside is, in the case of mp3's it seems to use quicktime, not iTunes to play them (heh...and doesn't continue playback in the background - not a really rich user experience there) :)
Best to go the iTunes route for mp3's or other audio files it supports.
 
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