How to Use iTunes Match With Very Large iTunes Libraries

[MacRumors]

With today's release of iTunes Match, some users with very large music libraries are discovering an annoying restriction. Those with non-iTunes Music Store libraries with more than 25,000 songs are unable to activate iTunes Match. There simply isn't an option to select only certain songs to upload to iCloud. Fortunately, Macworld has a quixotic but effective solution.

iTunes has the ability to access multiple music libraries. By separating out the songs to sync with the songs not to sync, it is possible to force iTunes under iTunes Match's 25,000 song limit.

To do that, quit iTunes, hold down the Option key, and launch iTunes. You'll be prompted to create a new library or choose a different library. Choose the option to create a new library. iTunes will open and you'll have nary a tune in your library.

Move to the Store menu and choose Turn on iTunes Match. You'll be prompted for your Apple ID and password. Enter them and click OK and iTunes will switch on iTunes Match. Now open iTunes' preferences, click the Advanced preference, and uncheck the Copy Files to iTunes Media Folder When Adding to Library option and click OK. This will prevent iTunes from generating duplicates when you follow the next step.

Rather than steal all their thunder, head to Macworld for the full instructions.

Article Link: How to Use iTunes Match With Very Large iTunes Libraries

 

[alphaod]

I'm curious though, so I have my library "matched" what happens to when I import more music? Does it get matched again or what?

 

[andreiru]

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Haha, thanks.

 

[5H3PH3RD]

Wow, what a way to write an article..... write half of it, then just as its getting to the main bit refer you to another website. Nice job

 

[whammink]

Verdict?

Most (99% probably) of my music does not come from iTunes. In that case, and with an iPhone and iPod that are full to bursting with music, is iTunes Match worth the cost?

 

[wmmf]

Does the author know the definition of the word "quixotic"? It usually means fruitless, ineffective, idealistic yet unrealistic, etc.

 

[whammink]

Does the author know the definition of the word "quixotic"? It usually means fruitless, ineffective, idealistic yet unrealistic, etc.

It also means impractical, which was the author's intent.

 

[Singin Hobo]

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25k? That's a loooooooooot of stolen music.

 

[foodog]

Most (99% probably) of my music does not come from iTunes. In that case, and with an iPhone and iPod that are full to bursting with music, is iTunes Match worth the cost?

Sure is. You iPhone will now have your entire music library at hand..... as long as you have an internet connection. iPod maybe not as worth it unless you are always near Wi-Fi.

 

[Drumjim85]

I'm curious though, so I have my library "matched" what happens to when I import more music? Does it get matched again or what?

Every time music is imported it scans those files.

 

[0098386]

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25k? That's a loooooooooot of stolen music.

I've got around 13k songs. 20 are from iTunes when they gave out free music through Coca Cola, 2 albums were free from eMusic. The rest are free game rips, ripped CDs, massive chunk of music from musician friends, ripped parents records.

You can have a "looooooot" of music outside of the iTunes store without it being stolen.

 

[rediffusion]

Will I lose the contents of songs in playlists by doing this?

 

[Eduardo1971]

I have 20,925 song and iTunes is taking quit a bit of time matching those songs...

 

[pooryou]

I have over 25k songs but I have enough of them unchecked to be well under 25k checked songs. I don't suppose you can have iTunes Match ignore checked songs? Of course that would be far too easy and sensible...

 

[KeithJenner]

I have over 25k songs but I have enough of them unchecked to be well under 25k checked songs. I don't suppose you can have iTunes Match ignore checked songs? Of course that would be far too easy and sensible...

Nope. It may come though.

 

[acfusion29]

I've got around 13k songs. 20 are from iTunes when they gave out free music through Coca Cola, 2 albums were free from eMusic. The rest are free game rips, ripped CDs, massive chunk of music from musician friends, ripped parents records.

You can have a "looooooot" of music outside of the iTunes store without it being stolen.

and i doubt you even listen to more than 5% of your music.

 

[KeithJenner]

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25k? That's a loooooooooot of stolen music.

This is the assumption that many people make.

I have been collecting CD's for almost 25 years now. I also used eMusic to get a couple of thousand songs when that was very cheap (around 10p a track). I currently have around 39,000 fully legal songs in my collection.

It doesn't work out as very much spending per year over that sort of time.

 

[baryon]

Isn't it just easier to use the USB cable to sync music? It's not like you need to keep all your music in sync on a daily basis, I only acquire new songs every once in a while. And if you have more than 25 000 songs, you probably have enough for quite some time, so you can probably wait until you get home and plug in your iPhone to sync.

 

[Kid A]

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25k? That's a loooooooooot of stolen music.

eye no rite?! cuz lyke alluv my 1,000s of CDs that i've purchased over the past 25 years and ripped over the past 10 years are like totally stolen. i didn't invest countless amounts of money into them or anything.

worst. comment. EVER.

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and i doubt you even listen to more than 5% of your music.

i neg'd you for making a highly specious, probably false, assumption... not for "having an opinion" as your sig suggests.

 

[DigMe]

I have 20,925 song and iTunes is taking quit a bit of time matching those songs...

Ya think?

bc

 

[KeithJenner]

Isn't it just easier to use the USB cable to sync music? It's not like you need to keep all your music in sync on a daily basis, I only acquire new songs every once in a while. And if you have more than 25 000 songs, you probably have enough for quite some time, so you can probably wait until you get home and plug in your iPhone to sync.

But it's nice to be able to listen to that album that you want without having to go home and sync.

It's also nice to have your music available without filling up your Phone with music. I saved £100 by getting a 16gb Phone rather than 32gb. iTunes Match upcoming was a significant factor in my decision.

 

[blue22]

two quick questions...

I read somewhere that iTunes Match is offering 256 kbps matches, but what if you have imported songs with a higher kbps setting than this, does iTunes Match skip over these files or do they overwrite it with the 256 kbps version?

Also, can anyone give us some idea on how long the matching process takes? Say for a library of 12,500 songs?

Thanks.

 

[KeithJenner]

I read somewhere that iTunes Match is offering 256 kbps matches, but what if you have imported songs with a higher kbps setting than this, does iTunes Match skip over these files or do they overwrite it with the 256 kbps version?

Also, can anyone give us some idea on how long the matching process takes? Say for a library of 12,500 songs?

Thanks.

I believe that matches everything that it can, so it will use the 256kbps version.

It doesn't overwrite anything though. Your higher quality version stays on your computer.

 

[pooryou]

I use Smart Playlists to select my music from my extensive library. IMO this is the best way to use iTunes, particularly with a large well-tagged library.

Is iCloud smart enough to auto populate Smart Playlists on the fly? If not then I don't really see how useful it will be anyway.

Going back to managing music manually on a per-song or per-album basis? I don't think so!

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Nope. It may come though.

I wonder what would happen if I changed all of my unchecked songs to audiobooks.

 

[KeithJenner]

I wonder what would happen if I changed all of my unchecked songs to audiobooks.

I think that will work, but for me that would cause bigger problems.