iTunes: Building Library / iPod Synch for MP3s on Network (Newbie)

[ICEBreaker]

Dear fellow Apple users,

I've just gotten an iMac and iPod, and so have a simple question to ask. However, I could not find the answer on this or other forums.

I have all my media files (inclusive of MP3s) on my PC/XP, which is acting as a file server for the Mac. I've setup the networking, and can find my files on Finder. I now wish to place these MP3s onto my iPod. How do I do this?

Can I just drag and drop the folders right into the iPod? My iPod appears under DEVICES in iTunes, but it does not appear under DEVICES in Finder. Therefore, I cannot drag and drop files into it.

I know another way would be way would be to add the MP3s to the Library first and manage it from there. However, I am having trouble doing this. I assume one should use File > Add to Library. However, what this does is to copy all my MP3s from my networked PC all the way to the Mac! I don't want those media files on my Mac! I have 1.5TB of data on my PC but only 250GB on my Mac.

I must be doing something wrong. Can someone kindly teach me how to move MP3s from my networked PC to the iPod through the Mac? Thanks!!

JC

 

[Blue Velvet]

Go to iTunes preferences, and use the Advanced options to locate your library in a specific place... syncing the iPod by iTunes is the sane and proper way to do things.

 

[ICEBreaker]

Thank you Blue Velvet for pointing out the relevant settings under PREFERENCES > ADVANCED. I unchecked the ORGANISE and COPY functions.

However, I've got an extra problem. iTunes works well if you bought the MP3 online, or ripped it from a CD. However, a lot of the music I have are songs that were encoded unprofessionally (mainly Games and Anime) and therefore do not come with complete MP3 IDs. I keep these organised under different folders. But once imported to iTunes, they are all over the place, and ungrouped. How do I group them together?

Thanks!

 

[ICEBreaker]

Everything worked well. But now it seems as if I am having some new problems. I don't seem to be able to add any new files to the library. Whenever I attempt to do so, nothing happens. It is as if I never issued the command. Could anyone point of if I am doing something obviously wrong?

Under Preferences > Advanced:
UNCHECKED Keep iTunes Music Folder Organised
UNCHECKED Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library

Other than that, I don't think I've changed any other settings from the default. I was able to add a whole bunch to MP3s from one network folder to the library before, but now I cannot do so with another folder.

Thank you!!