iTunes Duplicates and Compilations

[AppleInLVX]

I did a search, but it's hard to find this exact issue, as there's tons of "clean your iTunes Library" threads and apps.

So, I have a bunch of tracks that appear on their respective albums as well as on compilation discs. If I find the dupes, I either bugger the album or the compilation. Is there some way to link the album version in the compilation listing so as not to destroy the compilation, and yet still have no duplicates in the library?

It's probably not possible to have the right cover art for each, but substituting the song might be doable in my mind... actual fact is another thing.

Any iTunes gurus know the answer?

Thanks!

 

[GGJstudios]

So, I have a bunch of tracks that appear on their respective albums as well as on compilation discs. If I find the dupes, I either bugger the album or the compilation. Is there some way to link the album version in the compilation listing so as not to destroy the compilation, and yet still have no duplicates in the library?

No, there's not a way to do this. For one thing, song versions may be different between albums (acoustic, live performance, etc.). Some albums are remastered from originals and sound somewhat different. And, of course, artwork would be different. Since I'm more interested in protecting the integrity of my albums, as you mentioned, I'm fine with having close to 4,000 duplicates.

 

[AppleInLVX]

No, there's not a way to do this. For one thing, song versions may be different between albums (acoustic, live performance, etc.). Some albums are remastered from originals and sound somewhat different. And, of course, artwork would be different. Since I'm more interested in protecting the integrity of my albums, as you mentioned, I'm fine with having close to 4,000 duplicates.

Yeah, I feared that was the case. OK. Thank you for letting me know! I will keep 'the integrity' at the expense of the size of my collection.

 

[GGJstudios]

Yeah, I feared that was the case. OK. Thank you for letting me know! I will keep 'the integrity' at the expense of the size of my collection.

If storage space is a concern, particularly with a portable computer, you could split your library, keeping your favorite music on the internal drive so it's available when you're on the move, with the remainder on external drives.

How to split a single iTunes library over two or more media locations

 

[AppleInLVX]

If storage space is a concern, particularly with a portable computer, you could split your library, keeping your favorite music on the internal drive so it's available when you're on the move, with the remainder on external drives.

Thank you for this. As of right now, I have the entire library on an external drive, so storage space isn't a concern...yet. The issue is that the more movies I add, the worse it gets. This method is one I may explore to segregate the music from the movies. If I get another drive for video, I'd be sitting pretty for a long time.

Cheers!