iTunes Match - so how does it work? I cannot see any progress after subscribing.

[pax-eterna]

Subscribed to iTunes Match yesterday (with a sub to Apple Music also) but I have not seen any evidence that it is actually working.

I have Synced checked on iPhone and on the Mac, as well as automatically add to library, and I'd like to get my full library "physically" on both mu phone and Mac. IE I do not want to rely on wi-fi access to listen to the music. So I would need to know how to do this.

Last time I had anything to do with iTunes or music on a pc was with iTunes on a PC.

 

[Diskutant]

Apple Music already includes iTunes match with the only difference being with Match the downloaded tracks aren't copy protected, with Apple Music the downloaded tracks are copy protected and you need to be online at least once every 30 days or so.

Now to understanding your problem: Do you see your full library on every device? If so, you have to click download. I guess the easiest way is to create a smart playlist which contains every track and then click download to downloaded all tracks.

 

[pax-eterna]

Umm, nope sorry - I went through this yesterday with the Apple tech...you only get the option for iTunes Match with an Apple Music sub, and then the Match sub is an additional $34 a year. (mind you I am in Oz and it may be different in the USA???) I too THOUGHT match came with a Music sub but apparently not.

They do not even offer a 1 month trial as a MAC (available as a new purchaser within 90 days) does not qualify as a device for that (should have done it on the iPhone I think). The three month trial for the MAC, for example, is ONLY available for Apple TV+ or Apple One. Apple have all sorts of qualifying rules that are not abundantly clear when researching haha!

Yes I have now deleted all my ripped music (from my purchased CD's) and I am going to start from scratch again and this time instead of manually dragging and dropping I will try the Automatically add folder method and/or the import method (from file menu)

 

[hg.wells]

This document details what you should see:

Subscribe to iTunes Match - Apple Support

iTunes Match gives you access to all of your music on all of your devices, even songs that you've imported from other sources such as CDs.

support.apple.com

 

[Diskutant]

Umm, nope sorry - I went through this yesterday with the Apple tech...you only get the option for iTunes Match with an Apple Music sub, and then the Match sub is an additional $34 a year. (mind you I am in Oz and it may be different in the USA???) I too THOUGHT match came with a Music sub but apparently not.

Ok, what did they say does iTunes Match do that Apple Music doesn't?
But I'm like 100% sure what I said is true. Here is what Apple says:

If songs are missing from your music library after you turn on Sync Library - Apple Support

Make sure that all of your devices have Sync Library turned on and signed in with the same Apple ID that you use with Apple Music. If your music library is stored on your computer, check the cloud status of songs to find missing music and resolve issues.

support.apple.com

The first sentence is:

If you subscribe to Apple Music or iTunes Match, you can access your music library on all of your devices.

Here is another source for that: https://www.tunefab.com/apple-music/itunes-match-vs-apple-music.html#part3

And this isn't a US thing. I'm in the EU.

 

[pax-eterna]

Thanks...Not really looking for this to be an argument of any sort...I' am just paraphrasing what I was advised...iTunes match sorts your library and REPLACES yours with (in some cases where available) lossless versions from the Apple library. Even if the existing version is only 128k. In all cases the minimum is the stereo AAC 256.

And yes all music is available on all platforms.

Apple Music (viz Amazon, Spotify et al) is a totally different thing as it is a live music streaming service. FWIW $34 a year for the match service is fine. Apple music at $12 a month is a little but higher than I've been paying, but I'm trying to become involved in the "whole" Apple experience for a while and see where it leads - I was windows and an iphone, now I have a mac, iphone and a couple of ipads too haha!

 

[Diskutant]

I didn't want to argue, just tried to help and explain. :/

 

[pax-eterna]

I didn't want to argue, just tried to help and explain. :/

No probs ?

 

[TightLines]

Has anyone ever solved this? I have a subscription to iTunes Match and also have subscription to Apple Music… i want to have my music library sync across all my devices via the cloud or just automatically, but is seems on the new devices that have Music on them by default there is no access to my library, nor a way via an iDevice to add my library. My library is currently on an old unsupported Mac running iTunes which I love… I wish apple wold give us back the original iTunes for managing our own music… let them have Music for streaming, but for library‘s iTunes was the best in viewing, organizing, getting info on, for album art work, etc… So can someone tell me how this has been handled and what have people had to do with their old libraries, some which I am sure are quite extensive such as mine… i could play music for 30+ days and never hear the same song 2x… Someone tell me how to get this music to sync to my other devices - primarily my iPad and iPhone…

I picked this topic out of the many on here that touches on the subject… should I have created a new thread specific to my question??

 

[kitKAC]

Music and iTunes Match both contain iCloud Music Library, you don't need to have both. I subscribe to Apple Music and everything that I've ripped from CD's is either uploaded to the library or matched to tracks in Music.

My Library is on my Personal Mac, copied in full to my iPhone, and available via iCloud Music library on my work Mac and iPad.

On the iDevices, go into Settings, Music and switch on Sync Library. In the Music App/iTunes, in the preferences switch on Sync Library there as well.

 

[pax-eterna]

Just to jump in here, sorry...but in my case I too have a sub to Music Match and all Syncing does is sync my existing library (all MP3) to all devices....as I understand it, Musicmatch is SUPPOSED to replace your entire library with AAC High quality versions (assuming the title is in the Apple library).

I've been subsribed for nearly four months now and nothing has happened. Oh and according to Apple (Australia) Music Match is NO longer included in Apple Music Sub...it is a separate payment and service now.

 

[NoBoMac]

Match "replacing" is not truly replacing, it just gives you access to AAC HQ verisions of the songs.

When Match turns on, it just matches, tags the library as such, no downloads to minimize network traffic. After Match has matched, you need to delete the tracks off the Mac and then download new versions of the files to get the AAC HQ versions locally.

 

[pax-eterna]

Match "replacing" is not truly replacing, it just gives you access to AAC HQ verisions of the songs.

When Match turns on, it just matches, tags the library as such, no downloads to minimize network traffic. After Match has matched, you need to delete the tracks off the Mac and then download new versions of the files to get the AAC HQ versions locally.

Ahhh, ok...thanks! And if it's a windows PC, with no itunes installed?
I am predominantly using my iDevices for music playback these days, so didn't really need iTunes.
If I delete the MP3's from my iPhone/iPads, I should be able to download the AAC's from my Apple Music account, yes?

 

[NoBoMac]

Correct, iOS devices work the same re: need to delete off the device to get the HQ version.

 

[pax-eterna]

Correct, iOS devices work the same re: need to delete off the device to get the HQ version.

Just tried an experiment by deleting a few songs, went to iTunes store and those songs are only available for sale...no d/l available. Although if I looked for the song title in the Music App I could there, but could only do it manually. Doesn't seem o be an automatic system in place.

 

[Diskutant]

Don't remove the titles from your library. The titles need to stay in your library but the actual files removed.
Right click on a title - First option should be something like "remove download", then you can redownload the file (not from the store, but in your library).

 

[pax-eterna]

Don't remove the titles from your library. The titles need to stay in your library but the actual files removed.
Right click on a title - First option should be something like "remove download", then you can redownload the file (not from the store, but in your library).

okay, that's a bit confusing, but I'll try it on an iDevice I don't actually have a "right click" option

 

[211]

If you have Apple Music, you don't need iTunes Match. iTunes Match is included into Apple Music. I was paying for both for years unnecessarily because Apple did not make this clear when I started Apple Music. Since cancelling iTunes Music, there has been no difference with how I can access my library, both personal and from Apple Music.

My library is full of songs I ripped from CDs, purchased from iTunes Store and Apple Music. If there is a ripped song in your library that is also in Apple Music and Apple Music can find it, it will match it. This match is lossless audio. If Apple Music cannot match the song because it isn't in Apple Music or cannot find it, it will be uploaded to iCloud Music Library. This doesn't happen all the time, so if a song isn't uploaded, I'd delete it and add to the library again for Apple Music to kickstart trying to match it again.

The easiest way to find out what is going on with your songs is on the Music app, select View from the menu bar, select Show View Options, check Cloud Download, Cloud Status and Kind.

 

[211]

okay, that's a bit confusing, but I'll try it on an iDevice I don't actually have a "right click" option

Apple could have made this clearer in what the options mean. We consider library as a collection; so there is a library of music on the Mac, another library you downloaded on your iPhone, etc. The option in the Music app on iPhone is to remove download or remove from library. Library here actually means the master library- all the music accessible from the cloud- be it Apple Music stream, iTunes purchase, matched or uploaded. So if you choose to delete a song from library on your iPhone, it will also be deleted on your Mac and any other devices. The Delete Download option will only remove the song from your iPhone. That song will remain in your library and cloud that you can redownload again.

I don't know if that made it more confusing

 

[TightLines]

Apple could have made this clearer in what the options mean. We consider library as a collection; so there is a library of music on the Mac, another library you downloaded on your iPhone, etc. The option in the Music app on iPhone is to remove download or remove from library. Library here actually means the master library- all the music accessible from the cloud- be it Apple Music stream, iTunes purchase, matched or uploaded. So if you choose to delete a song from library on your iPhone, it will also be deleted on your Mac and any other devices. The Delete Download option will only remove the song from your iPhone. That song will remain in your library and cloud that you can redownload again.

I don't know if that made it more confusing

No, you didn’t make this more confusing… Apple has made it confusing and very inconsistent and unreliable. If the poster before you is to be believed he indicates that you don’t need iTunes Match to get things to be shared with all devices using the iCloud… well, then Apple shouldn’t be still selling it to people then. I just spent $25 for an annual subscription and Apple took the money even though I am current on subscribing to Apple Music… i was thinking this was my missing piece of the puzzle, but it sadly isn’t.

I have an extensive library that i would like to incorporate onto a couple new iDevices and for the life of me can’t get the stuff i have on my old Mac and in iTunes to move over to these devices or even up to the cloud were i can then manually pick and choose what i download to those devices. This is a real problem for me… not to mention, i see no where in the Apple Music app on the iDevices how to set things up to sync with an iTunes library…

iTunes was by far the best manager for the music i have acquired over the years… either via the iTunes Store or downloading and incorporating music i had collected on purchased CD’s. This sucks… and Apple is the one who has muddied the waters on this… big time. The features of streaming as they focus on in Apple Music could have been implemented without taking away the ability to work with and manage a home grown music library.

If anyone has figured out how to make this mess work where one can see their music that is in an iTunes library in the Apple Music app and in the iCloud, please chime in here and let us know… its obvious I am not the only one who is facing this problem.

Apple - give us back our iTunes!

 

[Diskutant]

If you have Apple Music, you don't need iTunes Match. iTunes Match is included into Apple Music.

If the poster before you is to be believed he indicates that you don’t need iTunes Match to get things to be shared with all devices using the iCloud… well, then Apple shouldn’t be still selling it to people then.

Apple Music already includes iTunes match with the only difference being with Match the downloaded tracks aren't copy protected (DRM), with Apple Music the downloaded tracks are copy protected and you need to be online at least once every 30 days or so.

 

[TightLines]

Apple Music already includes iTunes match with the only difference being with Match the downloaded tracks aren't copy protected (DRM), with Apple Music the downloaded tracks are copy protected and you need to be online at least once every 30 days or so.

I don’t know anything about the copy protection stuff and don’t know how it matters in my and other cases… the iTunes libraries are already established on Apple computers that have been authorized and the music contained within isn’t being distributed across all the devices that are using the same Apple ID… And that is inconsistent with what Apple promotes and sells to people via their subscription services. Further, when clicking subscribe on either Apple Music or iTunes Match (which can’t be done in Apple Music) there is no notification one or the other is not needed due to already being subscribed to the other… they sell it to you regardless… and in iTunes Match case, its a different price. $24.99 annually. Why was i sold that and it be shown as a separate subscription service in my listings of such under my profile?

 

[madeirabhoy]

I don’t know anything about the copy protection stuff and don’t know how it matters in my and other cases… the iTunes libraries are already established on Apple computers that have been authorized and the music contained within isn’t being distributed across all the devices that are using the same Apple ID… And that is inconsistent with what Apple promotes and sells to people via their subscription services. Further, when clicking subscribe on either Apple Music or iTunes Match (which can’t be done in Apple Music) there is no notification one or the other is not needed due to already being subscribed to the other… they sell it to you regardless… and in iTunes Match case, its a different price. $24.99 annually. Why was i sold that and it be shown as a separate subscription service in my listings of such under my profile?

they are separate products, they just cross over in that almost all of what itunes match does is sort of covered by apple music.

the copy protection bit is important and at the heart of the difference.

Itunes match is a cheap service for those who have their own music and dont want to pay for a sub to other music. it backs up your music and allows access from all devices. this works perfectly fine for me. it will replace uploaded music when it can, with better quality matched versions, and you can download copies whenever you want as DRM free files. as it should as its your music to start with and will remain your music if you let your itunes match subscription lapse.

Apple music is a service to provide you with an ongoing library of music, and you can add your own music to that (the bit thats like itunes match)but downloads are with DRM or else people would subscribe for a month and download thousands of tunes to keep.

 

[TightLines]

they are separate products, they just cross over in that almost all of what itunes match does is sort of covered by apple music.

the copy protection bit is important and at the heart of the difference.

Itunes match is a cheap service for those who have their own music and dont want to pay for a sub to other music. it backs up your music and allows access from all devices. this works perfectly fine for me. it will replace uploaded music when it can, with better quality matched versions, and you can download copies whenever you want as DRM free files. as it should as its your music to start with and will remain your music if you let your itunes match subscription lapse.

Apple music is a service to provide you with an ongoing library of music, and you can add your own music to that (the bit thats like itunes match)but downloads are with DRM or else people would subscribe for a month and download thousands of tunes to keep.

Thanks for the reply… but no offense, that is about as clear as mud on how the two are separate yet work together… and the fact remains i am not getting it to work for me as Apple describes it is supposed to work… and i really have no way to differentiate what is a title that will “match” in Apples system and what won’t and for what reasons… is it the meta tags and data, is it the sound quality bit rate used, is it something else? I just know i have 1000’s of songs that are not being shown in Apple Music that is in my iTunes… literally thousands… and i am not happy about that.

I have no way to move that music I own to the new devices i own outright… and that is the crux of the matter. Further, their appears to be no way on iCloud.com using the web interface to look at or manage any of the music… thats an oversight by Apple that I find unacceptable. - at the web interface level of the iCloud management tool i should have full access to and manage everything and anything to do with iCloud and iCloud Drive… another thing i pay Apple for on a monthly basis…

So again, I appreciate your opionion and contribution to the subject, but am sorry it doesn’t help me, and also suspect it won’t help others that are surely experiencing the same thing as I.

Apple - Give us back our iTunes!!

 

[madeirabhoy]

Thanks for the reply… but no offense, that is about as clear as mud on how the two are separate yet work together… and the fact remains i am not getting it to work for me as Apple describes it is supposed to work… and i really have no way to differentiate what is a title that will “match” in Apples system and what won’t and for what reasons… is it the meta tags and data, is it the sound quality bit rate used, is it something else? I just know i have 1000’s of songs that are not being shown in Apple Music that is in my iTunes… literally thousands… and i am not happy about that.

I have no way to move that music I own to the new devices i own outright… and that is the crux of the matter. Further, their appears to be no way on iCloud.com using the web interface to look at or manage any of the music… thats an oversight by Apple that I find unacceptable. - at the web interface level of the iCloud management tool i should have full access to and manage everything and anything to do with iCloud and iCloud Drive… another thing i pay Apple for on a monthly basis…

So again, I appreciate your opionion and contribution to the subject, but am sorry it doesn’t help me, and also suspect it won’t help others that are surely experiencing the same thing as I.

Apple - Give us back our iTunes!!

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i was trying to explain the difference between itunes match and apple music, as your posts seem to suggest two issues.

Firstly that you dont understand the difference between them, and tbh i dont think it could be any clearer so we will just have to leave that one.

two, its not working for you. and it is that its not working. not sure what to suggest, log out of everything and back into everything. it works fine for me, always had. the music i add on my mac itunes, it checks for matches (probably 90% of my thousands of songs) and if not, it uploads it.

i then open music on my iphone and ipad and its there. Just to check, you have clicked on Library? Has all your music matched/uploaded? it takes time especially if your wifi isnt great.

what do you see beside each song in Music on your mac? See this document for a good explanation of what each icon means.

If songs are missing from your music library after you turn on Sync Library - Apple Support

Make sure that all of your devices have Sync Library turned on and signed in with the same Apple ID that you use with Apple Music. If your music library is stored on your computer, check the cloud status of songs to find missing music and resolve issues.

support.apple.com

you dont need to know the 'why' or 'how', it should just work, so if its not, log out of everything and back in.