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Hrothgar

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 11, 2009
525
22
New York
I have my Music files on an external drive. I recently switched to a system where I used two Mac Minis, one as a media server to my amp and the other as a basic work computer. I had my Music drive connected to the media Mini, but ran into a problem trying to sync music to my iPhone through the media Mini but also sync the iPhone to my work Mini.

So, I connected the music drive to my Work Mini. My thought was to have the drive connected to the work mini for syncing with my iphone and then bringing it over to my media Mini to use it as a server.

When I connected it to the Work Mini, it seemed to transfer over the library of music files, but the music apps couldn't find the actual files to play them. I'm not sure what I did next, but my library is all screwed up. Some albums appear in the library, but there's an exclamation point next to the songs and the Music app needs to locate the files. Some albums have all the songs duplicated, and half have the exclamation point, but half work fine. I'm fairly sure that all of the music is still on the external drive.

What's the easiest way for me to wipe the current library on both computers and then re-import the files from my external drive? Do I need to find and delete the library.itl file and then re-import the music files from the external drive?

I know I'll lose data on the number of plays and the data added for each file, but I think I managed to lose that already.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,164
13,209
"What's the easiest way for me to wipe the current library on both computers and then re-import the files from my external drive?"

First, be aware...
I don't use the Music.app (I still use iTunes).
I don't have an iPhone (or any smartphone), so I know nothing about "synching" music via iCloud or any other service.

Does the Music.app have its own named folder/library in home/music ??
(with iTunes, there is the "iTunes" folder in home/music)

If so (and again, I'm using Mojave and don't use Music.app), I'd try this:

First, DISCONNECT the external drive with the music files and set it in a safe place for now.

You will need to go to each Mac and do this on each Mac:
Go into the home/music folder and delete the "Music" folder within. This DELETES the "library" that Music was previously using.

Now, there is NO "library" for Music to use when it opens.
So....
I'd then connect the external drive with the music files.
And then open Music again.

Since there's no library, it should ask if you want to create one.
It will create a new library (but as-yet empty).
The next move would be to choose "import".
Then you would select the external drive -- the folder that has the music within -- as your "source" for the importing.

That's how I would think that it would go.
Again, I have no idea as to how to advise re synching with a phone, as I don't do that.
 

Usernotmaker

macrumors member
Sep 26, 2020
77
69
"What's the easiest way for me to wipe the current library on both computers and then re-import the files from my external drive?"

First, be aware...
I don't use the Music.app (I still use iTunes).
I don't have an iPhone (or any smartphone), so I know nothing about "synching" music via iCloud or any other service.

Does the Music.app have its own named folder/library in home/music ??
(with iTunes, there is the "iTunes" folder in home/music)

If so (and again, I'm using Mojave and don't use Music.app), I'd try this:

First, DISCONNECT the external drive with the music files and set it in a safe place for now.

You will need to go to each Mac and do this on each Mac:
Go into the home/music folder and delete the "Music" folder within. This DELETES the "library" that Music was previously using.

Now, there is NO "library" for Music to use when it opens.
So....
I'd then connect the external drive with the music files.
And then open Music again.

Since there's no library, it should ask if you want to create one.
It will create a new library (but as-yet empty).
The next move would be to choose "import".
Then you would select the external drive -- the folder that has the music within -- as your "source" for the importing.

That's how I would think that it would go.
Again, I have no idea as to how to advise re synching with a phone, as I don't do that.
Can vouch for this working as it is almost exactly the process I used a few days ago when setting up my new laptop.

Before, like @Hrothgar , my music library had somehow become a mess. I think this happened with the iTunes > Music migration. So, before reimporting my music, I manually tidied up my music folders on my external drive.

I'd be surprised if syncing a phone to two different computers would work. In recent years I've had enough problems syncing with one! How about either syncing through the cloud or by using iMazing? I'm still experimenting so can't yet give a firm recommendation but perhaps someone else here can?
 

Hrothgar

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 11, 2009
525
22
New York
I think I, close. I deleted the music library.musiclibrary file from both computers. I connected the external drive to 9ne and imported all the files. I then wen through and cleaned it up. (I have a lot of duplicate albums, etc.j. Then I synced what I wanted to my iPhone.
The problem then was getting the drive connected to the othe computer, with the proper library file. Here’s where a screwed up a bit. I think I should have copied the .musiclibrary file from the first computer to the second and then just connected the drive. But I reimported the drive again. So that meant that I had to go through and clean up all the files.

Also, I noted that when I disconnect the drive, if Musiv app is still open, then it redirects the music file location to the default on my main internal drive. So I think I need to remember to close the app before disconnecting the drive.

If this works, the last problem will be keeping the .musiclibrary files synced on the two computers. If I add new music to one, I guess I can import the same files to the other. But if I change the metadata on one computer, I think i’ll need to copy that Music file over to the second computer.

Amy thoughts or suggestions?
 
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