[Danny Richie]

Well not anymore. I just bought my first Mac. I bought a Mac Mini to use strictly as a music server.

I am having a few issues with it though.

I had a friend clue me in on all the best settings to have the highest quality playback and all that stuff.

So now I am copying my CD's onto the hard drive and can't figure out how to manage them.

It lumps all of the tracks together into one group. I'd really like file folders for each type of music. Then I can choose the album from that folder and then the song or piece of music to play. I figured out how to create a folder, but don't see how I can put each CD into each folder. It copied all of the tracks but no album title info. Ug!

I also had to go and create an account in the iTunes store so I could get the names of the songs listed. I am supposed to be able to download album art too, but that isn't working.

With a PC I never had to have Internet access or anything when putting a CD onto my hard drive and it will read the album info, titles, and art right from the album.

Am I missing something? So far the PC seems much easier.

[jqp]

You need to step further into the reality distortion field my friend 

Actually with Apple, familiarity with iTunes seems to be required to manage any kind of digital music. I think you will want to use that as your command center in order to get all the goodies like album art.

I have to use iTunes to manage my iPhone updates, synching, the iPod aspect of the iPhone and ringtones. I'm sure there are ways around some of it, but it is easier to just use iTunes.

[bunnyma357]

I greatly prefer using Max for ripping and tagging to iTunes. You might give it a try.

http://sbooth.org/Max/

I think the sorting usually happens within iTunes based on the tags (genre, artist, etc.). So the folders aren't really necessary. Even a few of the dedicated players like Amara and Pure Vinyl still use iTunes as the "database" to select tracks and create playlists.

Jim C

[Danny Richie]

But many of my CD's may not even be recognized by iTunes.

Let's say I want to have a folder of compilation CD's, like the now famous New York Audio Rave CD created by Lone Wolf.

I may want to put it into a folder with other demo CD's.

With a PC this is real easy. With this Mac Mini it is proving to be difficult to figure out.

[PhilNYC]

But many of my CD's may not even be recognized by iTunes.

Let's say I want to have a folder of compilation CD's, like the now famous New York Audio Rave CD created by Lone Wolf.

I may want to put it into a folder with other demo CD's.

With a PC this is real easy. With this Mac Mini it is proving to be difficult to figure out.

In iTunes, you could create your "demo CDs" via a playlist....

[low.pfile]

There is lots of management built into iTunes. What it doesn't do is allow you to create file folders the way you are used to.

When you import a CD, if you are not connected to the internet you will get Track 1 - Track n. The Album name and Artis is Unknown too.

So. you need to fill in the blanks, in the List View (Top Right corner in iTunes, choose the leftmost icon) . No cover art or icons shown. now you can fill in the info for the tracks.

File > Get Info (from the menu bar) is your friend.... you can add the Track, Artist name, album, genre for single or multiple items. you need to Shift Key select more than item for adding the same information to multiple items. Genre, comments, will be saved meta tags not folders.

After you fill in the Artist, Album, then folders inside  Music/iTunes are created ....you don't do it the other way around. iTunes needs to create the folders so that to be able to track these things in the Library. These things are automatically tagged when you are connected to the internet. Compilation CDs ripped into iTunes can have An Album name to keep them all together.

Maybe have your friend over again to do this in person. it is super easy. just hard to write about.

Playlist folders will contain any songs and again will not be visible folders in your hard drive they are tracked in the Library file.


Good luck.

ed
 

[Danny Richie]

Man, I am hating this. I thought Mac's were suppose to be easy.

I can create folders under the playlist but can't put anything in them. Can't you drop CD's into folders some how?

I don't want all of 2000 plus songs to be in a long line to have to scroll through in the library.

[low.pfile]

Danny
Check your PMs

[Danny Richie]

I just figured out how to create a new playlist from selection. I could then move it to the folder that I created.

I had to do it using the iTunes on my PC then go duplicate it on the Mac.

[low.pfile]

I just figured out how to create a new playlist from selection. I could then move it to the folder that I created.

I had to do it using the iTunes on my PC then go duplicate it on the Mac.

Now you've got it Danny.... Folders are only used for organizing Playlists, not organizing albums. you can simply make a Playlist with albums with a theme, etc. I have only one folder and it is to compress a bunch of rarely used playlist items.

ed

[mcullinan]

1st you should be connected to the internet. All CDs inserted info will be gathered by the CDDB service. Album images are added too. Set up Itunes under prefs to rip the CDs when inserted. If you want the Compilations all together Tupe in Compilation under genre for the album. Give the album a name Like Lonewolfees best 2008.. and click part of compilation to keep the songs together. Sort by album name. Bam all together.
You could also search by genre, Compilation being the one you made and all compilations will be there

[funkmonkey]

Danny, if you forget everything that you know have learned from years of using a PC, then the Mac is easy and very intuitive.  I've been on Macs since they were Apples and have to learn to rethink everything every time I get on my wife's PC.  So it's really the switching of one OS to another that is getting to you. 

If you are using iTunes to manage your music, step one is to open an account...  give them your credit card # and forget about it.  You won't be charged unless you purchase something...  I would do this even if you are using some other ripper or music management software...  I use a few (iTunes for iPod use, and Max to rip FLAC for SqueezeCenter at home)  Once iTunes pulls all the metadata you can simply copy and paste if you need to.  Plus iTunes has higher rez album art (600x600) than most  (500x500 seems to be the norm).

Using iTunes and grouping stuff is super easy if your tags are in place (take the time to double check the info when you import CDs (command+i is a shortcut for "info").  And then check out "smart playlists".  You can automatically compile playlists based on BPM, track length, genre, play count, artist, date recorded, date imported...  Too many options to list, and multiple combinations of those.  Like: only songs recorded in 2008; play count less than 3; imported more than 6 months ago...   Very cool.

Good luck adapting.  Once you do get used to the change I wonder which you will prefer. 

[rydenfan]

Danny, I promise it is easy.  Shoot me a PM and I will help you with everything. I promise we will get you squared away in no time.

[Robin Hood]

Danny, a Mac is easier only if you do it the Apple way.  If you are starting from scratch or you are willing to re-rip your music library into iTunes, then things will work well.  But if you are looking to import your well organized music library with all the album tags and artwork from a different audio player into iTunes without a hassle, keep dreaming.

You would think that Apple or someone else would have a program that easily imports and exports the music library database from iTunes into or from another player software.  Any database program worth anything should be able to import and export data to another database program with ease.  But from what I understand, the Apple music database is unique and proprietary.  What's worse IMO is that the Apple music library is often inferior to what is usually available on the Windows side using a ripper like dBpoweramp.  I can't begin to tell you all the missing album artwork, wrong titles and genres generated when using the iTunes ripper.

But iTunes is easy for novices, it's flashy, it works, the hardware is a little more expensive and most Mac users will be very happy unless they are exposed to something else.

[Nels Ferre]

You can migrate your iTunes library from PC to Mac easily if you are using iTunes with both operating systems.

If I were coming from another windows based player/database system, I would opt to rerip.

[Danny Richie]

I am starting from scratch and so far so good. I am still not getting album artwork downloaded though.

[funkmonkey]

some more rare discs are not in the database  but you can easily add the artwork for any picture just drag and drop over where the album art should be displayed (in the "info" window)

[sl_1800]

Danny the Mac is easy, just forget pc and do it the apple way.  Call me if I can help.

[planet10]

Danny the Mac is easy, just forget pc and do it the apple way.

Just remeber the Windows motto: "3 cliks when 1 (or none) would do"

dave

[funkmonkey]

just had another thought...  make sure that your preferences are set to download artwork automatically.  Check the appropriate box under the "store" tab in preferences (open this by clicking "iTunes" at the top of the screen, and then select "preferences").  Once that is set you should be good for new rips.  If you click the "advanced" tab at the top of the screen there should be an option to "Get album artwork."  From there you should be good...  anything that is still missing you will have to add manually.