[dburna]

I looked around to see if anyone has asked this question before, but I couldn't find any reference to this.

I am controlling a headless Mac Mini (2009 version) using the latest version of iTunes via both my MacBook and iPod Touch (2nd gen).  When I import a CD, it reads the music files fine, then provides a message that it is 'accessing album artwork'.  However, it never seems to come back with the album artwork.  I end up having to cut/paste the artwork into the files myself.

Soooo, my question is: would this be related to a network problem or an iTunes setting issue?  If its iTunes, what should I change to make sure this works correctly from now on?  For reference, my MacBook on the same network/same iTunes version has no trouble accessing the same CD artwork correctly (every time).  So this is one computer where it always works right every time and one where it never does.  That's what was leading me down the 'iTunes settings path'. 

Any suggestions or insight would be most appreciated.  This is nothing catastrophic for me, but it is somewhat annoying.

Thanks, -dB

[srb]

On the Mini, is iTunes logged into your iTunes account?  You must be signed in to retrieve album artwork from the database.

Edit:  Actually, I think you have to be logged in to also retrieve artist/album names, etc., which you are getting.

Hmmmm.....
 
Steve

[dburna]

Steve, that's quite likely to be the issue.  I purchased this Mini from another AC member and I re-configured it to work in my network and such.  I don't recall ever modifying iTunes, so it's like that, if anything, iTunes is set to go to his account, not mine.  Never bothered to check this.  I will try this when I get home and see if this solves the problem.

I thought it might be something simple like this.  I might have substituted the word 'obvious' for 'simple' in the previous sentence, but clearly this wasn't obvious to me.  If this does end up being the problem, it would be nice if iTunes would have given me a message saying "you can't retrieve album artwork unless you are logged in" or somesuch.  Instead, all it does is try to access album artwork and fails without giving me any indication why (or no error message).

Let's see what happens tonight when I make sure I am logged into iTunes.

Thanks, -dB

[dburna]

Shoot -- unfortunately, this solution didn't work.  I signed on to my iTunes account but it didn't help me find the artwork.  Back to square one again.  Any other possible solutions?

Thanks,  -dB

[Mike Nomad]

On the Mini, is iTunes logged into your iTunes account?  You must be signed in to retrieve album artwork from the database.

Edit:  Actually, I think you have to be logged in to also retrieve artist/album names, etc., which you are getting.

Hmmmm.....
 
Steve

Steve, I think we sorted through this w/someone on another thread a while ago. IIRC, you do not have to be logged in to get Track Names, but you do to get artwork. I think this is because the artwork database is actually third-party stuff.

Another aspect to this is what are the titles the OP is looking for? I don't use the artwork function, but do use the Track Names. Most of the time, I have to upload track information for classical titles, and obscure/fringe stuff. I wouldn't expect it to be any different on the artwork side...

[srb]

Another aspect to this is what are the titles the OP is looking for? I don't use the artwork function, but do use the Track Names. Most of the time, I have to upload track information for classical titles, and obscure/fringe stuff. I wouldn't expect it to be any different on the artwork side...

I know what you're saying, there are some albums that I rip that don't retrieve artwork, but dB has one computer that never dowloads artwork.
 

However, it never seems to come back with the album artwork.  I end up having to cut/paste the artwork into the files myself.
So this is one computer where it always works right every time and one where it never does.

Steve

[dburna]

Just to confirm -- yes, I have no trouble at all retrieving track names, but artwork retrieval just doesn't seem to work at all.  No real exceptions at this point.

-dB

[Mike Nomad]

Just to confirm -- yes, I have no trouble at all retrieving track names, but artwork retrieval just doesn't seem to work at all.  No real exceptions at this point.

-dB

Do you have any of iTunes Parental Controls turned on?

[srb]

I know you're not getting artwork automatically when importing CDs.  This probably isn't any different, but I was curious if you have also tried either of these two manual methods?
 
1. From the iTunes menu, Advanced > Get Album artwork
 
OR
 
2. Select all songs.  Click File > Get Info, then check the Artwork checkbox on the Info tab and click OK.
 
Steve

[groh1@me.com]

I have the same problem on a 2010 headless Mac Mini. When I select the track and tell iTunes to get the artwork I get a message that it cannot be found. The same album will be on iTunes. Usually that is a good indicator that the artwork is available.

I would like to be able to solve this.

[RAW]

Have a look at identify!
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/29847/identify



Also look at iSquint!

I am now just over 1136 movies most over 2g each

With my external drivers I load my movies first into my lap top as I have time then just drop them into my hard drives.
Never have any issues now with the 3 Apple TV's.

[dburna]

I know you're not getting artwork automatically when importing CDs.  This probably isn't any different, but I was curious if you have also tried either of these two manual methods?
 
1. From the iTunes menu, Advanced > Get Album artwork
 
OR
 
2. Select all songs.  Click File > Get Info, then check the Artwork checkbox on the Info tab and click OK.
 
Steve

Steve,

Yes, I have tried both these methods.  With the first one, it tries to get artwork for EVERYTHING, so I have not let it run its course.  First, I have a number of hard-to-find titles, so I don't want it overwriting something I had to hunt down manually.  Second, I was too impatient to let it do the whole thing (over 8k albums).

For the second one, it seems to do nothing at all.  Again, don't know why. 

Based on the previous advice, I tried logging into my iTunes account but it didn't pick up tracks again.  Frustrating.

-dB

[srb]

Yes, I have tried both these methods.  With the first one, it tries to get artwork for EVERYTHING, so I have not let it run its course.  First, I have a number of hard-to-find titles, so I don't want it overwriting something I had to hunt down manually.  Second, I was too impatient to let it do the whole thing (over 8k albums).

dB, so you're saying that it would download artwork with this method?  If so, you can use the same method on a per-album basis by selecting all of the songs on one album, then right (or Option) click and choose Get Album Artwork.
 
Still doesn't explain why it won't get it automatically, but if that works, at least it's only an additional couple second work around for now.
 
Steve

[dburna]

dB, so you're saying that it would download artwork with this method? 
 

Probably not.  It does signify that it is selecting artwork, but it does the same thing on the import of a single album....and it never comes back with anything.  I just didn't want to take a chance that it would actually overwrite the artwork for those albums that were hard to find.

I will try the control-get artwork function for a single album and see what happens.

Thanks, -dB

[RAW]

Using iDentify I go to my itunes file then just drag the files into iDentify that never got tagged in itunes.

Works on every file that I have put into it.

[dburna]

Using iDentify I go to my itunes file then just drag the files into iDentify that never got tagged in itunes.

Works on every file that I have put into it.

Oh, I misunderstood.  When I went to look at iDentify, it mentioned its used for VIDEO files, so I didn't realize it would work for iTunes as well.  Will have to try it.

Thanks, -dB

[ted_b]

Stupid comments that you guys have already likely realized but worth repeating:
* iTunes only gets artwork for the catalog of albums it sells in the Store
* don't do "get artwork" for your whole library, just work on (right click) a subset like by artist
* there are several 3rd parties that folks have optioned up here, but the first thing you need to discover and fix is whether your iTunes is getting any of the obvious iTunes-certified artwork.  Go to the iTunes store and see if some of your artists are offered there; you'll at least know that your iTunes "get artwork" function should be getting those!

I use coverartserver, a python app that intercepts iTunes artwork requests and send them to Amazon instead (and if no find, then allows you to import anything).  A number of 3rd party apps should work, but first find out if you can get the defaults.

[dburna]

but the first thing you need to discover and fix is whether your iTunes is getting any of the obvious iTunes-certified artwork.  Go to the iTunes store and see if some of your artists are offered there; you'll at least know that your iTunes "get artwork" function should be getting those!

Yes, I verified that a couple of the albums for which I wanted to download artwork definitely exist within iTunes.  For some odd reason, it's not getting any album art.  A recent example is Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3 "Northern Aggression".  Shows up on iTunes, loads fine on my MacBook, doesn't load on my Mac Mini (same network).  The Mac Mini has no other problems accessing the network/Internet and it can copy back/forth between other computers on the network.  So this is just a curious/weird issue that I assume is iTunes-specific.  Hmmmmm (or grrrrrrr, depending on the day).

-dB