iTunes question:

Hello
I just got a new Dell 1705 and it all works fine. Got iTunes up and running but it's confusing in a few ways:

1) Sometimes it sees the same file TWICE. For instance, it will list the exact same song twice - even when I've checked my hard drive to confirm there is only 1 file. Why is it doing this? I know iTunes can be set to make second copies of all your music, but I didn't do that. WHY does it see 2 of the exact same thing?

2) Sometimes it won't accept the ID3 tag on a song and will ignore/delete the info! I have many songs I've fixed the ID3 info on, and it will just plain not "see" them and leave them in the "Unknown Artist" file, or it will actually delete the info in there (I think!?). I know a file can be read only so if I make changes it won't save, but I understand that. I've fixed files using Win XP, ID3Tagit, or iTunes itself but it will just leave the files there even after I've re-done "add folder to library".

3) How DO you update your music in iTunes, re-do "Add folder to library"? That's what I've been doing.

Thanks in advance for your help. This place is great for advice.

 

just keep adding songs/folders in your itunes. where ever it is located itunes will automatically copy it into the music folder. its that easy.

What itunes edits is the files INSIDE the music folder. maybe your looking at the source files.

don't know about 1; never happened to me.

 

I think that by updating the library by re-adding your music folder is leading to your double files. I believe thats what happened to me one time. If you add the music folders to your music folder, just select the new songs/folders and you shouldnt get anymore double files.

 

I am adding songs to the folder where I told iTunes to use which is the My Music folder in the My Documents location.

Source files is what I'm editing, all under the same folder, sometimes it gets them, sometimes it doesn't. It's like a crapshoot.

Help!

 

iTunes doesn't automatically update anything for me. I've had to add the My Music folder everytime for it to show my changes on mp3s I've changed ID3 tags on.
I've re-added the folder numerous times, and only a few songs show as duplicates.
AND when I try to remove the file from iTunes, it wants to kill the original file, which I don't wanna do cause I only see one!!!! Arg!!!!

 

It almost sounds like you're trying to make changes to your music without using iTunes.

Some tips:

Only edit id3 tag info from within iTunes itself. It should update the files itself (unless something is wrong).

When adding new music, drag it into your iTunes library window instead of directly into the folder. iTunes (if the option is set) will copy it to your music folder automatically, leaving you to delete the original copy.

When searching for dupes, try looking in the "unknown artist" folder in your music folder. If you aren't anal about naming albums and fun stuff like that it can get messy fast.


If none of these seem to be working as they should, try uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes.

 

OK

You are right - I haven't been using iTunes to edit song info because I wasn't sure it would fix the actual file as well. I didn't know if it was just editing a "bookmark" of the file in iTunes, or the file itself. I'll test this now. I was using ID3 Tag-IT to edit song info. I like the way it organizes them.

I do look in the Unknown Artist folder for dupes, but I have iTunes open right now, and it STILL shows 2 of "These Days" by 10,000 Maniacs. THERE IS ONLY 1 FILE OF IT!! ARG!!!

 

i tried to maintian my music somewhat like you have described. but in the end i found it much easier to let itunes make its own copy of the file and to have it keep the music folder organized. (Keep Itunes music folder organized, and copy files to itunes library when adding to library options checked.) i also just let it use its default location of /my music/itunes/itunes music. then i deleted the itunes library, and reimported all of my songs. then deleted the source files. since i have done it this way it was been much easier and more successful of having my music folder organized, and having the id3 tags properly updated.

 

this isn't related to your questions, but if you want your Media Buttons to work with iTunes, there is a plugin that you can download. If you want more info on it:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=36286

 

OK, I'm not a big user of iTunes but I'll have a punt at your double entry problem... Do you have any .m3u playlist files in your Music folder by any chance? I had a similar problem with another jukebox application where it would add all the individual tracks, find the .m3u and add it's contents too... leading to duplicates.

 

for updating your library, whenever i download songs, i just download everything to a recent downloads folder i made when i download music i just move it into the My Music folder (which i set to be the one itunes organizes) and then i go into itunes and choose add file to library and select all the song files i just added to my music, you can add multiple files at once and when they are added itunes will organize them for you in my music folder.

that is the best way i found, for me.

 

Thank you all very much for your help and patience with my problem.

I have taken all of your comments into consideration -

I think I have found a solution to my problem - I was using many different ways of editing the id3 tag: changing the file properties, using ID3 tagit, and itunes. Also, some of my issues were stemming from some of my music being "read-only" without my knowledge, and that prevented iTunes from doing what it wanted.

I am now used to, and like using, iTunes for editing a song's info. It does automatically change the source file and move it to a new (correct) directory based on the changes I made. My duplicates in iTunes was due to changes I was making here and there. I deleted the duplicates, without killing the source file, and iTunes is fine, even when re-booted or re-reading my "My Music" file, where all my music is.

Thanks again for all your help. I am being anal about my music but when I get an iPod, it would drive me nuts to have 200 songs with "unknown artist" or "unknown title".