Support NeoGAF

[Alcibiades]

1. I had accumulated 6 input codes for the Pepsi promotion, and when I clicked on the iTunes store today, it said I had 3 songs available. I clicked on account info. and logged in with the AIM username and it fixed it, but it was still weird for it to have done that, has anybody experienced that before.

2. After using CD's from my CD drive to play music through the iTunes userface, the songs stay in the main library, and it's annoying because not everything you click will be available. I "conslidated" the songs/audio files I had, and although it put them in the iTunes music folder, the songs that aren't available still show up in the library. Anybody know a way to automatically clear from the library songs that aren't in the machine, or rather in the iTunes music folder only (I want to do this in the library, but I think my only choice is a separate folder)?

3. Do you need ripping software, or is it built-in to iTunes? I want to basically put a CD in and have iTunes put that music into the iTunes music folder.

4. Right now I'm using a crappy laptop for iTunes, but I'm going to be getting a macMini soon (could be days or could be months, not sure). The thing is I'm going to want all my music in the macMini eventually. Can I re-download songs I already bought, or will I have to burn them then rip them to the macMini, or is the best solution to put them into an iPod Shuffle and put them into the iTunes music folder of the macMini? I don't really care about the music I already had in the laptop, only stuff I download, everything else I can transfer some other way, I'm just worried cause they say it can be on only 3 machines, I'm not sure if that mean I can re-download or if I have to transfer the music somehow else.

 

[xsarien]

3. Do you need ripping software, or is it built-in to iTunes? I want to basically put a CD in and have iTunes put that music into the iTunes music folder.

4. Right now I'm using a crappy laptop for iTunes, but I'm going to be getting a macMini soon (could be days or could be months, not sure). The thing is I'm going to want all my music in the macMini eventually. Can I re-download songs I already bought, or will I have to burn them then rip them to the macMini, or is the best solution to put them into an iPod Shuffle and put them into the iTunes music folder of the macMini? I don't really care about the music I already had in the laptop, only stuff I download, everything else I can transfer some other way, I'm just worried cause they say it can be on only 3 machines, I'm not sure if that mean I can re-download or if I have to transfer the music somehow else.

iTunes can encode music just fine. Click on the CD in the left-hand column, a big, fat "import" button should make itself visible in the upper-right. By default, iTunes encodes in AAC format, 128kbps. For most purposes, this is fine. If you want to change anything, you can adjust the codec and bitrates in the preferences. Although, to be honest, iTunes' mp3 encoder isn't too hot. If you insist on that format, I'd recommend CDEx or EAC.

Music purchases through iTMS, either through the Pepsi promotions or through legitimate downloads, is a little foggier. You should - in theory - be able to copy them over to another machine without a problem, although you may have to log into the store first to kind of get the ball rolling. I'm sure this is covered in the program's help file.

 

[StrikerObi]

iTunes can encode music just fine. Click on the CD in the left-hand column, a big, fat "import" button should make itself visible in the upper-right. By default, iTunes encodes in AAC format, 128kbps. For most purposes, this is fine. If you want to change anything, you can adjust the codec and bitrates in the preferences. Although, to be honest, iTunes' mp3 encoder isn't too hot. If you insist on that format, I'd recommend CDEx or EAC.

Music purchases through iTMS, either through the Pepsi promotions or through legitimate downloads, is a little foggier. You should - in theory - be able to copy them over to another machine without a problem, although you may have to log into the store first to kind of get the ball rolling. I'm sure this is covered in the program's help file.

You can listen to purchased songs on multiple computers. However, iTunes only lets you autorize something between 3 and 5 computers to access the same music on one account, for obvious reasons. It is a bit tricky to get working, took me a couple minutes the first time I did it when I swithced from Windows to OS X.

 

[xsarien]

You can listen to purchased songs on multiple computers. However, iTunes only lets you autorize something between 3 and 5 computers to access the same music on one account, for obvious reasons. It is a bit tricky to get working, took me a couple minutes the first time I did it when I swithced from Windows to OS X.

I think, ultimately, what the ideal solution I'm looking for is being able to make iTunes distinguish between "I'm copying it to this computer" and "I'm permanently moving to a new machine, I'd like to take this song with me and not have it count."

DRM's a bitch, but I thank Apple for at least letting me copy the songs to my iPod. There are other online music stores that don't even let you copy their WMAs to portable devices.

 

[Alcibiades]

yeah, looks like I'll be doing the Windows 2000 -> OS X move in a few months, so it should be fine, I think I'm going to make that my permanent base for my music stuff...

Right now I use Rhapsody (and my bro and sis sometimes too), but only because it's quick, easy, and safe to stream music and have over 90% of what I want to stream), but I never use it to burn cause it's a ripoff, I'd rather pay $10 a month to stream and listen, and then use iTunes to actually download (using the Pepsi/Mountian Dew caps)...

 

[Alcibiades]

so does anybody have any solution to the 2nd problem I mentioned?

 

[Fifty]

I wish I had a solution.....I have the same problem basically. They should have a simple menu option that cleans files that aren't on your system anymore out of your library, it's ridiculous.

 

[Macam]

1. Not sure, I don't drink Pepsi nor have I ever particpated in an iTMS promotion.

2. If you've consolidated your music library into the iTunes folder (on PCs, I think it's /Documents&Settings/User Name/MyDocuments/My Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/), the easiest way to resolve issues with songs that are no longer in your library would be to clear out your library (in your Library, Select All (Ctrl+A or Command+A), right-click and select Clear) and then go to File > Add to Library and then select your iTunes Music folder listed above) and that'll re-populate your iTunes Library only with music actually on your HDD. You shouldn't be having issues with tracks being added to your Library upon CD insertion and remaining there if they're not on your HDD. Check Edit > Preference > General tab, and look at what's selected under "On CD Insert". I have this set to "Import Songs and Eject" by default, so I never have to refer back to a music CD.

3. It's built-in into iTunes. When you insert a CD, it'll show up above your playlists. Select it, and the top right corner will turn into an import button. By default, it encodes into 12kbps AAC. If you go to Edit > Preferences > Importing, you can change the file type (AAC, AIFF, WAVE, MP3, Apple Lossless) and bitrate. You can also go to General under the Preferences pane and have it auotmatically rip and eject CDs upon inserting them if you like or do one of the other listed behaviors. If you insert a blank CD, the Import button will change to a Burn button instead.

4. You just transfer your songs to your new computer (the Mac Mini) as normal, however you like. Then open iTunes on the Mac Mini, where it's pre-installed, go to the Music Store, and in the upper right corner of the main window will be a little field saying "Account: Sign In". Click "Sign In" and a pop up window will appear prompting you to log in using either your Apple ID or AOL user name. This will allow you to play your Protected AAC iTMS files you transferred otherwise. Otherwise, when you try to play them, it'll ask you to authenticate your right to play it or deny your ability to play them if you don't properly log in. If you're going to get rid of your other computer or not listen to music on there, be sure to log out of the iTMS so that it doesn't count against the 5 computers you can authenticate.

Hope that helps. Let me know if any of that's unclear.