"Manually Manage Music" AND sync the ID3 tags?

[ethanpeter]

My Nano is set to "Manually Manage Music," and that's how I want to use it. My Video is synced to my entire library.

When I use my Nano, I like to adjust the star rating.

Is there a quick way in iTunes to import the star ratings (and playcount, and whatever other data) from my Nano to my PC without having to change from Manual to Sync?

Thanks!

[bwh79]

Sorry, but no. Why do you use manual, though? If you just want control over what goes on and what stays off the nano, my recommendation is sync to "specific playlists" instead of "all songs and playlists" (or the dreaded "manually manage music"). Make a playlist with the songs you want on your nano, and then sync the nano to that list. When you want a song on the nano, drag it onto the list. When you don't want something on there anymore you delete it from the list. Feels just like manual mode, doesn't it? Except now you get the benefits of metadata (ratings and play history) synced back to the computer.

[Sparkee]

I agree, I sync everything to my iPod video and selected playlists to my nano. I actually use a smart playlist for 5 star songs and only rate my most favorite to 5 stars. This way even if I rate a song in iTunes or my iPod video it will show up on my nano.

[ethanpeter]

Thanks for the quick response. I've got a 40gb+ library, so I use Manual on my Nano as a quick way to organize the smaller dosage of music.

It also allows me to dock to my work PC, purchase music during the work day, and then transfer to my base library at home.

I'll have to rethink my playlist structure.

Thanks again :-)

[honeybee1236]

Since your using it on more than one computer a suggestion I would make is to use something like YamiPod on the iPod you take and use at work. This way you won't have to worry about it sync'ing and losing any data. YamiPod goes on the iPod HD and you will be able to play your music as well as transfer to and from the iPod. See the listing of software under #8 here. (http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=71349)