organizing itunes library

[marstoad]

Hello all,

I am yet another new ipod user. I have a very large library of music on my current pc. My music takes up ~200 GB on my current hard drive. They are currently all in WAV formats. I have 2 questions. I am starting the process of switching all of the music into the AAC format. Is there a simple way to do it? It currently takes me 2 painfully long steps to get the music converted. First, I "add folder to library" and that copies all of the WAV files but doesn't convert them to AAC as I copy them into the ipod designated folder. Then I have to select all of the files I just spent hours copying and then "convert selection to AAC." It seems like a waste of time copying the files to another folder and then converting them. Is there a better way to do this?

My second problem is that I am VERY organized and I can't stand how itunes organizes the filesin the library. Right now I have 500 songs in my library (it will be at least double that or more in the next few hours) and the only way they are organized is by the title. I know that you can search on genre, title, artist and all of that but can file structures be made? Is there a way to make files within the itunes library. For now I have been reading in the files into the library and then making a playlist of songs. I have tons of live shows that I need to organize. Not only that but on my computer I have a song or two from hundreds of cd's. Since I didn't download them using the database it only uses the title I gave it. Thus, organization is important. Is the best way to simply have one large, messy library and then have organized playlists. For now that is how I have it set up. I have entire concerts in the library and then make a playlist with the tilte having the location and the date. When you make a playlist does it simply makes a pointer to the original library file? Thanks for all your help in advance!!

Todd

[studogvetmed]

You could try to find a program that will convert the files outside of iTunes. You could then convert the songs and then upload the converted songs into iTunes and skip the uploading into iTunes of the wav files. I don't know if programs like winamp, lame or toast will let you convert to AAC, or if there are programs on version tracker.

iTunes organization is based entirely on the tags that you have in your AAC files. Once there you can sort the library by song name, album, artist, or other view options chosen from the view menu.

The closest you will get to a file folder structure is using the browse method ( select the eye in the upper right corner of iTunes with the library selected, or type ctrl-B with a playlist selected). This will allow you to browse by Genre --> Artist --> Album

If you are completely anal retentive about file structures, iTunes is probably not for you.

Playlists make alias's to the original library files.

Without tags, iTunes is a mess.

Stuart