HELP:Creating 2 bitrate Libraries:1 Lossless/for iPod

[ChristopherJ]

Newby Here!

I've a 270GB Master Library in iTunes that I'd like to fit into a 5G 80GB iPod. The Library is about 85% in Lossless format, and the other 15% is in a lower grade Lossy bitrate (anywhere between 64kbps - 320kbps which I don't have the CDs to re-rip so it's staying in what ever kbps it's in).


I'd like to create two iTunes libraries:

-Home use - the original Master Library in mostly Lossless format.
-iPod use - a much smaller bitrate Library (192kbps), so I can fit my whole music collection onto my 5Gen 80GB iPod.

Any tips or ideas on the best way to do this?

-Convert whole original Lossless Library into second smaller bitrate Library?
-Keep both Libraries synced? (playlists, ratings, etc.) so when ever I add/rip new music into the original Lossless Master Library I don't have to replicate every change again in the smaller bitrate iPod Library?

I have read that there are applications like TuneRanger and Syncopation available to sync different libraries, but I'm not sure this would work if they were different size files involved for the same song according to the bitrate size library. Are there apps that can do this?

I've also read that iTunes will convert the bitrate of songs to 128kbps for the iPod Shuffle, but it won't for larger capacity iPods because converting more than a few GB on the fly would take way to long. So it seems that I've got to create two independent libraries of the same music, if I want to fit all my music into one iPod.

Many Thanks for any tips and/or advice!!!!!

Chris

[kornchild2002]

Well, if you want save all of your rating and playcount information from your lossless files, you must use iTunes to convert them down. All you need to do is change your CD import settings to whatever format and bitrate you want. I suggest that you use the iTunes AAC encoder as it is higher quality than the iTunes mp3 encoder. Then sort your entire library by file format, highlight all of your Apple lossless files, right-click on one of them, and left-click on Create AAC Version. Both your Apple lossless and lossy files will be mixed together. This is the easiest solution. You can however create some smart playlists. Create one smart playlists containing files that have a bitrate of 320kbps and less and create another smart playlist containing files with the type of Apple Lossless. All of your lossy files will then be in one playlist and all of your lossless files will be in another. You can then make custom playlists by just dragging and dropping files from each smart playlist.

There is absolutely no need for you to have two libraries when iTunes allows you to have your lossless and lossy files mixed together. That is also the easiest solution as it allows you to play your lossless files and sync your lossy ones all at the same time.

[ChristopherJ]

kornchild2002 Thanks!!!

Do you think that leaving copies of Lossless and Lossy files in the same Library will double up every song in my Playlists?

I've got 22,500 songs all sorted out and categorized into different Playlists (otherwise I'd never listen to half of it) and would hate to lose that. I'm guessing that this can be solved with using Smart Playlists again (which I haven't had much experience with but will figure it out if this makes it work).

Thanks a lot for your detailed breakdown on how to convert the Lossless to Lossy files!

Cheers,
Chris


PS Anyone else out there have any experience with creating two Libraries? One Lossless & the other Lossy?

[kornchild2002]

Well, as I said, you can create smart playlists that will do about anything. So you can make a smart playlist containing only 5 star rated songs (or songs above or below a certain rating), songs of a certain format, songs of a certain bitrate, etc. You won't lose any playlists that you have now. You will have to recreate your playlists with your lossy files though. That shouldn't be too difficult if you already know the songs in your current playlists. You can also change your whole playlist system and work just off of smart playlists. You can use a different rating system, tell the smart playlist to use a certain bitrate or file format/s, tell it to use comments, etc.

[ChristopherJ]

any other suggestions?

Thanks a million to those that have given me great ideas!!

Cheers,
Chris

[NawdaKh]

I'm in the same boat... but would seriously hate to have two of every song in my library because...

1) I don't have that kind of space.
2) I would like any given song to keep track of the plays and skips, etc...
3) Is it possible to create a script that does exactly what the shuffle can do? On transfer, it converts to AAC, keeps track of plays when synced, etc.?

[kornchild2002]

Most people who have large hard drive (large enough to have lossless rips) can spare ~60GB for their lossy libraries so having two versions isn't that big of a deal. I believe that there is a third party application (MediaPlay or something like that) that can encode songs while syncing them to an iPod. However, these third party programs are not compatible with some of the track tag information that iTunes uses. So your ratings and play counts will not be transferred over. You need to use iTunes if you want all of that information to transfer over and right now you cannot do what you guys want to do in iTunes unless you own an iPod shuffle.

There might be some Mac OS scripts, I have looked and couldn't find any that worked. So you can either have two libraries, just use lossless music, or just use lossy music. Most people who have a lossless library also have a lossy one so it is normal practice.

[NawdaKh]

http://dougscripts.com/itunes/script...essaccworkflow

I found this one... but I don't know if it saves play counts, and haven't been able to try it yet.

[ChristopherJ]

Does anyone know where I can find MediaPlay or any other 3rd party application that can convert itunes lossless files into smaller files for iPods?


Thanks,
Chris

Originally Posted by kornchild2002

Most people who have large hard drive (large enough to have lossless rips) can spare ~60GB for their lossy libraries so having two versions isn't that big of a deal. I believe that there is a third party application (MediaPlay or something like that) that can encode songs while syncing them to an iPod. .... snip....

[kornchild2002]

Google won't bite you, go ahead and use it. Visit the websites of these 3rd party iPod syncing applications and read their features. Look here on iLounge for the best 3rd party iPod syncing programs, visit their websites, and see what they have to offer.

[ChristopherJ]

Thanks Kornchild2002,
I was worried that my question was going to come off as an "I'm to lazy to look" post. I actually did google MediaPlay + ipod before, but the nothing came up. I just googled it again with parenthesis around "MediaPlay" and finally got somewhere. Thanks for the tips & advice, it's greatly appreciated. I haven't checked iLounge for the best 3rd party syncing programs. Probably should've started there!

Thanks Again
Chris

Originally Posted by kornchild2002

Google won't bite you, go ahead and use it. Visit the websites of these 3rd party iPod syncing applications and read their features. Look here on iLounge for the best 3rd party iPod syncing programs, visit their websites, and see what they have to offer.

[kornchild2002]

Here is the link to iLounge's software download page. Each application has a brief overview and link to the direct website of the software. Just make sure that you click on the "More Windows software" or "More Mac OS software" links. Here is a link to iLounge's review site. Click on the "Software - PC + Mac" link to expand all the PC/Mac software reviews.

I am not sure if MediaPlay is the software though. I said "MediaPlay or something like that" so I was unaware what the title of the software actually was. There are hundreds of 3rd party iPod syncing applications for each OS so I often get confused about their names.

I also hope that I didn't come off like a "Google it" ### in my post. I was working on a big research paper for my Women's Health Study class (it is a 400 level class that I have to take to fulfill my viewing a wider world credits as I am a civil engineering student). Needless to say I know little on the subject as I am a guy and a civil engineering student. The paper had to be about 12 pages long, have over 20 references, and be written in the MLA format. I can write APA papers but it has been at least 9 years since I used the MLA standard. The paper is due this Friday but I was taking a break from it when I replied. I just didn't have the time to write a longer reply like this one.

[bertopl]

I havent tried it personally but mediamonkey's website says that their software can "Sync iPhones, iPods, & MP3 players, converting & leveling tracks on-the-fly." might be worth looking into.

If I remember correctly, mediamonkey didn't support Apple Lossless at the time I was reading about it but they did support some other lossless format and auto converting to lossy on sync.

[ChristopherJ]

Hey kornchild2002,

Thanks for your reply and all your great tips!

I'm going to give one a try now. Good luck with the schooling, you a good man to offer a helping hand when it's obvious your in the middle of crunch time!

Cheers,
Chris

Originally Posted by kornchild2002

Here is the link to iLounge's software download page. Each application has a brief overview and link to the direct website of the software. Just make sure that you click on the "More Windows software" or "More Mac OS software" links. Here is a link to iLounge's review site. Click on the "Software - PC + Mac" link to expand all the PC/Mac software reviews.

I am not sure if MediaPlay is the software though. I said "MediaPlay or something like that" so I was unaware what the title of the software actually was. There are hundreds of 3rd party iPod syncing applications for each OS so I often get confused about their names.

I also hope that I didn't come off like a "Google it" ### in my post. I was working on a big research paper for my Women's Health Study class (it is a 400 level class that I have to take to fulfill my viewing a wider world credits as I am a civil engineering student). Needless to say I know little on the subject as I am a guy and a civil engineering student. The paper had to be about 12 pages long, have over 20 references, and be written in the MLA format. I can write APA papers but it has been at least 9 years since I used the MLA standard. The paper is due this Friday but I was taking a break from it when I replied. I just didn't have the time to write a longer reply like this one.

[ChristopherJ]

Does anyone have any tips or know of any other programs that will be able to convert my 270GB library into a secondary and smaller bitrate library (like 320kbps or 198kbps) for my iPod????

FYI... I use a Mac

I've been looking for quiet a while, and haven't found anything that works to create a second smaller bitrate library for iPod use and such. The Lossless tracks are way too huge to be used conveniently on the iPod, eat up all its memory, and the battery gets fried fast while having to read the higher bitrate tracks.

I really want to keep the different bitrate libraries separate as to not have duplicate songs when playing from a music search etc...

If anyone could help I'd be eternally grateful!!!!!

Thanks,
Chris


The program MediaMonkey is able to "convert on the fly" when syncing with an iPod or other audio device, which would solve the problem, but it is a Windows only program! I'm using a Mac and would like a second smaller bitrate library because I want to gift some my music to my mom and father-in-law...