iTunes and MM questions

[amybatt]

Doing some house cleaning...just a couple questions.

I want to back my iTunes library up to an external hard drive, not a pile of CDs. Is there anyway I can do this short of just copying the files manually (drag and drop) from my internal HD to my external HD? Ideally I'd like to change a setting in iTunes to have it just do this rather than to CD or DVD, but from what I've read online so far, it doesn't seem possible. How do you all back up your iTunes?

And now MixMeister...just a pet peeve, and I don't know whether I have too many mp3s for it to handle (over 3000) but I swear it doesn't have all of my songs in MM. I have set it to Automatically Monitor Folders, but I am forever going in and manually adding songs I remember that I have and that displayed in MM even though they are in the monitored folders. I have cleaned it all out and added all my folders again but it still always seems to miss some (a lot actually!). Anyone else notice this? Do I just need to pare down what I add?

TIA,
Amy

[Pink]

Doing some house cleaning...just a couple questions.

I want to back my iTunes library up to an external hard drive, not a pile of CDs. Is there anyway I can do this short of just copying the files manually (drag and drop) from my internal HD to my external HD? Ideally I'd like to change a setting in iTunes to have it just do this rather than to CD or DVD, but from what I've read online so far, it doesn't seem possible. How do you all back up your iTunes?

And now MixMeister...just a pet peeve, and I don't know whether I have too many mp3s for it to handle (over 3000) but I swear it doesn't have all of my songs in MM. I have set it to Automatically Monitor Folders, but I am forever going in and manually adding songs I remember that I have and that displayed in MM even though they are in the monitored folders. I have cleaned it all out and added all my folders again but it still always seems to miss some (a lot actually!). Anyone else notice this? Do I just need to pare down what I add?

TIA,
Amy

Amy, I have well over 8,000 songs in MM so I don't think volume is an issue. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about the technical side. Mr. P takes care of all that stuff for me. I never have to manually add songs but I have no idea how the magic happens. It just does.

[SpinBob]

Amy,
I back up my entire computer to external, so my iTunes library is part of that. Here's a link that may help:http://uneasysilence.com/how-to-backup-your-windows-itunes/

[BFSpin]

Amy, are you looking for your itunes purchases to be automatically updated to your MM? To my knowledge, it's not possible. Unless I've missed a major advance somewhere along the way, I have to burn all itunes purchase to CD, then rip back into another program. And then they don't add automatically to MM . . . I have to do it manually.

Backing up to an external hd does the trick, too. I just went through a major computer changeover here, and restoring my library worked perfectly. Better, in fact, than that which I had on CD.

Beth

[jsejt]

Amy, are you looking for your itunes purchases to be automatically updated to your MM? To my knowledge, it's not possible. Unless I've missed a major advance somewhere along the way, I have to burn all itunes purchase to CD, then rip back into another program. And then they don't add automatically to MM . . . I have to do it manually.

Backing up to an external hd does the trick, too. I just went through a major computer changeover here, and restoring my library worked perfectly. Better, in fact, than that which I had on CD.

Beth

Out there in the world Beth....I'm doing the exact same thing. The external hd is a dream. I have files on 4 different locations 3 on my Dell and 1 on the external hd. I'm slowly trying to transfer everthing to the external hd. Were thinking about getting an apple. I'm sure I'm going to have difficulties with the transition but from what everyone tells me I'll love it!

[SpinBob]

Shannon,
If you get a Mac, you'll love it, and I'll be you BFF. What more could you want?

[Pink]

What more could you want?

Mixmeister??;)

(or are they now compatible?)

[jsejt]

Mixmeister??;)

(or are they now compatible?)

Yes, I worried about my beloved MM, but I think their are "threads" out there that will put my fears to rest, no?

[Lewis]

Just a issue worth mentioning.

iTunes doesnt love to work with external hard drives.
I've used them for years and have had some hiccups.

I would recommend anyone using an external with iTunes occasionally copy and store a backup of your computers iTune Library file. Iirc, this is the file that tells itunes where all your music is store, as a database. If this lil guy gets corrupt, or if you lose your computer hard drive, having the music files on the external alone doesnt always guarantee a seamless restore. I currently have about 7000 songs on one external that I cannot access from itunes unless one by one I restore the path back to them.

Just figured I might save someone else a headache

[amybatt]

Amy, are you looking for your itunes purchases to be automatically updated to your MM?

No, these are just mp3s on my HD. I have one (very large) directory of stuff I get from sources other than iTunes or ripping from CD and I added that to the directories I want MM to monitor and update automatically. But it never seems to get them all.

[BFSpin]

Shannon,
If you get a Mac, you'll love it, and I'll be you BFF. What more could you want?

Funny - you sound just like my boss. At work we work only on Macs; at home I have PC's. His frequent comment:

"PC's suck."

Beth

[SpinBob]

Funny - you sound just like my boss. At work we work only on Macs; at home I have PC's. His frequent comment:

"PC's suck."

BethHi, I'm a Mac....and PCs suck

[Innercycling.com]

Me four. I use only Macs as I have 3 macs including 2 pros and a recently blown mac book that is in for service. ( I lost 2 years worth of profiles.......) Can I redo them HUH yeah I will and I feel it's a blessing cause I gotta redo them. Has anyone ever lost all the data with no backup? And I call myself a web guy ...Shame on me o Billy

Peace
BG

[SpinBob]

I've never had my own Mac meltdown on me, but I had a hard drive fry on me about 20 years ago, but it was actually my employer's machine. I lost a whole year's worth of work because we had no back up system and that was back in the day when floppy discs ruled.

[NJspin]

Oh well.. Started on an Apple in 81, moved to Mac, then to PC and now have both but prefer the PC for ease of dealing with the rest of the clients I have to deal with who are all PC based. Both my DD have moved to Mac and are trying to fit into the PC world at gradschool and college. Mac still does putout a nice package.

[SpinBob]

I think the new Leopard OS is the best of both worlds, it can run Windows OS and gives you all the great stuff a Mac is known for.

[BFSpin]

Hi, I'm a Mac....and PCs suck

Gotta love those commercials . . .

B

PS and I love both Mac and PC. Absolutely the Macs don't hang up like a PC (of any OS generation!)

[SpinBob]

Here's a link, just in case you want to watch them: http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/ (http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/)

[BFSpin]

Thanks, SB :)

Beth

[Lewis]

Here's a link, just in case you want to watch them: http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/ (http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/)

I tried to watch it, but internet explorer crashed.:rolleyes:

[SpinBob]

Guess you'll have to get a Mac and use Safari. ;)

[Lewis]

I've tried a dual boot and two pieces of software I use for work arent 100 pct yet.

Probably try again when this new laptop takes a poop, I only get about a year and a half on a laptop.

I really want (as do a lot of ppl I've heard) a 15 inch Mac Pro