Macworld: How do I create a master music library? ...

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3 Replies Last post: Mar 21, 2005 7:50 PM by pdrayton

pdrayton

1,823 posts since
Sep 19, 2003

Mar 18, 2005 5:26 AM

How do I create a master music library?

I've got a Mac mini (1.42GHz, 80GB, SuperDrive) with 17GB worth of songs in iTunes (AAC format).

I'd like to create a "master library" in Apple Lossless format, and have a 1TB external firewire drive. Is there a particular way I need to create the master library on the external drive so that I won't change or delete the compressed files I have on the Mac mini?

I'm expecting the the lossless files to total around 70GB, so it won't fit on the Mac mini. The master will be created by importing from CD's (The 268.5MB of music purchased from iTunes will stay as is, of course).

Any tips, info and ideas is greatly appreciated!

Rugby

1,264 posts since
Aug 28, 2004

1. Mar 18, 2005 8:46 AM

in response to: pdrayton

Re: How do I create a master music library?

I hope that you are aware of the fact that you can only have one library but you can put it wherever you want (Preferences, Advance, iTunes Music Folder location click Change and select...)

pdrayton

1,823 posts since
Sep 19, 2003

2. Mar 18, 2005 11:47 AM

in response to: Rugby

Re: How do I create a master music library?

Surely that can't be the case.

I think you might not understand that a "master library" doesn't mean the same thing as "iTunes Music Library".

I just want the music that is in iTunes to also be, in a different file type (Apple Lossles vs. AAC), on a separate drive. The Apple Lossless files will rarely be accessed. I want an Apple Lossles library on a separate drive just so I have a digital lossless master.... not to access it regularly through iTunes.

I've seen posts where people have problems with iTunes not being able to play some music files because they aren't in the iTunes Music Library. Thus, you can have another "library" (in the English sense of the word, not the iTunes sense) of music files. I just want to deliberately do it while not affecting the AAC files currently in iTunes.

pdrayton

1,823 posts since
Sep 19, 2003

3. Mar 21, 2005 7:50 PM

in response to: pdrayton

Re: How do I create a master music library?

I discovered a few days ago that you can have multiple libraries on iTunes.

And, it works great! AAC files are on the mini, Apple Lossless version of the same files are on an external drive, and both can be accessed quite easily within iTunes on the mini.

Learn how here!

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Mar 18, 2005 5:26 AM

How do I create a master music library?

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