Transfering iTunes Library

[ShooterMcGavin]

Not sure if this has been asked before. I think Jimmy might have asked it on the show but I don't think an answer was given on the air.

How do I transfer my itunes library from one computer to another?

I want to get all my songs to my MacBook so I can have my music on my laptop. But if I connect the ipod with an empty library, it just deletes all the shit on the ipod.

Is there a way to put my songs on my MacBook without having to email them to myself? :P

[PCLoadLetter]

It's simple. Copy (burn) the files to CD/DVD (the FILES, not the songs as music) and transfer them to the other computer via iTunes. If you have an external HD, you can use that instead of wasting the 50 cents on discs.

If you've got songs that you bought from iTunes you'll have to authorize your other computer to play them. Otherwise, it's just like importing any mp3/AAC/WMA files.

[PCLoadLetter]

BTW, I think you're going to have problems if are planning on connecting a single iPod to multiple computers... Unless it's changed, the iPod will sync up to whatever computer/iTunes library it's connected to (assuming said iPod is one of the iPods that the individual iTunes program is told to recognize). If you have the same library in both places, and the library is small, no biggie I guess. Again, it may have changed in newer versions of iTunes, but I don't think it has. The only way you can keep the iPod from automatically updating to whatever computer it's on is to disable the automatic updating. That way you can use that computer to only CHARGE the iPod if that's why you're hooking it up to that machine.

[ShooterMcGavin]

BTW, I think you're going to have problems if are planning on connecting a single iPod to multiple computers... Unless it's changed, the iPod will sync up to whatever computer/iTunes library it's connected to (assuming said iPod is one of the iPods that the individual iTunes program is told to recognize). If you have the same library in both places, and the library is small, no biggie I guess. Again, it may have changed in newer versions of iTunes, but I don't think it has. The only way you can keep the iPod from automatically updating to whatever computer it's on is to disable the automatic updating. That way you can use that computer to only CHARGE the iPod if that's why you're hooking it up to that machine.

I am not going to hook up and update my iPod with my mac. I just want my songs on my mac.

I have an external hard drive but i dunno about the compatibility issues with that either. It's a Maxtor.

[PCLoadLetter]

Just burn a disc (or discs) then. Another way, of course, is to use a flash drive, though I'd just burn discs anyway and keep them as a backup.

Then again, I'm not positive that a Mac would recognize discs burned on a PC... The method I described is how I transferred my library between my dex-top and my laptop, but both are PC's. I just assumed the same method would work because the file types are compatible with both PC and Mac.

[stellarcomics]

Macs recognize PC discs. There's a problem the other way around.
If you're putting your music ON a mac from an ipod, download this program called Senuti (iTunes spelled backwards). It will transfer songs from your ipod back to your iTunes library and it's free.
Now go into itunes and turn OFF music syncing. That way it won't keep deleting music from your ipod.

[PCLoadLetter]

Is Senuti available in a version that works on a PC?

[Razor Roman]

for another way to transfer your library (and I believe this is how apple recommends doing it)

set your ipod to "disk" mode - it basically turns it into a hard drive... copy your music files to the ipod, then copy them down to the new computer, and set your ipod back to MP3 player mode and resync your library.

[ShooterMcGavin]

for another way to transfer your library (and I believe this is how apple recommends doing it)

set your ipod to "disk" mode - it basically turns it into a hard drive... copy your music files to the ipod, then copy them down to the new computer, and set your ipod back to MP3 player mode and resync your library.

resync means....

[PCLoadLetter]

Resync (or sync) refers to what happens when you plug an iPod into a computer. The iPod and the iTunes program on that computer "talk" to each other and update the iPod to whatever setup you've got in iTunes... Thus they "sync" up.

For instance, if you add or delete songs in iTunes, when you plug in your iPod it will add or delete those songs from the player. This is why you don't want to plug an ipod into a computer that has a different iTunes library, as it will delete the songs on the iPod that it doesn't see in the computer's library... If, of course, that individual iTunes program is told to automatically update the iPod when it's plugged in. That automatic update feature can be disabled, though.