Lots of questions....
Sorry if these questions are dull and have been asked before, but, although I have read lots of threads to try and figure it out myself I am still not 100% clear on a few bits.
Background - I bought a new 40GB iPod a few weeks ago and have downloaded quite a few albums using MusicMatch. But one of the main reasons for buying it was because I am leaving London and going to live in New Zealand and don't want to have to carry loads of CDs.
So...
When I get there should I install MMJB or iTunes ? By the sounds of it iTunes is great but as I started on MMJB would be easier to stay on that.
And if I do install iTunes how do I ensure that it does not automatically sync and hence loose all the music on my iPod (all the treads talk about how you need to select your iPod in the source list, which you cant see until you have connected to computer and that might be too late if iTunes automatically syncs)
Help greatly appreciated.
(not very computer literate female):rolleyes:
[1034 byte] By [
Stonex] at [2007-11-9 16:17:58]
# 1 Re: Lots of questions....
If you have a lot of harddrive space, or can afford to add some space than you might want to consider ripping your CDs to lossless, and then converting them to mp3s. I use MC9 to do it, but you can certainly do it for free with any number of programs, but if you can do it, then this would be a great idea, since it will make it possible for you to make CD's playable in a car in any CD player.
As to iTunes vs MMJB? Most people will consider iTunes to be the better program, so you should consider using it, and should probably give it a try, but it is definitely not for everyone. It does some things very well, but is very lacking in file management, which may not be something you need.
Bill McNair
# 2 Re: Lots of questions....
Thanks for that.
Do you or anyone else know how I ensure that it does not automatically sync and hence loose all the music on my iPod when I first install itunes?
Thanks
Stonex at 2007-11-15 17:04:39 >
# 3 Re: Lots of questions....
itunes asks you during setup if you would like it to sync automatically, or if you would like to manage the files yourself. So you can decide what to do before you ever dock your ipod.
styles at 2007-11-15 17:05:48 >
# 4 Re: Lots of questions....
And if you connect to a computer that is not the normal computer you sync with, iTunes pops up a message saying, "Hey, this is the first time you've connected this iPod to this computer, do you want to Update it Automatically?". Make sure you say NO to this by unchecking the box that is checked by default.
This is where people get into trouble, they don't read the message (or understand it) and essentially say "Sure, go ahead and update my iPod" (which results in deleting all the tunes that are on the iPod but aren't in the iTunes library.
And if you're going the iTunes route, before you leave for your trip, do a Restore on your iPod to get it nice and clean (all songs will be deleted), then use iTunes to upload all your music to it.
It's best to start with a fresh (i.e. empty) iPod when switching from programs like from MMJB to iTunes.
Adam
# 5 Re: Lots of questions....
So, it would be ok to auto sync if it's the first time you're putting music on your iPod, after that, you don't want to auto sync, right?
Pyro at 2007-11-15 17:07:41 >
# 6 Re: Lots of questions....
As far as managing music...I personally don't think you can beat Media Center 9 from J River. However, if you're mainly using music with an ipod, I would just stick with iTunes. I use MC9 on my main computer at home, and I have a modest collection of mp3s, about 11 gigs on that machine, which MC9 serves to my other computers via 802.11b, as well as my Tivo, so I can listen to all my ripped music through my stereo without messing with CDs. I am probably gettting an ipod for christmas, and I myself am trying to decide if I want to just sync up with my MC9 database, or try to save space by ripping with iTunes (AAC) on my laptop, which I also take with me travelling.
I think I'm going to try out iTunes on my laptop and do some tests with AAC. If I don't like it I can always 'fall back' on my EAC/LAME --APS mp3s on my MC9 rig.
MC9 is, IMHO the most versatile media manager available. Oh, I also use it to serve up digital photos to my TV through Tivo as well. It beats the pants off the Tivo Desktop software that Tivo provides.
--Matt
# 7 Re: Lots of questions....
Great - thanks everybody. Feel well in the picture now.
A:D
Stonex at 2007-11-15 17:09:44 >
# 8 Re: Lots of questions....
Originally posted by Pyro
So, it would be ok to auto sync if it's the first time you're putting music on your iPod, after that, you don't want to auto sync, right?
That's completely up to you. Some people prefer not to auto synch for whatever reasons. Sometimes, you have songs on your ipod that you no longer have on your PC, therefore autosyncing would delete those songs.
Personally, I'm just waiting to have all my CD's ripped, and then I'll be able to autosync w/ itunes. There's just something about being able to dock your ipod, and letting everything update by itself that is appealing to me.
styles at 2007-11-15 17:10:52 >
