Multiple iPods, iPhone + iTunes ??

Thanks Essin,

I am aware of this, but how do you manage them?

IE: how can you have a different library for each device?? :confused:

TIA

As Honeybee suggests most of us here think the "Sync selected playlists" is the best option for managing many iPods in one iTunes. You set up a playlist for each iPod that would have the "always on" for each iPod and select it in the iPod preferences under music to always sync, and then select any other playlists you want on them. iTunes knows which iPod is which always.

However if you really want each iPod to have it's own library, iTunes does now allow for multiple libraries, but it requires shutting down and restarting iTunes for each library, also depending on your preferences it could cause duplicate files as you add music into each library (i'd turn off copy to iTunes music folder for all but your main library).

To make multiple libraries, start iTunes while holding down the shift key (option key on the mac) and you'll have the option to either make a new library or choose a library.

Good luck, but I stand by the "select playlists" method!

As Honeybee suggests most of us here think the "Sync selected playlists" is the best option for managing many iPods in one iTunes. You set up a playlist for each iPod that would have the "always on" for each iPod and select it in the iPod preferences under music to always sync, and then select any other playlists you want on them. iTunes knows which iPod is which always.

However if you really want each iPod to have it's own library, iTunes does now allow for multiple libraries, but it requires shutting down and restarting iTunes for each library, also depending on your preferences it could cause duplicate files as you add music into each library (i'd turn off copy to iTunes music folder for all but your main library).

To make multiple libraries, start iTunes while holding down the shift key (option key on the mac) and you'll have the option to either make a new library or choose a library.

Good luck, but I stand by the "select playlists" method!

Many thanks studogvetmed,

is there a clear guide somewhere on the internet on how to do this? :confused:

TIA

Many thanks studogvetmed! :)

So in your opinion is it best to use playlists or multiple libraries??

Playlists.

Yes it will. They are all seen as different iPods.

I use the multiple playlist method but I am really suprised that iTunes isn't more multiple user friendly, anyone have any guesses why this is?

The big limitation with the multiple playlist method is that it makes ratings, playcounts, etc. useless (at least in my case). For instance my wife, myself, and my girls each have an iPod and all of us have very different ideas as to what makes a song 5 stars so everyone in the house knows they are in big trouble if they rate a song because dad doesn't want to pull up his smart playlist of songs with a rating of 5 stars and find it full of High School Musical tracks.

Mike

I like the idea that you have a personal master list that all of your other playlists depend on.

That way you only have 1 backup, and you don't mix music unless you want to.