Simple Question: How do I Get File Info?
1. How can I retrieve Album info for CDs that I have already RIPed (without metadata) onto my hard drive? When I try to use the Advanced > Get CD Track Names option in iTunes, I get a pop-up window that tells me that it cannot get Track Names unless I have imported the music using iTunes (which takes forever, so instead I had RIPed CDs using Windows Media Player and drag/dropped the files from my hard drive to the iTunes Library (unfortunately, at the time I ripped them, I didn't know that it would automatically get album info if I was connected to the Internet, so I hadn't connected)). I want to make sure I get the metadata (Artist, Album Name, Genre, Year, AND Artwork) embedded in the ID3 tag of the native file, but I was hoping there was a way I could do this AUTOMATICALLY (using iTunes or Windows Media Player, perhaps?...)
2. I want to easily update my iTunes Library, after having moved the original files. Whenever I get the "!" icon and the pop-up window that says, “Original file could not be locted…”, I am asked to I re-link to the file I have moved, but must do EACH file INDIVIDUALLY. Do I have to re-link one-by-one or delete ALL of the files in iTunes Library and re-drag them in, from the file's new location or is there a way to get iTunes to be smart about it?
3. In relation to that question, is there an "update link" type of a button that will update my iTunes Library to reflect any changes I have made in the metadata of the native file's ID3 tag?
4. Are "MPEG Layer-3 Audio" files synonymous with "MP3"?
5. I want to understand why iTunes is unable to retrieve Album Artwork for some of my CDs, which are well-known albums that I'm sure exists in the Gracenote CDDB (eg. Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy). What fields do I need to change in my ID3 tags so that iTunes’ Get Album Artwork feature can recognize and fetch the correct artwork?
6. By the way, I read your thread about Artwork and I found another very informative article in relation to it: Jesse Hollington from the iLounge forum wrote an exceptional article, complete with a chart, explaining how the Artwork is retrieved and recognized by iPod vs. iTunes: http://forums.ilounge.com/itunes-related-mac-pc-applications/175939-clarify-itunes-7-album-artwork-issues.html
7. Do you have a sample list of the Artists/Bands you have associated with your 46 Genres?
Ah, lots of questions, I'll see if I can answer some. First, though, are you using a PC (not a Mac)?
nkee wrote:2. I want to easily update my iTunes Library, after having moved the original files. Whenever I get the "!" icon and the pop-up window that says, “Original file could not be located…”, I am asked to I re-link to the file I have moved, but must do EACH file INDIVIDUALLY. Do I have to re-link one-by-one or delete ALL of the files in iTunes Library and re-drag them in, from the file's new location or is there a way to get iTunes to be smart about it?
I think you're right. You'd have to do them one-by-one, or delete all the dead ones and re-import to iTunes. Keep in mind that if you reimport, you'll lose the info in the "options" tab of the get-info window for each song, ie the "ratings", start-stop times, EQ preset. Also some playlists will not adjust to use the reimported song.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iTunesMac/7.3/en/657x.html
nkee wrote:3. In relation to that question, is there an "update link" type of a button that will update my iTunes Library to reflect any changes I have made in the metadata of the native file's ID3 tag?
Not necessary. If you change the tag with an external editor, iTunes will know. (As long as it's one of the common tags that iTunes uses.)
nkee wrote:4. Are "MPEG Layer-3 Audio" files synonymous with "MP3"?
Yes, technically, MP3 is an abbreviation for "MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3",
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3
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I am using a P.C. It's so sad because I read all of your advice about scripts but I am precluded from using them all!