Today's iTunes Tips - fun with Get Info
Dec. 4th, 2010 06:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamsharkGet Info allows the user to modify a few of the informational tags associated with a song. It's worth checking this menu item after each new iTunes software update to see what new tags might now be available. They do keep expanding.
There are multiple ways to bring up the Get Info window (from Windows). Select one or more songs. Then do one of the following:
As of Dec, 2010, the following fields can be modified en masse by selecting multiple songs from the library and then modifying the field on the Info tab of the GetInfo popup window: Artist, Album Artist, Album, Grouping, Composer, Comments, Genre, Rating, Year, Track Number, Disc Number, BPM.
The "part of a compilation" checkbox CAN be modified for multiple entries, but not from the Info Tab. For multiple entries this can be changed on the Options tab! Wish I'd noticed that a long time ago.
The Description field is not modifiable from the GetInfo tab, but can be modified from the Video tab on the Get Info window. Although this field was intended for use with downloadable video or audio files, it can also be used with music files.
_________ Part of a Compilation?
Here's what happens when you check "part of a compilation" for a set of songs. Normally, iTunes saves songs by Artist first, and by Album within the Artist folder. If the "compilation" box is checked, songs are saved by Album instead of artist.
________ What is the difference between Artist and Album Artist ?
Normally, iTunes organizes song files into folders based on Artist. If the Album Artist is filled in, that takes precedence over Artist and becomes the organizing principle for the album. This is apparently intended for albums that are primarily by one artist or band but feature guest artists on some of the songs. The name of the main artist or band goes into Album Artist. This allows the Artist field to be different for each song on the album without causing those songs to be scattered around the file system in different folders. The Artist field should always be filled in. If Artist and Album Artist have the same value, that doesn't hurt anything. If "part of a compilation" is checked, none of this matters much because the songs will be saved in a folder with the name of the album.
There are multiple ways to bring up the Get Info window (from Windows). Select one or more songs. Then do one of the following:
- Select "Get Info" from File Menu.
- Hold down Control key and hit "i"
- Right click on one of the selected songs and pick Get Info.
As of Dec, 2010, the following fields can be modified en masse by selecting multiple songs from the library and then modifying the field on the Info tab of the GetInfo popup window: Artist, Album Artist, Album, Grouping, Composer, Comments, Genre, Rating, Year, Track Number, Disc Number, BPM.
The "part of a compilation" checkbox CAN be modified for multiple entries, but not from the Info Tab. For multiple entries this can be changed on the Options tab! Wish I'd noticed that a long time ago.
The Description field is not modifiable from the GetInfo tab, but can be modified from the Video tab on the Get Info window. Although this field was intended for use with downloadable video or audio files, it can also be used with music files.
_________ Part of a Compilation?
Here's what happens when you check "part of a compilation" for a set of songs. Normally, iTunes saves songs by Artist first, and by Album within the Artist folder. If the "compilation" box is checked, songs are saved by Album instead of artist.
________ What is the difference between Artist and Album Artist ?
Normally, iTunes organizes song files into folders based on Artist. If the Album Artist is filled in, that takes precedence over Artist and becomes the organizing principle for the album. This is apparently intended for albums that are primarily by one artist or band but feature guest artists on some of the songs. The name of the main artist or band goes into Album Artist. This allows the Artist field to be different for each song on the album without causing those songs to be scattered around the file system in different folders. The Artist field should always be filled in. If Artist and Album Artist have the same value, that doesn't hurt anything. If "part of a compilation" is checked, none of this matters much because the songs will be saved in a folder with the name of the album.
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no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 01:50 pm (UTC)Oh, and this is something that just popped into my mnd, have you seen the movie Across The Universe ? I've a copy and I think you might like it.
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Date: 2010-12-05 07:40 pm (UTC)I assume you mean when you are listening on your computer, not on an iPod? I usually listen to mine on an iPod, where they do play automatically one after the other. I just tried it on the computer, and you are absolutely correct - when a podcast finishes it just stops and does not move on to the next one.
I experimented a little and discovered that you if you reclassify them as "audiobooks" they will move seamlessly from one podcast to the next. It's easy: just select all the podcasts in one folder (e.g., "The OTR Podcast") and open the GetInfo window. Select the Options tab. Click on Media Kind and select AudioBook from the dropdown menu. Hit OK.
All the podcasts you selected will have disappeared from the Podcasts library, but now appear under Books.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 09:38 pm (UTC)Thanks for researching into this. I'll give it a wirrrrrl.