Aren't you bothered by the iTunes tags

No. It doesn't stop me managing my library, streaming my music and managing a number of iDevices. Should i be bothered ?

Are you in full control of all your tags? What do you do with FLAC files?

Flac's - I only come across them occasionaly on some downloads. I convert them to AIFF and import them to iTunes.

Tags - i can change them if i need to. How do you mean full control ?

I know some people get a bit bothered by the 'locked in' nature of apple and its products but in the end they just work and so i'm happy for iTunes to tag and manage my library as it sees fit. As long as i can play my music, with the correct album and artist and cover data then i'm pretty happy.

Well, for most people ITunes may be the perfect solution, because it does so much for you ... Anybody who is not interested in tagging his music himself using certain criteria, is well served with it.

I prefer to have a "full grip" on my data. This means, when I download music, be it from iTunes, HDtracks or any other store, I always rework all tags so that they will match my order. My music is stored in folders which match the tags, i.e. Phil Collins' album "But ...seriousley!" is stored in : Collins, Phil/But...seriously/...

Notice the missing exclamation mark in the folder name? Folders cannot contain such special charaters. I pass on this logic into the tags. It's a hell of a lot of work. But it pays off, whenever I need to resort something, look something up, back things up.

I am also able to navigate completely without tags, just by using the folder structure (cannot use genre and other stuff, of course). And I can utilize gimmicks im MP3tag or other programs to automatically rename files, assign cover art or relocate files by using the tags as guidance.

This is what I mean by having a "full grip" on my data.

That's as opposed to iTunes which stores its music in the folder structure <itunes media folder>/music/artist/album?

And an album such as Phill Collins' "...but seriously!" is stored in Phill Collins/...but seriously_

Sorry have I missed something in what you said?

Oh yes I do too!!! Actually I got burned about 10 years ago when trying to go "hifi" with computer and Sony Minidisk also with Sony proprietary files (.atrac, I think it was).

Long story short, I ended up losing all my library because of computer problem and I couldn't do anything else with the Sony files.  So I told myself, NEVER AGAIN!!!.

Not that Apple product are not good, I also work with Itune and Iphone.  It's so convenient, fun and provide quality too. 

But all my master ripped files are uncompressed FLAC files.  Worst case, if I feel the need I could move to .wav but never again a company will have my music destiny in is hand.

I'm also working with a folder structure and making good care of managing all my metadata, from CD, HDtracks, or other, it's all taken care of at first by me.  After that if I feel to work with software like Jriver or Monkey media or other, the software is building all is structure with the metadata but my files are fully controlled by me.

On the contrary, you haven't missend anything, but provided the evidence yourself. Your folder name is "But seriously_" while your tag will contain "But ... seriously!". You might say, so what? I say this is no proper way to file and administer data.

I now have around 200GB worth of music and growing. This is not to be managed manually any longer. Imagine you HAD to move to another server software; then you might be completely fooled with the way that iTunes has organized your music and you have no way of doing anything about it in an organized and automated manner, because there is no clear structure to your data.

Ah ok - life's too short. I'll stick with iTunes and just enjoy the music 

Phew, we got there in the end.

Yes, absolutely!

And I will indulge in my triumph to be the owner of the best maintained music library in the world ...

Then don't relax on it if you want to keep your title, cause I'm not far behind you running for it. 

My main concern is that you would want that album in your music library in the first place.

I'm lost. I've been using iTunes for yonks and have not a clue what 'Tags' are. Someone please enlighten me.

My music library is displayed alphabetically; looks great (with the 'Remote' app on the iPad too) and works flawlessly.

I saw a PC running 'Foobar' recently. I haven't stopped laughing yet.

John.

My sister bought it me when I was 13 :-)

Thats my excuse and I'm sticking with it!

As for tagging... Well I can quite easily find "phill collins/but seriously_". To me it's perfectly structured!

Eloise

Im sorry but... +1 to James

> I felt rather offended by that, which is why I have banned iTunes.

A piece of software offended you - why what did it say or you just a sensitive sort. 

I don't think your ban has been very successful as I downloaded an iTunes update only today. Is Apple aware you have banned one of its products, as they seem to be flouting your ban. 

I am completely happy with iTunes, but if you are not then use something else - it is a free world. 

I am very happily tagged in my lovely Apple world. Really not sure what the problem is.

Well, good for all you happy iTunes users.  I am not on a mission here. I was just wondering; that's all.

It's just that I know a lot of other people, who are admittedly more concered about the technical issues of streaming, than the high-end side of it, and who also reject iTunes.

I use iTunes to organize close to 800Gb of ALAC's ripped from my personal CD's, HDTracks and Linn Records. In case I need to Tag something that can't be done by iTunes, I either use dBPowerAMp or Windows properties.

For me iTunes works perfectly fine though I agree with PinkHamster there is still some stuff that cannot be easily manipulated. I decided to live with these limitations since the other side (comfortable interface - ease of use for Remote etc) is so positive and important for me. What I am lacking is some extra dynamic filter fields in iTunes. The current grouping possibilities are not enough for me, and I am forced to put some artificial (read: manual) intelligence in it. I have send my request to the Apple development team: "just give me 2 or 3 extra grouping or filtering fields" and I am perfectly happy

Again, I'd strongly suggest iTunes users to spend some time on the iLounge website reading about properly backing up libraries, music folders etc ... it also provides some step by step guides when migrating computer platform etc ..

Cheers,

Iver

What is the problem? Life is too short to be stuffing mushrooms. For was f use and reasonable organisation, ability to move around, reliability.... iTunes all the way. 500GB+ of music so far and no problems. I agree with the use of iLounge website for guidance. I don't even feel the need for extra fields but if Apple gives Iver his wish I won't complain, I might even find a use for them in future.

with respect to the usual arguments about FLAC , ALAC, WAV, AIFF... I decided after much research and reading that all I needed to do was to chose a lossless format that supported a good level of tagging then I can convert it to any other that took my fancy later if I decided to change.

There is plenty of that to go around on both sides.  There are plenty in here who DEPISE Microsoft.  Everything they make, anyone who works for them, and any components in which they are used.

This is just hating on a crappy media player.  No big deal.

-patrick

There are dozens of configs for Foobar that will make it look identical to iTunes if that is what you are looking for.  It can look like anything you want.  And play FLACs, and serve over upnp, and doesn't bog down with huge libraries, and is fast and...... you get the idea.

Some people like to run it lean and clean without any GUI flair.

Foobar is the best free softawre out there in my experience.  J River kills it.

-p

To answer the OP's question. No I'm not bothered. As the saying goes "You can please some of the people...". If you don't like it choose something else as you clearly have.

Sometimes it helps software developers, manufacturers and yourself, if you feedback your needs/gripes to them directly. Iver, myself and others do and sometimes we get a surprise when they update a product.