A Question for iPod experts

Could you just create new playlists from the compilations? Just name the playlist by the album title...

How handy are you with electronics?

You could always buy a new HD and transplant it into the Video. There is quite a bit of info out there on the internet and being a video I think you might even be able to put a 250Gb HD in. I know larger HDs don't work in the Classic but this wasn't a problem with the video.

Have you also thought about Rockbox?

quote:

Originally posted by Dan Carney:
Could you just create new playlists from the compilations? Just name the playlist by the album title...

Yup, considered this, but just thought I might be missing something really simple. Just seems odd you can't select by album - an oversight?

quote:

Originally posted by Absolute:
How handy are you with electronics?

Absolute, thanks. I think I'm just about handy enough to destroy it in the process...

What is Rockbox? I'll google it...

You can create a playlist in iTunes consisting of all the albums &/or tracks you want on your iPod and then instruct that when the Ipod updates, it does so from this playlist, rather then the entire Itunes library.

Its not that hard a process, if you look on the ifixit website they have step by step instructions and excellent photo's along side.

Rockbox is software that you can put on older iPods, I think the video is that last model that is compatible. As well as supporting more files types it can also enable larger storage capacities. I don't think it is necessary for the use of a larger HD but people like it as it turns the iPod into a dedicated no nonsense music player and does away with all the gumph.

and don't forget you can use 'smart playlists' to auto-fill a play list according to some specified criteria. I have one which fills with all the music I've imported in the last 6 months which ensures I always have my most recent purchases along.

Ian
(sorry if that is teaching you to suck eggs!)

Thanks Fliptop. Yes, I'm aware of this, however, I like to listen to albums rather than just cherry-pick tracks. I guess I could convert every album into a playlist but that seems somewhat clumsy (and time consuming).

If I do this, can I still search the iPod by Album/artist etc..?

You have two options right now.

1. Is to ensure you have the latest itunes software, this allows all music to be transcoded before going onto the ipod, that way you keep your uncompressed rips onto the drive but MP3s are put onto your ipod.

2. Get your head around playlists. Especially smart playlists. You could start building some playlists which feature specific artists for instance, or release date or genre. You can put playlists within playlists. So you could have a whole set of smart playlist genres that you then put in a master genre playlist, this can be specified as the only sync item for itunes.

Certainly the best way to manage itunes is playlists and smart playlists. The thing with itunes is your are presented with the 'master' library, this however should be seen as just the a library and now you want to choose from that library the stuff you want to take away, this is done with smart playlists. Give it a try.

quote:

If I do this, can I still search the iPod by Album/artist etc..?

Yes, it will operate in exactly the same way.

You can make up the playlist by drag and drop, I'm pretty sure you can do it from an album as opposed to track screen.

Or on second thoughts, you could copy entire iTunes library to a playlist, then delete the albums / tracks you dont want on the iPod, might be quicker.

Thanks guys. Very helpful. Garyi, you're absolutely right. I've had a nagging feeling that the iPod is really designed around Playlists, so I need to start getting more creative here than I have done in the past.

Fliptop, d&d will make it much easier, thanks!

try smart playlists, its really very simple.

If you just want to set about putting albums into a standard playlist then view items on the second button on the right hand side of the tool bar, you just click and drag the album into a playlist then

OK, smart playlists are pretty cool... thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Richard Dane:

quote:

Originally posted by Absolute:
How handy are you with electronics?

Absolute, thanks. I think I'm just about handy enough to destroy it in the process...

WHOAAAA!!!! STOP!!!

Are we talking of modifying an other manufacturers product at this point?

Cue Adam! K'thwack. Sorted.

John

I used my son's nano for a while before I got my classic and I'm sure I just selected the manual option rather than automatic syncing and dragged the albums I wanted onto the ipod icon. I never use playlists and i didn't have a problem.

I have exactly the same problem and was thinking of buying a new 160gb ipod to avoid unchecking things that I subsequently wanted to listen to, so thanks for the 'everything into a playlist' idea which will help I'm sure.

It only ever seems to play Bach when on shuffle anyway, which is often criminal, so a few of those prized recordings may be relegated/upgraded to only being playable on the hifi, at home, and in full.

Cheers

Rod

OK, having played around with the smart Playlists function, I found the simplest solution was to create a playlist entitled "iPod" and just drop in the albums I want. I also fine tuned the "recently added" playlist to ensure that new additions aren't missed. Just finished syncing the 'Pod and all looks fine. Brilliant. Thanks all.

p.s. Still thinking I could do with a 160gb 'Pod...

OK, I may be missing something here, but if you connect your ipod to iTunes and select the option to "Manually manage music and videos" doesn't that allow you to select exactly what songs/albums etc you would like to sync to your ipod?

I see David Scott has made the same suggestion too.

The manualy manage option just presents you with your playlists for syncing, i.e. you need the playlist in the first place, with Richard has now discovered.

gary1

quote:

The manualy manage option just presents you with your playlists for syncing, i.e. you need the playlist in the first place, with Richard has now discovered.

No it doesn't....I manage my iPhone this way and simply drag the albums I want across to it (disc mode enabled).

Cheers

Jim

quote:

The manualy manage option just presents you with your playlists for syncing, i.e. you need the playlist in the first place, with Richard has now discovered.

garyi,

That's not the case. I don't need to do this now as my iPod is big enough, but I just had the manual box checked, had the library set to grid view, so i was looking at the album covers and dragged the ones I wanted onto the iPod.

I did this several times very recently, so it's not something I can easily imagine being wrong about.

David

David, that's interesting. I'll have to check this with my iPhone when I get back home on Sunday. I do recall the last time I connected up my iPhone and dropped a few tracks on it to test, that the syncing options seemed different to what I was used to with the iPod Video.

Slightly OT, but I found the iPhone didn't sound quite as good as the older Video 'Pod. Both running ALAC and only run through the Nakamichi system in the car via volume control bypass. I might have been imagining it (the difference wasn't huge but the Video 'Pod engaged me more), but just wondered whether anyone has tried the comparison.

quote:

Originally posted by David Scott?:

quote:

The manualy manage option just presents you with your playlists for syncing, i.e. you need the playlist in the first place, with Richard has now discovered.

garyi,

That's not the case. I don't need to do this now as my iPod is big enough, but I just had the manual box checked, had the library set to grid view, so i was looking at the album covers and dragged the ones I wanted onto the iPod.

I did this several times very recently, so it's not something I can easily imagine being wrong about.

David

That's how I manage what goes on my ipod as well as my music library is far bigger than the 160GB ipod. Therefore I pick and choose what goes on manually.

I do it the same way on the iphone. On the summary tab when in itunes there is a tick box for "Manually manage music and videos"

These issues are not encouraging me to get an iPhone, it's a bit like "simple" DA and then there are loads of solutions to problems.

I assume there is an "iPhones for dummies" book?

My Nokia is driving me nuts and I thought that may be I would pay out for an iPhones, but not so sure now.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
These issues are not encouraging me to get an iPhone, it's a bit like "simple" DA and then there are loads of solutions to problems.

I assume there is an "iPhones for dummies" book?

My Nokia is driving me nuts and I thought that may be I would pay out for an iPhones, but not so sure now.

Howard, snap out if it - these are not issues at all, just learnings and managing the iphone is a piece of piss. I will be more than happy to come over and help you out - it will not take long to demo to you - no need for a dummies book. It really is a brilliant piece of technology and integrates beautifully with the mac/itunes.

It is my favourite toy. Thought you would have bought it by now

PS - little 9 yr old Lontano Jr knows how to work it all, it is that simple.