HDX to iPod

Posted by: dave marshall on 21 May 2012

Hi All,

 

Can anyone enlighten me as to whether I ought to be able to copy music from my HDX to my iPod, and how to go about this?

 

The idea is to get CD quality albums, previously ripped to the HDX onto the iPod.

 

I'm using a Mac, so don't have the use of the Desktop Client  software which is allegedly just around the corner.

 

Any help would be gratefully received.

 

Regards,

 

Dave.

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by garyi

In short, no, there is not currently a way.

 

Unless you are happy with lots of unanmed files in your ipod.

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Claus-Thoegersen
Originally Posted by dave marshall:

Hi All,

 

Can anyone enlighten me as to whether I ought to be able to copy music from my HDX to my iPod, and how to go about this?

 

I have not worked with my mac mini since I finally gave up using it as a share for my highres music, and ran into the samba problems some experienced especially after 10.7. Anyway You should be able to see your hdx in the list of networked computer.Open it, and you should see a few folders, called something like, x, hq, lq, and mq. If you have created playlists there will also be a playlist folder.

In the mq folder you will find the albums arranged  in the artist/album folder structure.

 

I am trying to start up my mini hnow, but it is not willing to start as it should, but I will try to check the procedure if and when it wakes to life again.

 

Claus

 

 

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Ikoun

Your HDX can be viewed by your mac. You can "download" all the ripped files from the HDX to your HD from the mac then drop them into Itunes. The only missing hing will be the cover arts impossible to add in Itunes (seems to).

Then syncro and you're done. If there is a problem of the names in file; you can rename them in Itunes.

cheers

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by rhr

I've been told a couple of times now by Naim that the next server update will support ripping to a second format for this purpose, but I first heard this about 18months ago. So it may still be a while off as they have only just released a new version of the software.

 

In the mean time I've used this workflow to create Apple Lossless copies of all my albums including  metadata by using XLD. It might work for you:

  • Download and install XLD, quick google should help you.
  • Go to XLD menu -> Preferences, we need to set up some defaults.
  • Set the output format (I chose Apple Lossless)
  • Set the output directory, I created a separate directory on my NAS box, that I then point iTunes at (I switch off iTunes from automatically copying the files to its folder and from managing the filenames, but this is your choice).
  • Set the file format. I use '%A/%T/%n %t', you can have a quick look in the documentation for an explanation.
  • Go to: File menu -> Open Folder as a Disc
  • On the left hand side of the popup box that appears should be you HDX (named something like nshdx1234) select this.
  • Browse down through the folders: Music -> MQ and you should see all of your albums. 
  • Select one of the albums'  folders and click the Open button, your album should appear in a window with a list of the tracks.
  • Click the Get Metadata button to look up the album data.
  • Click transcode, to rip the lossless file (with metadata).
  • To speed this process up, you can also drag the album folders directly from a finder window into the XLD window.

XLD is free, and looks at several metadata sources. I also suspect it is possible to write an applescript to automate this.

 

Hope this helps, 

Rich

Posted on: 22 May 2012 by dave marshall

Thanks Guys,

 

I'm away at the mo', returning home within the next few days, and will give each of the suggestions so far a try.

 

I'm no computer buff, but can't help thinking that, when it finally appears, the long overdue desktop client sofware for mac should simplify things. Either that, or the next server update mentioned above.

 

Will report back with outcome.................fingers crossed!

 

Dave.

Posted on: 28 May 2012 by aysil
Originally Posted by Ikoun:
.... If there is a problem of the names in file; you can rename them in Itunes.

 

There WILL be a problem of the names! itunes can not read the metadata HDX has created. So there will be a lot of unnamed files, as garyi points out. Renaming everything - artist, album, track - for the entire collection is an impossible job. The method which rhr suggests seems to involve looking up the metadata again in internet using XLR.  I don't know how fast this would work for larger collections...

 

 

Originally Posted by dave marshall:
..., the long overdue desktop client sofware for mac should simplify things. Either that, or the next server update mentioned above.

 ...

I don't think the desktop client for mac will be any solution to this problem when it arrives, because NDC has no utility to convert files or synchronize with idevices.

 

There is one solution for windows already: Media Monkey can read artist, album, track names, and coverart from HDX, make copies of these files in any other format you want, and synchronize them automatically with any idevice (or android phone)!