A New iTunes Library : How To?

Then itunes is not for you.

you need to get your head around play lists.

i.e. a smart playlist for lossless and one for mp3. All within the same library.

its how itunes works.

Point taken Garyi. Just wanted  to keep this uncomplicated and manageable without having to scroll through the whole library and select which files to put into a playlist and sync to my Touch from the one music library.

Any other ideas.  The question still remains.

Get one of those small fm-radio transmitters?

Correct me if I am wrong since my i-tunes experience is rather recent but....can you not create two library folders and point i-tunes interface at the one you want to work with at a given time.

So normally your library that i-tunes is pointed at is the one with your ALAC files in it.

Using XLD ( free) for example, convert your ALAC files to MP3  putting the MP3's in a separate folder as they are created.

When you want to load your i-pod open i-tunes  on your Mac and change the library location in i-tunes preferences to the folder where the MP3's are. I-tunes will then scan and organise that library which you can load onto your i-pod. It does'nt take very long to scan.

When ready you can switch back in i-tunes preferences to your ALAC folder.

While you have the bother of rescanning each time you switch I would assume you wouldn't need to do it that often

Geoff

itunes is absolutely for you and makes this very easy.  All you need to do is sync your ipod with your ALAC library and you can select on one of the options to convert you songs to mp3 on the fly as they are copied to the ipod.  You can choose the bit rate within certain limits, and all your original files are left as they are on your Mac Book Pro.

You do not need to mess about with multiple iTunes libraries.

Actually this probably won't work, I have just checked on the iMac and it converts to AAC which your Volvo won't play from what you said earlier.

Could always buy a new car!!!!!!

Worth checking whether an AAC file will play in the Volvo though?

To see if it works, connect ipod to computer, click on the device in iTunes and then on the Summary tab there is an option to "Convert higher bit rate songs to 256kbs AAC". tick this and iTunes will do the rest.

ps sorry for the multiple posts.

note to self.... check facts before posting...it has been a long day!

Graham

I think you probably need to try what Rich is suggesting.  Is the limitation you first mentioned just what it will play from a CD or a memory stick (where it's the car that does the 'playing')?  If you're plugging in an iPod, surely it's the iPod that's doing the playing and just sending an electrical signal to the car hifi.

Gavin

Hi Graham,

This canbe done: create a new library in iTunes; set the import settings onto MP3 or the format you require. Set the storage folder to what you prefer; but at least something else than your main library. Import your ALAC files into the new library; iTunes will convert like you have indicated. Done

Kinda what i was suggesting above then, except using i-tunes rather than XLD to do the MP3 conversion 

If your car has a real iPod interface, it shouldn't matter, which format the file are in.

My Volvo plays also AAC, both from the iPod and USB pen drives.

If your Volvo has an iPod interface it will play AAC. In that case, when you sync your iPod. one of the sync settings in iTunes is "Convert higher bit rate songs to AAC." If you check that then iTunes will sync all you ALAC files, converting them on the fly as they sync to your iPod, leaving the originals as they are. Syncing does take a lot longer with the conversion.

I have all my iTunes in ALAC or AIFF, and I use that technique to sync an iPod Classic I use in my Subaru STi.

Unless your Volvo takes the actual digital data from the iPod and does its own decoding and digital-to-analogue conversion (this would be very unusual), your Volvo will work with any files that the iPod can play. Have you tried it?

This could indeed be the crux. I'm not sure what an iPod interface really does. One of the features is that it reads the tags and builds a library within the car's info system. This suggestst that also the music files are read digitally. But I am absolutely not sure ... should be worth a try though.

Anyhow, AAC files must be played if there is an iPod interface, as this is the primary format for an iPod (iTunes store). And AAC can be created on the fly when syncing the iPod with iTunes. So there is definetely no need for a second library.

Thanks for all you're replies.

Before I read them as I said before, I tried my i-Touch which only has ALAC files loaded.

When trying to load from the USB socket /i-Pod cable the Volvo display panel indicated the following:

Connect Device:  (connected i-Touch)

Loading i-Pod

USB unreadable

When I tried my partners i-Pod Nano which is loaded with MP3 files the display panel indicates :

Connect Device: (connected i-Pod Nano)

Loading i-Pod

After loading is completed the display indicates :  Linda's i-Pod, and in the USB Menu a file structure similar to the i-Pod is viewable : Playlists ,Albums, Artists etc. as is artist; track text, track no. during play

 I'll try AAC files and experiment with you're suggestions. I'm confident I can resolve this one way or another.My Volvo has both AUX (3.5m.m) and USB sockets. The USB sound quality is infinitely better as I suspected it would be, and I can control both tracks and volume from the steering wheel control.

I'm not sure the USB is a full Apple interface but it looks pretty comprehensive to me judging from the results when loading the Nano.

Thanks again,

                         Graham

I'm going to bet your iPod with AAC files works with your Volvo, in which case your problem is solved without creating a new library or anything that messy. You'll just sync with the "Convert higher bit rate..." option set. 

If it gives you playlists in the menue, it is defineively a real iPod interface. Your confidence to resolve the problem seems justified. 

Thought I'd give you a progress report.

Re-sync'd my i-Touch with just an MP3 music file loaded.

No joy:- USB unreadable.

Bugger!

Tried an AAC file: same result.

Desperation: Updated the software from 4.2.1 to 5.1.1

Loaded an MP3 file : Bingo!

Added an AAC file: Plays both

Added an ALAC file : It plays them all:

Joy!

Re-sync'd with just ALAC files : It plays them all

What a result!

Bloody software!

My partner's 6th Gen.Nano (which worked with no problem) is running v1.2   

Although it's not explicit in the car manual it must have a full Apple interface.

For info. The car's a 2012 Volvo C30 2.0l  R-Design Lux