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How can I put iTunes Music Store songs on multiple computers?

iTunes Guru — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Start by copying the music files to each computer (either over a network, if your computers are networked, or by burning the music files onto CDs or DVDs – you can use a CD-RW or DVD-RW disc for this to save plastic). If you don’t know where the files are, use “Get Info” on one of them, and at the bottom of the Summary Tab, you’ll see “Where:” and a list of folders. Your music is inside of those folders, so you’ll need to copy (not move or cut) the songs from those folders onto discs or a networked folder.

Once you have added the songs to the iTunes libraries on each computer, you need to authorize the computers with the same iTunes Music Store account information. Just double-click any purchased song in iTunes, and enter your iTunes Music Store user name and password when prompted. You’ll need to have Internet access on each computer. When this is done, you’ll be able to use the music on all three computers, and on all three iPods. Note that you can have up to five computers authorized for your iTunes Music Store account.

I’ve loaded a bunch of music on my iPod, but the Available Indicator is still showing that I have gigs of space left?

iTunes Guru — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This Available indicator on the iPod has always been problematic. On some iPods it works fine, on others it doesn’t work at all. There is no workaround for this other than using the program you use to upload with as your indicator of space left on the iPod.

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How do I stop the iPod from auto sync’ing when connected to iTunes? If I auto-sync, I’ll lose some of the music that’s only on my iPod!

iTunes Guru — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

While connecting the iPod to the computer, hold down the Shift + Ctrl keys in Windows (CMD + Option keys on a Mac). This will stop the iPod from auto sync’ing with iTunes and the iPod will appear in the source list. Wait until you are sure the iPod has mounted, and that it will not auto sync and then you can let the keys go. This may take between 3 and 25 seconds depending on your computer.

Then you can right click on the iPod icon in iTunes’ source column and select iPod Options, then check the box that says “Manually manage songs and playlists”. You can now manage your library without losing any songs on the iPod.

I want to buy an iPod, but all of my music is in Windows Media Player format (.wma). What should I do??

iTunes Guru — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There are two options you have to prepare your music for the iPod.

1) Re-rip:

While this solution may perhaps be tedious, it will result in the best audio quality. Re-import your music directly from the audio CDs using AAC or MP3 formats. For simplicity’s sake we recommend iTunes, although you do not *need* to use iTunes to re-import your audio as long as you use AAC or MP3.

For help with importing CDs with iTunes, see our iPod 101 tutorial.

2) Convert:

You’ll chose this option if you don’t have the original source CDs, or if you don’t want the hassle of manually re-importing your music one CD at a time. You may, however, see a slight decrease in audio quality as a result of the conversion process. To convert your music directly from WMA to MP3, we recommend the following program:

dBPowerAMP Music Converter – Freeware

There are other software options (paid shareware), but the above program does the job extremely well, and it’s free! dBPowerAMP will allow you to convert WMA directly to AAC (get the .mp4 codec) or MP3.

Here’s a “crash course” to get you started:

1) Download and install dBPowerAMP first.

2) Follow the instructions here to enable .wma capability in dBPowerAMP.

3) Follow the instructions in the QuickStart Guide included in your installation.

I have a lot of music files! What if I have more MP3s/AACs in my iTunes library than can fit on my iPod? Can I still sync iTunes to my iPod?

iTunes Guru — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If you are in this situation you basically have three choices. One, you can choose to continue automatically updating songs and playlists, but choose to update only checked songs (indicated by the check mark to the left of each song title in your iTunes library). Or two, you can choose to automatically update selected playlists only (and select only as many playlists as will fit on your iPod). Or three, you can choose to manually manage songs and playlists, copying songs & playlists over manually in iTunes by dragging & dropping them onto your iPod in the source list.

Each of these options can be selected in the iPod Preferences in iTunes (with your iPod attached to your Mac, select it in the source list, and then click the iPod icon button on the lower right).

Is there a way to transmit music to speakers 50 feet away from my iPod?

iTunes Guru — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There are a couple of ways you can do this. Using an FM transmitter such as the iTrip will work fine, if the iPod is close enough to the radio. Unfortunately, fifty feet is too far – no FM transmitter is going to provide a clear signal from that distance – but if you take the iPod on your deck, you’ll have no problem. Other companies, such as Oregon Scientific, are working on iPod-specific speaker systems with 100-foot broadcasting distances, but they are not out yet. In the meanwhile, you could look to companies such as Recoton for wireless solutions that won’t match the iPod, but will work with it.

Another alternative is to use Apple’s AirPort Express, which allows you to stream music from any computer that’s running iTunes. However, you’ll need to have a wireless networking card in your computer, and you cannot control the music very easily: you’ll need to be in front of the computer to change songs.

iLife ’09: Music and Photos may not be accessible from your Media Browser

iTunes Guru — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Symptoms

If you installed the iLife Support 9.0.3 update, and subsequently used Migration Assistant to transfer your files to a new Mac, you may be unable to see your iPhoto images or iTunes music in the Media Browser of your iLife ’09 applications.* Also related to this issue, your screen saver preference pane in System Preferences may become unresponsive.

* If this issue occurs in only one of your iLife ’09 applications, this article does not apply and troubleshooting should be performed for that application, not the entire suite. See the following articles for more information:

How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library

Products Affected

iLife ’09

Resolution

Follow these steps to resolve this issue:

Quit all your iLife applications.
Download the iLife Support 9.0.3 update.
Install the iLife Support 9.0.3 update by opening the file you just downloaded.

iTunes reports error 8248 when downloading purchased content

iTunes Guru — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Symptoms

When downloading content from the iTunes Store, your download may stop with the following message:

"An unknown error occurred (8248)"

Products Affected

iTunes Store, iTunes 7 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Windows, V CAST Music with Rhapsody, Sprint Music Manager, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista

Resolution

This can occur if there is a process running called "Memonitor.exe" on the computer. This may have been installed with an older version of the V CAST Music with Rhapsody software, an older version of the Sprint Music Manager software, and possibly other applications.

To see if Memonitor.exe is causing the issue:

Open Windows Task Manager (press Control-Alt-Del).
If necessary, click Start Task Manager.
Look for "Memonitor.exe" under the Processes tab. If Memonitor.exe is there, select it and click End Process.
Try downloading the content again. If this resolves the issue, then uninstall the V CAST Music with Rhapsody software or the Sprint Music Manager software and then download and install the most recent version of those applications.

Additional Information

V CAST Music with Rhapsody software

Sprint Music Manager

Important: Mention of third-party websites and products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance or use of information or products found at third-party websites. Apple provides this only as a convenience to our users. Apple has not tested the information found on these sites and makes no representations regarding its accuracy or reliability. There are risks inherent in the use of any information or products found on the Internet, and Apple assumes no responsibility in this regard. Please understand that a third-party site is independent from Apple and that Apple has no control over the content on that website. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

iTunes 8: Unknown error -15000 when attempting to stream music to devices connected to AirPort Express with AirTunes

iTunes Guru — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Symptoms

iTunes 8 may display an unknown error – 15000 when you are using your AirPort Express with AirTunes and you:

attempt to play music through remote speakers on your AirPort Express with AirTunes using iTunes 8, or
connect to your AirPort Express with AirTunes using iTunes 8. Your speakers may not have sound.

Unknown error -15000 can be caused if you have old firmware on the AirPort Express device you use for AirTunes.

Products Affected

AirPort, iTunes 8 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Mac

Resolution

Install the appropriate AirPort Utility:
- AirPort Utility 5.3.2 for Leopard
- AirPort Utility 5.3.2 for Tiger
- AirPort Utility 5.3.2 for Windows
Upgrade firmware as documented in article HT1218.
Restart your base station.

If music doesn’t play in iTunes for Windows

iTunes Guru — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Symptoms

If you can’t play songs or videos in iTunes for Windows, here are some things to check.

Note:

If your audio files no longer play at all (you don’t hear any audio and the diamond in the progress bar does not move) in iTunes for Windows after upgrading to iTunes 5 or iTunes 6, see this article.

If you can’t play music on an audio CD in iTunes, or the songs you import from an audio CD do not play, see this article.

Products Affected

iTunes 7 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Windows

Resolution

Update Windows

Use Windows Update to ensure that you have the latest Service Pack installed.

Check your computer authorizations

If you can’t play a song or video that you purchased from the iTunes Store, you may have exceeded the five computer authorization limit on which to play your music purchases. Once you’ve authorized five computers (by playing songs you’ve purchased on them), you won’t be able to listen to purchased songs on a sixth computer until you deauthorize one of the first five.

To deauthorize a computer:

On the computer you want to deauthorize (make sure that it’s connected to the Internet), open iTunes.
Choose Advanced > Deauthorize Computer.
Select the "Deauthorize Computer for Apple iTunes Store Account" option.
Click OK.

Make sure that all of your authorized computers have the latest version of iTunes installed. For example, after purchasing content from the iTunes Store with iTunes 8, you should upgrade all other computers on which you make iTunes Store purchases to iTunes 8.

Shared playlist issues

If you’re listening to a shared library or playlist, iTunes will skip any purchased music in the list if your computer hasn’t been authorized to play that music.

Older AAC files might not play

If you’re trying to play an AAC file that was not created in iTunes or downloaded from the iTunes Store, it might not play. Songs you download from the iTunes Store or import into your library using the AAC encoder are encoded in MPEG-4 AAC format, and will play in iTunes and on your iPod. Older AAC files that you find on the Internet or elsewhere may not play in iTunes.

Check your disc format

If you’re trying to play a song on a CD or DVD that you burned in iTunes, make sure that the equipment you’re trying to play the CD or DVD on is appropriate for the disc’s format. For example, if you burned an audio CD on a CD-RW disc, you can only play it in your computer. If you burned an MP3 disc, it should play in your computer and in special MP3 CD players, but not in standard consumer audio CD players.

Additional Information

HT1420 iTunes: About iTunes Store Authorization and Deauthorization
HT1727 Copying music between authorized computers with iTunes for Windows
iTunes System Requirements

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.