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Content from external drive to Apple TV

N

naftalim

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 18, 2007
316
12
Vancouver, BC
Is anyone streaming content from an external hard drive to their Apple TV? I have been able to get streaming and syncing from iTunes on my Mac, but not from the external. I was able to do this prior to Take 2 update.

I would prefer to keep most of my content on the external.

If someone has done this, can you advise the steps to take?

Thanks
 
Jeff Hall said:
My iTunes library is stored on an external drive and I'm able to stream.
Click to expand...

Ditto. My entire iTunes library is on an external drive connected to my Mini, and it syncs and streams just fine. I have to leave the Mini on, the external drive mounted and iTunes running all the time, naturally, or streaming won't work. The bottom line is I haven't noticed any performance difference (except improvements), streaming or otherwise, with Take 2.
 
naftalim said:
Is anyone streaming content from an external hard drive to their Apple TV? I have been able to get streaming and syncing from iTunes on my Mac, but not from the external. I was able to do this prior to Take 2 update.
Click to expand...

Ok, so you're saying that part of your iTunes library is on an external HDD that is connected to your Mac? And you used to be able to stream from there but cannot anymore?

I would prefer to keep most of my content on the external.

If someone has done this, can you advise the steps to take?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Most of us do this, since films are rather larger and our DVD libraries are, too.

What's on you external drive? I'll assume for the sake of making this point, that all of your films are on your external hard drive, and all of your other content o\in on your Mac's drive.

In Take 2, make sure that you are syncing (and NOT streaming) to your mac. Sync only your photos, OR your music, OR a few TV shows -- just enough so that your Apple TV knows where your library is.

Doing that, you should be able to sync/stream all content from your iTunes lib.

If that has failed, delete the external content from you iTunes library (being careful not to delete the original files -- it shoud ask). Then, add them all back in.
 
I'm thinking about getting a external drive for all my movies because my MacBook is quickly running out of room.

How would I get content off an external drive if it was connected to my AEBS?

Does Apple TV recognize that?

Can my MacBook store my iTunes library on an external drive?
 
davislive said:
I'm thinking about getting a external drive for all my movies because my MacBook is quickly running out of room.

How would I get content off an external drive if it was connected to my AEBS?

Does Apple TV recognize that?

Can my MacBook store my iTunes library on an external drive?
Click to expand...

I use an external firewire drive (1TB Guardian Maximus) connected to my MacBook Pro. My entire iTunes library is stored on that drive. Once iTunes is up and running, my Apple TV is detected and syncs.

You need a computer running iTunes if you want your Apple TV to see the content on your media drive. In other words, you can't just have a drive connected to your AEBS without a computer running iTunes.
 
This is the part that I don't understand. I have movies and music on my external. My iTunes library is on my Mac. So I guess iTunes doesn't know anything about the content on the external. So what I did was move some content from the external to my iTunes library on my Mac and sync to Apple TV. How do I get iTunes to see the content on the external? Do I create another iTunes Library? If so, how do I do that?

Thanks

MikieMikie said:
Ok, so you're saying that part of your iTunes library is on an external HDD that is connected to your Mac? And you used to be able to stream from there but cannot anymore?



Most of us do this, since films are rather larger and our DVD libraries are, too.

What's on you external drive? I'll assume for the sake of making this point, that all of your films are on your external hard drive, and all of your other content o\in on your Mac's drive.

In Take 2, make sure that you are syncing (and NOT streaming) to your mac. Sync only your photos, OR your music, OR a few TV shows -- just enough so that your Apple TV knows where your library is.

Doing that, you should be able to sync/stream all content from your iTunes lib.

If that has failed, delete the external content from you iTunes library (being careful not to delete the original files -- it shoud ask). Then, add them all back in.
Click to expand...
 
if you have your content in more than one place you need to uncheck the copy files box under advanced in preferences so that it doesn't gather items to one spot then add them to the library. Or if you want them all on the external then set a folder as the iTunes folder under advanced and check the copy box. Then choose consolidate library under advanced menu bar (not preferences) to have them all copied to the external.
 
To further explain what cohibadad said, iTunes is capable of looking at files in 2 ways:
As a file that it "owns" (Local library)
As a file that lives somewhere else that it knows about. (Alias/shortcut)

What you would need to do is drag and drop the external files into iTunes while holding down the option key on your keyboard. This will tell iTunes that you want it to keep an alias to the original file and not copy it to your local library.

You can accomplish this same thing with everything you drag and drop by going to iTunes preferences->advanced and looking for the "keep my library organized" checkbox and making sure it's unchecked. That way you won't have to use the "option drag and drop" method. Just drag and drop.
 
I'm trying to understand this

I have an external drive that I keep all my movies, I can connect that to my Apple TV? with out having to have it in my Itunes library, that would be off the hook!!! please tell me this is possible and how, and if the above posts explain this, then just let me know to follow the instructions above...thanks!!!:D
 
gcmexico said:
I have an external drive that I keep all my movies, I can connect that to my Apple TV? with out having to have it in my Itunes library, that would be off the hook!!! please tell me this is possible and how, and if the above posts explain this, then just let me know to follow the instructions above...thanks!!!:D
Click to expand...

The movies still need to be in your iTunes library, but the files can be kept on the external rather than copying them into your iTunes folder. To add movies to the library without moving them from where they are now, follow Mikie's instructions above.
 
I keep my content on a Solaris machine connected to my Mac Pro via gigabit ethernet. The Mac Pro then streams to the Apple TV over 802.11n. Works fine, no blips.
 
My library is spread out over 3 places (iMac, and 2 externals) with no problems.

I optn+drag titles from the external to iTunes on the iMac and they show up in iTunes, but STAY on the external(s).

No problems with tv or iPod syncing.
 
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