Hosting iTunes on external HD

[crazycat]

I have a macmini and my itunes folder is close to 50GB now so i would like to host it on my external HD. How can i do that?i would like the enter music/video libry to run from there so that i can have some space in my mini.

Thank you.

 

[miniConvert]

I host (or did, for a few days until my mini died) my music on a network share so I can't see it being a problem. There's a setting in Preferences > Advanced > General that allows you to specify the iTunes Music folder location

I was starting from scratch so I just then added all the music to iTunes using Add Folder to Library. With your iTunes library already populated I wouldn't really know what to suggest.

 

[gallagb]

yup

you sure can-

basically-
in iTunes- under pref's- you can set the music library location
just browse & make it your external

the downside of this is the external always needs to be plugged into the machine (w/ power) to play music-
the upside - is that it frees up lots of space on ye ole hard drive-


when you switch it-
the easiest thing then is to go up under advanced and select the option that copies all of your music into your music folder
it'll say are you sure- you say yes-

this will take some time
however- this will take every file in your itunes music library (even those files that are 'mis-placed' on your hard drive) & put them in a new folder on the external-

then- you- manually go find your old itunes folder- and get the music folder- and delete it-

then watch the free GB go down down!

every once and a while when you import new music- it might be a good idea to check the files (in itunes get info) and see where the computer has stored it- (it should be in the external)...e.tc

and you are all set

 

[XIII]

I have a macmini and my itunes folder is close to 50GB now so i would like to host it on my external HD. How can i do that?i would like the enter music/video libry to run from there so that i can have some space in my mini.

Thank you.

How about... move your iTunes library to the external HD. Then, select it (in its new location), and in the Finder edit (or maybe file) menu, choose create alias. Then put the alias in the old place. It should all work fine now.

EDIT: Above method maybe better.. dunno.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

iTunes: Moving your iTunes Music folder

 

[gallagb]

How about... move your iTunes library to the external HD. Then, select it (in its new location), and in the Finder edit (or maybe file) menu, choose create alias. Then put the alias in the old place. It should all work fine now.

EDIT: Above method maybe better.. dunno.

good thinking- but- yea- the method i posted works and is what i do-

your idea- has one lil issue-
let me get really long winded to explain this:

ok- so remember old card catalogs in librarys?
there's a card- it says "xxx book is by yyy and is located at 123.22"
however- it's just a card- not a book!
you have to go to the shelve to find the book-

itunes is the same way
in the itunes window (so in the app) it is like a card catalog- there are no files in itunes -- the files are stored on your HD-

then if you 'get info' on an itunes file- it says "oh- the file is located here....."
typically something like "user/music/itunes/itunes music"
so....

your suggestion is to just move the files from that folder to the external-
then the computer (itunes app) will go to that folder and look for the file and not find it!-
instead it will find your alias- which may or may not work-

also- when you add new files- they will be going to the computer not the external
assuming crazycat wants to add more music... this will lead to a prbm
he will have music files in 2 places on his computer-
thus clutter begins!

by going to that 'advanced' menu and picking 'copy my music files'
essentailly you are going through that card catalog and making sure ALL of the cards lead to books! and the books are @ the right place-

so- the computer (itunes) will automatically put all of the cards in their places and make sure the books are in a location that the cards know about
(either your hard drive or the external)

by first going to prefs and changing the prefs to say "go to the external"-
your itunes will be smart enough to move all of the files there-

@ this point- however- we have 2 shelves on your overall system w/ the books on it!!
you've created a 2nd library
so you have to manually go in and delete the first libray
(located in that music folder in the itunes folder)

clear as mud?

Edit: or just click on the link that Mitthrawnurundo provided....

 

[XIII]

*snip*

Yes, your right. Messy messy my method. Your one (same at Mitt.'s, pretty much), will work best.

 

[iPhil]

iTunes: Moving your iTunes Music folder

The way of Mitt's way is easier/painless to transfer.. i got my 5GB of tunes on the external.. after re-ripping my cds to lossless..

Just remember to keep the .xml file in the internal itunes folder.. then you can trash the internal drive of tunes once you checked the iTunes size on the external drive ..