iCloud I have 2 TB of iCloud storage from Apple One, what if I got a Mac with only 256 or 512 GB SSD, can I use iCloud to store iTunes music movies?

[Luba]

With 2 TB of iCloud storage how small can I have my internal SSD on my Mac? It would be great to have my iTunes folder with is about 700 GB on iCloud using my 2TB iCloud storage plan. It's mostly made of ripped CDs. Yes, years ago I took the time and ripped all my CDs onto iTunes. I guess I didn't take that many pictures over the years as I only have about 80 GB of photos. The rest of my storage needs is around 200 GB. My boot SSD is using 160 GB. So I suppose to be safe I should get a 512 SSD. And to make sure can I store my iTunes files using my iCloud storage as well as my Photos. With Photos I choose original size in iCloud and thumbnail size for the internal SSD on my Mac?

 

[swandy]

Can't answer your question directly, but I also had a lot of ripped CDs and music downloaded for other sites aside from the iTunes Store. What I did to save room on my external HD (where my Music and Photos library are stored) is find the albums that I had previously ripped/downloaded in Apple Music, delete the original ripped album from my Apple Music library and add the album back from Apple Music. Now - depending on your library (I had lots of bootleg CDs) you probably won't find all of your albums. But that is the way I saved space on the external HD. I also made a full backup of my Music Library BEFORE deleting anything. This way I had all those ripped CD files (and also the files I got from other sources) in case they were removed from Apple Music.

 

[Ethosik]

If you have Apple Music, iTunes Match is included and you can add your own files to your Apple Music library - in the cloud. I have some audio files I have created on my Apple Music library. And if your files get too much (there is a limit on iTunes Match) you can add the rest to iCloud Drive.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I would go with the 512GB SSD. If the movies and music are items you ripped etc., yes, you could use iCloud to store them. You would have to down load the movie or song you wanted to listen to on the device you were using at the time.

 

[matrix07]

is find the albums that I had previously ripped/downloaded in Apple Music, delete the original ripped album from my Apple Music library and add the album back from Apple Music. Now - depending on your library (I had lots of bootleg CDs) you probably won't find all of your albums.

No problem. If you use Apple Music you can add it to Music and Apple Music will try to match. When it doesn't find a match it will let you upload that album to Apple Music. When the upload finishes you can delete that album from Music and continue to listen to it like you do with any album from Apple Music.

 

[Ethosik]

No problem. If you use Apple Music you can add it to Music and Apple Music will try to match. When it doesn't find a match it will let you upload that album to Apple Music. When the upload finishes you can delete that album from Music and continue to listen to it like you do with any album from Apple Music.

Yep. I got the Persona 5 Royal soundtrack when I got the complete edition. It was not able to match but the songs still uploaded. Also, I have created my own stuff on Garageband. Obviously, those will not match and are uploaded. Lastly, I bought some soundtracks to games off of Steam that have been uploaded, those did not match either.

 

[swandy]

No problem. If you use Apple Music you can add it to Music and Apple Music will try to match. When it doesn't find a match it will let you upload that album to Apple Music. When the upload finishes you can delete that album from Music and continue to listen to it like you do with any album from Apple Music.

I understand that, but if I added an album (not from Apple Music or iTunes), allow Apple Music to upload it so it shows in my library on all my devices and then delete it from Music (which I assume you are referring to Apple Music and my library) it will delete it everywhere and then ask if I wish to delete the local files that I originally added the tracks to my library from. My suggestion was - in order to have access to the OP's albums without taking up local storage space - was to find the same albums already in Apple Music, delete his original ripped versions from his library and then ADD the same album directly from Apple Music itself. You can't delete it from your Apple Music Library after the upload of your own version of the album.

 

[matrix07]

delete it from Music (which I assume you are referring to Apple Music and my library) it will delete it everywhere

No. There's an option to delete it from Music app you just added it, not deleting it from *Apple Music*.
(I don't know what the option says exactly since I haven't added albums for a long time but it's there)

 

[swandy]

No. There's an option to delete it from Music app you just added it, not deleting it from *Apple Music*.
(I don't know what the option says exactly since I haven't added albums for a long time but it's there)

I have been using Apple Music since the beginning and I don't believe there is that option to not delete it from Apple Music. The only options I have seen is when I go to Music on my iMac (which has the external drive attached), I will usually be asked if I also want the actual music files deleted (assuming there was matching music files). I have never seen an option to not delete the album from Apple Music.

 

[matrix07]

I have been using Apple Music since the beginning and I don't believe there is that option to not delete it from Apple Music. The only options I have seen is when I go to Music on my iMac (which has the external drive attached), I will usually be asked if I also want the actual music files deleted (assuming there was matching music files). I have never seen an option to not delete the album from Apple Music.

If you use it from the beginning you should know that it's not only allow you to match your library but upload as well (for the time there is no match)
I ran out of album to add ha ha so I can't show you exactly how, but to show you it's possible this is my favorite Japanese album that Apple Music US doesn't have. The actual album is also not on my MBA but I'm still be able to listen to it.

 

[Luba]

Hmm, when Apple Music matches it won’t use my copy which is Apple lossless format, correct? When Music can’t match it will be in whatever format I have it in, correct?

 

[Ethosik]

Hmm, when Apple Music matches it won’t use my copy which is Apple lossless format, correct? When Music can’t match it will be in whatever format I have it in, correct?

That is correct. If its your own personal songs, or it just can't match for whatever reason, it won't magically become higher quality.

 

[swandy]

If you use it from the beginning you should know that it's not only allow you to match your library but upload as well (for the time there is no match)
I ran out of album to add ha ha so I can't show you exactly how, but to show you it's possible this is my favorite Japanese album that Apple Music US doesn't have. The actual album is also not on my MBA but I'm still be able to listen to it.

View attachment 1763190

I do understand how it works. And I understand that even though this album is not on your MBA you can play it - THAT'S WHAT SYNCING ALLOWS. But if you delete the album from the computer where the original album and its files are located (to save space like the OP seemed to want to do) (1) it will not be available on any of your synced devices and (2) it will also ask if want the original files deleted.

If you use it from the beginning you should know that it's not only allow you to match your library but upload as well (for the time there is no match)
I ran out of album to add ha ha so I can't show you exactly how, but to show you it's possible this is my favorite Japanese album that Apple Music US doesn't have. The actual album is also not on my MBA but I'm still be able to listen to it.

View attachment 1763190

So where is "the original album"? If it is not available in the US through Apple Music, you must have gotten the files somewhere and imported it to your library on one of your devices.

 

[matrix07]

So where is "the original album"?

On my external HDD, which didn't connect to MBA at that moment.

 

[matrix07]

But if you delete the album from the computer where the original album and its files are located (to save space like the OP seemed to want to do) (1) it will not be available on any of your synced devices

When you added your album to Apple Music and uploaded to it you can delete local copy and keep the album in the cloud to save space so no, it's still be available on every one of your devices. Notice the cloud arrow down icon in my photo.

 

[matrix07]

Hmm, when Apple Music matches it won’t use my copy which is Apple lossless format, correct? When Music can’t match it will be in whatever format I have it in, correct?

When it match it will use AAC file from Apple Music on your other devices. When you upload it will convert to AAC as well. If you want to listen to your lossless you have to keep it in iTunes (Music).

 

[Luba]

When it match it will use AAC file from Apple Music on your other devices. When you upload it will convert to AAC as well. If you want to listen to your lossless you have to keep it in iTunes (Music).

Can I sync the Apple lossless file to my iPhone from iTunes, will it override Apple Music format AAC? Or i can only listen to the lossless file on iTunes on my Mac?

 

[matrix07]

Can I sync the Apple lossless file to my iPhone from iTunes, will it override Apple Music format AAC?

I believe you can sync to your phone using iTunes (Finder now?) and if you don't delete it from your phone then that will be the copy you listen to.