I'm confused about the whole Apple Music thing

[willie45]

Please can someone point me to a simple guide to AM and how it works? I might be dim but I'm sure I 'm not alone in finding the system confusing.

In particular I'm just wanting to check out a couple of things

1. If I download music to my iPhone from AM can I be confident it will not be deleted when I sync the Phone to my Mac? I don't want to download the songs to my Mac. I just need then for planes and underground etc.

2 Am I right in believing that I don't need to subscribe to Match to sync my streaming library across iPhone, Mac and iPad?

I am assuming that the stuff I download is kept separate from the lists of tracks I have for streaming in my library.

I'm sorry if I'm being really daft but I can't find an easy guide to this stuff anywhere.

Thanks

 

[whsbuss]

Please can someone point me to a simple guide to AM and how it works? I might be dim but I'm sure I 'm not alone in finding the system confusing.

In particular I'm just wanting to check out a couple of things

1. If I download music to my iPhone from AM can I be confident it will not be deleted when I sync the Phone to my Mac? I don't want to download the songs to my Mac. I just need then for planes and underground etc.

2 Am I right in believing that I don't need to subscribe to Match to sync my streaming library across iPhone, Mac and iPad?

I am assuming that the stuff I download is kept separate from the lists of tracks I have for streaming in my library.

I'm sorry if I'm being really daft but I can't find an easy guide to this stuff anywhere.

Thanks

#1 - you can download separate music to each device under your account.
#2 - no need to have Match. For example, your own music on your Mac will be uploaded to your AM cloud library. So if you want to download that music to your iPhone, its there to do so.

 

[Jjayf]

Please can someone point me to a simple guide to AM and how it works? I might be dim but I'm sure I 'm not alone in finding the system confusing.

In particular I'm just wanting to check out a couple of things

1. If I download music to my iPhone from AM can I be confident it will not be deleted when I sync the Phone to my Mac? I don't want to download the songs to my Mac. I just need then for planes and underground etc.

2 Am I right in believing that I don't need to subscribe to Match to sync my streaming library across iPhone, Mac and iPad?

I am assuming that the stuff I download is kept separate from the lists of tracks I have for streaming in my library.

I'm sorry if I'm being really daft but I can't find an easy guide to this stuff anywhere.

Thanks

Whatever you download from Apple Music not only is NOT separate from your own library, it integrates and untwined itself into your own music, filling in artwork, completing partial albums, dublicating albums sometimes. It’s a bit of a mess.

If you have iCloud music library enabled then your Apple Music downloads become available on your other devices.

Check out the Apple Music tutorials on Apple.

 

[arkitect]

This is how I see Apple Music and how it spreads through your own library.

The **** really hits the fan when you ever unsubscribe… only then do you find out how deeply the Mycelium has spread…
Try untangling that.
After the unholy mess Apple Music left my library in and the rebuilding it took I won't be trying it again.

Whatever you download from Apple Music not only is NOT separate from your own library, it integrates and untwined itself into your own music, filling in artwork, completing partial albums, dublicating albums sometimes. It’s a bit of a mess.

If you have iCloud music library enabled then your Apple Music downloads become available on your other devices.

Check out the Apple Music tutorials on Apple.

Correct.

 

[Rigby]

The **** really hits the fan when you ever unsubscribe… only then do you find out how deeply the Mycelium has spread…
Try untangling that.

It's actually not that difficult. Set your library to song view in iTunes, enable the "Kind" column and click the column title to sort by kind. All Apple music files will be grouped under kind "Apple Music audio file". If you unsubscribe, just delete them and your local library will look exactly as before.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I agree with the warnings above. If you subscribe to Apple Music it's best to start with an empty library. If Apple has the album or songs that were previously in your library don't add your own files. The "matching" gets screwed up often.

Example: Frank Sinatra cut many songs multiple times. If I add my own copy of one of his albums to my Mac's iTunes library and then stream that album on my iPhone, one or more of the tracks can be from a completely different album. Streaming the Apple Music version of the same album works great.

 

[whsbuss]

Yes when I started AM I did it with a blank/new library. Then I added my stuff

 

[arkitect]

It's actually not that difficult. Set your library to song view in iTunes, enable the "Kind" column and click the column title to sort by kind. All Apple music files will be grouped under kind "Apple Music audio file". If you unsubscribe, just delete them and your local library will look exactly as before.

You'll just have to trust me on this.
In the early days of Apple Music it was a cluster**** trying to combine 38,000+ songs within Apple's system…

There is no way I am going back in and going through all of that again…

Glad it works for you.
[doublepost=1512492112][/doublepost]

Yes when I started AM I did it with a blank/new library. Then I added my stuff

Probably the safest and sanest way to do it.
[doublepost=1512492147][/doublepost]

I agree with the warnings above. If you subscribe to Apple Music it's best to start with an empty library. If Apple has the album or songs that were previously in your library don't add your own files. The "matching" gets screwed up often.

Example: Frank Sinatra cut many songs multiple times. If I add my own copy of one of his albums to my Mac's iTunes library and then stream that album on my iPhone, one or more of the tracks can be from a completely different album. Streaming the Apple Music version of the same album works great.

Exactly right.

 

[willie45]

Hmmm. Thank you people. This is disappointing from Apple. I'm really wanting to use AM on my iPhone but also put some high quality files from my own main iTunes library ( currently running on a Mac to my hifi ) which is ALAC. I am reluctant now. Also I have read that on an iPhone, you can't play ALAC at the same time as having an AM subscription because AM will automatically disable ALAC playback and match it to AAC on the cloud.

I'm not a very tech person so I'm really puzzled. I might just have to stick with Spotify although apparently, if I use Bluetooth to play that through my car stereo system the iPhone will only transmit it in lower quality than standard as it doesn't have Aptx and can't handle MP3 type files. Have I got this right? I'm confused here.

 

[BrianBaughn]

If you're using Bluetooth the ALAC/AAC sound "difference" is probably a lot closer to zero than otherwise.

What I like about Apple Music is that I can stream music that's in my library but not available via Apple Music...due to the "matching" service. Last time I checked I had to download the files to my iPhone to play them on it with Spotify.

 

[willie45]

Hi. I know BT is a bit rubbish for music. I meant though, that there was a difference in sound quality between Spotify files which I believe the iPhone will degrade further and AM files which it won't. In the words Spotify will sound worse than AM in that situation. This better bluetooth sound along with SIRI use, are my prime motivations for using AM. I am happy to listen to (lower than ALAC quality) AAC files on Bluetooth but don't want to get worse than that by using Spotify in that situation.

However my other issue which conflicts with this is that I believe that the ALAC files I have on may own library at home and which I want to put on my phone won't be played as ALAC when I use wired headphones on my phone when out and about walking etc, as AM matches AAC versions and makes you listen to them instead.

I like being able to stream but I don't want to lose my ability to listen to ALAC the. I want and AM seems to take this from me

It seems to me that my best bet is to forget AM and use Spotify with a wired connection for streaming (or downloaded) on my phone in the car and then I can listen to ALAC when I want using either wired to the car or wired headphones

 

[Jjayf]

However my other issue which conflicts with this is that I believe that the ALAC files I have on may own library at home and which I want to put on my phone won't be played as ALAC when I use wired headphones on my phone when out and about walking etc, as AM matches AAC versions and makes you listen to them instead.

I like being able to stream but I don't want to lose my ability to listen to ALAC the. I want and AM seems to take this from me

It seems to me that my best bet is to forget AM and use Spotify with a wired connection for streaming (or downloaded) on my phone in the car and then I can listen to ALAC when I want using either wired to the car or wired headphones

This is only true if you are listening to streamed music on an iCloud music library enabled device, and not from a physically downloaded library where the files actually reside on the device. You have the ability to download the files for off line listening.

 

[willie45]

Hi Jjayf

So I could use AM, not enable the cloud, stream music as I want and also download any files I want to from AM on my iPhone and listen to them in AAC over Bluetooth. I would also be able to listen to ALAC files on my device (through wired headphones) which I synced from my iTunes library.

Is that right?

 

[Jjayf]

Hi Jjayf

So I could use AM, not enable the cloud, stream music as I want and also download any files I want to from AM on my iPhone and listen to them in AAC over Bluetooth. I would also be able to listen to ALAC files on my device (through wired headphones) which I synced from my iTunes library.

Is that right?

Yes. You would sync high quality audio from iTunes.
Keep in mind that if you enable iCloud Music Library, you loose the ability to sync files from iTunes. You must disable ICML, then sync, then re-enable ICML.

What I’ve done is sync all my high quality audio to my phone, then downloaded music from AM. I have ICML enabled so as to have my library available across devices, but have the physical files downloaded to my phone for offline listening. Listening on other devices such as iPad and Apple TV is streamed from the cloud.

The other thing to remember is that Streaming downloaded Apple Music to network audio devices is not allowed. You can only play Apple Music through AirPlay or Bluetooth or a wired connection.

 

[Rigby]

Hmmm. Thank you people. This is disappointing from Apple. I'm really wanting to use AM on my iPhone but also put some high quality files from my own main iTunes library ( currently running on a Mac to my hifi ) which is ALAC.

If it's just a few songs, you could always load the files into a different app that is capable of music playback (e.g. a file manager like Goodreader).

I am reluctant now. Also I have read that on an iPhone, you can't play ALAC at the same time as having an AM subscription because AM will automatically disable ALAC playback and match it to AAC on the cloud.

It won't really disable ALAC playback, it just doesn't sync ALAC files via the cloud.

I'm not a very tech person so I'm really puzzled. I might just have to stick with Spotify although apparently, if I use Bluetooth to play that through my car stereo system the iPhone will only transmit it in lower quality than standard as it doesn't have Aptx and can't handle MP3 type files. Have I got this right? I'm confused here.

The same will happen with Apple Music, unless your car stereo is capable of AAC over Bluetooth (which is very rare if it exists at all). The songs will be transcoded to SBC for transmission over BT. But honestly, it seems very unlikely to me that it makes any difference in a car.

 

[Tech198]

Please can someone point me to a simple guide to AM and how it works? I might be dim but I'm sure I 'm not alone in finding the system confusing.

In particular I'm just wanting to check out a couple of things

1. If I download music to my iPhone from AM can I be confident it will not be deleted when I sync the Phone to my Mac? I don't want to download the songs to my Mac. I just need then for planes and underground etc.

2 Am I right in believing that I don't need to subscribe to Match to sync my streaming library across iPhone, Mac and iPad?

I am assuming that the stuff I download is kept separate from the lists of tracks I have for streaming in my library.

I'm sorry if I'm being really daft but I can't find an easy guide to this stuff anywhere.

Thanks

1. you can't be confident 100% is syncing anything, as issues can always arise. Its more 'convenient' when it works, than when it doesn't work.
2. Yep.. Match billed separately. Match is No DRM whatsoever, where as AM is (the same functionality if u have both AM + Match together).

The difference is Apple music allows you to stream. iTunes Match doesn't.. Before syncing anything keep a backup of your local music on hard drive separately. If things should happen u may not be able to access/use Apple music, but at least your local files would be ok.

 

[Arran]

Okay, so I have a big library ripped from CDs. After years of avoiding Apple Music like the plague, I was getting ready to dive in.

Then I read this thread excitedly.

Thanks for sharing. Think I'll pass for now.

 

[willie45]

I am probably just going to stay with Spotify. It works and doesn't mess with my other playback options, like CD rips on my phone, and it seems simpler. I can have the app on different devices ( I have two iPhones with different Apple IDs - one for work and one for home ) and I can either download or stream. it also makes it easy for me to find new music, which I like.

I wanted to give AM a go but it's just too much hassle and too many issues for me at the moment.

Thanks to all you good people for the information on this. I appreciate your help.

 

[Jjayf]

Honestly I’d use Spotify but it’s too late for me. I’m in with AM and it would be a huge hassle to back out now.
Particularly because I want to set up some Bose soundtouch players around the house. They currently don’t play with AM.

 

[whsbuss]

Honestly I’d use Spotify but it’s too late for me. I’m in with AM and it would be a huge hassle to back out now.
Particularly because I want to set up some Bose soundtouch players around the house. They currently don’t play with AM.

But Sonos does

 

[Jjayf]

But Sonos does

Really? Bose will be adding support for AirPlay 2 when ever that’s available. Sonos is probably cheaper than soundtouch also. Hum.

 

[Rigby]

Honestly I’d use Spotify but it’s too late for me. I’m in with AM and it would be a huge hassle to back out now.
Particularly because I want to set up some Bose soundtouch players around the house. They currently don’t play with AM.

Switching may not be as difficult as you think. There are a number of apps that can transfer playlists between different streaming services. I'm currently trialing Apple Music and used an app called Houdini to transfer my playlists from Spotify (but there are several others that do the same thing). It was no hassle at all, only a dozen or so songs that weren't correctly identified by the app needed some manual work.

 

[matrix07]

Many bad advices here it's unbelievable.

Do you have more than 1 Macs? If so, turns off iCloud Music Library on your main Mac that iTunes are full of music, subscribe to Apple Music on your Mac that iTunes are blank, then turns on iCloud Music on the Mac you subscribed.
Now you have a Mac that has Apple Music on, feel free to add any songs to your Apple Music library. You can even add your own music from other Mac to this Mac & it will get added to Apple Music automatically. If, like me, your music is 24/96 lossless and timing is a bit different than what Apple Music has, you will be able to upload it to the cloud in full lossless format & listen to it on iPhone in all lossless glory no problem (provide it's Apple lossless)

The worst advice here is the one recommend you to stick to Spotify. Why? Spotify nowadays is just acting like a child toward Apple. There is no Watch app in sight. Are they updating phone app to be compatible with the X yet? You just can't trust them if you're iPhone user. Trust me, the quicker you jump the better.

 

[Rigby]

If, like me, your music is 24/96 lossless and timing is a bit different than what Apple Music has, you will be able to upload it to the cloud in full lossless format & listen to it on iPhone in all lossless glory no problem (provide it's Apple lossless)

Sorry to disappoint, but you listened to lossy AAC encodes the whole time (apparently without even noticing):

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205919

"We create AAC 256Kbps versions of songs that are encoded in ALAC, WAV, or AIFF formats and add the AAC version to iCloud Music Library. Your original music file remains untouched on your Mac or PC."

 

[matrix07]

Sorry to disappoint, but you listened to lossy AAC encodes the whole time (apparently without even noticing):

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205919

"We create AAC 256Kbps versions of songs that are encoded in ALAC, WAV, or AIFF formats and add the AAC version to iCloud Music Library. Your original music file remains untouched on your Mac or PC."

Even so, it still obviously sounds better than Apple Music version. (Yes, I compare them on my iPhone)