I was thinking about subscribing to iTunes Match since Apple seems to have deprecated manual syncing of iTunes libraries to iPhones/iPods. My library consists entirely of lossless tracks (some of which I know won't match because they're high-res downloads) with heavily massaged metatdata and high-res artwork. I've read many complaints about ITM altering artwork and/or metadata (or worse, altering the track itself) in the user's library. Is this still a problem and if so can I protect my library from alteration, or should I give up on using ITM?
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iTunes Match: any way to protect my library?
- Thread starter randian
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Simple, the way you protect all your digital data.
I have a backup of course, but if ITM is going to try to damage my library every time I use it I see no point to the exercise.
What do you mean by "deprecated manual syncing"? It still works the same as it always has.
Anyway, I have used iTunes Match for years (though I recently let my subscription expire for unrelated reasons) and it has never touched my original files. I don't think there is reason to be overly concerned, especially if you have a backup.
Anyway, I have used iTunes Match for years (though I recently let my subscription expire for unrelated reasons) and it has never touched my original files. I don't think there is reason to be overly concerned, especially if you have a backup.
What do you mean by "manual syncing"? You mean in the desktop iTunes software?
It's been many months since I've used a pc, but I highly doubt anything about syncing has changed since then.
And obviously you backup your library externally, as @Julien wrote, then there is zero risk.
I believe you can (rather inconveniently) sync via wire, since as I recall Apple removed wireless syncing over your local wifi.
Not quite. Backup software sees that something changed in your original library and copies it to the backup. If something changed while you weren't paying perfect attention your backup gets corrupted. The people who claimed ITM damaged their library all seem to have been surprised by it, which implies iTunes didn't tell them when it changed something.
And they forgot to remove the options for it in iOS???
Who's talking about backup software?? Why make this so complicated? Copy your entire iTunes Media > Music folder to an sdcard, put it in your desk drawer, and you're good to go.
I was gotta say change permissions, but just tried that and it renders iTunes inaccessible.
Actually, it will work,... Either Change permission of music files to 'read only" from Finder.. or just check "locked" checkbox in file will accomplish same result, on files u don't wants change to happen
Solved.
Itunes will pick them up again when opening, but u won't be able to edit/change any meta data (appear greyed out) and neither will Apple. it will still sync though. but the only way to prevent that is not to import them/keep icloud library off anyway. When u want just uncheck "locked" or change to Read/Write to update music.
Actually, it will work,... Either Change permission of music files to 'read only" from Finder.. or just check "locked" checkbox in file will accomplish same result, on files u don't wants change to happen
Solved.
Itunes will pick them up again when opening, but u won't be able to edit/change any meta data (appear greyed out) and neither will Apple. it will still sync though. but the only way to prevent that is not to import them/keep icloud library off anyway. When u want just uncheck "locked" or change to Read/Write to update music.
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Checking "locked" one by one on thousands of tracks seems like way too much work. Woud a read-only mount point work?
u can lock multile files at once on selection...
But your right, I just locked filed and "uploaded" files status.. deleted local copies and make sure they were in the cloud, and chose Get info in iTunes on files, and was able to edit..
So permissions are local only.. oh well..
But your right, I just locked filed and "uploaded" files status.. deleted local copies and make sure they were in the cloud, and chose Get info in iTunes on files, and was able to edit..
So permissions are local only.. oh well..
When I had it, I have very few issues it it. I though it was great, and my library wasn't messed up at all. I have back ups, and thankfully never needed them. The only reason why I dropped it was because I have Apple Music now.
You can back up wirelessly to iTunes, I do it. Although myself and some other posters on another thread can never get it to work automatically, it always has to be triggered despite Apple support docs saying it should.
I was referring to backing up your iTunes library, not an iOS backup of your device.