iTunes Match Question from a nervous potential user

[curtisinoc]

Hope someone can help with this question before I take the "iTunes Match plunge"

I have a huge music collection on iTunes, over 40,000 music files - and I'm aware of the 25,000 limit. My music collection is organized exactly the way I want them - all data, album art etc are organized - I do not want any of this info to be changed.

The only thing I want iTunes match to do for my collection is this:

Of the 40,000 files, about 10,000 of those files are under 256kbps aac (ripped at 192kbps mp3). The other 30,000 files are either 320kbps or lossless. I'd like to use iTunes match to upgrade those 192 mp3 files into 256 aac files. I don't want iTunes match to touch my other 30,000 files.

Once iTunes match can do this, I'll delete the 10,000 files from my hard drive and replace/re-download them with the 256 aac files.

Questions:
1. Can this be done?
2. If so, will I have to re-organize those 10,000 files (tags, album art etc . . .)?

Thanks

 

[andymodem]

It will not replace the metadata for your existing files. When you delete the lower bit rate files, the entries in iTunes will remain but will show a cloud icon that you can use to download iTunes' copy. The new downloads will inherit the metadata from your old files.

 

[curtisinoc]

It will not replace the metadata for your existing files. When you delete the lower bit rate files, the entries in iTunes will remain but will show a cloud icon that you can use to download iTunes' copy. The new downloads will inherit the metadata from your old files.

Thanks. Also, can I just upload a portion of my iTunes library (10,000 files) for conversion or do I have to create another library? Will iTunes match leave my other 30,000 files alone?

 

[wonderspark]

Thanks. Also, can I just upload a portion of my iTunes library (10,000 files) for conversion or do I have to create another library? Will iTunes match leave my other 30,000 files alone?

You can select the exact 10,000 files you want by creating a smart playlist very easily. It will leave the other 30,000 files alone, yes.

The one thing you will have to think about before deleting your old lower bitrate files is the fact that you'll have to listen to all 10,000 to make sure they didn't replace any of them with clean/explicit versions opposite what the original was. I find new incorrect versions every other day or so, and it makes me very unhappy.

If you don't care about those files being replaced, then you have nothing to worry about, and it's probably worth it for you.

 

[curtisinoc]

You can select the exact 10,000 files you want by creating a smart playlist very easily. It will leave the other 30,000 files alone, yes.

The one thing you will have to think about before deleting your old lower bitrate files is the fact that you'll have to listen to all 10,000 to make sure they didn't replace any of them with clean/explicit versions opposite what the original was. I find new incorrect versions every other day or so, and it makes me very unhappy.

If you don't care about those files being replaced, then you have nothing to worry about, and it's probably worth it for you.

Oh wow. This is news to me. Most of those 10,000 files are rap/hip-hop and lots of em have explicit lyrics (and I like it that way). I may stay away from iTunes match now. Thanks for this info.

 

[wonderspark]

Oh wow. This is news to me. Most of those 10,000 files are rap/hip-hop and lots of em have explicit lyrics (and I like it that way). I may stay away from iTunes match now. Thanks for this info.

My Dr. Dre collection has lots of screwed up files now. What's odd is that it's totally random. The very next track can be full of F-bombs and whatnot, and it's unchanged. Makes no sense.

 

[curtisinoc]

My Dr. Dre collection has lots of screwed up files now. What's odd is that it's totally random. The very next track can be full of F-bombs and whatnot, and it's unchanged. Makes no sense.

Yeah, I think I'll wait till everything "iTunes Match" settles down and becomes less unpredictable. I'll lose many nights of sleep if my music gets all screwed up !!

Thanks for the heads up

 

[iEvolution]

Yeah i don't recommend anyone get match yet, for being launched from a company like Apple which makes everything brain dead simple to use the execution for itunes match is/was horrible.

My library is a nightmare its such a mess right now that i have been using my sansa mp3 player due to a completely disasterous library with itunes at the moment.

 

[wonderspark]

Just re-ripped all my Eminem. What sucks is that the songs played on the iPhone remotely are still the clean versions, despite deleting, re-ripping and verifying the explicit version is on the Mac itself after re-matching. I want my $24.99 back.

 

[curtisinoc]

Sounds like iTunes Match DEFINITELY isn't for everyone . . . especially those of us with lots of music and those of us who put a lot of time into the organization of our music.

Yeah i don't recommend anyone get match yet, for being launched from a company like Apple which makes everything brain dead simple to use the execution for itunes match is/was horrible.

^^ Agree

Just re-ripped all my Eminem. What sucks is that the songs played on the iPhone remotely are still the clean versions, despite deleting, re-ripping and verifying the explicit version is on the Mac itself after re-matching. I want my $24.99 back.

^^ That FN sucks!! Eminem is no fun without the "F-Bombs" !!! . . . . Radio Version of Rap just aint the same . .
I would cry if I had to re-rip my cd's (about 5,000 of em).

Again, THANKS A TON for the heads up on this thread before I blindly dove into iTunes Match (almost did). Sounds like it would've been a disaster for my music.

 

[wonderspark]

You're welcome.

On another note, I found a new issue. Some INXS songs were randomly replaced in the middle of the album with live concert versions.

It's getting silly, now.