iPod Moving from Windows to Mac

[nw43]

Hi,

I'm currently waiting for my new iMac to arrive (not long now! ) and this will be my first Mac. I already have an iPod which I currently use on my Windows PC which is obviously formatted as such. I'll be looking to move all my music onto the Mac so will I need to reformat my iPod to be compatible with the Mac?

Also, what is the best way of organizing all my music files (they're currently backed up on CD as mp3s) once they are on the Mac and transfering them onto my iPod. As I do not have windows xp, up to now I have been ripping my cds manually and then using ephpod to manually copy files onto my iPod and not bothering with itunes or syncing my music so I'm not clear how it would work. Can I just copy the mp3s onto the Mac and then copy them onto my iPod . In the future I envisage that I will be using itunes to rip/manage my music.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[mad jew]

Congratulations on the switch!

OK, you wont need to reformat your iPod but it will ask you if you want to. Don't say yes! You'll lose all the data on the iPod's hard drive. Simply copy all the mp3s onto the iPod from your old computer, then plug the iPod into the new Mac and drag all the songs into the iTunes application. Once this is done, delete the mp3s off of the iPod and press Update iPod from the File menu in iTunes. This will put all the music onto the iPod.

 

[James Philp]

The simplest way I can think of inporting all your music to itunes is to do the file>add to library, network your computers together and then select the toppermost folder in which your music is contained. All the compatible files in this folder will be copied to itunes, with the itunes file structure etc.
I'd wait to get the machine first though!

 

[madmari]

I'm in the same boat as the OP - my first Mac is coming this week.
What about all the playlists and song ratings? Is there a way to transfer all of that? I think that using the network way all of these are going to be lost.
Any suggestions?

Madmari

 

[mad jew]

In the iTunes folder there should be a file called "iTunes 4 Music Library" or something. Theoretically you should be able to copy this into the equivalent folder on the Mac (Music/iTunes) and it'll keep all the old info. The file is cross-platform enabled but I personally haven't got this to work because I reimport all my music whereas I think you're meant to simply copy the whole iTunes folder (assuming you've got iTunes managing your library) to the Music folder on the Mac. Dunno why, but when I do it, it forgets where some of the files are and about half my music is unplayable - it just gives me an exclamation mark from memory. This might have something to do with ID3 tags, but I'm a bit out of my depth there. It's worth a try though, and if it doesn't work, just delete the file you put in there and next time you use iTunes, it'll make you a new one, but you wont have your old playlists etc.