Music app and existing library

[thebart]

I have a collection of music on an external SSD. In Mac's Music app's preferences, I point the library folder to the external folder /Volumes/T7Shield/Music. I have "organize files" unchecked because I want to leave the folder structure as is. I also don't want it to copy all the files (mostly mp3s and FLACs) to the internal drive, which is only 512GB.

I expect it to pick up the library, import the files into its DB, download album art, etc. but it does nothing. Everything is blank. Adding new music to the folder also does nothing. I've restarted the app, too. It does not seem to be scanning the folder at all.

So does it just not work this way? Is the Music app only to let you buy music from apple music? thanks

 

[bogdanw]

Is it an existing library (from Music or iTunes) or just a folder with music files?
For a previous library, see "Create or choose a library" https://support.apple.com/guide/music/use-multiple-libraries-mus7663a920a/mac
For a folder with music, see "Add files to your library but not to your Music folder" https://support.apple.com/guide/music/change-where-music-files-are-stored-mus69248042d/mac

 

[thebart]

Is it an existing library (from Music or iTunes) or just a folder with music files?
For a previous library, see "Create or choose a library" https://support.apple.com/guide/music/use-multiple-libraries-mus7663a920a/mac
For a folder with music, see "Add files to your library but not to your Music folder" https://support.apple.com/guide/music/change-where-music-files-are-stored-mus69248042d/mac

Thank you. It's just a folder with files. Adding the folder through the menu works. However, the app still does not pick up new files/folders automatically. Would be pretty tedious if I had to do this manually for new files/folders

 

[thebart]

Okay, i have to put new files in the "automatically add to the music" folder. But i have to be content to let it organize new files. There doesn't seem to be a way to change the template for how this should be done

 

[thebart]

Oh wait. Music doesn't handle FLAC? Oh come on man

This is what I can't stand about Apple. You jump through a bunch of hoops to find out the last hoop just leads to a brick wall

 

[bogdanw]

I never used iTunes, I will never use Music, you don't have to either.
There are so many players to choose from, here are just a few
VOX Music Player for Mac & iPhone https://vox.rocks/
Clementine https://www.clementine-player.org/
Tiny Player for Mac https://www.catnapgames.com/tiny-player-for-mac/

 

[paardenkapper]

Just in case you want to give the original iTunes a try it can be installed on newer systems by using RetroActive:

GitHub - cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive: Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve.

Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve. - ...

github.com

 

[bogdanw]

Just in case you want to give the original iTunes a try it can be installed on newer systems by using RetroActive:

Why? iTunes does not support FLAC.

You don't need Retroactive to install iTunes for music https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-12-6-5-3-on-apple-silicon.2354390/

 

[MarkC426]

Is it an existing library (from Music or iTunes) or just a folder with music files?
For a previous library, see "Create or choose a library" https://support.apple.com/guide/music/use-multiple-libraries-mus7663a920a/mac
For a folder with music, see "Add files to your library but not to your Music folder" https://support.apple.com/guide/music/change-where-music-files-are-stored-mus69248042d/mac

I am possibly moving from my Mac Pro to a Studio.
My current iTunes library is on a separate drive (everything downloaded).

Trying to get my head around how it will work, if I put my library onto an external drive.
i.e. on my iPhone/iPad, I see all TV/Films in TV app, so that will translate to the new Mac.
But my music is a combination of iTunes purchases (which I see on iPhone/iPad in Music app) and CD imports and Vinyl recordings.

Can you select the location with Music app, in the same way as iTunes?
I don't want anything copied to the new Mac.