using existing large mp3 directory structure with iTunes

[slimflem]

Hi Everyone,

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I can't find my exact situation while searching, so I'll ask. I just bought my first Mac last week, a PowerBook 15" maxed out. I've never had a Mac, or laptop, and I really really love it. OS X is awesome.

Anyway, I have a huge directory structure of mp3's on a Windows server which I am migrating some of it to my laptop. I have been working on this for years and I have quite a detailed structure, etc. built. I would like to just "add" this into iTunes and have my directory structures reflected in iTunes so I can pick what I want to play like I always did in WinAmp. I don't want to wade thru one large Library list hunting for what I want or having to create a search each time. A lot of what I have has proper tag information, but not all of it.

Is there some way to have iTunes just use my directory structure as is? I can't seem to just drag-n-drop my top-level directory into iTunes and have it created folders/playlists or "whatever" based on the dragged structure.

What is my best course of action? If iTunes is not going to do what I need, what other software player can I use? I have a SLIMP3 hardware player and can use its perl server program and web browser interface with my existing structure and have iTunes play its streamed mp3 from a Url, but I would really like to use iTunes directly if possible.

If I need to just grin and bear it for a few days to get myself up and running, I will. I just need some guidance on how to get started.

Sorry for the long post....
Thanks so much...

 

[Lacero]

It's easier to just let iTunes manage your directory: behind-the-scenes. Makes life much more pleasant.

You should properly tag all MP3s before you let iTunes take over.

 

[bluebomberman]

I second that

It's easier to just let iTunes manage your directory: behind-the-scenes. Makes life much more pleasant.

You should properly tag all MP3s before you let iTunes take over.

I switched last year to Mac from Windows ME. Finding out that iTunes manages your file structure (and has instant search) was a revelation!

 

[slimflem]

I'm seeing the light

It's easier to just let iTunes manage your directory: behind-the-scenes. Makes life much more pleasant.

You should properly tag all MP3s before you let iTunes take over.

Ok. I'm seeing the benefits of tagging properly. I have imported (not allowing iTunes to copy to its own library folder, leaving mine where they are) about 20 "albums" and updated the tags properly from within iTunes. It's nice once this is done....agreed.

To help me out, I created an Automator Finder PlugIn to help. When I import an entire subdirectory at once and say a particular CD was not tagged properly when I ripped it, I go to the source directory outside of iTunes and select all the mp3's in that directory, right-click, and select my Automator PlugIn from the Automator context menu. This will add the selected mp3's to an iTunes playlist. Then I can just select them all in the playlist, update the info, then delete the temporary playlist.

The whole process takes some time, but I can see it will be worth it when I am done.

thanks for the info.