Tips for a itunes (almost) virgin

[Elmo Putney]

Wife is getting an ipod touch for Crimbo, which means I need to infect one of my computers with iTunes.
Currently my media folders are arranged with WMP11, and previously when I've (briefly) tried itunes I've ende up in a complete mess with duplicate files etc....

If I was starting from scratch I think I could deal with itunes but I've got a 60+GB music library already and I would like to keep using WMP.

Any tips for a happy marrige between media player and itunes, or do I just have 2 copies of my music library one infected with itunes the other by microsoft?

[McBainUK]

and previously when I've (briefly) tried itunes I've ende up in a complete mess with duplicate files etc....

I suspect this is because you set itunes to (the default) of "managing your music files" which copies all files to the itunes music folder. Turn this off before you first scan and create the itunes library. If I remember correctly this is an option on the "welcome wizard".

Any tips for a happy marrige between media player and itunes,

Apart from the above I find the play together quite nicely. Note that I don't use itunes to BUY anything just manage and play. So to coin an American acyrnom, YMMV

[grits]

Also, there is some nice freeware called Musicbridge that syncs WMP with iTunes that you should check out, http://jrmwillis.googlepages.com/

[HtV]

I (my daughter) use JRiver Mediacentre, it works very well. I think they have a free version too: Media Jukebox. http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/

Hans

[fuzzweed]

You will need to let itunes loose on your collection to get album covers.as WMP stores them as folder.jpg, while itunes embeds the artwork in the mp3 as metadata - hence your artwork won't show up in the ipod using soley WMP - which is a pity as the scrolling thing is lovely otherwise.
You can embed it yourself using 3rd party apps (or manually one album at a time with WMP!) but I didn't find it to be 100% effective.
Also if you end up running both programs make sure WMP and itunes are set to import to a common standard (MP3) or you'll end up with wma's being converted to aac and vice versa.

[Elmo Putney]

WMP stores them as folder.jpg, while itunes embeds the artwork in the mp3 as metadata

ohhh this is going to get messy, I now understand the need for the 3rd party iTunes > WMP sync tools.

So what happens if I have both WMP and iTunes pointing at the same music directory and have them both set to "rearrange my music"

[fuzzweed]

ohhh this is going to get messy,

You said it . i know mcbain says they play nicely, but from my experience i'd say exactly the opposite. one wrong move and all those nicely ordered folders are all over the shop
Some options I'd offer: 1) Buy the ipod and move to itunes. Let it do what it wants with your collection. 2) Don't buy the ipod and convince your better half that Creative products are just as good (hahahahahah good luck) 3) (What I did) have WMP on one machine and copy all your music to another PC running itunes. No bad thing having a back up of all the MP3s, and no fighting between programs.

[Elmo Putney]

3) (What I did) have WMP on one machine and copy all your music to another PC running itunes. No bad thing having a back up of all the MP3s, and no fighting between programs.

Thats where I'm heading at the moment, that brings about the problem of having to add new media files to both and explaining to my Wife why she cant play music on her iTunes because she ripped the CD on the other computer.

Another thought...is it possible to:

WMP on my HTPC with the local "master" music folder, itunes on the other machine that looks at the master music folder across the network, but have iTunes grab anything new that appear in the master folder and copy it across the network into a local itunes only folder?

That way I would only rip to the the master folder using the HTPC, and as long as she doesnt start ripping using itunes (or buying stuff from the apple shop) it will all stay seperate and synced?

[fuzzweed]

that.. might... just... work... Assuming itunes copies and not moves, which I think it does, you've got auto back up, the best of both programs and ability to sync with almost any media player on the market.
You try it first and let me know

[Elmo Putney]

Think I'll try it on a guinea pig copy first......