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Post by Cory Cooper on Feb 14, 2013 19:43:37 GMT -5
Just a quick note from my experience... I would check the OS/system HD that iTunes is running on. Run a surface scan on it if you can, especially if you are getting this issue repeatedly and the system is slow overall or hanging on other apps. You could have some bad blocks on the drive, which in turn could be corrupting the iTunes Library database. Not to start another discussion, are you running Mac or PC? I assume a Mac, due to the level of previous support you have gotten at the Apple Store Genius Bar. Just a thought, C
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Post by oppman99 on Feb 14, 2013 20:13:14 GMT -5
I will second the JRiver recommendation. Been using it for a year and love it. I also despise iTunes. It repeatedly forces me to reset my iPod classic back to factory default and re-sync my 11,000+ songs. Takes forever.
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 14, 2013 22:13:03 GMT -5
Alas - It looks like the Logitech Squeezebox Touch is no longer an option. LTech has discontinued it, and the only remaining ones sell on Amazon for between $500 and $800 (for a $299 list device)!
I'd sure like a hardware solution that gets the laptop out of the chain completely. Other than the high-$$$ items like Meridian & Soloos, does anyone else make a device with the same capabilities as the discontinued Squeezebox?
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Post by Porscheguy on Feb 14, 2013 22:18:38 GMT -5
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 14, 2013 22:21:01 GMT -5
...check the OS/system HD that iTunes is running on...are you running Mac or PC?... Hi Cory - I've been through at least three versions of Mac OS-X now on multiple computers. The HDDs have ALL been checked thoroughly. I'm currently running a MediaSonic RAID array with 4 discs in RAID-10 configuration. It does parity, bit checking, and error identification internally. To summarize: It isn't the OS, it isn't the computer, it isn't the iTunes version, and it isn't the hard drives. It's definitely iTunes. I've another appointment tomorrow at the Apple store. I hope it will be productive, but I have my serious doubts.
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sorbe
Sensei
"Don't cross the streams..."
Posts: 673
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Post by sorbe on Feb 14, 2013 22:34:41 GMT -5
I uninstalled iTunes on all the PCs I use because of stuff like that. Not to mention that if you pay them to get "better" versions of your songs that you upload, they will substitute in "bleeped" non-explicit, censored versions of tracks. This can result in you permanently getting all censored music content. Plus they LOVE to install other Apple software that I have absolutely no interest in including Bonjour, Quicktime and other crud. Just put your FLACs and MP3s up on Synology NAS box and listen to it using your choice of media clients. Synology even supports Plex Media Server, iOS/Android, AirPlay, iTunes Server as well as DLNA, all at the same time if you like. I happen to make do with Windows Media Player, but anything that consumes DLNA media would work as well. Too bad about Jobs, they're on the way down. www.businessinsider.com/apple-stock-425-mark-dow-2012-12
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Post by pdaddy on Feb 14, 2013 23:15:20 GMT -5
Boom It's not out yet, but the Olive One may be your answer. Look at Kickstarter or Indiegogo to get in on offer.
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Post by GreenKiwi on Feb 14, 2013 23:36:38 GMT -5
Ha, pdaddy beat me to it.
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Post by Cory Cooper on Feb 15, 2013 1:43:53 GMT -5
Hi Cory - I've been through at least three versions of Mac OS-X now on multiple computers. The HDDs have ALL been checked thoroughly. I'm currently running a MediaSonic RAID array with 4 discs in RAID-10 configuration. It does parity, bit checking, and error identification internally. To summarize: It isn't the OS, it isn't the computer, it isn't the iTunes version, and it isn't the hard drives. It's definitely iTunes. I've another appointment tomorrow at the Apple store. I hope it will be productive, but I have my serious doubts. PM me after your GB visit. C
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Post by GreenKiwi on Feb 15, 2013 5:45:29 GMT -5
If you do have a synology nas, it's def worth giving their services a try. Their latest versions have had some cool features (mentioned above).
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Post by ccvalentino on Feb 15, 2013 6:20:56 GMT -5
Boomzilla,
. I've been running iTunes on OSX with a RAID using 1TB Western Digital external drives for over 5 years and have not had an issue to date. If you are running osx I'd make sure that your drives are formatted for MacOS / journaled mode with pout case sensitivity. OSX does not like FAT32 and this will cause you many file system issues. I run RAID 1 which is manage by OSX.
Good luck. My experience is everything else other than iTUnes is just a pain in the neck. I lost more music in the old days trying to manage the file system myself and use Winamp for playback.
Chris
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 15, 2013 7:06:16 GMT -5
Well, this all brings up another question -
Didn't Emotiva say that they were to introduce a media server? If that's the case, I'll limp along with a software solution until the Emotiva is introduced. I think that it's probably worth waiting for...
The only common part of my issues (between the multiple operating systems, computers, hard drives, and iTunes versions) is the media itself. Some of my early songs were ripped from CD to Apple Lossless Encoding (ALE) format. I later used a non-Apple program (don't remember what it was) to convert the ALE files to what I now use: AIFF. I wonder if, during that conversion, some of the files themselves were improperly converted. The files all play perfectly, but perhaps something was done (or not done) to them that causes the iTunes index to repeatedly become corrupted. Probably 25 to 30 percent of the files in my library are converted ALEs, and I have no way to tell which.
Is there any way to "validate" AIFF files?
Thanks - Boomzilla
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Post by calvinhobbe on Feb 15, 2013 8:11:28 GMT -5
And you know what? I don't care if you don't want to hear it: iTunes works great for me. You must be doing something wrong, or you must have a system issue that is not a standard setup.. Continue your tirade if you must, and good luck finding something else that you like better, but don't condemn iTunes out of hand just because you can't get it to work. This is really not the place for your comments, according to the forum rules... He may not be doing anything wrong at all and to say so is not really appropriate in the manner that you did above. Take a deep breath and remember that this is a place to get information and assistance and occassionaly to let off steam without blasting off on anyone...smile & nod.
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Post by audiofile on Feb 15, 2013 8:44:56 GMT -5
I download from iTunes store but manage the files on a server, stream to a Moon MiND 180 and use their software for playback. When I download from iTunes I then move the files to where I want them on the server. I also download from HD Tracks and manage the music the same way. I don't like how iTunes works. I had problems with playlists staying intact, missing music from the library and playlists, etc...but all the files were still on the HD. You could use the iCloud to manage your files.
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guitarforlife
Sensei
Just another busy day in Northern Wisconsin.
Posts: 947
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Post by guitarforlife on Feb 15, 2013 10:38:20 GMT -5
Ya, Boom. They are round 12" and are black. I have never lost a track yet off of one Oh and they sound GREAT
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 15, 2013 10:40:39 GMT -5
...You could use the iCloud to manage your files. As I understand it, only compressed and lossy files are available via iCloud. Additionally, I have a LARGE collection of classical music that isn't on iCloud, and would have to pay exorbitant fees to store my tracks there in addition to the quality loss. It's a reasonable suggestion, otherwise, and thank you kindly for taking the time to suggest it. I appreciate it. Cordially - Boomzilla
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 15, 2013 10:42:03 GMT -5
...They are round 12" and are black. I have never lost a track yet off of one ...Oh and they sound GREAT Yes, you're right. When I foolishly sold my vinyl and then heard what the "equivalent" CDs sounded like, I just cried...
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 15, 2013 10:50:50 GMT -5
...for 99% of us it flawless...Don't be mad... You're right, porscheguy - I just needed to vent. Please understand, I'm not mad at you, in fact, I'm envious. I only wish that my experience matched yours. Unfortunately, it doesn't. When I go to the Apple store (again and again), I'm VERY careful not to express any anger at the kids who work there. This definitely isn't their fault. In fact, they're diligent and eager to help - but this problem has consistently eluded them. They typically call half a dozen store employees over to see the issue and the other employees can't help either (although they admit that other customers have the same problems). In any case, I don't wish this upon you or anyone else. I'm glad that your iTunes experience is positive and I pray that it continues that way. Just put me in your prayers that the Apple store can fix my problems too.
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Feb 15, 2013 11:16:47 GMT -5
Broom,
I have to say that I am in the camp that has had no problem with iTunes.
Although I have no doubt as to the issues that you describe, I find myself wondering what is going wrong in your case.
I have a dedicated drive I: just for use by iTunes. This folder is set in iTunes as the location of my iTunes library.
I can only see 2 possible sources for the “corruption” that you speak of.
One, as was said previously, is file-system corruption. This is easy to test. Go to a Command Prompt window and do a CHKDSK on the storage drive. I may be old school, but I trust the results of this operation more than the GUI method.
Second, could library file location perhaps be the problem? If you add a folder to the iTunes library the files themselves are not under control of iTunes. Only a reference is added to the library XML file. If you move or delete the source folder iTunes will lose the links.
When I import a folder of music to iTunes, let’s say a CD of archived files, I always follow it with a Library Consolidate that moves the files to iTunes music folder.
Just some thoughts, you may know all this, Chuck
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2013 11:26:14 GMT -5
When the media files are perfect, iTunes, Windows media player and the others probably work fine. But I find the music meta-data (track number, folder jpg, track name, album name, etc), which is inbedded in the music file, is often wrong. Wrong even on the original CD. The music player software uses this info to index and catalogue the music in its database. The player software will even search the web for missing folder photos and information. I suspect this incorrect, (often jibberish) metadata corrupts the database, confuses the player, causing problems. And the more songs, the more corruption! J River, in my experiance, is the most robust against these problems. My solution has been to use a meta-editor like Tag&Rename... <http://www.softpointer.com/tr.htm> ...to correct the metadata (tags) and imbed folder jpgs. This is a long a tedious job, but suddenly all your music will work correctly on all your devices and software players. For folder jpgs, google images is the best source; try for at least 300x300; 500x500 is best. I setup two music directories and put all my music in the first. As I gradually cleaned up each album, I moved it to the second directory. The music player can be pointed to both directories. Sincerely, /blair www.blairbatty.ca
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