MediaMonkey iTunes plugin (d_itunes4.dll)

[coflo]

I'm thinking of using this plugin but I'm not sure whether to duplicate or share the tracks between MM and iTunes.
I understand the recommended configuration is to dup the tracks to iTunes using the track cache path.

Currently my MM and iTunes library share the same tracks on shared NAS drive, which is in turn
shared by 3 computers. I'm ok with the shared tracks currently as I don't do much with ratings, genres, etc.
MM automatically sees all tracks added via iTunes (my wife uses iTunes to buy tracks), but of course not
the other way around. I've started using MM to rip to FLAC so the auto-conversion and sync angle of this
plugin looks like a good solution to sync from MM to iTunes. I have to keep iTunes around for WAF and
to feed the various iDevices around the house.

However what about tracks added via iTunes. I don't see a simple solution here. If I keep the iTunes
folder shared with MM, MM will pick up iTunes additions and the plugin will add tracks to iTunes from
MM, but I'll get duplicates in MM for FLAC->MP3 converted tracks. If I stop sharing the iTunes folder and use the track cache path
to dup tracks to iTunes,the converted track duplication is eliminated in MM but MM won't see tracks added to iTunes.

I'm thinking of doing the following:
-Blow away my iTunes library and start with an empty iTunes folder on the shared NAS drive, visible to MM
-sync/dup all MM tracks to iTunes with the plugin using a cache path which is not visible to MM

Now any tracks added via iTunes will show up in MM, and any tracks added via MM will show up in iTunes
However will the plugin know not to duplicate tracks added via iTunes to the shared iTunes folder back
into iTunes via the track cache folder?

Anyone try something similar, or am I getting myself into trouble here?
Thanks,
-Colin

[markstuartwalker]

@coflo:

It does seem like you have a complicated facility there. The plugin recognises the tracks that it has put into iTunes by using the Season Number field to store an ID. By doing this it doesn't get mixed up with duplicates - you have to be very careful of duplicated playlist names though. You may be able to write an iTunes Smart Playlist such that the shared library excludes the flac duplicates from it's shared libraries.

Please let me know your progress.

[djkawa]

Hi,

regarding my issue, it seems to work much better with the latest version of itunes, so i guess it was itunes fault?

I'll post again if i see the same issue reappearing.

gilles

[Dutchronnie]

When i synchronise from mediamonkey to itunes, the filenames are different than the original filenames.

I want to keep the original filenames, can somebody tell me how i can do that?
Thanks

[markstuartwalker]

When i synchronise from mediamonkey to itunes, the filenames are different than the original filenames.

I want to keep the original filenames, can somebody tell me how i can do that?
Thanks

Do you mean within the MMiTunes cache folder? On the config page there is a setting for setting the format of the name. Hover the mouse over it for more details.

[Dutchronnie]

Do you mean within the MMiTunes cache folder? On the config page there is a setting for setting the format of the name. Hover the mouse over it for more details.

Yes i have seen this, but i mean exacly the same as the original filename.
I have some charachters in the filename that are not in the tags.
When i use this option i lost some information.

[mortis42]

I've recently had a problem with a certain album syncing.
I've narrowed it down to periods in the Album name.
The album has 3 trailing periods - "The Strange Case Of...", It will not sync.
If I change the name to 1 or no period, it will sync.

I tried with two different naming formats within d_itunes:
<albumartist>\<album>\<track#> <title>
<albumartist>\<album>\<id> <title>

Original format: FLAC
Convert to mp3 CBR320

MediaMonkey version 4.0.3.1476 (Portable Mode)
d_itunes version 4.0.32357

Another note, I'd like the ability to use "original filename" as a naming format. I've had some trouble with odd characters in names before (Linkin Park - Reanimator) not with d_itunes or MediaMonkey, however.

[markstuartwalker]

@mortis42: This seems to be a Windows problem - It is not allowable to have periods at the end of folder names! http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... s.85).aspx

Do not end a file or directory name with a space or a period. Although the underlying file system may support such names, the Windows shell and user interface does not. However, it is acceptable to specify a period as the first character of a name. For example, ".temp".

I've not heard of this before. The plugin code creates a name for the folder correctly but when the FileCopy() tries to create the folder it cannot create and place the mp3 file within it. Consequently it cannot be transferred into iTunes.

I can modify the plugin to suppress '...' as part of the folder names but you will NEVER get a folder named that in Windows - I've tried in Windows 7 and XP and neither allow it. The obvious workaround for now is to rename the album to remove the periods.

You can use <filename> to use the same filename as the source file. Did you mean something different by "Original File Name"?

[markstuartwalker]

@dutchronnie: Will <filename> suffice for you?

[mortis42]

... I can modify the plugin to suppress '...' as part of the folder names but you will NEVER get a folder named that in Windows - I've tried in Windows 7 and XP and neither allow it. The obvious workaround for now is to rename the album to remove the periods.

As far as the 3 periods at the end of a name, I know that MediaMonkey itself suppresses them when using "Auto Organize". I'd just like to not have to rename the album just to use this plugin.

You can use <filename> to use the same filename as the source file. Did you mean something different by "Original File Name"?

I completely missed <filename>. I was just suggesting "original filename" because that is what I am familiar with using dBpoweramp.

BTW, I forgot to say it before, but thank you wholeheartedly for making/supporting this.

[markstuartwalker]

@mortis42: The fix is already in the next release.

... and thank you.

[markstuartwalker]

Version 4.0.4.2438 uploaded. http://www.mediamonkey.com/addons/brows ... or-itunes/

No major fixes in this - mainly enhancements to make it more robust.

3/4/2012
* TerminateThreads called at the highest level of DEVICE_* where there is an uncaught exception
11/4/2012
* Trailing dots in folder names are supressed in safeFileName() (for mortis42)
* Config is only read once upon entering Config page (optimisation)
* Fixed mix up with registry keys which could cause reading of the wrong config registry information for systems with multiple instances of plugins
17/4/2012
* ignoreSmartPlaylists config added for backward compatibility

There only functional addition is to be able to prevent the deletion of iTunes playlists. This enables you to intermingle MM and iTunes playlists and only update the MM ones. See the pop-up hint text on the configuration page for more explanation.

Tested against MM4.0.5.1481 http://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewto ... start=9999

[theta_wave]

Is anyone having any issue with this plugin not assigning the correct "type" to podcasts and audiobooks in iTunes? I mean, the same files under mediamonkey have their "type" field correctly filled.

[lindholm]

What's the best way to force the plugin to re-process all the songs?

I want to change the encoding option for my songs so I want it to re-convert all the songs that iTunes knows about

Thanks

George

[helkav]

I would like to do the following

- bidirectional sync MM to itunes (dbs only, file location should be shared)
- run this as a standalone prog. e.g. a service on Windows - I would like to use it to keep an iTunes user, who frequently buys music on iTunes on the network in sync

I am still evaluating MM against what seems like an infinite number of media managers/players. If I can do this I will buy as it will solve all media pain in one stroke

I don't mind if MM needs to convert/update tags etc initially, as long as I can eventually sort it so that only genuinely changes are updated I will be VERY VERY happy!

this is not really a q. for your addon but do you know if there's a way to sync MM to another computer on a network, even if MM isn't running. I guess I need a background/service scenario for MM on that computer also?