iPod Playlists/Orginization

[katiesue]

Looking for some opinions on iPod organization. I got my best friend an iPod for her 40th birthday. We’ve known each other since we were 4 so I’m putting on lots of old photos plus all the different songs etc we used to listen to. My question is I’m trying to figure out how to best organize all the songs I’m putting on there so it’s easy to find stuff. I was thinking of doing it by era – 70’s, early 80’s, late 80’s, 90’s. Mostly they are single tracks from different artists. There are a few artists where I’ll put on whole albums. Since I don’t have an iPod of my own just looking to see how everyone else organizes theirs. She’s pretty un-techno so I’m trying to make it as easy as possible.

And I have one more question. You can’t copy stuff off of your iPod onto another computer right? So I’m going to need to burn off the photos etc onto cd and send those as well as she won’t be able to view them except on the iPod otherwise. Correct?

[BarTopDancer]

You can create playlists for each era and drag/drop music into those.

You can also license your iPod on up to 5 computers so you don't need to burn the CDs.

*I* only have a few playlists. Actually, right now I have one - for workout music. I've had more (road trip music, sleeping music, etc...) in the past but I find that if i am in the mood for a genere or artist I can just play it that way.

[katiesue]

Thanks for the info. Madz has a shuffle so playlists aren't an issue. Now that I'm playing with this one I'm going to have to get one for me.

[blueerica]

Hmmm, but she would always have to add songs from your computer, if I'm not mistaken. Otherwise, doesn't she lose the songs you uploaded from your computer?

For example, I have all my playlists on my iPod, but lose my original computer due to _____. I get a new computer, but not all the songs I've downloaded (and purchased for the sake of legality). I burn a few CDs I didn't have so I can add some more new music to it. I want to add the new playlist to my iPod, but don't have the other playlists - doesn't iPod kick off the old lists? I know it used to...

Or a different example. I want to pick up a playlist off your computer, but iPod can't update the rest of my playlists because they don't exist on your computer... Will I lose my music if I add your songs?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hmmm, but she would always have to add songs from your computer, if I'm not mistaken. Otherwise, doesn't she lose the songs you uploaded from your computer?Nope, just set it not to auto-sync.

[mousepod]

Hmmm, but she would always have to add songs from your computer, if I'm not mistaken. Otherwise, doesn't she lose the songs you uploaded from your computer?

For example, I have all my playlists on my iPod, but lose my original computer due to _____. I get a new computer, but not all the songs I've downloaded (and purchased for the sake of legality). I burn a few CDs I didn't have so I can add some more new music to it. I want to add the new playlist to my iPod, but don't have the other playlists - doesn't iPod kick off the old lists? I know it used to...

Or a different example. I want to pick up a playlist off your computer, but iPod can't update the rest of my playlists because they don't exist on your computer... Will I lose my music if I add your songs?

You're mistaken. The only time managing an iPod on multiple computers (or managing multiple iPods on a single computer) becomes an issue is if you have your preferences set to automatically sync. As long as you have your iPod set to sync manually when you connect it to a machine, you can drag a playlist from a computer right on to the iPod and all of the songs will come with it. I have two working iPods that I use with 3 different computers and have never had an issue.

It also seems that there's a little confusion about "protection". While it's true that all music bought from the iTunes Music Store is protected by DRM, none of the music that you rip from CDs is protected(unless you specifically make it so). You can take unprotected music from any computer (as long as it's an mp3 or AAC) and put it onto an iPod.

Finally, make sure that you know about free options of getting music off your iPod. My favorite program for Macs is called Senuti (get it?). You can use it to move complete playlists from your iPod onto your computer.

Whew.

And for the record, I tend to only use playlists for specific rare occasions. For example, I have all of Scott Walker's LPs and singles on my ipod. I can access them by Artist, Song, or Album, but if I want to hear all of the Scott stuff from 1967-1971, say, I make a playlist.

[Ghoulish Delight]

iDump for Windows.

[Alex]

My iPod organization:

I have about 150 songs on it (Lani just got an iPod and she actually had the energy to rip all of our CDs rather than the 10 or so I did before getting bored last year so eventually I'll just sync to her computer). They aren't organized. The Gods of Shuffle Songs dictate what specific music I'll not be paying any attention to at any given time.

[katiesue]

Excellent - thanks for all the help. After all my scanning, downloading and ripping I'm sure she'll accidentally delete the whole thing or something. It's actually been pretty fun putting this all together. And now I have all the music and photos together for me too. I have noticed that my photography skills did improve from my second grade sleepover using my first camera. They're really horrible.

[BarTopDancer]

Hmmm, but she would always have to add songs from your computer, if I'm not mistaken. Otherwise, doesn't she lose the songs you uploaded from your computer?

For example, I have all my playlists on my iPod, but lose my original computer due to _____. I get a new computer, but not all the songs I've downloaded (and purchased for the sake of legality). I burn a few CDs I didn't have so I can add some more new music to it. I want to add the new playlist to my iPod, but don't have the other playlists - doesn't iPod kick off the old lists? I know it used to...

Or a different example. I want to pick up a playlist off your computer, but iPod can't update the rest of my playlists because they don't exist on your computer... Will I lose my music if I add your songs?

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but wern't you going from a PC to a Mac?

[blueerica]

No, you remembered correctly - in the past I have gone from a Mac to a Mac and had issues. That and I was making a hypothetical - I wasn't trying to describe an actual experience.

On the other hand, thanks for the hints - I never realized that I could just take a playlist from someone's computer and have it on mine without automatically jacking up my iPod. If their computer is set to auto sync, will it still jack the player?

[mousepod]

If their computer is set to auto sync, will it still jack the player?

The preferences are set with each iPod, so no.

[BarTopDancer]

No, you remembered correctly - in the past I have gone from a Mac to a Mac and had issues.

And of course the PC to Mac to PC. That was fun. Good to know my memory isn't completely shot.

[€uroMeinke]

One of the things I love about iPods or MP3 players in general, is that you really don't have to "organize" the music all that much anyway if it's been indexed correctly. Once in the system I can sort on any number of fields and never have to navigate through some file structure concieved to meet an end no longer served. Of course, the "properly indexed" thing is the key and I find I now spend free moments cleaning up my meta-data to improve my listening experience.

[katiesue]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I'm just going to put it all on and let her "find" all the hidden gems, like Mac Davis "Lord it's Hard to be Humble".

[Prudence]

One of the things I love about iPods or MP3 players in general, is that you really don't have to "organize" the music all that much anyway if it's been indexed correctly. Once in the system I can sort on any number of fields and never have to navigate through some file structure concieved to meet an end no longer served. Of course, the "properly indexed" thing is the key and I find I now spend free moments cleaning up my meta-data to improve my listening experience.

I sense a records manangement geek moment...