iTunes A to Z part 2

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Managing

Back to top Get Info

The Get Info window offers a host of ways to view and edit the information about your music and video. Select any track in your library, then choose Get Info from the File menu. Or select multiple tracks to edit information for all the tracks at once. Get at-a-glance information in the Summary pane. Change file information and enter comments in Info. Set sort options in Sorting. Adjust playback settings in Options. Enter song lyrics in Lyrics. Add, delete, and resize cover art in Artwork.

Join CD Tracks

Some CDs have tracks that play best without any breaks in between — audiobooks on CD and DJ mixes, for example. iTunes lets you combine tracks so they’re imported as one continuous track that suffers no disruption, even in shuffle mode. Just insert the audio CD, select the tracks you want to join (hold down the Shift key to select multiple items), and choose Join CD Tracks from the Advanced menu.
Set Media Kind

iTunes 8 includes a new feature that lets you properly categorize tracks you import from a CD. Say you’re importing a set of language learning discs. If you want iTunes to categorize tracks on those discs as audiobooks, just select the tracks and choose Audiobooks from the Media Kind pop-up menu in the Options pane of Get Info. Now, instead of appearing in your music library, your imported tracks appear in your audiobooks library.

Back Up with Time Capsule

Time Capsule is the ideal peace-of-mind backup solution for your growing iTunes library. Available in 500GB and 1TB capacities,* Time Capsule works with Time Machine, part of Mac OS X Leopard. Designate Time Capsule as the backup drive for Time Machine on all your Mac computers and take comfort in knowing that your iTunes data is backed up automatically and wirelessly.
Consolidate Your Library

The music and video in your iTunes library may be saved in different places, depending on how you imported them. Consolidating your library ensures that everything in your iTunes library is saved to your iTunes Music folder. To consolidate your library, choose Consolidate Library from the Advanced menu.

Importing

Back to top Importing from CDs

To import songs from a CD into iTunes, insert the disc in your computer and click Import CD. iTunes saves music from your CDs as high-quality AAC files. If your songs already exist in digital form on your computer, just drag them into your iTunes library. iTunes also converts unprotected WMA files to AAC.

Encoding Imported Music

Convert music you import from CDs to other audio formats at bit rates up to 320 Kbps. Access your import settings in the Advanced section of iTunes preferences. You can choose whether music is imported in AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, MP3, or WAV format.
Retrieving CD Information

iTunes searches a database to automatically fill in information about each of your CD albums — song and album name, artist, genre, and so on. All you need is an Internet connection. You can edit the information as you please by choosing Get Info from the File menu.

Getting Album Artwork

Once you’ve imported your CDs, you’re only one click away from getting digital album art for them. If you have an iTunes Store account, just choose Get Album Artwork from the Advanced menu and iTunes adds available album art from the iTunes Store.



Burning

Back to top Burning a CD

Select a playlist in your library and insert a blank CD or DVD. The Burn Disc button at the bottom right of the iTunes window lets you know it’s time to burn. A quick click and iTunes burns your disc in as little as two minutes.

Burning Audio and MP3 CDs

Create audio CDs to play in CD players like the one in your car or home stereo. Or make MP3 CDs to play on Mac and Windows computers and in MP3-compatible car stereos and CD players.

Burning a Backup

Use iTunes to archive your entire music and video library on CDs or DVDs for safekeeping. Choose File > Library > Back Up to Disc. Tell iTunes what you want to back up and insert a disc. iTunes does the thinking for you — just keep feeding it discs till it’s done.

Bonjour

Back to top Sharing over a Network

Enable sharing in iTunes preferences and users on your network can access your library for playback through your home network. Choose whether they have access to everything in your library or just specific playlists. Add a password to your shared library for limited access.


Music Playback

Back to top Crossfade Playback

Decide how smoothly your songs fade in and out from one track to the next by adjusting Crossfade Playback, located in the Playback pane of iTunes preferences. Choose a fade time between 1 and 12 seconds.
Sound Check

Some songs and videos in your iTunes library may play louder than others. Enable Sound Check in the Playback pane of iTunes preferences and everything in your library plays at the same volume.
Group Works Together

If you’re a fan of classical music, you know that certain works — whether symphonies, concertos, operas, or oratorios — should be played together. And they can be with Grouping. Select the tracks you want to group. Choose Get Info from the File menu. Enter the name of the work in the Grouping field and click OK.
Visualizer

Visualizer is a dynamic visual light show that accompanies your music, and it’s located in the View menu. The new iTunes Visualizer in iTunes 8 is even more mesmerizing. Turn it on and watch light and 3D shapes move to the beat of your music.

Repeat Track or Playlist

The Repeat button is located in the lower-left corner of the iTunes window. Click it once to repeat playback of a playlist. Click twice to repeat playback of a specific track.
Equalizer

Enhance the sound of your music with the iTunes Equalizer. Located in the Window menu, Equalizer includes 22 presets — Rock, R&B, and Pop, just to name a few. Drag the frequency sliders up and down to adjust a preset or to create your own.