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This guide explains how to correct and update the tags of your music in your iTunes from [[MusicBrainz]] using Picard. Please read everything and check that this method will work for you before you begin.
[[Image:Alert.png]] '''This [[Needs Intertwingling|NeedsIntertwingling]]!''' [[Image:Alert.png]]

This guide explains how to correct and update the tags of your music in your iTunes from [[MusicBrainz]] using Picard. Please read everything and check that this method will work for you before you begin.


==Warning==
==Warning==


A few things that must be considered/checked before starting:
A few things that must be considered/checked before starting:
# '''PURCHASED MUSIC FROM THE ITUNES MUSIC STORE''': This will not work for (.m4p). Although Picard is compatible with .m4p, it will mess up the release art. If you do put your purchased music through, there is a way to get to fix it (see Troubleshooting)
* '''Purchased Music from the iTunes Store''': This will not work for (.m4p). Although Picard is compatible with .m4p, it will probably mess up the release art. If you do put your purchased music through, there is a way to get to fix it (see [[#Troubleshooting]])
* '''Mp3s''': If you are using mp3 files, be careful with using Picard to save ID3v2.4 tags. Some versions of iTunes (older ones in particular - may affect current ones) can save incorrect ID3v2.4 tags and aren't able to read the correct ones correctly. This usually affects embedded artwork, or anything with ID3 frames bigger than 32kB. To "fix" this problem, or play safe, always use Picard's default setting of ID3v2.3 tags in [[Picard_Documentation/Options#Tags|the options]] (and iTunes also).
# '''MP3s''': If you are using mp3 files, this will remove your release artwork. However AAC (.m4a) will work fine.
* '''Consolidating library:''' DO NOT consolidate your library in the middle of this process, consolidating must be done before or after this process.
<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">''This is caused by a bug in iTunes -- iTunes saves incorrect ID3v2.4 tags and isn't able to read the correct ones. Problems are with tags that have ID3 frames bigger than 32kB. To "fix" this problem always use only ID3v2.3 tags (in both iTunes and Picard).'' --[[User:LukasLalinsky|LukasLalinsky]]
* '''Renaming / Moving Files:''' Just DON'T do it. Use Picard to change the song metadata (a.k.a. "tags"). Use iTunes built in library organization to change the file names and locations. This means you will get the same result as using Picard's "Renaming/Moving Files" capability but without making iTunes lose track of where all your songs are.
<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">''I believe this is now fixed, so these 2 points should probably be [[Delete When Cooked|DeleteWhenCooked]]'' --[[User:Gecks|Gecks]]
</ul>
</ul>
# '''Consolidating library:''' DO NOT consolidate your library in the middle of this process, consolidating must be done before or after this process


If you really really want to use Picard to rename/move your files. Know that this will cause iTunes to lose track of where all of these files are; meaning you will have to re-add them to the library (manually), which will take you hours and which may mean you will lose play counts and any other information that iTunes keeps in its own library. Please save yourself the time and frustration.
==Troubleshooting==


** If you DO decide to rename/move files with Picard, make sure "Keep iTunes library organized" is disabled. Otherwise after you re-import your music, iTunes will reorganize it anyway.
These are some of the known bugs that can be fixed:
** Mac only: If your library exists on a HFS+ formatted disc, which it normally should, iTunes is aware of a file's location and keeps it updated, even if it's moved by Picard.
# '''iPod Photo/Video:''' The iPod doesn't like the [[MusicBrainz]] tags in the files, so you get a weird thing, where it pulls up the wrong release art on the iPod, this can easily be fixed by plugging in the iPod, going into Preferences > iPod > Music, turing off "Display album artwork on your iPod", update the ipod (so it removes all the release art on the iPod), then turn that option on again, update the iPod and it will move the correct release art to the iPod.
# '''Fixing purchased music from the iTunes Music Store:''' If you accidentally update your purchased music, iTunes prevents the modification of release art. But you can use [http://www.softpointer.com/tr.htm Tag&Rename] to remove the release art, then iTunes will allow you to re-enter it.
<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">''As above, I believe this is now fixed, so this should be [[Delete When Cooked|DeleteWhenCooked]]'' --[[User:Gecks|Gecks]]
</ul>


==Summary of Process==
==Summary of Process==


# Tag files using Picard (see Using Picard)
# Tag files using Picard (see [[How to Tag Files With Picard]])
# Update iTunes library (see Update Library in iTunes)
# Update iTunes library (see below)
# Other steps may be needed (eg. updating iPod)
# Other troubleshooting/tidy up steps may be needed (see below)


==Updating Library in iTunes==
==Using Picard==


All these methods should work in iTunes 10+.
If you have used Picard before, and you know how to use it, skip this. Picard is the latest piece of software from [[MusicBrainz]], rather than encoding one track at a time based on an acoustic fingerprint (as the old software does), Picard finds whole releases purely based on the artist and release title. Which makes this process much quicker and easier. This is an example with a small bunch of releases to get you familiar with the method. Later you can do it with more releases.
# Picard can be downloaded from [http://www.musicbrainz.org MusicBrainz.org]
# Open Picard.
## Add about 5 releases worth (Just a couple for now, release ~= iTunes album, can add by selecting within iTunes and dragging into left window of Picard). It will load the individual songs. b. When its done, click "Cluster", this will group the files into there releases. Hopefully there will be no single files left over. If there is, then Picard can't sort those files into any releases, for various reasons. You can manually drag these files to where they need to go later.


=== Manual method (file-by-file update) ===
# Select any release, and down the bottom (first tab) click "Lookup". This will bring up a browser with the search results for that artist and release. If nothing can be found; (a) It's not a real release, so therefore it's not in the database (b) The artist or release name are wrong or incomplete, so it can't find any matches (most likely cause). In this case, change the fields down the bottom near the Lookup button and try Lookup again until you find it.


This method works best for updating data on individual tracks or a couple of albums.
Alternatively, you can search [[MusicBrainz]] for the correct release and add that release by clicking the "Tagger" green link. You will sometimes need to do this. Once the release is added to Picard, drag the correct release cluster to the correct release (in bold).


# Select the first track in an album/selection
In the brackets after the [[Release Title|ReleaseTitle]] gives the info about track matchings. For example, (12/12; 12*) means that all the 12 tracks were matched correctly and there is 12 tracks not saved yet. (10/12; 10*) means that (a) There are 2 tracks missing from the release (b) The track titles are too different and could not be matched up. In this case, you may have picked the wrong release from [[MusicBrainz]] or you have to manually drag the unmatched files to there place. You may also see (10/12;2? 10*) the question mark means that it doesnt know what 2 of the tracks are.
# Right click > Get Info
# Click "Next" (or Cmd+N/Ctrl+N on the keyboard) repeatedly, until you've passed the last track. This will be much slower than the first method (especially if you're letting iTunes manage your library), but it will work in iTunes 10.


=== Brute force method (full library re-scan) ===
==Updating Library in iTunes==

This method works best if
* you've re-tagged a whole lot of your files and don't remember which files/albums
* or there are far too many for the first approach
* or you've moved/renamed files and iTunes has lost them

Ready?

# Go to File > Add Folder to Library
# Point it at the top of your iTunes directory ("My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Music" on Windows, by default).
# iTunes will rescan your music, but recognize it's already imported, so you shouldn't end up with duplicate files (unless you have moved/renamed files)

=== Mac-only advanced method ===

This method is a bit more complicated to set up, but easy to use.

Fire up Script Editor (which is under Applications/AppleScript, but it will work with TextEdit). Paste the following code, then save as a Script called /Library/iTunes/Scripts/Refresh.scpt (create the Scripts directory if it doesn't already exist).
<pre>
tell application "iTunes"
refresh selection
end tell
</pre>

Now, inside iTunes, you should see a Scripts menu (an icon of a scroll, just left of Help). The "Refresh" item on that menu will force it to re-read the tags for all tracks that you have selected.

==Troubleshooting==

=== iPod Photo/Video ===
The iPod doesn't like the [[MusicBrainz]] tags in the files, so it may pull up the wrong release art on the iPod. This can easily be fixed by
# plugging in the iPod
# going into Preferences > iPod > Music
# turning off "Display album artwork on your iPod"
# update the ipod (so it removes all the release art on the iPod)
# then turn that option on again, update the iPod and it will move the correct release art to the iPod.

===Compilations===
There is a difference between how iTunes and MusicBrainz classify compilations. iTunes compilations are effectively the same as MusicBrainz Various Artists, whilst MusicBrainz compilation subtype also includes single artist anthologies such as Best Of / Greatest Hits albums.

Since Picard 1.3, the Compilation tag is now compatible with iTunes. In previous versions of Picard, the same result can be achieved by adding the following script to Picard tagger (Tools -> Options -> Advanced ->Scripting);

<code>$if($and($eq(%compilation%,1),$ne(%albumartist%,Various Artists)),$set(compilation,0))</code>

This will remove the compilation marker from any album that isn't a collection of Various Artists.


If you want to know whether your album is a MusicBrainz compilation, use <code>$inmulti(%releasetype%,compilation)</code> (from Picard 1.0)
# Select the files in iTunes to update.
# Right click > Get Info. '''DO NOT''' check any boxes (leave it how it is), and click OK. iTunes will then update its database with the new tags in the files you just tagged. The update is very quick (IF you don't have iTunes organizing, less quick if you do), so quick that a library of thousands of tracks can be updated in less than a minute.


If you want to know whether your album has tracks by multiple primary artists, then use %_multiartist% (from Picard 1.3).
--OR--
# Select the tracks, right-click and click "Uncheck Selection". This will update the metadata.
# Right-click the selected tracks and click "Check Selection" to return the tracks to their normal "checked" status.


[[Category:To Be Reviewed]] [[Category:How To]]
[[Category:How To]] [[Category:MusicBrainz Picard]]

Latest revision as of 08:23, 10 December 2015

This guide explains how to correct and update the tags of your music in your iTunes from MusicBrainz using Picard. Please read everything and check that this method will work for you before you begin.

Warning

A few things that must be considered/checked before starting:

  • Purchased Music from the iTunes Store: This will not work for (.m4p). Although Picard is compatible with .m4p, it will probably mess up the release art. If you do put your purchased music through, there is a way to get to fix it (see #Troubleshooting)
  • Mp3s: If you are using mp3 files, be careful with using Picard to save ID3v2.4 tags. Some versions of iTunes (older ones in particular - may affect current ones) can save incorrect ID3v2.4 tags and aren't able to read the correct ones correctly. This usually affects embedded artwork, or anything with ID3 frames bigger than 32kB. To "fix" this problem, or play safe, always use Picard's default setting of ID3v2.3 tags in the options (and iTunes also).
  • Consolidating library: DO NOT consolidate your library in the middle of this process, consolidating must be done before or after this process.
  • Renaming / Moving Files: Just DON'T do it. Use Picard to change the song metadata (a.k.a. "tags"). Use iTunes built in library organization to change the file names and locations. This means you will get the same result as using Picard's "Renaming/Moving Files" capability but without making iTunes lose track of where all your songs are.

If you really really want to use Picard to rename/move your files. Know that this will cause iTunes to lose track of where all of these files are; meaning you will have to re-add them to the library (manually), which will take you hours and which may mean you will lose play counts and any other information that iTunes keeps in its own library. Please save yourself the time and frustration.

    • If you DO decide to rename/move files with Picard, make sure "Keep iTunes library organized" is disabled. Otherwise after you re-import your music, iTunes will reorganize it anyway.
    • Mac only: If your library exists on a HFS+ formatted disc, which it normally should, iTunes is aware of a file's location and keeps it updated, even if it's moved by Picard.

Summary of Process

  1. Tag files using Picard (see How to Tag Files With Picard)
  2. Update iTunes library (see below)
  3. Other troubleshooting/tidy up steps may be needed (see below)

Updating Library in iTunes

All these methods should work in iTunes 10+.

Manual method (file-by-file update)

This method works best for updating data on individual tracks or a couple of albums.

  1. Select the first track in an album/selection
  2. Right click > Get Info
  3. Click "Next" (or Cmd+N/Ctrl+N on the keyboard) repeatedly, until you've passed the last track. This will be much slower than the first method (especially if you're letting iTunes manage your library), but it will work in iTunes 10.

Brute force method (full library re-scan)

This method works best if

  • you've re-tagged a whole lot of your files and don't remember which files/albums
  • or there are far too many for the first approach
  • or you've moved/renamed files and iTunes has lost them

Ready?

  1. Go to File > Add Folder to Library
  2. Point it at the top of your iTunes directory ("My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Music" on Windows, by default).
  3. iTunes will rescan your music, but recognize it's already imported, so you shouldn't end up with duplicate files (unless you have moved/renamed files)

Mac-only advanced method

This method is a bit more complicated to set up, but easy to use.

Fire up Script Editor (which is under Applications/AppleScript, but it will work with TextEdit). Paste the following code, then save as a Script called /Library/iTunes/Scripts/Refresh.scpt (create the Scripts directory if it doesn't already exist).

tell application "iTunes"
	refresh selection
end tell

Now, inside iTunes, you should see a Scripts menu (an icon of a scroll, just left of Help). The "Refresh" item on that menu will force it to re-read the tags for all tracks that you have selected.

Troubleshooting

iPod Photo/Video

The iPod doesn't like the MusicBrainz tags in the files, so it may pull up the wrong release art on the iPod. This can easily be fixed by

  1. plugging in the iPod
  2. going into Preferences > iPod > Music
  3. turning off "Display album artwork on your iPod"
  4. update the ipod (so it removes all the release art on the iPod)
  5. then turn that option on again, update the iPod and it will move the correct release art to the iPod.

Compilations

There is a difference between how iTunes and MusicBrainz classify compilations. iTunes compilations are effectively the same as MusicBrainz Various Artists, whilst MusicBrainz compilation subtype also includes single artist anthologies such as Best Of / Greatest Hits albums.

Since Picard 1.3, the Compilation tag is now compatible with iTunes. In previous versions of Picard, the same result can be achieved by adding the following script to Picard tagger (Tools -> Options -> Advanced ->Scripting);

$if($and($eq(%compilation%,1),$ne(%albumartist%,Various Artists)),$set(compilation,0))

This will remove the compilation marker from any album that isn't a collection of Various Artists.

If you want to know whether your album is a MusicBrainz compilation, use $inmulti(%releasetype%,compilation) (from Picard 1.0)

If you want to know whether your album has tracks by multiple primary artists, then use %_multiartist% (from Picard 1.3).