Alternative to itunes 6

footfootfoot · 12-12-2010, 12:02 PM

I'm running itunes 6 and it basically works ok. I've resisted upgrading to the newer versions since all they seem to add is various blocking strategies that remove a certain feature that I like which allows me to use my ipod as a portable 30Gb hard drive.

OK so basically, I like it, but I ma now having problems importing a lot of songs (34.000) it gets about halfway through and crashes. I'm just wondering if there are better players/database organizers or whatever for music that aren't giant bloat barges that want to do everything for me. I've tried winamp, but the interface is totally WTF? WMP is ok for movies, but I am distrustful of it for no specific reason beyond being a microsoft product.

What do you all use?

Bullitt · 12-12-2010, 12:10 PM

I use itunes only out of necessity since I use two ipods (an old beater that stays in the car, and the new one). Winamp is great because there are thousands of community made skins you can use to customize the UI to make it less wtf. Try looking through some of those and see if you find something that makes it more usable for you. That really is the biggest strength of Winamp. WMP is actually pretty alright for music, but the library sometimes gives me headaches trying to add new music files.

Flint · 12-12-2010, 02:38 PM

I used Windows Media Player to rip my entire CD collection (automatically acquiring track titles, etc.) and I use it every day at the office to play playlists all day long, and on my home computer, and on my kids' computer. It's free, it does everything, and I've never had any issue with it.

Except one: I can't export playlists to a txt file. That's the only thing.

Flint · 12-19-2010, 09:01 PM

Another thing: haven't found a way to diable the ratings system, so I've been dragging everything into the libarary, ctrl+A, and rate everything as 5 stars so it is effectively disabled.

Flint · 01-08-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

Except one: I can't export playlists to a txt file. That's the only thing.

Problem solved.

Right-click the .wpl (playlist) file, Open With, select Notepad. Copy/Paste the text into Excel. Chop out the headers and footers, leaving the list of content. In Excel, go to Data tab, Text to Columns, delimit as necessary to separate into columns of artist, album, track. May also need to Find/Replace punctuation such as Find "&Amp;" Replace with "&" etc.

This probably sounds more complicated than it is. The main thing is that "Open With" Notepad has the content listed in plain text.

12-12-2010, 12:02 PM	#1
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Alternative to itunes 6 I'm running itunes 6 and it basically works ok. I've resisted upgrading to the newer versions since all they seem to add is various blocking strategies that remove a certain feature that I like which allows me to use my ipod as a portable 30Gb hard drive. OK so basically, I like it, but I ma now having problems importing a lot of songs (34.000) it gets about halfway through and crashes. I'm just wondering if there are better players/database organizers or whatever for music that aren't giant bloat barges that want to do everything for me. I've tried winamp, but the interface is totally WTF? WMP is ok for movies, but I am distrustful of it for no specific reason beyond being a microsoft product. What do you all use? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-12-2010, 12:10 PM	#2
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	I use itunes only out of necessity since I use two ipods (an old beater that stays in the car, and the new one). Winamp is great because there are thousands of community made skins you can use to customize the UI to make it less wtf. Try looking through some of those and see if you find something that makes it more usable for you. That really is the biggest strength of Winamp. WMP is actually pretty alright for music, but the library sometimes gives me headaches trying to add new music files. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

12-12-2010, 02:38 PM	#3
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	I used Windows Media Player to rip my entire CD collection (automatically acquiring track titles, etc.) and I use it every day at the office to play playlists all day long, and on my home computer, and on my kids' computer. It's free, it does everything, and I've never had any issue with it. Except one: I can't export playlists to a txt file. That's the only thing. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

12-19-2010, 09:01 PM	#4
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Another thing: haven't found a way to diable the ratings system, so I've been dragging everything into the libarary, ctrl+A, and rate everything as 5 stars so it is effectively disabled. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

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