Apple Music for desktop

[Milestones]

I am still getting comfortable with this after purchasing an Apple desktop for the first time a couple of weeks ago.  So I will try a few questions here and see what I get

First, I would like to know how many hours of music I have on the machine.  I get it fine for albums and playlists, but not the grand total.  When I used Windows Media Player, I could easily see the hours for each genre: jazz, blues, rock, etc.  So far I can't find that on Apple--not by genre or grand total.  Attempts to find the answer through Google searches have been unproductive.

 

    

 

[mjzee]

How many hours of music: In the left column, click on Songs.  Look at the bottom of the window - it shows number of items (tracks), total time it would take to play, total size (GB, TB, whatever).

As for genre, create a playlist for each genre: Go to File > New > Smart Playlist.  In the pop-up window, check "Match for the following rule:" In the first drop-down box select Genre, in the second select Is, and type the genre name in the third box.  Make sure "Live updating" is checked, and hit OK.  This will create a new Smart Playlist listing all tracks that have that genre listed.  Click on it in the left column and look at the bottom of the window to find your stats.

IMHO, one of the big losses of the last decade is that instruction manuals are no longer printed.  I used to read those cover to cover to learn how to use a particular program.

[GA Russell]

21 minutes ago, mjzee said:

IMHO, one of the big losses of the last decade is that instruction manuals are no longer printed.  I used to read those cover to cover to learn how to use a particular program.

Amen!

[Milestones]

Is that is "Songs" in the sidebar--below recently added, albums, and artists?  If so, I am not getting any numbers at the bottom. 

My Apple computer is Monterey.  

 

[Milestones]

The key was to click  on the status bar. 

I have over 3,000 pieces that would take 13 days to play.  As I re-create my music library, I will probably have upwards of 30,000 pieces.

 

Edited May 16, 2023 by Milestones

[Milestones]

One day (and perhaps soon) I should figure out the whole "cloud" business.  I guess this can increase storage considerably.  Can you create and play playlists in the cloud?  I am very much in the dark on this right now.

How do you have over 18 terabytes devoted to music?

Edited May 16, 2023 by Milestones

[Milestones]

I find it odd that Apple uses a pause button, but no actual stop button.

[Milestones]

Is there a way to truly increase volume?  I usually play tracks two clicks from the top level, and sometimes at top level.  Of course, the original source material varies.  I generally listen less than 2 feet away--and rarely more than 8 feet away.  It serves me fine so far, but I am wondering if there is a way to really pump the volume.  

[Milestones]

There is a limit to the volume, unless I use external speakers (which I have not yet attempted). 

 

 

[Milestones]

One aggravating thing is how an album can be split into two (or three or more).  This generally happens when I import burned CDs.  I know it's a problem with Apple.  I have seen the obvious advice about making everything match: artist, album, genre, year.  I have done that and yet some albums remain split.  

[Milestones]

Any album you import (or upload, or download, or whatever the term is) has identifying info like artist, album title, year of release, genre.  You sometimes need to enter these yourself, as when putting in a burned CD.  I had everything  matching on Meet the Jazztet (Golson), yet the album appears twice--first with the opening 2 tracks and second with the remaining 8.

A store-bought usually does not have this issue.

 

 

 

 

 

[mjzee]

1 hour ago, Milestones said:

Any album you import (or upload, or download, or whatever the term is) has identifying info like artist, album title, year of release, genre.  You sometimes need to enter these yourself, as when putting in a burned CD.  I had everything  matching on Meet the Jazztet (Golson), yet the album appears twice--first with the opening 2 tracks and second with the remaining 8.

A store-bought usually does not have this issue.

That is a software bug I occasionally notice in iTunes.  It's not the end of the world.  If you look in Finder at where you saved the tracks, you'll see the entire album in one folder, but there is sometimes a display issue in iTunes showing the same album twice with some tracks showing in each.  You can sometimes correct it by also entering the artist name in the "album artist" field.

[Milestones]

It's a glitch, for sure.  As I say, all the Jazztet tracks contain the same info, yet the album is split into two albums or folders.

.... a minute later...Bingo, mjzee!  That (album artist) created the fix.

 

Edited May 18, 2023 by Milestones

[mjzee]

12 minutes ago, Milestones said:

It's a glitch, for sure.  As I say, all the Jazztet tracks contain the same info, yet the album is split into two albums or folders.

.... a minute later...Bingo, mjzee!  That (album artist) created the fix.

 

Great!  But it might not be permanent...you might find it happening again, even with the same album, in the future.  As I've said, it's just a stupid glitch, don't let it ruin your day.

2 hours ago, rostasi said:

mjzee: I've never heard of this "bug." Is this something displayed in the iTunes window twice?

I have screenshots I can share with you.  Don't know how to post them here, though - I don't use a photo-share service, and our board offers almost no capacity to post image files.

[Milestones]

I also fixed up East/West by Frisell in the same manner--and that was an actual CD I bought.   

[mjzee]

Just now, Milestones said:

I also fixed up East/West by Frisell in the same manner--and that was an actual CD I bought.   

I haven't found a rhyme or reason as to why it happens.  And it doesn't happen very often.