iTunes alternative ?

[Dolby]

Is there something out there that I can use an alternative to iTunes - but retains many features, most important being ability to still sync/create playlists with iPod?

 

[Chevron]

Unless you jailbreak, doubt it.

 

[Hemps]

Why dont you like itunes?

 

[alternatestat3]

Try Mediamonkey. It supports most audio and video codecs out there and will sync to any device. I have used it for years and its able to sync to my 80GB iPod classic. Just love MM!

 

[morkhans]

For older iPods there was mlipod plugin for Winamp. Not sure how active development is still.

 

[member2204]

+1 for Media Monkey.
iTunes for some reason seem to screw up my album art.

 

[Dolby]

Thanks guys - will try those.

I run XBMC and have a number of albums in FLAC - which iTunes can't read. So I have two separate libraries.
When I add a folder, it starts playing the first 10 seconds and I can't do anything as the dialogue box won't close, so I can't stop/pause etc and can't use anything else with sound for the night.
The album art it pulls doesn't hard code into the track when it pulls

The main reason is the FLAC reason though

 

[morkhans]

The main reason is the FLAC reason though

If you are looking for something that will play flac foobar2000 is a no nonsense music player that supports flac and also has a quick transcode feature to export flac to other formats.

 

[morkhans]

I see foobar also has an iPod plug-in: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/24473/how-to-use-your-ipod-with-foobar2000/

 

[Dolby]

Thanks morkhans!

 

[AfricanTech]

If you are looking for something that will play flac foobar2000 is a no nonsense music player that supports flac and also has a quick transcode feature to export flac to other formats.

You can also try xmplay - awesome player

 

[morkhans]

I see foobar also has an iPod plug-in: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/24473/how-to-use-your-ipod-with-foobar2000/

I got this working with my old iPod shuffle, looks like it will do the job.

 

[Dolby]

If I get MediaMoney and add my FLAC library to it - will it convert to MP3 automatically when I sync my iPod to it?

Here's the issue - I'm running XBMC in my lounge and want decent sound there, hence I've got a number of FLAC albums for the quality. I also have an iPod adapter in my car, which doesn't see FLAC. I want a single library of my music - I don't to keep the FLAC and the MP3 copy for the iPod.

At the moment I have (for example) 100 albums in total that I listen to - 80 in MP3 and 20 in FLAC. iTunes only sees the 80 (so I can't listen in my car) but XBMC sees the full 100. Eventually I'd want those full 100 to be FLAC (work in progress ...)

An I going about it the easiest way considering the limitations?

Things would be 100% if iTUnes treated FLAC like it does WMA and simply converts it in the background

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

You could always convert your FLAC library to ALAC. It's basically the same thing but you can import it to iTunes and XBMC can still play it.

 

[[)roi(]]

...while many audiophiles will tell you they can totally tell the difference between the two, the truth is it's very difficult for the human ear to tell them apart. Most people are either trying to impress you or are subject to the placebo effect.

I certainly have never been able to hear any difference; hence I don't see the need to keep anything in FLAC.

...I believe Redditor VomitGolem said it best:

Anyone who only seeks the perfectly pure sound should rethink their audio philosophy.
I only need to prove that my system sounds badass. Which it does.

http://lifehacker.com/5903625/mp3-or-lossless-see-if-you-can-hear-the-difference-with-this-test

Would be good to see some incontestable proof / justification for keeping FLAC over MP3 / MP4. The inconvenience is quite apparent.

 

[NomNom]

Last time I checked you could use Winamp to sync to ipod ect.

 

[Dolby]

I've read a few articles on them and very few seem to list the hi fi they're listening on - only saying 'one needs high end'?

While I'm not disagreeing with you, the articles would probably hold a little more weight if they listed the specific equipment used during the ABX test?

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I've read a few articles on them and very few seem to list the hi fi they're listening on - only saying 'one needs high end'?

While I'm not disagreeing with you, the articles would probably hold a little more weight if they listed the specific equipment used during the ABX test?

Equipment makes a huge difference. Better DACs bring out all the imperfections in the audio and if you're sitting with a badly encoded MP3 you can hear definitely tell the difference. I doubt you'll hear any difference though with your onboard AC97 audio adapter and Logitech PC speakers.

 

[Dolby]

That's what I'm saying.

I'm using the FLAC for my lounge - so I'd like some quality. While I may not have the most transparent system now, I could have in a years time and my lossless library would all be built and waiting

 

[[)roi(]]

Equipment makes a huge difference. Better DACs bring out all the imperfections in the audio and if you're sitting with a badly encoded MP3 you can hear definitely tell the difference. I doubt you'll hear any difference though with your onboard AC97 audio adapter and Logitech PC speakers.

Equipment IMO makes no difference in comparing FLAC vs MP3/MP4... as I said I have never heard any difference.

Please show me the proof? Remember the point about the test, is that you can test this for yourself, using your own equipment.