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verifying music files, removing duplicates
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: RTP, NC
Status:
Offline
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This is not a standard "duplicate songs" issue. I have a bunch of MP3s that I imported to my iTunes library a LONG time ago... at least I think I imported them all. I'm also FAIRLY sure I had iTunes set up to copy the files and "keep them organized", which renamed them, too.
So... I want to get rid of the old folders of music, because I'm fairly sure they're duplicates... but how the hell can I be sure?? The file names are no longer the same.
I have Time Machine all set up, so I could try just deleting them all and then force iTunes to rescan (how do you do that?). If there are any broken links, then I could go find the files using Time Machine.... right? (I would be able to match them by name myself, but the names are no longer identical.)
Thoughts?
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Late 2012 27" iMac 3.4GHz Intel Core i7, 24GB RAM, 3TB Fusion drive
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New Zealand
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MBP 15" C2D 2.2GHz 4.0GB 500GB@5400
iPhone 4 32GB Black
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: RTP, NC
Status:
Offline
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Hmmm... maybe... the question is how it checks the files. My guess is by file name, which wouldn't help. Once imported with "organize" on, I think iTunes renames them based on ID3 tag info.
I think my best bet, honestly, is to delete them all and see what comes up missing in iTunes. If I miss something, then I can put it back. I wonder if iTunes will complain if it's just in the Trash - if so, then I wouldn't even have to commit the deletion until I ran the check.
Is there a way to force iTunes to refresh all the files (ie, check for "dead links")?
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Late 2012 27" iMac 3.4GHz Intel Core i7, 24GB RAM, 3TB Fusion drive
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: FFM
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iTunes->Advanced->Consolidate Library
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: RTP, NC
Status:
Offline
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Ah, yes... I know I did that in the past, and from then on I had "copy to library" selected in prefs.
But again, here's the question: will iTunes be smart enough to catch all the duplicates now that the names are different. And I can't even guarantee that the iTunes-generated names are still the same now.
Let's say I have file "track1.mp3" which is really "Master of War" by Dylan (ID3 song name is actually not quite right). Then I "consolidate" and have Apple rename it. It's probably now called Masters_of_War.mp3 or something.
Now, if I were to consolidate again, iTunes may be smart enough to say "hey, after I rename it (again), I see that it's a duplicate".
But what if I fixed the ID3 info after consolidating the first time. Would iTunes fix the file name, too? It should be "Masters of War" (plural). If the file then became Masters_of_War.mp3, then it doesn't appear to be the same anymore.
I've done a LOT of work on my library over the years to get the ID3 info all correct and in sync, so this could happen for lots of files.
I think I've basically talked myself into the nuclear option: delete all these files and see if iTunes complains. If so, resurrect the ones that I missed.
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Late 2012 27" iMac 3.4GHz Intel Core i7, 24GB RAM, 3TB Fusion drive
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