"Embed non-iTunes fields"--what does it really mean and imply?
Barbara
The BeaTunes Tools menu has an item, "embed non-iTunes fields". I have searched the help and I don't understand what this means--and even more important, what it implies. Does it export to shared iTunes libraries? What does it override? What is included in the "non-iTunes fields"? Please elaborate--extensively.
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Support Staff 1 Posted by hendrik on Jun 10, 2013 @ 01:09 PM
Hi Barbara,
some fields like "Key" or "Language" are not supported by iTunes, which means they cannot be stored by iTunes. beaTunes always stores values for these fields in its own internal database. If you want beaTunes to also store those values in the audio files themselves, e.g. via ID3 tags, check the box. Having the values stored both in the files themselves and the internal beaTunes database might be useful, should the beaTunes database ever fail or if you want to use the values in other third party programs, like Serato or Traktor.
-hendrik
2 Posted by Barbara Zanzig on Jun 10, 2013 @ 01:14 PM
Right. I understand that. But where is a comprehensive list of the fields,
and what happens to them if I synch an iTunes database? That's what is not
in the help file.
--
Barbara Zanzig
Kirkland, WA
Support Staff 3 Posted by hendrik on Jun 10, 2013 @ 01:19 PM
Hi,
iTunes does not support:
On sync with iTunes nothing happens.
-hendrik
4 Posted by Barbara Zanzig on Jun 10, 2013 @ 01:26 PM
Thank you. Please put this in your help or FAQ!
Barbara
5 Posted by Barbara Zanzig on Jun 10, 2013 @ 01:43 PM
Actually, one more thing. I don't think I believe "on sync, nothing
happens".
Presumably, iTunes uses some method of checking that two libraries have
identical files. MD5 hashcodes, checksums, file names, something. So
although it may be beyond the scope of what BeaTunes does, it's germane to
ask what iTunes does if BeaTunes adds information to an iTunes
database--BeaTunes changes the database in some way by adding fields.
Please explain what iTunes does with a modified database--the information
is not in the help files or FAQ (neither iTunes nor BeaTunes). Does the
receiving database drop the information if you synch two iTunes databases?
Does iTunes propagate the information to the second system? Does it
propagate some information and not other? Does it depend on the device you
synch with (I can well imagine that an iPod might drop information that
another full featured computer might retain)?
Support Staff 6 Posted by hendrik on Jun 10, 2013 @ 01:55 PM
When beaTunes syncs, i.e. displaying somewhere in the UI that it does so, it reads the
iTunes Music Library.xmlfile and adjusts its internal database accordingly. Therefore, at that point really nothing happens concerning those extra fields (key, etc.)When you change any data in beaTunes and you are using an iTunes-based library, beaTunes usually communicates the new value to iTunes using either AppleScript or COM. Since iTunes does not support certain fields, this does not happen for those fields. If you checked that non-iTunes fields box, beaTunes will instead attempt to embed the values into the audio files.
iTunes does not constantly scan all files in its libraries for modifications. Only when you play a file in iTunes, it does check. At this point the internal iTunes database is updated. But I cannot say what exactly iTunes does - that's a question for Apple.
Also, I'm not sure what you mean with "sync two iTunes databases". As far as I know, you cannot sync two iTunes databases. Syncing iTunes to an iPhone is a different story and well outside the scope of what beaTunes does. Again, that's probably a question for Apple.