[Hidden-tech] music collection management

[Chris Hoogendyk]

Just for reference, I have 225 albums (CDs) that are mostly classical on my work computer, and I'm 
only using about 80G total (for MacOS, applications, work, music, everything) on a 600G drive. Less 
than 14G of that is my music. So, 300 CDs is really almost nothing as far as digital storage space 
is concerned these days. I've put them into iTunes over the course of years, as I acquired them or 
in batches when I wanted to listen for stuff I already had. I even look them up on Amazon to grab a 
copy of the cover art for iTunes. The CDs themselves live at home -- some in the living room and 
some in my daughters room, where she listens to them. Personally, I like the original packaging, and 
we have CD "bookshelves" at home. We only use the CD cases with vinyl sleeves when traveling in the car.

I don't use an iPod. I have Bose noise canceling headphones that I use at work (I could actually use 
those with an iPod). I had an iPod touch, but found I never used it. So, I gave it to my brother in 
law, who is totally into music and really appreciated it. Actually, I did use it once, on a trip, in 
the airplane, and where they happened to have iHomes in the hotel rooms (the headphones were awesome 
for canceling the flight noise). But, that's not a big deal to me. We're more likely to be sleeping 
in a tent and listening to the natural sounds around us.

Anyway, it's pretty straightforward (although somewhat time consuming) to put them into iTunes (you 
can do other things while they are being imported). Then back up your digital iTunes library to 
another drive. But, if you use Time Machine, you should get that anyway. And you should use Time 
Machine. The only difficult thing will be deciding what music you want on your iPod/iPhone/MP3 
player, since they probably won't have the space for all of it.


On 9/13/11 11:09 AM, Stacy Kontrabecki wrote:
> So my 300 CDs have been taking up space on my office floor for 3 years b/c I don't know how to 
> deal with them. Looking for recommendations.
>
> I have:
>
>   * 1 Macbook Pro for work that my iPhone 3GS 32 GB is connected to through iTunes - maybe 20
>     albums of music is synced to the phone. 14 GB free on the phone.
>   * 5 year old Dell laptop restored to factory settings that I only use for occasional GPS points
>     downloading.
>   * iTV -not used for media access currently since media is still on disc!
>   * External drive I back up my Macbook to. Additional PC formatted 160 GB external drive not
>     being used.
>   * What is the best way to get these CDs ripped and accessible? I don't want to store the music
>     on my work computer hard drive.
>
>
> Options I've considered:
>
>  1. Purchase another external Mac drive just for music, create 2nd directory (?) on Macbook iTunes
>     (I need to sync my photos & contacts to the Mac still) referencing the music I store on the
>     external & sync it to some new MP3 player.
>  2. Install the music to the Dell (via USB vs. Mac firewire) and use the existing PC external
>     drive to sync to an MP3 player.
>  3. Retire the 3GS to iPod status and update my phone?
>  4. Crawl into a hole with my vinyl albums and turntable, swearing off new technology.
>
> Before the iPod/Phone/MP3 phenomenon, I bought a slew of CD sleeves and binders that I was going 
> to shrink the size of my collection down to. That never happened. May still do this for "backup" 
> so I can trash the jewel cases once I figure out the dilemma outlined above.
>
> I so need the real estate in my office and miss playing my music, too.
>
> Thanks for your recommendations in advance.

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Chris Hoogendyk

-
    O__  ---- Systems Administrator
   c/ /'_ --- Biology&  Geology Departments
  (*) \(*) -- 140 Morrill Science Center
~~~~~~~~~~ - University of Massachusetts, Amherst

<hoogendyk at bio.umass.edu>

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Erdös 4