Philomathean

I downloaded the original 88.2 version about a week ago. After receiving the aforementioned e-mail I downloaded what seems to be the corrected version. Maybe they didn't notify everyone who should have been notified. But if you haven't been notified, here are the relevant instructions they sent me: --------- "To receive your corrected copy of Dave Brubeck's Time Out in the format you originally ordered: 1. Important: Please delete the Time Out files that you originally downloaded on your computer. 2. Log into HDtracks and visit your customer account page: https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=myaccount 3. Click on the Resume Download button on the right side of your screen. At this point, the download manager will start downloading the album. If for any reason you have a problem downloading this album, please contact us as soon as possible at [email protected] " ---------

VERY nice catch on this defect...Out of the blue, I received an e-mail from HDtracks this afternoon referencing unspecified complaints about the audio quality on Dave Brubeck's Time Out and offering a remedial download. I figured at least some of the complaints had to have originated here. Lo and behold. And now I understand why. Thanks!!

I think I understand...Create an entirely separate database (no linking of iTunes data required). Then have AppleScript execute iTunes commands based on what you select in the separate database. I was thinking along different lines, but this sounds like a great idea.

Bob S: I do also have access to a Mac (and this week, much sooner than I'll regain access to Windows). Not very familiar with AppleScript, though. I thought it was an automator, not a database. How would it work here?

Bob S: That would be great. Are you saying the iTunes database can be linked into something like MS-Access (as, for example, an Excel table can be linked)? If so, I have to admit I made some assumptions and missed that one. But I think it would make a world of difference. I'll give it a try and report back (might be a few days). Thanks.

Thanks, Bob. I was always afraid of reimporting Excel-edited data into iTunes for the reasons you mentioned. Maybe Apple ought to modify iTunes so that it plays better with other database apps (overly wishful thinking, perhaps), or maybe someone can (or has) come up with a front-end solution that deals with iTunes idiosyncrasies so we don't have to guess about it. It really seems to me that live-editing iTunes data through a full-featured database program's front end would be ideal, even if a bit of a pipe dream. I do know about the batch-editing feature you cited (i.e., select multiple tracks and edit the desired fields). It's better than nothing, but still leaves me growing cobwebs in front of my computer. And unfortunately, it doesn't allow one to find/replace content within a field (e.g., a word common to several otherwise different entries). But thanks again for the info!

I've been assiduously entering information into the iTunes database about the many classical CDs I've imported (in a bit-perfect format, thanks to the very valuable advice on this site), and still have a long way to go. However, having some knowledge of relational databases (MS-Access, SQL Server), I find the iTunes front end to be a real clunker, requiring manual entry of significant quantities of data and a consequent wasting of time. While I don't think it's reasonable to expect a music storage-and-retrieval program like iTunes to provide the features of a truly robust, industrial-grade database, it would be great if there was a way to link such an advanced database to iTunes data so that the advanced features of the former could be used to (for example) populate/update fields of the latter. Does anyone know of a front-end alternative or workaround that might provide some relational and find/replace facilities on the order of MS-Access (or even Excel)? I'm thinking that something with the ability to populate fields conditionally (based on the content of other fields), and to find-and-replace words/phrases *within* fields, would go a long way to reducing the amount of face time my iTunes collection requires. Many thanks in advance!