Step 2 - Re-import to iTunes

(a) iTunes unfortunately manages its own tag database so it won’t immediately pick up the new information. This can be fixed by:

- highlighting all tracks in the library, right clicking and selecting ‘Get Info’
- Then click “OK” (BE SURE NOT TO CHECK ANY OF THE FIELDS OR YOU WILL LOSE THE VALUE FOR EVERY FILE).

After doing this, the files are all processed and the tag changes will be picked up, and your playcounts and playlists will remain the same.

(b) I had some problems with the above method as iTunes seemed to get a bit confused and wouldn’t find the modifed tracks so what I ended up doing was going into my iTunes folder, deleting the iTunes music library files, and re-importing my music folder which picked up all the new tag info.

WARNING: THIS WILL DELETE ALL PLAYCOUNTS AND PLAYLISTS

Step 3 - Removing Duplicates

Once you’ve tidied up your tags removing duplicates becomes much easier. iTunes has a ‘Show Duplicate Songs’ command in the Edit menu. It only matches track name, which should be fine if you’ve tidied up your tags. Once you’ve done this it’s just a case of working through the list and deleting duplicates.

Step 4 - Add Album Art

iTunes doesn’t automatically add the artwork from CDs. The iTunes Art Importer solves this problem by adding album images from Amazon to your CDs - very clever.

It’s taken me a few evenings to do all this but it’s been worth the effort as now at least I can find tracks that I want to hear, and I also know now what I’m listening too!

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