|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adding Tags to songs
by Dean Mortlock
09.01.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you’re connected to the Internet when you put a music CD into your computer, iTunes’ in-built Tag recovery software, Gracenote, will automatically look on its database for the information for each track. On the very rare occasion that it doesn’t have it, you can obviously just enter it all yourself, by selecting the track (or tracks) and pressing Apple + I (Mac) or Control + I (PC). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your music’s Tags are directly linked to iTunes’ column headers in the main display window, meaning that you’re able to list them by song, artist or album just by clicking on the column headers – you can also move them into different places in the window by dragging and dropping them. |
|
|
|
| step 3 |
|
Checking your Tags |
|
|
|
|
|
|
It’s well worth checking that the Tags added to your albums are accurate though, and you can easily do that by highlighting the track you want to check and pressing Apple + I (Mac) or Control + I (PC) and looking through what’s been automatically added. Here you can quickly and easily change the Tag information or add in some gaps where you need to. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There’s a staggering amount of information you’re able to include for each song, and the more you can be bothered to correct and input yourself, then the more you’ll be rewarded when it comes to creating your own Smart Playlists. To make your own Smart Playlist, open up iTunes and go to File > New Smart Playlist. |
|
|
|
| step 5 |
|
Favourite songs playlist |
|
|
|
|
|
|
You can pick from over 30 elements to create your Smart Playlist, and if you click on the ‘+’ button on the right, you can add another line. For example, you could the first row as ‘Last Played’ and a date of at least three months ago, and ‘My rating as four stars on the second one. That way, you’ll create a playlist for your favourite songs that you haven’t heard in the last three months. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If your Tags are in full working order, then it might be worth adding new columns to your iTunes window. Press Apple + J (Mac) or Control + J (PC) to bring up the Options box, where you’re free to add or remove any of the potential 29 columns on offer. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
1. One of the most useful Tags is the ‘Ratings’ one. You can add a rating to a song either via iTunes or the iPod itself (press the Centre button three times when a song’s playing) and they’re great for Smart Playlists or the Party Shuffle mode. |
|
|
|
|
|
2. If you have an album that isn’t found on Gracenote then, after inputting the details yourself, you can submit them to the Gracenote database by going to Advanced > Submit CD Track Names. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|