Matt Monro Forum

Hi all, This is a brilliant way of organising your music on your computer.It is very easy, and it is all legal and above board. You do not need an IPod to use this facility. You will be able to make your own compilation cd's of your favourite songs and singers really easily--and even get a playlist automatically printed.

First step, is to go to www.apple.com At the top of the page is a link to Itunes---click on the link, which will take you to another page--scroll down , till you come to "Free itunes download".

Download and install Itunes.

That is the most difficult part of the whole procedure---and that is easy.

I will carry on with the next step tomorrow. Let me know if you have any problems.

Marian

Hello Mariana44. I have tried to download I Tunes + Quick Time for a laugh, as I have tried before and not been succesful, and I think it has worked this time, but i'm not sure until I leave here. It took a while to download, kept scrolling from side to side.

Hi Robert--yes I do know that sometimes the Installation is more tricky --is it to do with who you're with---you know--like AOL, or whatever!!

Hope it works out for you, as it is so useful.

I will come up with the next step, later this afternoon.

You may even have figured it out for yourself , by then.

Marian

Hi all. The version of Itunes that I use is Itunes 6.

Hopefully you will have downloaded and installed, and have an icon on your desktop.

When you open Itunes, you should have a large empty window in the centre--this is where your music goes--Plus down the left side some playlists. At the moment all will be empty. The Library at the top of your playlists is where all your music is stored, and it is only via the library that you can add or clear music. Most of the editing is done via the Library also.

It is not essential to be on-line when you add music--but it makes things easier, as Itunes will search automatically for your list of songs, rather than you typing them out manually---can take ages when you type with only 1 finger, like me . If you have problems getting a track list, you may need to disable your firewall temporarily.

Once you have inserted your cd, after a few seconds you will see, about half way down your playlists on the left hand side, a new link to "Audio cd", or it may give the artists name, or cd title. Your tracks should appear on the screen. [Or track 1, track 2 etc, if the computer cannot read that disc.]

Each track has a tick, by the side of it---if there are any tracks you do not want, untick it.

At the top right hand corner is a button that says "Import cd" . Just click on it.

Each track takes about 10 seconds , a whole cd, a few minutes.

It is best to put a few cds on before you start making any playlists.

If you want to mark your toprated at this stage,right click , on the song you want to rate, and several windows will come up, one of them will say "My rating" so you can rate your tracks from 1 to 5. Your top rated will automatically go into the Toprated Playlist on the left hand side.
I think the default number of tracks is 25, but that can easily be changed.
Also your track will then have the number of stars you have allocated it alongside.

At the bottom of the screen will tell you how many tracks you have listed, plus how much space they are using up. If you have a large music collection, you will need lots of spare memory--about 40gb should be plenty.

Itunes will automatically put your library in alphabetical order, but by clicking on the top of the columns you can have the artists in order or the albums in order---this facility will be useful when you make your compilation discs.

That is all for now---next time I will go into how you can organise your playlists, and also make your own compilation discs. Plus the track listings.

Marian

Marian

Hi Mariana44. I bet it took you a while to type all that out with your one finger I haven't tried to do any of it yet, if I am indeed I Tunes connected. I will come back to this page when I get the time to carry out all those instruction's, don't know when though But a big thank you Mariana44 for taking the time to explain to us all, so far.

HI Robert---hope it all works out for you. I have tried to keep it as simple as possible, as everyone has different levels of expertise!!

And yes, it did take quite a while to type out.

Marian

Hi Marian, thank you for all the step by step instructions for Itunes.
We have said before, that although this does give you the opportunity to have the required song rather than continually having to purchase compilations to achieve this, we have just never bothered.
I'm the dumb one, too lazy to learn, and leave everything to Harry
But anyway I have taken note and will be experimenting, thank you again for your information Marian, I could quite easily get hooked on the idea.

Hi all--more to come in a day or 2---leave you to get to grips with that information first

Marian

That sounds a good idea Marian. I'm digesting it all
Meanwhile back at the ranch

Hi there everone. This is the last set of instructions coming up--the fun bit where you get to organise your music. Obviously the more music you have on your Itunes, the more scope there is for organising.

Your music is organised via Playlists, and there are 2 types of Playlist.
Either Smart Playlist or My Playlist. On the left hand side of your Itunes Window will already be some Smart Playlists by default. These are usually Most Recently Added ;Most Recently Played; and My top rated.

These Smart Playlists update automatically. Remember that to rate your Itunes, double click on the track, and you will see a window marked "my rating", where you can rate that tune between 1 and 5 stars.

To Make your own Smart Playlist, go to file and click on "Smart Playlist"--you will get a window that gives you all the variations for making up your playlist---for example --you may want a Playlist of only Matt Monro tracks--just fill it in as "Compilation" and "Matt Monro". You may want to list only jazz music---just the same. These lists will also automatcally be updated.
The default number is 25, but that can be changed by changing the number at the bottom of the Smart Playlist window---or at any other time, by right clicking on playlist in window, go to "Edit playlist".

To Make a "My Playlist"--go to file-then click on "New Playlist".---and an "Untitled Playlist" will show up in the window on the left. You can give your playlist a name at this stage. Every track that you want to put on your Playlist has to be dragged there from "The Library" It will still always be in the Library, unless it is deleted from the Library.

You can put whatever you want in your playlist---if you want to make up a compilation Cd. keep an eye on the bottom of the Itunes screen, so that you do not go above the amount that will fit on to a cd. Or you may just want ---for example --just your favourites by Matt Monro. You can change the order of the tunes on your playlist [not Smart Playlist} by dragging them into position. These Playlists are now ready for you to listen to on your computer, or your Ipod, which will list and update automatically every time you plug the Ipod in the computer.

If you want to make a cd of one of your playlists, maybe to play in the car, click on the name of the Playlist, and you will get a list of tunes in that Playlist. At this stage, if there are any you do not want copied on to the cd, you can untick it, or right click on the track, and delete it, bearing in mind it will still be in the Library.

Make sure you have a blank cd in your drive, Then go to File, and about half way down, it says "Burn Playlist to Disc". click on it----then at the top right of your Itunes screen is a round button that says "Burn Disc" Just click on this----and wait for your cd to be copied. It does not take too long. depending how many tracks obviously. The cd will not need finalising, and should be ready to play in any other cd Player. Usually when it is finished, the cd drive will automatically open.

Before you close the your Playlist, you can print out a list of tracks.
Go to file, down near the bottom is Print. Click on print and you will get a list with 3 options---one is Song Listing---which will print everthing in your library--either in alpabetical order by singer or by track, or album, depending on which you have selected earlier. One other option is "Jewel Case Insert"
Mark that box---then where it says "Text only" click on that and you will get more options. I always use "Single side Black and White"----then just print it out. now you are all done !!

I will just review everything in 5 easy stages---

1 Download, Install, and Open I-tunes.

2. Insert disc, wait for tracks to appear in Itunes window, untick those you do not want, Press Import in top right hand corner.

3. Make up your Playlist, or Smart Playlist

4 . Copy your playlist to cd, if required, by File, burn Playlist to disc, Press Burn Disc in top right hand corner.

5 Print your playlist--File --Print--Jewel Case label--Single Side Black and White.


And it is as simple as that. Please contact me if you have any problems. I am no expert, but I will try and help.

Marian

Hello Mariana44 and all. I bet it took you over an hour to type out your above instructions Marianna44. I will come back to these pages when I decide to download I Tunes. Thank you once again for the time and trouble you have taken to explain everything, but I still think that I will be lost, if I try to carry out all your instructions.

Hi Robert---yes it took me ags--then I had to go back and check that I had not made any mistakes, and check with Itunes--I do it so automatically now, I sometimes forget the names of the buttons and things. Just give it a go--one step at a time. If I can do it , then anyone can

Marian

Thanks Marian for the instructions. They are very helpful.

Thank you Marian for all the time that you've taken to explain step by step. Much appreciated, now for the fun.

Hi --hope it works for you all. I have just had a message elsewhere from Terra---I had advised him by PM some time ago how to use Itunes, but at that time he could not even get round to installing it. But now he has done some work on his computer, all is fine, and he says he is very happy with the results!!! So do not give up! It should be possible to install Itunes on most computers, and from then on, it is easy---honest, it is.
Marian