I’ve been using serato for a long time now… and recently came over to the dark side and bought a macbook pro.
Previously I stored my files as files - outside of any music cataloug software such as iTunes but now i’m looking at using iTunes to sort my music collection - i know how to link my serato with itunes, that isn’t the problem, what i’m wondering is how you guys sort your collection? its not really a trade secret i hope!
for example what i’ve done so far is what i found on some random djs’ website about serato:
- I store each crate as a folder on my computer (i.e. one for rnb remixes, one for rnb radio edits, one for scratch samples, one for party breaks etc etc).
- I initially used serato to edit the genre in all my id3 tags (seeing as I can batch edit the crates one at a time this seemed easiest).
- I then added all these into iTunes and created a smart play list to sort through the genres (so one that says add songs with the genre party breaks to the smart list called party breaks)
- I created one play list and called it zzzz just for new shit that i added to itunes to appear in my Serato. During the week while studying or whatever i’d have itunes playing that playlist, and i’ll confirm the id3 tags of each of those files as they’re playing. Thereby sorting those files into the smart play lists i’ve created in the above step. After editing the genre I deleted the track from the zzzz playlist, it stays in my itunes library, but gets added to the smart playlist.
- Now the way i’ve got iTunes configured is the way it came with the mac - it copies tracks into its on library (thereby duplicating your collection so you’ve got your original copy then your itunes music foler copy). I believe tehres a way to keep the original files but add them to itunes, so it doesn’t create its own copy - is this a better option?
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is this the best way to do it? I previously have no experience outside of winamp in terms of this type of software!
Hey mate,
I’m new to this iTunes business too and also gradually building my library all through iTunes. The approach im taking is aimed at still making me think as much as possible whilst im playing. I dont want to end up having everything sorted to the point where i dont think about what track to play next, and just choose something thats in the same playlist or screen. So i guess ill be depending mostly on the search function.
Having said that, im still categorising to some extent… Basically im not backing anything up to the iTunes folder, i’m working entirely off the external hard drive, only because otherwise it will become way too confusing.
The folders on my hard drive at the moment are :
- Club tracks - which has all remix services
- Old school - Originals and remix services of old school tracks
I’ve dragged both these folders into my iTunes library.
Now i’m going through and selecting tracks and moving them into playlists which are classed as:
- Recent R&B;remix services (2000 onwards)
- Recent r&b;originals
- Old school originals (pre-2000)
- Old school remix services
Any tracks that i will never play get deleted from the library, but obviously not from my hard drive. The playlists are kept very broad so i dont become lazy and end up having the same 30-40 songs to choose from every set.
I started out really anal about editing id3 tags, but now im not that worried about it, as long as the artist and track name are there for searching purposes.
well i have asked others if they use iTunes with there macs and alot of them say no to me which is a good thing bc i dont wanna use it and i cant stand that program
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nyd u know how my shit works, u probably wont find a more organised person then me around lol so yeh maybe someone else who does u serato n a mac can answer that better then me
http://www.mixedinkey.com
Anybody use this program to add a tracks harmonic key to say an ID3 tag for sorting/key mixing within serato?
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I would never use i-tunes! But that’s me, tag editor and serato ftw!
kool another mac/serato user thinking that way
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i just cant stand iTunes, such a horrible program
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they could of just made it alot more easier to use
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l’ll stick with the method i am using now, much easier
it just seems easier to use folders than use another program, except for one step, which is moving out of my ‘New Shit’ Folder and into the genre folder that the track should go into.
and the snow leopard upgrade - I will be upgrading this weekend (probably sunday, after gigs) however I’ve already read of people having issues with it - mostly with 3rd party apps but still needs a bit more research - just have a look at the whirlpool forums! fkn nerds!
it just seems easier to use folders than use another program, except for one step, which is moving out of my ‘New Shit’ Folder and into the genre folder that the track should go into.
and the snow leopard upgrade - I will be upgrading this weekend (probably sunday, after gigs) however I’ve already read of people having issues with it - mostly with 3rd party apps but still needs a bit more research - just have a look at the whirlpool forums! fkn nerds!
Hahha I’m signed up to whirlpool - those dudes can solve any issue!!
I’m gonna wait a little while before upgrading to snow just cos 1st release’s of any software usually have bugs and things that need to be ironed out and I cbf being the guinea pig with issues
ive had no issues with snow thus far, im sure there are issues but i havent experienced any & bear in mind im running flash, photoshop, illustrator, lightroom, dreamweaver & itunes all at the same time this is both on my macbook pro & imac, will keep you updated if i do come across anything, those guy at whirlpool get off on finding bugs & complain more than a whining pom, i love going through that forum just to take this piss out of people.
As for itunes, i use it & i love it, if i used it for the purpose of using serato then i probably wouldnt, Itunes is designed to be a basic mp3 library & playback application, remember most itunes users arent djs & dont use serato. For what it is it’s a very good program
agree wit u there asanka - i’m sure it is good, I just haven’t gotten used to it.
in terms of serato its ok but i really didn’t derive any real ‘benefit’ from using it.
yeah theres a lot of bitching on whirlpool about shit that really doesn’t make a difference to anyone that goes out of their bedroom for more than 7 minutes a day. but still its astounding the amount of incompatibilities first noticed with snow leopard and other 3rd party apps that people use. I will still get the snow upgrade however, i like risking the performance of my computer and potential crashes! just ask sef!
i think iTunes would be great for just normal use but when it comes to serato, it just acts all difficult
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do u have to pay for the upgrade when it comes to snow?
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i saw something saying its like $29 or maybe im looking at something else
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anyways i think with serato if u are use to doing it by chucking ur mp3’s into folders and then just importing it on serato then i think u should continue with that if it works perfectly
yeh you have to pay, i got given a legit copy of the upgrade im not sure if you can install on another machine after its been installed but if it can ill let you borrow my copy.
