Importing B2 export into iTunes?

[John Doe]

Having trouble getting my B2 music into my iTunes library. Hoping this forum's collective wisdom has a better solution than I've been able to devine.

1. Successfully exported my entire B2 contents to an external HD via USB-C. All were WAV files generated from ripping my own CD collection to the B2's HD.

2. Then plugged that into my Win 7 computer and successfully copied over the entire B2 contents (including exported B2 file structure) to my computer's HD.

3. Verified that these copied WAV files play fine on the Win 7 computer when double-clicked.

Knew that I then had to convert these to MP3 in order to add to my iTunes library and make available for use on my iPhone. Researched how to do this, including instructions directly from the Apple support site. These procedures did not yield the desired results. When I followed Apple's procedure, it will only convert all the files in one folder at a time (which equates to one album in the B2 exported file structure). This is unwieldy for almost 600 artists and more than 8,500 tracks. But even worse, when I then added these to the iTunes library, it only adds the basic song title without any other associated metadata. This is so suboptimal as to not be a viable solution at all.

Am I doing something wrong? Or is this a known limitation? Are there any workarounds?

If not, this severely limits the B2's utility for me. In fact, it was one my primary motivators for purchasing.

Appreciate any tips from those who have previously bashed their head against the wall over this same issue...

[Daniel Taylor]

First off, I do not use iTunes, so my familiarity with it is limited.  But I've picked up a few things along the way.

The B2 does not populate the tagging fields when it rips the CD.  That is a known condition of the B2.

If you want to duplicate your music collection in iTunes and on the B2, the easier way to do it is to rip to iTunes first and then import to the B2.

I do all my ripping on my computer.  There I can supervise and edit all the tag info and filenames so they are correct the way I want them.  Then I import to the B2. 

[John Doe]

The B2's primary selling point is that it is a self-contained complete solution for those who want to digitize their CD library. The process you describe makes a B2 purchase essentially superfluous.

Don't get me wrong, I love my B2 for what it can do -- digitized my entire CD library into perfect WAV files. My issue is that now I can't use those files the way I had envisioned I would be able to.

From a consumer standpoint, I believe more could be done to warn potential buyers of this rather severe limitation, vs. allowing them (via omission of critical information) to falsely believe the B2 is the panacea they've always dreamed of... which is precisely what the B2's website marketing schtick promotes.

Anyone have other solutions? Perhaps 3rd party software?

[Steve Peers]

Hi John,

Workarounds ... I use EasyTAG, though MP3Tag and Foobar will achieve similar.

Open a high level folder in EasyTAG, it will search and display all music files below, even Artist/Album/Tracks.

Select all or select just a few tracks and run the "Fill Tag" command to copy folder name strings into choice of ID3 tag fields (see image).

Select all or select just a few tracks and run the "Rename File" command to rename folder and track name strings into choice of folder and track fields (see second image). This can be used to change Artist/Album/Track to Artist - Album/Track, i.e reduce folder hierarchy according to iTunes need.

Steve

[John Doe]

Good to hear... this resolves the tagging part of the issue.

Is there also a solution for turning the entire exported B2 folder of WAV files into MP3s with minimal clicks?

[Steve Peers]

Hi John,

I'm certain batch conversion tools exist (including freeware), but I've never done it, as the JB7 and B2 have done for me.

Two notes...

1. I'd do the conversion first, before tagging, as I'm certain tagging works on FLAC and MP3 formats, but I don't know if it works with WAV and that the tags then persist though format change/compression.

2. The tagging tool select all does just that, beware of other music on the computer that you do not wish to edit!

Steve

[Steve Peers]

Hi John,

I think the B2 and USB device with iTunes can do this for you!

Keep win 7 computer set as WAV (it's a backup, just in case...)

Change USB device backup top level folder name to anything except "b2export", "hardfi" or containing "FLAC" or "MP3", e.g. "backuplossless"

Set B2 to compress its WAV to MP3 compression level needed/wanted for iTunes, let it compress (e.g. overnight +)

Export B2 (now MP3 files) and process to iTunes as earlier posts.

If MP3 export used same USB device, now delete the MP3 content, leaving the USB device with WAV e.g. "backuplossless".

Import WAV e.g. "backuplossless" into B2, it will overwrite MP3 with WAVs!

Done.

Please try the process on one album first, to be sure of getting all the way round the circle.

Steve

[John Doe]

This sounds like a viable plan!