A recurring question we get on Ask TUAW concerns managing multiple iTunes libraries, particularly keeping them in sync, whether for one user with two computers (e.g. laptop and desktop) or between multiple users with multiple machines (e.g. family members). It was with some interest, then, that I recently ran across Syncopation from Sonzea which promises to automate the process.It will allow you either to clone a full library on two machines, or selectively sync your files (video as well as audio) via iTunes playlists or within the application itself. This could be very handy, for instance, if you want to keep an automatically updated subset of your music on your Mac portable with limited hard drive space.
Syncopation is $24.95 (for use on two Macs) and a demo is available. If you've had good experiences with Syncopation or other iTunes syncing tools, please let us know below.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-09-2008 @ 1:37PM
5cents said...
Or use Mojo and subscriptions. On a local network, you can sync unlimited iTunes libraries.
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4-09-2008 @ 1:48PM
fightclub said...
just built myself a hackintosh and this will come in QUITE handy... ill be testing this later today... woot!
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4-09-2008 @ 2:11PM
unxmaal said...
Or buy MyTuneSync ( http://www.socketheadstudios.com/mytunesync/ ), which does the same thing, includes automated scheduled backups, and costs $5 less.
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4-09-2008 @ 2:57PM
Matthew Thiel said...
According to their FAQ (http://www.socketheadstudios.com/mytunesync/faq.html#faq3), MyTuneSync requires a separate license for each machine. That means a minimum of two licenses at $20 each is actually $15 more than Syncopation.
4-09-2008 @ 6:38PM
Mike said...
They sell a 3-pack for $29.94.
https://www.socketheadstudios.com/commerce/Product.action?buy&productId=100
4-09-2008 @ 2:34PM
Josh said...
Also check out SuperSync: http://www.supersync.com/
And TuneRanger: http://www.acertant.com/web/tuneranger/
Might be nice to see TUAW do a comprehensive comparative review!
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4-09-2008 @ 2:42PM
normterry said...
I wish someone would make an iPhoto version
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4-09-2008 @ 2:47PM
benji said...
How about some tool that can sync between a lossless and a compressed library? ie meaning having a compressed library which is a duplicate of your master lossless library, and is used for syncing to your ipod. Anything you add to the lossless library gets synced and compressed in the other one. Nothing out there seems to do this.
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4-10-2008 @ 12:18AM
TroyG said...
Yes yes yes! I've been looking for this for a long time! I can deal with lower quality on my MacBook and iPod, but from my Mac mini HTPC w/ my speakers, I want them top quality.
I think I just need to submit this suggestion to everyone mentioned here, and buy whichever product delivers it first - ha ha.
4-09-2008 @ 2:58PM
Pat said...
seems expensive...What happened to free software?
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4-09-2008 @ 4:20PM
Roopesh Sheth said...
Mojo is free on the LAN.
4-09-2008 @ 3:15PM
Ron said...
I'm a very happy user of TuneRanger. I have a PC server running SqueezeCenter for my Squeezeboxes, and two Macs. Their license allows for 5 Macs or PCs to sync to each other. I sync often so that my metadata is always current across all 3 machines.
It's a very nice app. Try their demo and see. I have no affiliation to the company.
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4-09-2008 @ 3:20PM
Bill said...
How about Martian SlingShot? It works really well for playlists as well as whole libraries.
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4-09-2008 @ 4:19PM
Mike said...
I'm with Pat on this one, I gotta stop dropping money on so many software licenses. The low cost indie software market is enticingly sweet, but if you keep dropping 20 bucks a pop every time a new piece of software pops up, it adds up. Seems like it's cheaper to just throw the laptop into target disc mode and flat copy the whole folder to sync.
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4-09-2008 @ 4:48PM
raminf said...
I use Libra to switch iTunes libraries between the home version (on a NAS) and a smaller snapshot on the MBPro when on the road. It works fine for that usage scenario.
There's no custom synching or any of that, however. I'll have to see if any of the ones mentioned here do any better.
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4-09-2008 @ 4:49PM
Seth said...
I've played with some of these, but I've yet to find what I need: something that will help me keep my house (Seattle) library and my apartment (Los Angeles) library in sync. Do any of these work over WAN? I can get Back to my Mac to work (most of the time) but I have yet to find anything that will let me synchronize anything but .mac stuff...
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4-09-2008 @ 4:50PM
Zorin said...
To make the iTunes library on a second computer identical to that on the first:
rsync -v --rsh="ssh -x -c blowfish" --delete -a ~/Music/iTunes/. nala:./Music/iTunes/.
You can reverse the two to go in the other direction.
Sure, one library becomes a "slave" to the other, and you lose playcounts and such on the "slave" machine, but this is much better than using target mode and copying the whole damn folder. :)
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4-09-2008 @ 7:11PM
normterry said...
Rsync is sketchy at bEst and only runs when you run the command or know how to play with CRON.
4-09-2008 @ 10:15PM
--matthew said...
I want something that will keep the files of two libraries in sync, but to have the metadata be unique. Basically, I want my soon-to-be wife and I to use separate user accounts but to have access to the same large pool of music. Ratings and playlists and stuff would be unique to each user account.
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4-10-2008 @ 1:28AM
mabhatter said...
I want something that can gather my laptops to the main iTunes library machine. After all, my wife has different stuff she likes than what I like, but we want 1 main library, not 3 separate ones to track. This would be the second killer app for Time Capsule, to be an automatic repository. iTunes can open other iTunes lists and play them, but only if iTunes is open and you can't pull the songs down even between authorized machines. I like how Apple TV can store the sync'd songs and even let you buy content then store it back at the "home" computer, why can't laptops do that.... that would sound like what Macbook Air should be doing with it's tiny HDD. Bonus points would allow the main machine to also back them up to something like Time Capsule and let Macbook Airs, Apple TV or laptops copy them from that location when the main machine is turned off.
The whole iTunes library business is so shoddy right now, there has to be something better.