Tune Up - Organize Your Music Collection (Windows & Mac)
Managing Large iTunes Libraries with TuneUp
For users with extensive iTunes collections – numbering in the thousands of tracks – maintaining organization is crucial. Effective management involves accurate track categorization, consistent naming conventions, and the elimination of duplicate entries or variations in artist and album titles.
Manually adjusting the metadata for a large music library can be a daunting undertaking. TuneUp offers an automated solution, aiming to streamline this process with minimal user intervention.
Pricing and Availability
TuneUp is available for a one-time purchase of $49.95. A yearly subscription option is also offered at $39.95.
Alternatively, the software can be obtained through the MakeUseOf Rewards program for 500 points. A free trial version is also available, allowing users to clean up to 50 songs.
System Requirements and Functionality
The application functions as a plugin compatible with both iTunes and Windows Media Player. It’s important to note that an active Internet connection is required for TuneUp to operate effectively.
The software’s core function is to automatically analyze and correct inconsistencies within your music library’s metadata, saving significant time and effort.
TuneUp Functionality
The claim of organizing a disorganized music library is ambitious, but what capabilities does TuneUp actually offer?
Core Features
- Corrects inaccurate song details – such as displaying "Unknown Artist" or "Track 01"; this is achieved through waveform analysis.
- Supplements incomplete metadata, including release dates and genre classifications. This enhances the functionality of intelligent playlists, for example, playlists focused on "1980s rock music."
- Integrates album artwork, either automatically or by presenting options for different regional releases.
- Identifies and eliminates duplicate tracks within the library.
- Provides a "currently playing" section displaying song lyrics, upcoming concert information, and other releases by the performing artist.
The application’s functions are also highly adaptable. During the cleaning process, users can selectively import desired information, ensuring that custom-created genre tags remain unchanged if preferred. It's important to review these settings before the initial cleaning operation, as genre updates are enabled by default.
To monitor the cleaning progress effectively, activating playlist generation within the preferences is recommended. Initiate an analysis of the music collection – in my case, approximately 3,500 out of 8,000 songs were identified as having missing data.
A dedicated playlist should then be created containing these songs, serving as a convenient source for drag-and-drop operations within the interface. It’s worth noting that this playlist isn’t automatically updated; songs remain listed even after being corrected.
Alternatively, individual songs can be selected for cleaning directly from the main library, or the entire collection can be processed without a preliminary analysis. The plugin functions effectively regardless of whether an initial scan is performed.
Interface Overview
Initiate the process by dragging files into the designated cleaning window; up to 1,000 files can be processed simultaneously. Allow the identification procedure to complete once the files are loaded.
The primary cleaning interface is segmented into two distinct areas: confirmed matches, highlighted in blue, and potential matches, displayed in grey. Accept identified matches by clicking the check mark icon.
Accepting and Rejecting Matches
Matches can be accepted individually, or in batches based on tracks or entire albums. Alternatively, the “Save all” function can be utilized to approve all identified matches at once. To discard changes made to albums or tracks, use the X icon to Clear (Cancel) them.
Should uncertainty arise regarding a specific album’s identification, expand the full view and preview an individual track to verify the suggested match.
Reverting Changes
If a track is believed to have been incorrectly labelled, it can be moved to the undo tab to revert it to its original state.
While fully operational, the interface may be perceived as somewhat intricate. A dedicated application window, rather than a compact sidebar, might offer a more streamlined experience.
Minor visual glitches, such as the absence of the check button graphic in certain instances, were observed, though the functionality remained intact.
Handling Specific File Types
Users with extensive collections of mash-ups or audiobooks should exercise caution, as these file types are prone to misclassification. Consider removing such files from the "to clean" list prior to commencing the cleaning process.
Despite these considerations, the tool successfully restored correct titles to some Chinese songs that had previously been corrupted by Windows character encoding issues.
Lyrics
A recent TuneUp update has introduced a lyrics display feature. However, it's important to note that this functionality is limited to displaying lyrics only.
Unfortunately, the update does not incorporate the ability to add lyrics to your music files during the cleanup process. This is a drawback for users hoping for a more comprehensive solution.
Furthermore, TuneUp currently doesn't recognize lyrics already embedded within a track’s metadata. It relies solely on streaming lyrics from its partner provider, which has a relatively restricted database.
Alternative Solutions
For those seeking a robust method to obtain lyrics for their entire music library, or to present them effectively during playback, GetLyrical presents a viable alternative.
This software offers a more complete approach to lyrics management compared to the current implementation within TuneUp.
Consider exploring GetLyrical if you require a solution that can both locate and display lyrics for a wider range of songs.
iTunes Library Organization with TuneUp
For iTunes libraries dominated by mainstream music requiring organization, TuneUp proves to be a highly effective solution.
The software offers granular control over the data that is imported or modified, functioning particularly well with widely recognized artists and tracks.
A noticeable improvement is experienced with features like Cover Flow, which becomes significantly more enjoyable when accompanied by accurate album artwork.
Optimizing Your Music Collection
Seeing images associated with artists previously only known through their music provides a satisfying enhancement to the listening experience.
However, if your iTunes library contains a diverse range of non-musical content – including foreign language tracks, audiobooks, or spoken word recordings – a more discerning approach to cleaning is necessary.
While TuneUp remains capable of handling standard music files, automatically identifying all items within a varied collection can lead to undesirable results.
User Feedback and Alternative Methods
Have you had experience utilizing TuneUp? Share your results and insights in the comments section below.
We are also interested in learning about any alternative methods you employ for managing your music metadata, or if you simply choose not to prioritize this aspect of your digital music library.
