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Smart Playlist to Gather Upgradeable iTunes Match Tracks
Macworld's Jason Snell describes in this article how to upgrade tracks with iTunes Match to 256kbps AACs. iTunes Match will allow you to re-download these types of files even if the matched tracks are lesser quality. To gather these lesser-quality matched-tracks together, Jason describes how to create a Smart Playlist with the correct criteria. I've created that Smart Playlist and exported it and have included it in a script which, when run, will add that Smart Playlist to your iTunes for you. Here is the direct download link. Just download and double-click the script; make sure iTunes is running. Be sure to read Jason's article to understand the rest of the details.
Name New Playlist From Selection
I use the "New Playlist from Selection" command a lot to create temporary playlists. Actually, I use the Shift-Command-N shortcut more often than clicking the command in the File menu. But I'm irritated at all the dancing I have to do to name the new "untitled playlist". It takes my attention away from what I was intending to do with the tracks. So, I rigged the script below to the keyboard shortcut Shift-Command-N—it works, luckily; sometimes assigning a shortcut that iTunes is already using doesn't override the original command. The script does exactly what "New Playlist from Selection" does except now I can enter the name for the playlist before it's created.
Here's the script:
(more…)
UPDATED: Assimilate View Options v3.0
Assimilate View Options v3.0 re-creates a selected playlist so its View Options (visible columns) are the same as the main Music library (taking advantage of the fact that new playlists acquire the Music library's View Options). Works only with regular playlists and Smart playlists.
This latest version works with playlists inside a folder playlist.
Assign it a keyboard shortcut for ease of use.
UPDATED: Merge-Delete Playlists v3.0
Merge-Delete Playlists v3.0 (formerly named "Batch-Delete Playlists") will allow you to merge the track contents of two or more playlists or delete any number of playlists at once, including Smart, Genius, and folder playlists. The merge feature will prevent the same tracks that may appear in different source playlists from being duplicated and has an option to delete original playlists. The delete feature only deletes the playlist; tracks, of course, remain in the library.
Very handy when assigned a keyboard shortcut.
This latest version is written as a Cocoa-AppleScript applet for OS X 10.6 or better; adds the merge feature.
Create Default Smart Playlist Templates
A problem with Holiday music hanging around your iTunes library all year long is that, without a cautious Smart Playlist strategy, Grandma Got Runover by Mannheim the Christmas Donkey Steamroller can disrupt your tranquility at any time of year. Like pool-side in August. And there is nothing un-cooler than that.
Now it's unlikely that I would create a regular playlist containing any speck of Holiday music during non-Holiday times of year on purpose. But you gotta watch them Smart Playlists. Thus, for a while, the criteria for every new Smart Playlist I created started with "Genre does not contain Holiday|Xmas|Christmas".
That's a pain to have to remember. And to enter for every new Smart Playlist.
However. The script Export Smart Playlist Criteria allowed me to export a Smart Playlist template that has several of my preferred Smart Playlist criteria already entered. These would include "Genre does not contain Holiday|Xmas|Christmas", "Live Update", and several other idiosyncratic restrictions and requirements. Now whenever I want to quickly create a new Smart Playlist I import that template XML "starter" and then choose "Edit Smart Playlist" from its contextual menu to add only minor finessing.
Now, whether you care to read on depends on whether you are thinking either:
"Dude, you can just keep a generic Smart Playlist in your sidebar and Duplicate it like whenever."
(in which case you're right, you win, like whatever) or:
"But Doug. You could write a script that automatically loads and selects your generic Smart Playlist template file by pressing a shortcut key!" (more…)
NEW: Dumb Down Genius Mix Playlist v1.0
Dumb Down Genius Mix Playlist will copy the tracks of a playing Genius Mix playlist to a new "dumb" (regular) playlist, which, for example, can be copied/sync'd to older iPods that do not accommodate Genius Mixes. You can subsequently copy the contents of additional Genius Mix playlists to the new playlist, refill it, or create more. (Each Genius Mix playlist only references about 70 tracks maximum, which is why you may have several, say, "Rock Mix" playlists.)
Thanks to Correspondent Pedro Espinosa for coming up with the basic work for this clever script.
Updated a Handful
Nothing to do with Snow Leopard--what a relief, eh? I've updated seven scripts today:
- Assimilate View Options
- Batch-Delete Playlists
- Block Party!
- Compare Two Playlists
- Export Smart Playlist Criteria
- Move Playlists to Folder
- Selected Playlists To iPod
These seem to be the most popular scripts that are affected by the "none/all" issue introduced in iTunes 8.2. There may be a few others, but I haven't gotten email feedback on those nor have I run across a problem with any other scripts I use regularly. But if you ever get a error like this:
...then let me know.
Daypart v1.0.2 Released
Daypart v1.0.2 is now available.
Updated in v1.0.2:
- Fixed issue with Calendar View re-display
- Fixed issue saving schedule/locating .db file
- Fixed issue with setting fade delay
Daypart is a simple yet full-featured application that allows you to schedule iTunes playlists to play, giving you an easy way to program varied musical content throughout the week in your home or workplace.
This update is free for registered users.
Daypart v1.0.1 Released
Daypart v1.0.1 has been released. With Daypart you can:
- Schedule playlists flexibly, for just a few minutes or several hours
- Schedule intricate configurations of playlists on a weekly basis
- Segue between playlists without cutting off songs
- Automatically shuffle and/or repeat playlists
- Store and re-use frequently used scheduling criteria
- See how playlists are scheduled over a period of days
- Automatically load and engage a schedule at startup
Plus, Daypart features:
- Uncluttered, easy-to-use interface
- Scheduling tips
- Scheduling conflict-awareness
- Customizable windows positioning
- Ample keyboard shortcuts
- Detailed Help book
Updated in v1.0.1:
- Fixed issues related to date/time formatting
- Fixed "sortedDataRows" error
- Addressed error issues when adding Event to Schedule
- Addressed slight delay at startup issue
This update is free for registered users.
iTunes DJ is Still Party Shuffle
Although you will see it listed as "iTunes DJ" in iTunes 8.1, it's the same thing as "Party Shuffle" (AppleScript-wise it has the same playlist special kind) with a few new behaviors.
