How to Use iTunes in Mac OS X

iTunes is Apple's application for managing sound files, converting to MP3, playing CDs, and listening to internet streaming broadcasts.

In OS X iTunes finally works as advertised. But you will need to set iTunes' settings properly in order for it to work well.

• When you first start iTunes you will be asked to set the internet connection speed you are using. For the department machines select T1, for your home computer select the connection speed you are using, either 56kbps (for modem) or DSL or Cable.
• Set the Music Folder Location to the local /Users/Shared/myfolder directory. Your office computer interacts with the server. By default, iTunes will save files for playback on the server. This will cause CDs, MP3 files, and streaming broadcasts to play discontinuously (broken and jittery). This is because the cache and files iTunes uses are being stored on the server and the network traffic is causing interruptions. To fix this problem you select the iTunes Music Folder to reside in /Users/Shared/myfolder where myfolder is some directory you create. The /Users/Shared directory is on the local hard drive of the machine you are working on, so saving your iTunes files there will avoid interfering with the network.
• To set up a local Music Folder:
  1. Create your folder.
     • In the Finder navigate to the directory /Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/
     • Select 'New Folder' under the 'File' menu.
     • Name the file by clicking on the 'untitled' name field of the folder and typing your username.

     • 

  2. Start up iTunes (found in /Applications/iTunes).
  3. Set the iTunes 'Music Folder Location':
     • Open 'Preferences' found under the 'iTunes' menu.

     • 

     • Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
     • Change the 'Music Folder Location'
       1. Click on the 'Change..." button.

       2. 

       3. In the 'Choose a Folder' window navigate to the directory you created in /Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/, select it by clicking on it, and click on the 'Choose' button.

       4. 

       5. Close the 'Preferences' window by clicking on the 'OK' button.

Date Created: 2001-08-21 13:52:16 Date Last Modified: 2006-02-21 10:13:52