阅读36 返回首页    go iPhone_iPad_Mac_apple

Distinguishing embedded artwork from downloaded...

I've read through just about every posting containing "artwork" and "extract" from the past few months, and I could not find the answer to a question on my mind, so I'll pose it here.

I understand that there is a difference between artwork that is manually embedded via a copy/paste or a drag-and-drop operation directly into an .mp3 file versus the artwork that is downloaded from Apple's servers via iTunes and stored as an .itc file in a cache inside the iTunes > Album Artwork folder. I also understand that there are likely pros and cons—technical trade-offs—between the apparent speed and flexibility provided by the downloaded artwork process, versus the more laborious, but more permanent embedding of artwork into the metadata of an mp3 file.

Before I recently issued the Get Album Artwork to the iTunes store, I already had a small percentage of my iTunes mp3 embedded with images. With the help of the downloaded images into the Album Artwork cache, I now, of course, have a much higher percentage of my tracks filled with artwork of one type or another, that is, the tracks are either drawing up the images which I had previously manually embedded in the mp3 filse, or the songs are now accessing the artwork inside the newly download artwork.

My question is this: Is there any easy way to tell if a track is displaying artwork that is embedded into an mp3 or if it is getting its artwork from an iTunes download?

Time-consuming though it may be, I am considering embedding all of my mp3 files with artwork instead of drawing upon the cached images in the Album Artwork folder, but, I really would like to be able to distinguish which files would need to be worked on (i.e., they use the iTunes downloads) from those which do not (since they already have the artwork embedded in them).

If it is at all possible to determine how to distinguish between those two conditions, it would then be ideal to have is a fast and painless way to grab those downloaded images and use them as the source material to be for embedded into the mp3 files—perhaps through an Apple Script or some Automator routine!

Any insights and guidance?

bowlerboy_jmb
Interesting. I didn't know there was a difference between the two. Cached just means the image stored on the HD and embedded is actually part of the music file? What is the benefit of having them embedded vs cached?

I have an issue you may be able to help me with. If I understand you right, if I manually add artwork, I am actually embedding it into the file. How can I change the artwork on an embedded file?

If I were to take a guess on your question, I would say you could embed your album art, via copy/paste, into your music files from the images in the cache. Then just empty the cache. Tedious I know since you have a lot art already done and don't know the difference. Or just dump the cache all together and the song with are are the embedded one
Wow! That's an excellent sledgehammer suggestion!

Yes, I suppose that I could:

1) export the iTunes database to an Excel spreadsheet

2) import the iTunes database into FileMaker Pro

3) create a new field and call it "Artwork included"

4) create a Value List for that field and format it with checkboxes called:
a) No artwork
b) Embedded artwork
c) Downloaded, cached artwork

5) go through my iTunes library track-by-track and check off in FileMaker Pro which tracks do not have artwork from those that do, by putting an X in those that have "No artwork."

6) when completed, search in FileMaker Pro for all records except (i.e., omitting) those tracks which must, perforce, have some artwork associated with them.

7) put an X next in the check boxes for both "Embedded artwork" and "Downloaded, cached artwork" because I won't know which is which, as this post inquires about

8) trash the entire Album Artwork folder and its image caches, thus wiping away all references and connections to the artwork that Apple had supplied from its iTunes servers which I first asked for it to be downloaded

9) go through my iTunes library track-by-track once again to note which tracks still have cover art associated with them, while simultaneously, in FileMaker Pro, removing the checkbox called "Embedded artwork" from all those records which no longer have cover art associated with them, because, logically speaking, as you point out, since those records no longer have an image associated with them, those images must have come from the iTunes server.

10) by deductive logic, have discovered which tracks actually do have album artwork embedded in them, and leave their records in FileMaker Pro checked off with an X in the "Embedded artwork" check box.

Oh, yes, I suppose I could do that! Your logic is impeccable and your solution irrefutable. However, I was hoping to learn about a more elegant, automated method to elicit this information.

Now that I contemplate how anal and how time-consuming it could be to manually go though an iTunes filled with thousands of tracks of music, the alleged advantages of embedding album artwork into mp3 files are getting over-shadowed by the pure, simple convenience of being able to download images from the Apple Store, however limited, inaccurate, and imperfect that operation may be, in its current iteration.

Yes, indeed, now that summer is almost here, and I think I'd rather go outside and learn how to play golf instead. This iTunes artwork chore is a project for winter, if ever.

What a nice chat I just had with myself about all this. Hey, thanks for the whack on the side of my head.

bowlerboy_jmb
Regarding the question "What is the benefit of having them embedded vs cached?" the answer is that if the artwork is embedded in the file, it will be there if that file is used in some other player or program. Some folks may not care, but for most people that is a significant advantage.

Once you do the iTunes proprietary thing, you are kind of stuck with it, as you have convincingly demonstrated.
Mac users can use Doug Adam's scripts to do both jobs - figure out which music files have artwork embedded - and embed the artwork into the file so that the art travels with the file.

https://dougscripts.com/itunes/2009/09/updated-embed-artwork-v2-0/
is there anything like this for windows? I cannot seem to find anything for itunes for windows

Windows users can use MP3tag to see whether files have cover art embedded in them or not.

https://www.mp3tag.de/en/index.html

最后更新：2017-10-16 22:01:54

  上一篇：go iTunes Library to Bento 3
  下一篇：go How can I import music into Apple Music from a ...