How to export MB library to iTunes

[redwing]

As MB can import iTunes library via "File> Import from Library" command, it's also possible to export MB library to iTunes. Part of these instructions use a method introduced in an Apple's online support document (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451). Verified with the latest, at the time of writing, version of MB(2.3.5137) and iTunes(11.1.4.62). [verified again with MB (2.4.5358) & iTunes (11.3.1.2)]

1. Go to MB's Edit> Preferences> Library and tick "Save a copy of the library tags as an iTunes formatted XML file" option. Then MB will create "iTunes Music Library.xml" file in its library folder and keep it updated whenever any changes are made on MB library files.

2. Locate iTunes library folder (\Users\username\My music) on your PC and delete "iTunes Library.itl" file and "iTunes Music Library.xml" file.

3. Launch iTunes and go to File> Library> Import Playlist. On the pop-up box, navigate to MB's library folder and select "iTunes Music Library.xml" file.

You're done! Just wait until iTunes finishes importing your library.


Note:

1. iTunes cannot handle multiple values for tags. If you have any multi-value tags such as Artist or Genre, iTunes will import only first value for those tags.

2. All auto-playlists and static playlists, including those in playlist folders, will be imported as static playlists.

3. MB's inbox files get imported as well under "inbox" static playlist.

4. Ratings (either saved to files or database) and Play Count will be correctly imported to iTunes. But iTunes doesn't support half-stars, dropping each half-star from ratings while importing.

5. Video files under MB Video node are imported to iTunes Movies node, but files under MB Audiobooks node are imported to iTunes Music node. It seems only audiobooks purchased from iTunes Store may get imported under iTunes Books node, but it's not verified.

6. iTunes does not use ReplayGain tags but its own SoundCheck values for normalizing playing volume. If your files don't have SoundCheck tag (http://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=9600.0), iTunes will analyze volume level of tracks when importing your library if SoundCheck feature is enabled in iTunes' preferences settings.

7. If your music file contains a semicolon in its URL (either folder name or filename), iTunes cannot import the file, reporting it cannot locate the file. However, Add file/folder to library commands can import such files.

[eugenesv]

Thank you for such a nice summary! I'd only add a couple of points.

Re. main instructions
2. If you only use MusicBee for some of your media library (e.g. for music only), then deleting the whole iTunes library isn't an option since you'd like to retain all metadata related to non-music files (e.g. podcasts, videos, TV shows etc.). But you can simply go to 'My music' and remove all the music from there. and then go to step 3). This way you'll save non-music data in iTunes, but only import music data from MusicBee.
Note that you do have to delete music in iTunes library otherwise you'll end up with duplicate files (e.g. same two songs with different ratings)

Re. additional notes:
4a. 'Skip count' doesn't get imported in iTunes (although MusicBee is able to import that metric from iTunes)

[dcforever]

Cool! Thanks for sharing!

[sleepless]

A tip for transferring podcasts:

-iTunes writes the EPISODE DATE [TDRL] tag as yyyy-MM-ddThh:mm:ssZ. If you want iTunes to organize your podasts and the tags aren't in that format, you will have to change them. It's not neccessary they contain the time (yyyy-MM-dd works fine), but if they do, they must be in the hh:mm:ss format (no AM or PM value).
-A word of caution here, MB will continue to overwrite these tags unless your windows date/time settings reflect this same format.

-MB writes the podcast URL in the ORIGIN [WOAS] tag. If you want iTunes to organize your tracks, the URL must be written in a tag called ITUNES SUBSCRIPTION [WFED] (PODCASTURL in Mp3Tag).

-Lastly all your podcast tracks must contain a tag called ITUNES PODCAST [PCST] and set to value of 1. This tag is called PODCAST in Mp3Tag.

If all these tags are in order, iTunes should organize your podcasts perfectly.