View Full Version : Ipod as Library on my MacBook
I donīt fancy carting my external hard disk around to allow me to try my Mac as an optical source of my itunes library into my system. How can I use my 160GB ipod classic, previously synced with my hard disc, as a surrogate hard disk. Step by step instructions would be nice for this artist (as in non-scientist).
Also, can I change the output of my Mac sound card to suit the 44.1khz only input of my ancient QED digit DAC or do I need a degree in IT ?
I sort of got confused on your first question, but if you want to make an ipod into a harddrive that option is in itunes when you connect the ipod, in preferences I think.
As for sound adjustments, there is an application called audio/midi set up in the applications>utilities folder. You might well find it will work anyhow.
Sorry about my unintelligible IT language.
In a nutshell, all my itunes library is on both my external hard disc and my ipod. I would like to connect my Macbook through a digit Dac and into my system using my ipod as a library source instead of my external HD which it is programmed to use at present.
darrenwm 11-03-08, 01:16 PM When you plug in the iPod doesn't it just appear down the left side of the screen?
Chris,
Attach your iPod to your MacBook and fire up iTunes. Select a song on your iPod - it will appear on the left hand pane under 'devices', and if you play this it will come out of the speakers on your MacBook (not the headphones on the iPod).
Now you need to connect your MacBook to your stereo - the headphone socket doubles as an optical digital output on your machine. With a suitable mini spdif connector it will connect directly to an external dac as an optical source.
With the mini spdif connected your machine will automatically switch to using digital out, and this will by default do exactly what you want (output at 44.1Khz).
Cesare
OK.
Well thats going to be very difficult, in essence you are going to create a temporal distortion in the quantum time matrix. Or put another way your itunes library needs to access an itunes library which you want to put on your iPod.
Long and short is you are going to need to hook up that harddrive. For what you want to do in the short term. There are longer term fantastic solutions, but they cost a few quid.
Ceasere has a work around but be careful not to try playing music from the main library, as your harddrive will not be connected it will not be able to find the music, which has in the past caused the ipod to say that its not the library it used to be connected to and do you want wipe it.
The simplest thing to do is buy an AppleTV from the refurb store (Ģ150) and plug the HDD into that, then connect the atv to your dac. You then have a choice whether to use your laptop or your telly as the library display. A remote control is included I believe.
The appleTV does not support the addition of external harddrives without hacking the appleTV, which requires a patch stick, which requires an intel mac which requires tiger not leopard.
He could of course sync the date across to a larger capcity appletv. However he would need to insure itunes is not on when using the appleTV after if the drive is removed as the sync will remove content thats not available on the host itunes.
What the OP really wants is a small home server solution.
Ok garyi, what about using an Airport extreme (cheaper) and connecting the hdd to that. The iTunes library display then appears on the laptop. If he doesn't want to connect the laptop to the dac, he could use an Airport Express to carry the signal wirelessly, and then optical to the dac. This is actually what I do myself and it's cheaper than the atv even inc the aex.
As I said, just connect the iPod to the mac and use. I'd also question whether the QED DAC is any better than the built in on the iPod or MacBook, but that's something that needs exploring.
Cesare
Although that would work its important to understand what is happening regarding the itunes server.
He could put his itunes library on the airport disk. Itunes on hi laptop would access this wirelessly. And would play back wonderfully over his laptop. If he connects the laptop with an optical lead to a hifi it would be fine.
However.
If he then connects an airport express, what you are asking of the server then is for the airport disk to send the music files wirelessly to a router, then wirelessly to the laptop, then wirelessly from the mac to the airport then from the airport to the hifi.
This method always results in frequent drop outs, and not surprisingly.
If the OP does not want to spend any money, then the iPod work around will work provided he does not make any mistkaes wherby itunes realises the harddrive is not connected.
If a few quid is in the offing, or if the OP has another computer in the house, a whole host of other opportunities exist.
Personally I like my mobile laptop to be mobile having to plug optical leads and harddrives in before using it sort of defeats the point for me.
Agree on the mobility. I use Axt and three Aex and Hdd,(to span seven rooms). I've never had dropout probs.
Ashley did iirc, until he added extra Aex. I think dropouts are caused by poor signal strength nothing more.
For starters Iīll go for Cesareīs suggestion as itīs the easiest to understand and to implement. Regarding whether the QED DAC is comparable to the inbuilt ones on the ipod or the MacBook - my reason for trying it is the optical to analogue interface.
Suggestions please on the best/cheapest way to input the analogue output of the ipod, or the Macbook if it has one, to my RCA inputs on my Sugden - Iīve seen cables but have also read of docks. Any difference between the 2 or between different cables and different docks ?
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