Challenges w/ Copying and Sync'ing music CDs from Win11 PC to iPad Air (5th Gen)

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Level 1

4 points

Challenges w/ Copying and Sync'ing music CDs from Win11 PC to iPad Air (5th Gen)

Here is what I am experiencing:

1) Using external CD drive to save music CDs to iTunes (latest version).

2)a) Some CDs are being misclassified as Audiobooks (iTunes does no longer allow you to change the media format from audiobooks to music).

2)b) CDs appear with multiple icons in iTunes (suspect 1 icon per track)

2)c) Imported artwork doesn't show up anymore.

3) Copying complete CD from iTunes to Apple Music (latest version) by dragging the CD icon across.

3)a) Sometimes only a single or multiple songs come across, but not the whole CD.

3)b) Apple Music, of course, does not display audio CDs misclassified as "audiobooks".

3)c) Sometimes, I have to highlight all tracks and drag them over to Apple Music.

4) Connecting iPad to PC to sync. (running iOS 18.2.1 on my Apple devices, and the latest Win11 on my PC)

4)a) Sometimes, I get multiple copies of the same music CD on my iPad, sometimes, it's only an incomplete transfer.

4)b) CDs misclassified as Audiobooks show up under Books.

=> What's the easiest way to accomplish what I want to do? (Copy a bought CD and sync it to my iPad and iPhone)

=> How do I correct the incorrect audiobook classification?

=> Why are there 3 apps now needed to accomplish what used to be handled in one? Is this progress? (And, no, don't tell me that streaming is so much easier. I prefer to buy and own my music, with liner notes.)

Thanks!

iPad Air, iPadOS 18

Posted on Jan 8, 2025 3:36 PM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

275,474 points

Jan 11, 2025 5:51 AM in response to AdiKB

My personal opinion is that the simplest solution is to remove Apple Music, Apple Devices, and Apple TV, at which point iTunes functions normally again. When any are installed it is limited to working with audiobooks and podcasts.

CD tracks ripped with iTunes can be dropped into the Automatically Add to Music folder inside your media folder, where they will then hopefully be treated as music. See this post for details of how to group a set of tracks into a single album if Apple Music, or indeed iTunes, wants to separate them.

tt2

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Answer 2

AdiKB Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2025 5:19 PM in response to turingtest2

Thank you for your response. I did not go to that drastic step. I was able to solve my problem as follows:

1) I am not using iTunes. On my PC, use Windows Media Player to rip CDs to the folder the music is stored for Apple Music. My Rip Settings are MP3 and the highest quality (320). (In Apple Music's settings you can find where the music is being read from.)

2) If I didn't get the music into the right folder, or, I am loading music from a flash drive, I drag the whole album folder (or all tracks on one album) into my Apple Music app which copies it as a new music album.

3) When I sync, you need to choose the complete music library. If you don't, make sure you check the boxes for the desired artists AND the desired albums etc.

4) I am still experiencing issues with the artwork after sync'ing, even if I had downloaded and added the correct CD cover image.

I am going to live with this for the time being, but will keep in mind to potentially go the iTunes only route in the future.

Thanks!

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