Locating iTunes Plus tracks

Article

Locating iTunes Plus tracks

Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-, iPhone-, iPad-, iTunes-, or Apple TV-related questions from a member of the iLounge editorial team. We'll answer several questions here each week, and of course, you can always get help with more immediate concerns from the iLounge Discussion Forums. Submit your questions for consideration using our Ask iLounge Submit Form. We reserve the right to edit questions for grammar, spelling, and length.

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

Q: I would like to be able to see which songs in my iTunes library are from iTunes Plus, ie DRM free. I do not see an option to view that in “View, Options”. Is it possible to do this?

- Tomo

A: Although there are no default options in iTunes for this, it is possible to setup a smart playlist to track this information.

The key point here is that traditional iTunes tracks will be listed with a “Kind” field of “Protected AAC File” whereas iTunes Plus tracks instead display their “Kind” as “Purchased AAC File.”

Therefore, a Smart Playlist such as the following, which selects tracks based on the information in the “Kind” field should group all of your iTunes Plus tracks into a single playlist:

Note that this will not include iTunes Plus Music Videos however, as these do not contain the word “Purchased” but rather simply omit the word “Protected”—so a standard iTunes Music Video would be listed as a “Protected MPEG-4 video file” whereas an iTunes Plus music video is listed simply as an “MPEG-4 Video File.”

However, since all iTunes Plus music videos also have a 256kbps audio track, this may help in creating a secondary Smart Playlist that can be used to group these. A Smart Playlist similar to the following would work, assuming that you have not encoded any of your own music videos at a 256kbps audio bit-rate:

This will essentially list all “MPEG-4 video files” with a 256kbps audio bit-rate and a “Video Kind” of “Music Video” (thereby excluding any movies or TV shows that may be in your library). Unless you have encoded any of your own music videos at a 256kbps bit-rate, this should show only iTunes Plus music videos.

The most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I copy content from my iPod/iPhone onto my computer?

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, Apple TV and iPhone Video Formats

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Mac)

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Win)

Best Speakers?

Best Headphones?

Best Case?

Best In-Car Solution?

Best Battery Extender?

Find more answers in the latest publications in our Library. Free downloads developed by the editors of iLounge!

Ask iLounge Archives:

5-17-13: Calendar info disappears after iCloud restore

5-16-13: Remove old iCloud backup after restoring to a new iPhone

5-15-13: Setting up a ringtone in iTunes

5-14-13: Using a Wi-Fi hard drive with an iPad

5-13-13: Backing up and restoring an iPod classic

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

« Using Compilations settings

iPod screen staying on when docked »

Comments

If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.

Recent Reviews

New Deals

Shop for Accessories: Cases, speakers, chargers, etc.

iLounge

Article