Home Audio + iTunes + iPhone = Kickass!

About a month back I decided it was finally time to reorganize my clutter mp3 collection. Since I’ve pulled this data from multiple machines and data sources, there was a big mess to be dealt with. Taking some tips from my friends at Life Hacker, I followed many of the steps outlined in their “Whip you MP3 library into shape” articles (I, II, III).

Here's the process I went through step by step:

• Organize Songs: I started off by bringing all my mp3 files into one directory, and then importing it into iTunes (making sure to allow iTunes to manage my media). iTunes created a new directory with all my audio pre-sorted by artist & album.
• Remove Duplicates: I then downloaded Duplicate Cleaner and used it to identify my duplicate songs. First by meta data, then by file name. This cleaned up 90% of my duplicate fils.
• Update Meta Data: I then downloaded Media Monkey and used it to update all my songs metadata, file names, and album artwork.
• Another Duplicate Removal: Now that all the meta data and file names are synced up, I ran through Duplicate Cleaner again to find any remaining duplicates.
• Re-Import into iTunes: I now had a very clean directory of music. I renamed this directory, cleared all my songs out of iTunes, and re-imported (making sure to allow iTunes to manage my media). This created a new iTunes managed directory with all the songs properly organized. I then let iTune sound level my tracks, download any missing album artwork, and run through genius.
• Cleanup and Thoughts: I obviously had to remove the two erroneous directories of music (the one from the start, and the old iTunes managed directory I renamed. At the end this cut my unorganized 160 GB of mp3 files down to a clean & tidy 90 GB's. This process is not for everyone, as it'll require rebuilding your iTunes library. For anyone who's invested a lot of time categorizing and rating their mp3's within iTunes, this will erase all that hard work. For me I just wanted to start over fresh, so it didn't matter.

Now that my music collection is organized, I needed to set it up to share across my network for usage at parties. For this I shared the managed iTunes audio directory on my network. I then fired up my laptop (which I will plug into my home audio receiver), and had its iTunes import all the tracks from this network share (FYI - This will take a long time to do over a network with the audio size I have). This will allow me to use these shared audio files from my laptop, however any ratings, categorization, or playlists I create on the laptop will be separate. As iTunes does not yet share its library across multiple machines.

Based on my friend's advice, I installed the iTunes remote application on my iPhone. This allows me to control the iTunes library running on my laptop (hooked to my home audio receiver) from anywhere in the house/property. I can sit out on my back deck and control iTunes playback via iTunes DJ Mode. I can add songs, skip songs, search my library, turn the volume up/down, pause, etc. And even better, when I have friends over for BBQ's or parties, then can co-control the iTunes audio experience by voting, ranking, suggesting songs for playback via their iPhone apps.

I'm very satisfied to have this project completed, only took a few days worth of work over a two week span. But it's totally worth it in the end. We now have a kickass audio system to enjoy. Now my buddies can stop complaining that there is no music in my billiards room :P