Author |
Message |
glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke
Post Number: 968 Registered: 9-2002
| Posted on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 2:46 am: | |
Are there any good alternatives for itunes out there ? I used to have zero problems using or navigating this program, but starting back in the fall when they did a large update its been nothing but problems... Too lazy to list all of the problems Ive had with it recently...just pretty much looking for an alternative at this point with the caveat that whatever is suggested I must be able to control from my iphone also ... |
jcdlc72
Advanced Member Username: jcdlc72
Post Number: 258 Registered: 11-2009
| Posted on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 7:04 am: | |
Same here. After being severely disappointed with their newer version, I managed to take it out, reinstalled the previous version, and promised never to update it until finding a suitable replacement to manage my music library. Still haven't found something I might find suitable for my needs and desires, so I am still looking. Meanwhile, I'm sticking to the previous version... |
sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus
Post Number: 2955 Registered: 5-2009
| Posted on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 8:15 am: | |
Thats' the issue with "so called " upgraded versions . I have found myself unhappy with a few different software upgrade from various different vendors. Therefore I have decided it is always prudent to keep an old version on a storage hard drive and-or also burn a copy of the file to disc just in case you don't like the new stuff and can not find the older versions on line anymore . This works for me until I find what I think is right . |
murray
Intermediate Member Username: murray
Post Number: 144 Registered: 7-2007
| Posted on Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 4:13 am: | |
Same thoughts from me. There used to be a Power Search that did it all but now it seems all about what they want to suggest we look at or buy rather than our own choice. I have upgraded each time so can I go back now? What was the version that we liked? Glynn |
wideload
Advanced Member Username: wideload
Post Number: 201 Registered: 6-2003
| Posted on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 2:12 pm: | |
I have iTunes 10.6.3 on my computer at work, and it's enough like the old iTunes that I don't mind it. My wife has the newest version on her stuff (whatever version that is) and it is a frustrating pile of garbage. I think she HAD to upgrade for her phone, which is why I haven't changed in a long time! |
edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin
Post Number: 1580 Registered: 5-2002
| Posted on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 10:24 pm: | |
Once I changed out a few preferences, the new iTunes seems pretty similar to most of the previous versions. I haven't found anything that catalogs as well as iTunes, at least for Mac. But, there are some players that do have cool features, like Amarra, which does FLAC and also seems to sound a bit better (and can use the iTunes interface), and Fidelia, which has dither, so the digital volume control doesn't degrade the sound as much. |
cje
Intermediate Member Username: cje
Post Number: 135 Registered: 5-2009
| Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 7:10 am: | |
If you could list just some of the issues you have with iTunes, maybe a solution will present itself. With the iPhone tethering, your options might be limited. As a Sonic Studio editor, I've used Amarra, and it's pretty excellent. |
sparechaynge
Intermediate Member Username: sparechaynge
Post Number: 133 Registered: 6-2010
| Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 10:15 am: | |
What does "new" mean exactly? itunes 11, or 10? I still have 10, and I really wish I had stuck with 8 or 9 instead. |
hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1289 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 2:24 pm: | |
Edwin, can you say more about the digital volume control? |
edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin
Post Number: 1582 Registered: 5-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 2:29 pm: | |
Digital volume controls are pretty much attenuators in the digital domain. As such, when you have them below fully on, they reduce the bit depth. An issue with that is that you lose resolution on the lower end of the audible range. The way that you get around it is with the addition of dither, which is decorrelated noise. It's a little involved to get into here, but the end result is that dither, while it is noise, like tape hiss in a way, actually improves the resolution of the sound when the bit depth is reduced. Bob Katz described how it works best in his book, Mastering Audio, The Art and Science. Fidelia has licensed an excellent dither algorithm so their digital volume knob is less destructive than iTunes or other playback devices. They also have an excellent sample rate converter. How's that? :-) |
hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous
Post Number: 1293 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Thursday, July 04, 2013 - 2:38 pm: | |
Edwin, thanks for the explanation! I'll remember to keep my digital volume knobs cranked! I haven't felt the need to go beyond iTunes, but if I ever do I know who to ask! (I'm still using 10.6.3 on an older Mac but my wife has the new iTunes and hates it!) |