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glocke
Senior Member
Username: glocke

Post Number: 968
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 2:46 am:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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!)

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