Integrate a MP3 Jukebox to use IPod as Music Library?

[eist1]

Does anybody know if this might be able to work? I just think it would be cool to have an Ipod in a base at home and be able to use it with a one of the MP3 Jukeboxes (Freebox or SK Jukebox). If the Jukebox program looked at the IPod as an external drive this might be an option. Just an idea, would be nice to have the same music collection in the car, as at home on the Jukebox.

[SirPoonga]

Kinda like the xbox 360 and how it deals with the ipod?

[Barry Barcrest]

If it shows up a sa removable drive then no worries but i doubt it does that and i don't have access to one to even test otherwise i would offer you that facility. I will dig around the web tomorrow from work and see what i can find out.

[Mario]

If it shows up a sa removable drive then no worries but i doubt it does that and i don't have access to one to even test otherwise i would offer you that facility. I will dig around the web tomorrow from work and see what i can find out.

I have an iPod Nano and it can be mounted as a USB device. There's a setting in iTunes called Disk Mode.

I'm not sure about the other iPods, but I did find this which tells me that it may not be so easy with the earlier iPods.

Mario

[eist1]

Mario,

While in disk mode are you able to play the songs off your IPod on your PC? If you can, can you test if you can use Freebox to play the songs.

[Barry Barcrest]

If it shows up as drive (Which in disc mode it will) then you can use freebox with it without a problem.

[eist1]

After doing a little reading on a few websites, it looks like if you copy music onto the IPod while in disk mode, it will not play on the IPod itself. Can someone verify this, that currently is using their IPod in Disk Mode, see if you can play the music on your IPod and also play the music on your PC.

[Thargok]

The iPod has separate visible partitions for music files and general files.  You can never see the music partition without certain tools.  I'm sure there is something on Google that can help you with that issue.  This is effectively how Apple keeps the credibility it needs for it's music store (and how they were the first to effectively open such a store).

[SirPoonga]

After doing a little reading on a few websites, it looks like if you copy music onto the IPod while in disk mode, it will not play on the IPod itself. Can someone verify this, that currently is using their IPod in Disk Mode, see if you can play the music on your IPod and also play the music on your PC.

Yep.  The ipod encodes the mp3 name and has a database of what songs are on it.  You can play the mp3s directly but the filename will be jumbled.

[eist1]

That's what I expected, but I wonder if there is a plug-in or 3rd party software out there that allows you to view the music folder as a external drive (unencode the music files).

[SirPoonga]

The music files aren't encoded.  They are all in the IpodDrive:\iPod_Control\Music\FXX folders
As long as you have all your id3 tags set any player should be able to play them.

[Santoro]

But can the players handle the DRM that is built into those songs without the Itunes client?

[Barry Barcrest]

The only thing i can think of is to remove the DRM from the songs, i believe the IPOD will still play them with the DRM removed however you are probably breaking your licence agrement you signed up to when you brought them as well as breaking several laws. This is why i never use i tunes.

[Santoro]

ah.  I have been meaning to look into that.  Thanks.

[Barry Barcrest]

http://www.musicstacker.com/

That does it for you apparently.

[SirPoonga]

But can the players handle the DRM that is built into those songs without the Itunes client?

Well, for ACC songs, sure.  For mp3s it seems they are just mp3s.  I just tried with my nano and I can play the mp3s straight through wmp.
As long as the jukebox software uses id3 tags instead of filename and it can search subfolders then just point it to your ipod drive letter.

[eist1]

SirPoonga,

Have you tried playing the songs through FreeJukebox? I would think if wmp plays it the jukebox program should as long as it is using ID3 tags, and the album covers should work if they are in the same folder. Please let me know.

[SirPoonga]

Heh, go ahead and try it yourself   I have no inclination to install jukebox software right now   WMP plays it fine so your logic makes sense.

I think the ipod's albumn covers are embedded into the iPod:\iPod_Control\Artwork\ folder.