Essential iTunes Windows Plugins

Updated:  10/17/07 - moved most plugins to "Don't Use Anymore"

This isnt' really a spiritual issue, but I use iTunes on windows XP.   In addition to iTunes, there are some cool things you can use with it:

• iTunes - if you are still using Winamp or Windows Media Player, I strongly suggest you try itunes.  It is way better than WMP, and I think it's easier to use than winamp.  BTW, after you install it, I recommend the following setup items in Edit > Preferences:
  • Podcasts Tab:  Check for new epidisodes (every hour), Keep (last 10)
  • Sharing:  Turn it on for your friends on the network
  • Advanced > General:  Keep iTunes folder organized (this is a good idea)
  • Advanced > Importing:  Import Using (MP3 encoder) ***this is important because the default is AAC - it's a better codec, but mp3's are easier to share across other players.

• iTunes Library Updater - have a bunch of items in your library whose file links/locations are broken?  iTLU can fix them.
• iTunes Art Importer - nice automated and free way to get album art from Amazon.
• Tagscanner - this is not just for iTunes.  If you have a lot of files that are improperly named or tagged, this can help you fix that in batches using rules.  Very handy for messy file name and tag directories.

DON'T USE ANYMORE

• iTunes Agent - allows you to sync itunes with non-ipod players like my Zen
• iTunesKeys - a system-tray utility that allows you to control iTunes with global hotkeys or from the tray's icon menu
• iTunesOnTop - one annoying thing about iTunes is that the miniplayer doesn't stay on top even if you set it to do so in the Preferences.  Download this DLL to the main Program Files\iTunes folder and the next time you open itunes, the miniplayer WILL stay on top.
• MixMeister BPM Analyzer - want the Beats Per Minute tag filled out on your songs?  Download this free app and run it (takes a few seconds per song).  When done, run iTunes Library Updater (above) to see the results in iTunes.
• Other Stuff - there are plenty of plugins for displaying what you are currently listening to on your web site (brandon fuller's looks good), or integrating with AIM, getting album art etc., but I don't care bout those. Try them at your own risk.
• OurTunes - when you are sharing music across a network (you set that in Edit > Preferences > Sharing), you can not copy the music to your local computer, only listen to it. However, with OurTunes, you can actually get the music.  You may still have to do a File > Add Folder to Library to get iTunes to see the music (p.s. I am not advocating stealing music ;)

Comments

[psykotedy]

I use MP3Gain to normalize the volume on all of my MP3 files. This is very nice when you're playing MP3 files from different albums as most rippers (or at least the ones I've used) tend to try to get the volume the same for all of the songs on an album, but don't really have a setting for it. It is wonderful to be able to play a number of MP3 files from completely different ripping sessions without having to adjust the volume control on my speakers.

MP3Gain is great but I have found it too be too slow. To my surprise foobar2000 ( as of v. 0.9.4 ) is in folds faster than MP3Gain and also does a great job. Also iTunes 7.0.1.8 ReplayGain seems to work ( although people claim that iTunes does not support it ).

[tim]

I am a musician and like to transcribe solos, A-B looping within a song would be so awesome! Is there a plugin out there? I've looked and not had much success.

[seeker]

Well, there's the plugin you can get for QuickKeys, but that costs $80.
http://www.cesoft.com/products/qkw/itunes.html

There may be others, but you'd have to google for them.

[Dan]

I've just started using iTunes on my PC having always used Winamp. It's extremely good, but one thing I really miss about winamp is the little pop-up window that would appear from the system tray at the beginning of every track, giving the track listing, then fade out after a few seconds. With iTunes, if I don't recognise the track, I have to stop what I'm doing and maximise to see. I've found one plugin~

http://itunes.pluginsworld.com/plugin.php?directory=apple&software=itunes&plugin=852&plug=itunestoaster

~ which supposedly does just what I want. It's very simple to install too - the files just need to be copied into the iTunes plugin folder in Program Files. The only problem is my version of iTunes does not have a plugin folder. Not even a small one. Does anyone have any bright ideas?

[One-Ten]

Dan: you may need to create an iTunes Plug-ins folder if it doesn't exist (note that user specific plug-ins should be in C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins). iTunes is extremely good, isnt' it?

[Dan]

If only life were that simple... iTunes gets quite upset if you just go creating folders and sticking dll's in them. Encounters problems and has to close - sulks, in other words. That plugin was written back in the mists of time for iTunes 5.0 - it just doesn't cut it in the modern world. I guess I'll just learn to cope....

[One-Ten]

Sorry, gave you the wrong link before, should've been this. It definitely says to create a new folder. Have you tried installing other plugins? Do they cause iTunes to encounter problems?

If it's because the plugin's out of date, maybe NotifyTunes would fulfill your desires?

[Dan]

Ah... Notifytunes..... Phwoar!!! Eh? Eh? Phwoar!!!!!!

[Heidi]

"(p.s. I am not advocating stealing music ;)"

It's not stealing, since they still have a copy of it.

It's merely disobeying copyright laws, which is a tort, meaning you can only go to small claims court over it. The MPAA/RIAA just wants people to believe that it's stealing, so they'll make more money.

The only way you can legitimately steal something, is if someone doesn't have what you have stolen anymore. Such as, stealing a CD from a store. That right there is an example of stealing music. Copying music, isn't stealing. It's copying.

As for Copying music, it's not the copying that hurts the "artists" (and by artists, I mean the RIAA/MPAA, since they're the ones that make the most money off a CD/DVD). It's the copying for yourself and then turning around and copying for your friend (the file sharing).

From what I've heard/What I understand, the RIAA/MPAA tends to stay away from people that don't file share. If you don't file share, it's hard to classify you as a gigantic loss (especially since there are no files in your shared folder). It's easier to classify someone as a threat to the RIAA/MPAA's ability to make money if they're sharing music (though they *usually* (again, from what I've heard/understand) go after the people who share gigabytes upon gigabytes of music).

If you've ever looked closely at the Copyright clause for Education, you'd see the similarities. You're allowed to copy anything for educational purposes so long as it doesn't affect the artist's/author's/whoever's right to make money. Meaning, it's fine to make one copy for yourself, but if you make 3 for your friends (or allow someone else to make a copy off of you), you're infringing on the RIAA/MPAA's right's to make money.

Yes, I know the RIAA/MPAA are basically a monopoly, but life isn't fair. If you don't want to get caught, remove your files from your shared folder as quickly as possible (that's what I do, anyways).

And just to point out: I *do* fileshare. I just don't do it over the Internet ;) I'll give someone a CD or a flash drive full of songs, but I refuse to send files over the Internet, since IPs are easy to obtain/recognize. And while the RIAA/MPAA might not be able to pinpoint my IP to me, they can certainly route my IP to my ISP (Internet Service Provider), who probably *can* route it to me.

< /long ass winded off topic rant about filesharing >

[Everything iTunes]

This list could be a lot longer...

Check out the full "plugins" page at the Windows version of my site: Everything iTunes...