Indexing iTunes libraries with playlists

Using smart playlists to organize music by properties helps me find music I want to listen to in my iTunes library.

Simple titles work well when the playlists are in a single folder ("Indexes" works). My iPod carries "Underrated" – transit time is rating time. I have made steady progress towards rating every song.

Complex indexes can be built out of simple components. Playlists such as "Top Rated" and "Checked" encapsulate a set of logic selections as a single "smart playlist". The logic "playlist" is then used in other "smart playlists". Some simple-seeming playlists can only be defined with complex indexes.

Many of these playlists depend on song ratings. Consciously-selected metadata helps improve the "success rate" of the playlists. To rate songs, I use Synergy to bind F1 through F5 to the rating stars in iTunes. Others might bind F6/F7 to increase/decrease by a half-star.

Most of the playlists are at their best in Smart Shuffle with no more than 5 upcoming songs listed. This reduces the delay between when a rating is changed and when the new rating takes effect in Smart shuffle. All rating-logic playlists refresh immediately when a rating is changed.

These playlists simplify using and maintaining an iTunes library. Finding something to listen to takes less energy with these indexes. Genre alone has limited usefulness. I have many more of these. Feedback is welcome. I don't use half stars.

 

 

"5 underplayed" lists 5 star songs that haven't been heard recently, providing an instant "mix" of great music.

• Match the following rule:
  • My Rating is | * * * * * |.
• Limit to 100 songs selected by least recently played.
• Live updating.

"Checked" lists all songs that are active in the library.

• Limit to 10000 GB songs by name.
• Live updating.

"Top Rated" lists active songs that have at least 4 stars.

• Match any of the following rules:
  • My rating is in the range | * * * * .  to | * * * * * |.
• Live updating.

"Unchecked" lists all songs that are not active, using the "Checked" playlist.

• Match the following rule:
  • Playlist is not "Checked"
• Live updating.

"Underrated" lists all songs played with no rating stars set.

• Match the following rule:
  • My Rating is | . . . . . |.
• Live updating.

"Unplayed" lists good songs that haven't been played recently, using the "Top Rated" playlist.

• Match the following rule:
  • Playlist is "Top Rated".
• Limit to 100 songs selected by least recently played.
• Live updating.