# Which program to use to replace iTunes
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361
**Category:** Mac
**Created:** [January 8, 2024, 9:20am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361 "2024-01-08T09:20:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 9:20am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/1 "2024-01-08T09:20:09Z")
> [@Transfer & partial deletion of metadata](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/transfer-partial-deletion-of-metadata/63236/25):
>
> ALBUMARTIST - a field that most players use to keep an album together
Interesting, I always have used sort fields to keep an album/artist together. Maybe I do this just because iTunes provide this options & I have been managing my library for more than 15 years with iTunes.
Now iTunes is dead. Music app is its replacement but is designed for other purposes but not for managing a local library.
All I want to do is to keep the same search features I do on iTunes without using iTunes something I realize now that I should have done since the very first moment.
I was not aware of this
> [@Transfer & partial deletion of metadata](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/transfer-partial-deletion-of-metadata/63236/25):
>
> any player really reads and needs MIXARTIST & PUBLISHER
But my library is for djying. DJ software supports MIXARTIST & PUBLISHER & do not support ALBUMARTIST.
> [@Transfer & partial deletion of metadata](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/transfer-partial-deletion-of-metadata/63236/25):
>
> I do not think that it is a good idea to delete ALBUMARTIST
I am not going to delete ALBUMARTIST data. I will keep it until I am sure the new tagging system works well enought. So for some time I will be tagging tracks in 2 different systems at the same time.
BTW, what media player & media library software do you recommend to use? Or do you recommend to use a software for each function: one for managing the library & another one to play the music? I guess MP3tg in combination with a media player works enough well.
---
### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/2 "2024-01-08T14:56:55Z")
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> Interesting, I always have used sort fields to keep an album/artist together.
The sort fields help iTunes to show specific Albums, Artists, Composers, etc. in the browser display as you wish. A fringe benefit is the ability for iTunes to also use these to potentially separate titles, but this is only within iTunes' library. The ALBUMARTIST field is still essential for almost all other players to separate ALBUMs that have the same name, i. e. Greatest Hits as a very common example.
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> Now iTunes is dead. Music app is its replacement but is designed for other purposes but not for managing a local library.
You can continue to use iTunes as a player if you wish. For the PC it continues to work as it did previously for local music, video, and movie files. I still use it myself, for now, to serve my local media to several AppleTV devices I have throughout the house.
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> But my library is for djying. DJ software supports MIXARTIST & PUBLISHER & do not support ALBUMARTIST.
I think you will find you need to keep these separate. I don't use any DJ software myself, but from the previous threads here I find there is a distinct requirement that you will need for your DJ requirements, while as a personal player there a features more tailored from traditional player programs.
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> BTW, what media player & media library software do you recommend to use? Or do you recommend to use a software for each function: one for managing the library & another one to play the music?
There are several other music player options for PC that are equal to the task or better, look at MusicBee or Foobar as a start to see if they meet your needs. Both can support the additional MIXARTIST & PUBLISHER metadata tags you want to use as well, with some configuration tweaks.
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> I guess MP3tg in combination with a media player works enough well.
I continue to manage all of my metadata tagging and editing with mp3tag, it is far more powerful than any player's editor IMO.
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### Author:  [@Dotcom1970](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Dotcom1970)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/3 "2024-01-12T17:30:09Z")
I use MusicBee, which can sort and group according to the tags. Much more powerful than iTunes.
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### Author:  [@Casual\_Tea](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Casual_Tea)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/4 "2024-01-12T22:40:17Z")
+1 for MusicBee.
Still snappy with my collection, great software. Custom tags, smart filters etc. are all achievable if you want to dive into the configuration. I've seen impressively unique approaches in MusicBee where people tailored the entire UI to their specific style and needs.
And if you're into lyrics, give [this plugin](https://www.getmusicbee.com/addons/plugins/467/lyrics-reloaded-latest/) a shot. I still edit tags with mp3tag tho.
---
### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/5 "2024-01-22T18:11:41Z")
> [@MotleyG](#):
>
> The sort fields help iTunes to show specific Albums, Artists, Composers, etc. in the browser display as you wish. A fringe benefit is the ability for iTunes to also use these to potentially separate titles, but this is only within iTunes' library. The ALBUMARTIST field is still essential for almost all other players to separate ALBUMs that have the same name, i. e. Greatest Hits as a very common example.
I see... i understand, thanks
> [@MotleyG](#):
>
> You can continue to use iTunes as a player if you wish. For the PC it continues to work as it did previously for local music, video, and movie files. I still use it myself, for now, to serve my local media to several AppleTV devices I have throughout the house.
Yeah I know but I do not really use iTunes to Play music but for managing the library, tagging, etc.
> [@MotleyG](#):
>
> I think you will find you need to keep these separate.
I do not need to keep it seperated but to seperate it. They are already in the same field ALBUMARTIST & I would like to split in 2 fields.
> [@MotleyG](#):
>
> There are several other music player options for PC that are equal to the task or better, look at MusicBee or Foobar as a start to see if they meet your needs. Both can support the additional MIXARTIST & PUBLISHER metadata tags you want to use as well, with some configuration tweaks.
Interesting but not a win user. MusicBee looks like it is just win, will test Foobar. Can you confirm it uses all 3 fields? (MIXARTIST, PUBLISHER & ALBUMARTIST)
> [@MotleyG](#):
>
> I continue to manage all of my metadata tagging and editing with mp3tag, it is far more powerful than any player's editor IMO.
Well, I do not like Mp3tag do not open the tracks I threw on it but scan the tracks in a folder. If I have 30k songs in a folder but I just want to edit one of it I have to open all the 30k tracks or I am missing something?
Thanks for your comments.
---
### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/6 "2024-01-22T18:15:41Z")
> [@Casual\_Tea](#):
>
> Still snappy with my collection, great software. Custom tags, smart filters etc. are all achievable if you want to dive into the configuration. I've seen impressively unique approaches in MusicBee where people tailored the entire UI to their specific style and needs.
So you combine MusicBee & Mp3Tag?
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### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/7 "2024-01-22T18:16:14Z")
> [@Dotcom1970](#):
>
> I use MusicBee
I guess you are win user too.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/8 "2024-01-22T18:32:15Z")
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> but I just want to edit one of it I have to open all the 30k tracks or I am missing something?
You drag&drop a single file from either iTunes or the file explorer into MP3tag without the need to load all the other files in the folder or in subordinate folders.
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/9 "2024-01-22T19:05:54Z")
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> Yeah I know but I do not really use iTunes to Play music but for managing the library, tagging, etc.
No point using two different programs to do the same thing. Either use iTunes' limited ability to handle your tagging needs, or use the flexibility of mp3tag. IMO using both will probably cause some library chaos and even more likely severe user headaches.
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> I do not need to keep it seperated but to seperate it. They are already in the same field ALBUMARTIST & I would like to split in 2 fields.
I'll need some additional clarity here, this doesn't make sense the way it has come out here. You can always leave a field with anything you want displ;ayed, including ALBUMARTIST. You can easily manipulate the data from this field and copy some or all parts to other fields manually, or using a FORMAT or ACTION.
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> Interesting but not a win user. MusicBee looks like it is just win, will test Foobar. Can you confirm it uses all 3 fields? (MIXARTIST, PUBLISHER & ALBUMARTIST)
This is the first you have mentioned not using Windows. AFAIK you can still use Foobar on the Mac platform with most if not all of the same functionality. MusicBee is a Windows-only program.
---
### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/10 "2024-04-26T10:54:17Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> You drag&drop a single file from either iTunes or the file explorer into MP3tag without the need to load all the other files in the folder or in subordinate folders.
Yes I see, works, thanks.
When I do that the previous list of tracks analyzed disappear & I just see the new tracks dragged & dropped. The only way I see to get back to the previous views is by closing & reopening the software, is that correct?
So is not possible to add a new song to the default list of tracks that appear when I open mp3tag?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 10:55am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/11 "2024-04-26T10:55:17Z")
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> So is not possible to add a new song to the default list of tracks that appear when I open mp3tag?
Press Ctrl while you drag&drop
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### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 10:58am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/12 "2024-04-26T10:58:54Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> Press Ctrl while you drag&drop
I am a Mac user, this command does not work or it is different.
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 11:01am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/13 "2024-04-26T11:01:19Z")
It is probably the propellor key.
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### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 11:16am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/14 "2024-04-26T11:16:34Z")
> [@MotleyG](#):
>
> No point using two different programs to do the same thing. Either use iTunes' limited ability to handle your tagging needs, or use the flexibility of mp3tag. IMO using both will probably cause some library chaos and even more likely severe user headaches.
mp3tag could be much powerful than iTunes but the problem I see on mp3tag is that is not an easy software. i still do not understand it, i don't feel comfortable with it, or which way to use it, & some functionalities requieres you know a kind of code.
> [@MotleyG](#):
>
> I'll need some additional clarity here, this doesn't make sense the way it has come out here. You can always leave a field with anything you want displayed, including ALBUMARTIST. You can easily manipulate the data from this field and copy some or all parts to other fields manually, or using a FORMAT or ACTION.
Not sure what you need to be clarified. I already suspected mp3tag can read a field & just copy to another field partial data from that field, or even copy this partial data to another field & delete that partial data from the original field. This way I can split the data from one field into 2 fields. But I do not know how to do it, how to configure this action.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 11:19am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/15 "2024-04-26T11:19:28Z")
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> But I do not know how to do it, how to configure this action.
That would be a dedicated topic, so please open a new thread in the Mac section of the forum.
I doubt, though, that anything close to splitting fields with commands was or is available in iTunes.
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### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 11:21am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/16 "2024-04-26T11:21:26Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> It is probably the propellor key.
No, I already have tested several keys.
Ii is probably that this functionality does not exist on mp3tag version 301 for mac os high sierra (old ios version).
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### Author:  [@DjSurda](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DjSurda)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 11:27am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/17 "2024-04-26T11:27:13Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> That would be a dedicated topic, so please open a new thread in the Mac section of the forum.
Yess, at the moment I need to start to do this i will do it.
Thanks!
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> I doubt, though, that anything close to splitting fields with commands was or is available in iTunes.
No, iTunes do not have this kind of actions, the most you can do is to edit multiple fields from multiple songs as long as you want all this fields & songs have the same data.
But somebody created scripts that let you go further [Doug's AppleScripts » dougscripts.com](https://dougscripts.com/itunes/index.php)
& this is the point, I do not need to learn anything to use this scripts, they are so basic to understand & use but on mp3tagg I unfortunately need help.
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 11:30am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/which-program-to-use-to-replace-itunes/63361/18 "2024-04-26T11:30:20Z")
> [@DjSurda](#):
>
> Not sure what you need to be clarified. I already suspected mp3tag can read a field & just copy to another field partial data from that field, or even copy this partial data to another field & delete that partial data from the original field. This way I can split the data from one field into 2 fields. But I do not know how to do it, how to configure this action.
There was already a similar thread you started about this that has provided you with the necessary steps. The same logic applies.
> [@Transfer & partial deletion of metadata](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/transfer-partial-deletion-of-metadata/63236):
>
> Hello Is it possible to partially erase information from a metadata field? I explain my specific case: on "ALBUMARTISTSORT" field I have "James Hype & Kim Petras [vs. Justin Timberlake feat. Clipse]" I would like to move the "ALBUMARTISTSORT" metadata to "CONTENTGROUP" & "MIXARTIST" & also I would like to split the metadata in this way: "CONTENTGROUP" will keep "James Hype & Kim Petras" metadata, so "[vs. Justin Timberlake feat. Clipse]" will be deleted, "MIXARTIST" will keep "[vs. Justin …