New to Uploading Music to iPod nano? Here’s How
Using an iPod is easy once you know how. Follow the tips in this article and you’ll be uploading music (games, videos, audiobooks, podcasts) like an expert.
1) Load the music files onto your computer
Most of us start out with our iPods by loading up the CDs we’ve collected over the years, so let’s start there. Copy the files from your CDs onto your computer’s hard disk so it’ll be available to your iPod manager. Note: If you use iTunes and have “Copy files to iTunes music folder” selected, you can skip copying the files to the PC — just having the CD in your computer’s CD drive will be enough.
2) Bring the music files into your iPod manager software
What’s an iPod manager? For most of us it’s the iTunes software Apple provides you for free. If you don’t have it on your computer already to go the Apple website and download iTunes. It’s a good starting point for new users, and it’s free!
Don’t worry, using iTunes to manage your iPod doesn’t keep you from buying music at other stores. I buy music downloads from Amazon and eMusic, in addition to iTunes.
Quick tip: If you want iTunes to put a copy of the file in the main iTunes library directory, choose Edit, Preferences, Advanced from the menu and click the “Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library.” I like to do this to make it easy to find my music files. I know that music files anywhere else on my hard drive aren’t part of the iTunes library and can safely be deleted.
Okay, you’re ready to import the music to iTunes. There’s several ways to import, but the most common is to click (from the top menu) File, Add Folder to Library, and find and select the directory that contains your music. Click the “OK” button to add the music to the library’s music list. You can also use the Control + O keys and select single files to add.
3) Connect your iPod nano
You probably already did this, but just in case: connect your iPod nano to your computer with the the USB cable that came with your nano. You’ll know the connection’s successful when the left-hand menu in iTunes shows your iPod.
Now, decide if you want to let iTunes handle synchronizing with your iPod or if you want to handle things manually. I like the “manually manage” approach — it lets me decide which files to move to my nano. It also lets me synch up different computers to just one iPod.
4) Now to upload music to that iPod nano
If you decide to let iTunes manage the uploads, click your iPod’s icon and select “Sync” in the lower right corner.
If you want to manage uploading manually, click your iPod’s icon, select the “Manually manage music and videos” checkbox on the iTunes screen. (Don’t worry, this is a one-time setup step — you won’t have to do it again.) Now all you have to do is select the music (or play lists) you want from your iTunes library and drag it onto the iPod icon.
5) Last step: Eject your iPod before disconnecting
Eject from iTunes by clicking the button at bottom right of the screen. THEN disconnect from your computer.
6) Find more cool stuff!
Now that you have the hang of it, it’s time to go find more music, podcasts, games and videos for your iPod nano. I get my podcasts via iTunes, which has a terrific list. Music, games and videos, on the other hand, can be found in a lot of other stores for very reasonable prices. See my web site for suggestions.
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