Backing Up iTunes Library

I just finishing backing up my Itunes music library to a DVD-R disc. It was really easy using Itunes to do it. I experimented by trying to play it in my Blu-ray Player. It didn't play any music because it was a data disc. I didn't really think I'd hear any music, I just like to experiment. Anyway, I've got a couple of questions. Was the disc supposed to become a data disc? Is there any way I can get the music to play (besides putting the disc back in my computer)?

dennis495 said:

I just finishing backing up my Itunes music library to a DVD-R disc. Was the disc supposed to become a data disc? Is there any way I can get the music to play (besides putting the disc back in my computer)?

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You say you backed up the Library of iTunes - yes? Therefore it is data.

If you meant to backup the iTunes music, then you needed to burn the disks as Audio, from the iTunes music folder (not the Library), a process which would convert the .mp3 of iTunes into audio format (eg. aiff) for playing on a regular audio system (home theatre, CD player etc).

Be prepared for a surprise when you find out how recording iTunes .mp3 files to a dvd or cd 'expands' the files. That's because .mp3 is a highly compressed format, which will not play on a regular audio system.

I backed up the music onto a DVD-R. Was this wrong?

Well, you've made a backup! So in that sense, not wrong. It would work on a computer, and if things were to go horribly wrong you've got a copy of everything so you could put it all back in the computer.

The difference is that as Hughvane said mp3s are data files, and very compressed. Normal music CDs are in other file formats (and not DVDs), which is why you can't get so many tracks on. If you want to make a CD to play in your average CD player you can do that with iTunes too.

You can get CD players now that play mp3 CD-Rs, but I've not seen any yet that will play a DVD with mp3s on it.

There's really nothing wrong with doing that, if you wanted to backup your music files onto separate media should your computer die on you. I've done the same thing with mine. Mostly because I was running low on hard drive space. Then I bought an external HD and they are on there as well.

But if you intended to carry around your collection to play on a variety of audio players, like an ipod only on dvd's, then I believe they might not work that way. However, if you were to burn them onto a CD as a data disc, you should be able to play them in your car stereo if it has mp3 capability. I do not own a car stereo with that feature, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Perhaps that's something you can try: burn a portion of your music onto a CD (not a DVD) as a data disc, not Audio. You can only fit around a hundred or so, I think. Then try that on your Blu-Ray player or other device.

My car stereo will happily play an mp3 CD

My DVD player will play an mp3 CD, just not an mp3 DVD.

Mp3's are very compresed. I get that. So, if I were to put the music back into my Mac, would it take up more space than it did originally? That's if I lost all my iTunes music.

I wouldn't have thought so, no. It should still be mp3s (though don't hold me to that, I'm not sure about iTunes backing up cos I've never done it).

dennis495 said:

Mp3's are very compresed. I get that. So, if I were to put the music back into my Mac, would it take up more space than it did originally? That's if I lost all my iTunes music.

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Nope. There is no loss or gain of file size when copying to disc or disc to computer. You just simply have a backup of your music files on a DVD, so if you accidentally delete one or more songs (you would have to empty trash in order to completely delete the file), you insert your DVD, locate the music files and copy them to your music folder.

I just put some of the music on a CD as a data disc. It wouldn't play in my Blu-Ray player. Just so you know. Thanks to everyone!