Step 6: Manage and Synchronize your Files with Music Software

If you have an MP3 player with several Gigabytes of storage or more and you are changing the music on your player at least every now and then, it is worth your time to use music software to help you manage your music files. There are two major benefits, among others, which make this worthwhile: (1) The software will automatically keep your files on your computer up-to-date with what is on your MP3 player and (2) it allows you to create playlists which you usually cannot do on the player itself. 

Synchronizing your Files

Every software updates music on MP3 players differently. However, most all programs have a music library where all of your music can be stored and played from within the software. In order to synchonize and transfer music to your player, you must populate the music library with music files. The easiest way to do this is to import music from the MP3 files that you created on your computer above, an option usually located on the File main menu of your software.

iTunes synchronizes using playlists. You must create one or more playlists in iTunes, then select the playlists that you want to synchronize with your player in the user preferences (see below for more information on playlists).

MusicMatch uses a Device Manager to synchronize files. It tries to synchronize your entire music library with your MP3 player. So, make sure that you populate your library with the music that you want on your player before synchronizing.

Other programs will synchronize in their own way. Read their help files in order to determine the appropriate methods for synchronization. 

Creating and Managing Playlists

Playlists are a great way to manage songs that you want to hear at certain times. For example, you can create a workout playlist that contains music that you enjoy listening to when you workout. 

To create a playlist, you can usually go to the File menu and select New Playlist. Give your playlist a name and then start dragging your files from your music library to the new playlist. It is as simple as that. Make sure that you include the playlist when your synchronize your MP3 player to ensure that it gets copied on your player. 

Disconnect your Player

It is important to note that you should not just remove your device from your computer without disconnecting it from the software that is updating it. It could theoretically ruin your MP3 player if you do so. To correctly disconnect the player, follow the instructions in your manual if you are using software to transfer files. If you are performing the transfer by hand, you can eject the drive in Microsoft Windows operating systems by clicking on the little gray box with a green arrow on it in the system tray in the lower right hand corner of your screen. Select the drive that you want to disconnect and click it. The drive will be disconnected. On a Mac, hit the eject button in the Finder window next to the appropriate drive. 

To use software, or not to use software

As mentioned above, most MP3 players work with music software, which is usually the easiest and best way to manage your MP3 files with your player. However, depending upon the brand of MP3 player and software used as well as your technical ability, it might actually be more confusing to use software. In any event, it is recommended that you try both approaches and then determine what is the best way for you to manage your files.

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