iTunes artwork not modifiable....

[jky999]

Ok, I just got a Drobo FS and moved my collection over to it but I screwed-up the library. I somehow duplicated the entire library and couldn't figure out a way to remove the duplicate so I removed the entire library and then added it again. In the process I lost most of my artwork which I'm now replacing. Some of the iTunes artwork is incorrect but iTunes won't let me upload the correct version. It keeps saying the artwork is not modifiable. I've googled this and I've seen all sorts of weird solutions. The one I've seen mentioned most is converting it to an MP3 file. The problem is my stuff is all in AIFF format.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated?

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi jky999 - This is an interesting one. How are you attempting to change the artwork? I just want to know what process you are using. There are many ways to do this :~)

 

Can you attach a screenshot of the error message? Hold down Command + Shift + 3 on the keyboard and it will take a screenshot and place it on the desktop. You can attach it to the post here.

 

[jky999]

Hi Chris,

 

I've got a Billy Bragg album which I burned in AIFF format from a disc. With my old library I had the proper artwork, but when I used iTunes "Get Album Artwork" command it got the wrong cover. So, I've tried the following

 

Attempt #1: Select all the songs in the album, file>get info, attempt to drag the proper artwork from Amazon to the artwork, the empty block doesn't accept the new artwork.

Attempt #2: Select all the songs in the album, right click and then "clear downloaded artwork". The incorrect artwork disappears but I'm not able to drag the Amazon artwork into the artwork box. I get the message in the "Now Playing" box that "Artwork Not Modifiable".

 

For any artwork that's just missing, I'm able to simply go to Amazon, get the proper artwork and drag it into the artwork box for the selected songs, so I don't think it's a permission issue with my Drobo FS or any of the read/write authorizations.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Joe

 

 

 

[blueixus]

I have a similar issue - I am a bit obsessive about artwork so I have every sympathy.

 

I have one suggestion - try using the track info option. There is an artwork tab, that allows use to change artwork on a track by track basis. It will ask for the route to the artwork you want to use and then it may replace the errant jpeg!

 

Itunes is odd with artwork. Usually with AIFF it incorporates the artwork inside the AIFF file which is the optimal config as if you move a file the artwork always travels with it.

 

This will work on a track by track basis or for a group of tracks.

 

[Richard Dale]

 

"..With my old library I had the proper artwork, but when I used iTunes "Get Album Artwork" command it got the wrong cover.."

 

 

 

I wish iTunes would show possible multiple matches for missing artwork. I also wish it would attempt to do some kind of fuzzy matching on the Album name/Artist, and then show you the possible matches. It seems to need an exact match, and may even be case sensitive too. So I end up trying things like removing any 'CD 1' strings or changing something like 'of the' to 'Of The' and so on. Because I don't know what it is trying to do, it is difficult to fine tune the names.

 

 

[jky999]

Thanks for everyone's help. I'm still not sure what's wrong with this specific album, but for albums where I couldn't do the artcover update, I found a workaround. I took the AIFF files and reconverted them to AIFF files. I deleted the old version of the AIFF and then was able to drag the correct artwork to the new files.

 

No idea why, but it worked.

 

[wgscott]

I saw Billy Bragg perform in Berkeley in the late 1980s. Someone in the audience at one point shouted out that he was a "millionaire socialist" (that's how Berkeley was), and he stopped the whole performance and gave the guy a dressing down that was truly awe-inspiring.

 

I'd love to get ahold of THAT performance. (It also started with a very enjoyable performance of The Bobs).

 

[Shadorne]

It probably has something to do with your permissions - for some reason you did not have or lost the permission to update the original AIFF file. Perhaps the original file belonged to another user or was created by another user.