External Music Storage Mac OS

[Jason]

Hi All,
Reaching out the community for help regarding my music storage. I have a very simple music storage with all music files stored on external HDD. I recently notice that the file have not been displaying the track images like I’m used to. I have added meta data and cover art to all my files and have notice that these are disappearing on me.

I’m new to macOS, so it’s okay to speak to me like a 5 year old . Late 2014 Mac Mini with MacOS Monterey.

I’m used to seeing my files like this:

Started to notice images disappearing on me:

Or even images showing up inconsistently:

Or all meta data disappearing:

[Suedkiez (Just a fellow user like you)]

I don’t know, but I find this:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251083724

[Robert_F (Rob)]

This may seem like a weird workaround, but music I have on my Mac tends to drop some artwork UNLESS I have done the following:

1. Import the music files into Apple Music on the Mac
2. Select “Get Info” for the entire album (or for those files you want to use the same artwork)
3. On the second tab of the Get Info screen, under Artwork, regardless of whether or not there is artwork represented, I paste in the image for the artwork I want
4. Click “OK”
5. Repeat steps 2-4 one more time, this ensures you have embedded the artwork with each music file

Seems odd I know. I use only AAC and ALAC for my files, so Apple Music works for me (AIFF should work also if you use that format). I had a friend needing to import 500 GB of music into his PC and he needed to do the same process in the PC version of iTunes to retain the artwork. There are other music metafile programs you can use on the Mac, but this has been reliable and free, as well as a pain.

[Jason]

@Suedkiez
@Robert_F

Hi All. Thanks for your suggestions.

I feel a bit defeated knowing I have to revisit the bulk of these files after having ripped them from CDs more than 15 years ago. I’m staring at 2TB worth of music files!

I’ll step away and figure this out another day, or pull out what hair I have left on my head

[SandsOfArrakis (The Spice Must Flow)]

I’ve done my tagging with JRiver Media Center. When you do the tagging with that, JRiver will embed the cover art into the files. So no more worries about missing artwork.

I’ve bought JRiver. But I believe you can use a fully functional trial version for 30 days.

Albums that are missing cover art show up with a music note instead of cover art. Right click on an album and select tag. That will open up the tagging menu on the left.

I’m using JRiver basically only now to act as Media Center for my movies and series. It’s really good at that.

[Suedkiez (Just a fellow user like you)]

@SandsOfArrakis

JRiver will embed the cover art into the files. So no more worries about missing artwork.

But apparently the artwork is in the files, just the Mac Finder preview is not showing it. (And in some cases it might have been lost in one of the screenshots)