syncItunes2Mtp

Tool to synchronize an iTunes music library (music, playlist, other) with an MTP device and guidelines for day to day scenarios. (In fact, it can synchronize with any available mount point)

Why such another tool ?

1. Handle music and audiobooks (or podcasts,...) separately (easy random on all music)
2. Update playlists when they change (I had an annoying bug in SonyBridge software for instance)
3. Avoid activating 'usb debugging' for syncing an Android device

Target scenario

1. MacOS with iTunes
   1. All music stored in Itunes media folder (iTunes Media/Music)
   2. All other audio files stored somewhere else
2. Android device
   1. Compatible with MortPlay music player (to be installed)
   2. Compatible with VLC or another directory based audio player (for audiobooks)

My config

• MacbookAir 11', macOS high Sierra
• Fairphone 2, Android 6
• USB cable

Related projects (integrated into this solution)

• osxfuse
• simple-mtpfs
• itunesexport
• rsync

Setup

Install required stuff on macOS

MTP connection

1. Install osxfuse (https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/releases/download/osxfuse-3.7.1/osxfuse-3.7.1.dmg)
2. Install simple-mtpfs
   1. If not yet installed, install homebrew : https://brew.sh/
   2. brew install simple-mtpfs

Playlist management

1. Download itunesexport : https://sourceforge.net/projects/itunesexport/files/iTunesExport/2.2.2/iTunesExportScala-2.2.2.zip/download
2. Unzip into /Applications/

Adapt script variables to your needs

Look at script headers and adapt it to your environment

Install required stuff on Android

1. Install MortPlayer
   1. Configure it to look in the music folder (OUTPUT_MUSIC var in script)
   2. Set playlist encoding to UTF-8
2. Install VLC

Run script and ENJOY ;-)

1. Plug your smartphone on USB and activate 'MTP'
2. Start script : ./syncItunes2Mtp.sh
3. Wait for sync
4. Enjoy your audio content from your player !