I have spent some time getting my ipod playlists to do what I want. Here is my current configuration and I suppose, until Apple add some more features, it will stay that way. I have a 3G iPod. This method was first covered in much less detail at my page on Totally Gourdgeous & Penelope Swales.
The intent of this play list is to make the ipod play the tunes I like more, more often.
To start I use all 6 options for my rating - no stars through to 5 stars.
No Stars is used for new items which I have loaded in from my CD collection or from a podcast.
1 star is used for music which is not to be stored on the ipod.
2 stars is used for radio shows which are only to play once.
3 to 5 stars are used for all the music. Music starts off at 3 stars and then if I like the song while listening to it on the ipod I increase the rating. Sometimes I grow weary of songs and decrease the rating.
To do this you need lots of play lists.
First there are 4 smart playlists. I call mine 2 capped, though to 5 capped. They have the following settings:
When the songs are playing I will move them up and down in star rating while they are playing. The only thing to consider here is not to use zero and 2 start ratings as they have special meanings. So the songs can slide up or down the scale 1-3-4-5 stars.
There are some drawbacks and side effects of this arrangement.
The intent of this play list is to make the ipod play the tunes I like more, more often.
To start I use all 6 options for my rating - no stars through to 5 stars.
No Stars is used for new items which I have loaded in from my CD collection or from a podcast.
1 star is used for music which is not to be stored on the ipod.
2 stars is used for radio shows which are only to play once.
3 to 5 stars are used for all the music. Music starts off at 3 stars and then if I like the song while listening to it on the ipod I increase the rating. Sometimes I grow weary of songs and decrease the rating.
To do this you need lots of play lists.
First there are 4 smart playlists. I call mine 2 capped, though to 5 capped. They have the following settings:
- my rating is set to the number of stars equal to the play list number.
- play count is less than a number. For 2 capped this number is 1. For the others the number varies over time. I will include a table later of the numeric progression I use.
- The play list is set up to play the lease often played first, though this has no outcome on the final lists below.
- Live updating is on.
- Match is set to all.
- playlist (1) is 3 capped
- playlist (2) is 4 capped
- playlist (3) is 5 capped
- Limit to 99,999 songs so you can set the playlist to random.
- Live updating is on.
- Match is set to any.
When the songs are playing I will move them up and down in star rating while they are playing. The only thing to consider here is not to use zero and 2 start ratings as they have special meanings. So the songs can slide up or down the scale 1-3-4-5 stars.
There are some drawbacks and side effects of this arrangement.
- It relies on the play lists constantly restarting. This is normally true as I regularly update the podcasts.
- New songs play more often than old ones.
| 2 capped | 3 capped | 4 capped | 5 capped |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| 1 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
| 1 | 3 | 6 | 14 |
| 1 | 3 | 7 | 14 |
| 1 | 3 | 7 | 15 |
| 1 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
| 1 | 3 | 8 | 16 |
| 1 | 4 | 8 | 16 |
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