How to categorize music in Ipod Classic 120 GB using playlists?

You may have read my previous article in which I demonstrated the method of successfully updating or restoring your Ipod Classic in a step by step process(size doesn’t matter, whether it is 40GB or 120GB, the method is same). If not then feel free to read it here (link to my previous article).

In this article I will tell you an easy way of organizing your music or videos in way that is easier to manage than throwing lots of stuff in your Ipod irregularly. Obviously many of you know it already. But I think that, everyone is not the same hence this article is dedicated to make their work easier.

Things you need:

1. ITunes Software – A must have software for your Ipod. It is usually shipped in the CD with your Ipod but please prefer the latest version because it increases the fluidity of process for your device. Install it on your system and you’ll get necessary drivers for your Ipod automatically.
2. IPod’s USB connecting cable – You may want to keep this handy because Ipod Classic is not 3G or Wi-Fi enabled unlike Ipod Touch. This data cable is also shipped with the box but in case you have lost it then please consider buying it again or save a bit of money by borrowing it from someone. ITunes will automatically detect your Ipod when you connect it to your system.
3. A computer, whether laptop or desktop, with operating system Windows XP or better or Mac OS (current version).

With all things assembled and done, you may proceed for the following steps:

1. Connect your Ipod with the usb cable. ITunes will launch automatically when it detects the device.
2. If it doesn’t for some reason (like you unchecked the box in Edit>Preferences to not let it launch automatically when a new device is connected) then you’ve to open it manually from Start>All Programs (Vista).
3. Look in the leftmost pane. Your device (Ipod Classic) is listed beneath ‘Store’ with several options like Music, Movies, On the go (IPod’s default playlist where you can add songs directly from IPod’s screen), etc.
4. Click on any of the above stated option so that ITunes can know that you want to work under your IPod’s options. Now click on ‘+’ sign deep below. If you station your mouse over it for some time, a tool tip will let you know that this option ‘adds a playlist’ to your device.
5. Click on it and now you’ll see a new playlist under Ipod Classic’s options waiting for you to enter a name for your playlist. Name it anything, like Love Songs, Rocking Pop, Michael Jackson’s Evergreen, etc.
6. Adding Songs :
   1. i.            If you want to add old songs (which are already in your Ipod) to your playlist so that you don’t have to search that song in the mess of thousands of other songs then all you have to do is click on ‘Music’ option (where each and every song of your collection is added when you transfer the song from your computer to Ipod with the help of ITunes) and just search your favorite song which you want to add.
   2. ii.            If you want to add new songs which aren’t in your iPod then you will have to search that song in main ‘Music’ option/folder of your ITunes beneath Library.
   3. iii.            If your song is not even in ITunes yet then you’ll have to add it to library before you can add to your Ipod. Click on ‘File’ and then ‘Add File to Library’ or ‘Add Folder to Library’ whichever suits you. Now your song has been added to ITunes.
7. Best way to search a song is obviously by typing its name in the search bar stationed at the top of ITunes for a handy use.
8. Now just drag it to your newly created playlist. Remember, dragging the file to your playlist doesn’t actually copy the whole song. All it does is create another address for the file which you can access by going inside your playlist.
9. It means that if you delete the song from ‘Music’ option then it will be deleted from your Ipod as well. But if you want to delete the song from your playlist only, say Rocking Pop then it will stay in ‘Music’ option in case you need it later on in another playlist.
10. You can follow the same procedure while managing your movies from the clutter of Music videos because ITunes consider all MP4 files as movies whether they run for just 5min (for a video song) or 2 hrs (for a movie).
11. Just create another playlist with that ‘+’ sign and name it as Movies. Now click on default ‘Movies’ option under ‘Library’ of your ITunes where it stores all MP4 files and drag the particular movie file to your new playlist.
12. In just a matter of seconds your whole Ipod will be neatly organized and you’ll have more fun in watching or listening than searching your stuff around.

Navigating your Ipod for playlists:

1. I really didn’t need to tell you this. But I guess this will act as filler for this article.
2. All you have to do is navigate your wheel for ‘Music’ in the main screen and press ‘center’ to enter. Now just navigate to ‘Playlists’ with the wheel and enter.
3. There you have it. Your playlists are listed there and ready to use. The procedure is same for Video Playlists also.

Thanks for sharing your precious time. Feel free to comment and if you have any suggestion for me then I’ll be grateful to have it.