Handheld Sync Options

See also: Sync Handheld

To set up sync for your device, go to:

• Tools > Options > Handheld

And select your device from the drop-down list at the top of the dialog.

General Options

• Auto-sync on connect: This will automatically sync to the device using the selected lists whenever you connect the device to the computer while Media Center is running. This option only appears if you've selected at least one item in the Sync List section to the right.

• Delete from handheld any files not in sync list: By default, Media Center will add new files to your device, but does not remove any files that it already finds there. If you want Media Center to completely manage the device, and remove any files that don't match the Sync Lists selected, then check this option. Warning: if you have any files on your device, the next sync can delete files and they may not be recoverable. This option only appears if you've selected at least one item in the Sync List section to the right.

• Enable album artwork support if possible: If you want MC to try to include album art (embedded in the file and as sidecars) with the files it syncs.

• Resync if Date Modified has changed: Normally Media Center will only add or remove a file if it is added or removed from the Sync Lists. If a file already exists on the handheld, then Media Center won't re-sync it (even if the original source has subsequently changed). If you want to make sure that files get updated as they change, you can check this box. However, because internal tags (like Number of Plays) change frequently, this can increase your sync times with a slow device.

Please Note: This mode will remove all files of the type being synchronized from your device if they are not in the playlist. For example, if you are synchronizing two jpg image files and some mp3s, then all jpg files and mp3s on your device will be deleted if they are not in your playlist/smartlist.

• Statistics (iPod only): Many iPod devices keep track of the play count of a track and allow you to rate tracks as they are played. These "play stats' can be imported into Media Center when the device is synchronized. The play count will be added to "Number Plays" maintained by Media Center and the imported rating will override the existing "Rating" setting. To enable this feature, check “Get play stats from handheld on connect” under Advanced Options.

Conversion

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Media Center can automatically convert music files when synchronizing to switch to a format supported by the device and/or to one that takes up less space. To enable this feature, go to Advanced Options, select Conversion, then choose from the following four options:

• Mode. Convert audio (always, never, or if necessary). Set this to 'always' if you want all your tracks to be the same bitrate. 'If necessary" means that conversion will take place if your device does not support the original file's format.
• To change those formats the device is assumed to support, specify such types by changing the setting at "Files & Paths -> Supported Types" which is set to "*" by default, meaning that all types are supported
• Select number of simultaneous conversions. Two conversions at once is the default
• Select the encoder used to convert your files. For example, if you want to convert to wma, select Windows Media.
• Encoder Settings. The settings will differ, according to the type of encoder selected. See Encoding Settings.

Files, Paths, & More

By default, files are saved in a subdirectory named after the type of files being transferred; for example Music, Images, Playlists, Data, etc. These subdirectories are created automatically.

To change the expand the Files, Paths, & More section of the Handheld Options panel, and you can modify the paths to be used here. The settings you enter here can contain Library field references much like the Rename, Move, and Copy Files tool.

You can also choose to include Playlists of a particular format, and choose options for how to save artwork and thumbnails to the device.

Device Management

From here you can:

• Add a device
• Rename an existing device
• Remove & ignore an existing device
• Redetect all devices: This resets MC's Handheld Support system to the defaults.

You can add another device or re-detect a device by selecting one of the options in this menu. Add device is used to add 'virtual devices'. A virtual device is simply a drive/path you want to set up to emulate a portable device so you can keep it synchronized with you media library. Re-detect will delete all information about known devices including which devices you want Media Center to ignore and virtual devices, and re-detect any connected devices. If Media Center doesn't seem to want to detect a particular device, re-detecting devices will eliminate the possibility that the device was inadvertently set to not be recognized by Media Center. If it still doesn't show up check with the manufacturers or Media Center Interact forums for assistance..