I have a number of MP3 files that I want to be able to manage on my Mac, create playlists and such, and sync both files & playlists to my other Mac + iOS devices.
To do this with iTunes, by my understanding, I either have to subscribe to Apple Music or iTunes Match. Which seems ridiculous for what is (IMHO) already a compromise as far as UI, features, etc.
I know VLC can play audio, but I’m not sure how sync would work without a bunch of manual hassle. Eliminating the manual hassle is the whole game here.
I already have a Plex server I could use, but I’m not always on my local network when I need the files. That means I’d need Plex Pass to download them. That’s an option, I guess…I just don’t need the Plex Pass features for anything else.
I looked for a 3rd party music player a few years ago. I have a lifetime Plex pass but quit using Plex when they added their streaming feature, which I didn’t want and couldn’t remove.
I looked at the Vox players but decided to use YouTube Music because I was already paying for YT Premium for ad-free videos.
You can stream them without downloading them or being on the same network, using one of Plex’s own apps. Plexamp will stream the music from your Plex server to your phone - not much help when not connected to the web, but perhaps a step closer to what you want?
I went on this journey because Apple Music had become such a pain to deal with. The only app I could find that synced playlists between Mac and iPhone without being based on an existing Apple Music library was Doppler. It hasn’t been updated in a while though so can’t outright recommend it.
I’ve never subscribed to Apple Music. I have it turned off on the sidebar. I will buy music from the iTunes Store or Band Camp to get new music.
I usually just connect my iPhone and iPad to my Mac mini to sync music. So I haven’t had any issues using the built-in Music app to sync all my music from my computer.
I worried about iTunes Match screwing up my music library I had collected from my old days of buying music CDs.
I do the same thing.
Then I use Spotify on iOS to play these songs (as I’m already a Spotify customer and would like one interface for everything music). It has a Local Files folder/playlist which I have to give access to media in Music.
No, just “open” your .mp3 files in the Apple Music app on your Mac. (Check “Copy files to Music Media when adding to library” in the Music app settings.)The songs will be in your library and can be played and included in playlists with absolutely no subscription required.
Don’t know. Being old fashioned, I still plug my iPhone into my Mac to back it up and to transfer data from my Mac to the iPhone. (For me, the iPhone is still just a satellite device, subservient to my Mac.) My iPhone gets any playlists that I checkmark when syncing the Mac. Purchased music from Apple is available for download to both devices without any help from me.
Not that you sound like you’re going down that route, but avoid iTunes Match to sync music you have in your library. Despite the claims I could never get it to recognize music that wasn’t already in Apple Music. Which defeats the whole purpose.
I was able, a few years back, to create playlists on my Mac and move the playlist and files over to my iPhone when connecting the phone to my computer. It was playlist by playlist, and a it was a bit wonky, but it worked overall.
I also tried Vox, and it worked ok, but not great. There were some files it simply wouldn’t recognize to play. It would upload them, but not play them. I’m guessing it has to do with some DRM on older files I may still have from years back, but could never confirm.