Smarter Smart Shuffle

August 12, 2006 9:57 AM

I'd like to be able to create a playlist in iTunes 6 (Mac, though it shouldn't matter) that picks randomly from the Library but doesn't repeat artists.

The iTunes preferences include something called Smart Shuffle, which lets you decide how random you want the shuffling to be—truly random, meaning it's entirely possible to play two or three songs in a row by the same artist just by chance; or less random, meaning repeats are less likely. I've concluded that the Smart Shuffle Feature only seems to apply to playback straight from the iTunes Library, not from a Smart Playlist that's set to pick songs at random.

Ideally, I want to be able to create a Smart Playlist that fills up with about 80 minutes of music, each track from a different artist. If it's not possible without scripting something, would someone like to take a stab at an Applescript?

posted by emelenjr to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Best answer: This script does the following: "Copies one song from each Artist in a selected Playlist to a new user-named Playlist. Works on iTunes or iPod Playlists. When complete you have the option play the new Playlist, shuffle and play it, or just quit."
posted by einarorn at 10:28 AM on August 12, 2006

Response by poster: That rocks! I like the Block Party script, too.
posted by emelenjr at 10:36 AM on August 12, 2006

Response by poster: (Note: Block Party works better than the other script. It's much more customizable.)
posted by emelenjr at 11:12 AM on August 12, 2006