importing podcasts into itunes

By Usman, 3 November, 2015

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

Hello Everyone,
Given the recent problems with downcast, I'm looking for another pod catcher solution. I'm looking at iTunes as a possible solution until downcast gets updated. I'm wondering if its possible to import my podcasts that I have in downcast into iTunes?
Thanks

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Comments

By wheelysneakycat on Monday, December 7, 2015 - 16:00

I'm interested in this too and about to do the same thing because Downcast keeps crashing and hogging resources. Never used itunes for podcasts before. I know I can import all the files in and hopefully tell itunes they are podcasts but don't know anything else about listening to podcasts on itunes. Anyone got any info? e.g. is there a quick way to import a load of files and mark them all as podcasts?

By DPinWI on Monday, December 7, 2015 - 16:00

I know you can do this in iTunes. You need to export an OPML file from Downcast, and then open that in iTunes.

I'd like to go slightly off topic and suggest people give iCatcher a try. It's as good as Downcast, and has a great responsive developer too.

By wheelysneakycat on Monday, December 7, 2015 - 16:00

Hi, I imported a load of applevis podcasts I'd kept plus I also subscribed to the applevis podcast. The feed for the applevis podcast only shows the most recent 100 whereas I want to keep a few from before that which is why I imported them. itunes obviously recognises the files I imported as episodes from applevis as it's grouped them under applevis podcast and renamed the files to show the episode numbers, whereas before they didn't have numbers in the file names. But it's a bit disorganised because now I have two applevis podcasts listed, one showing as subscribed which is the active feed of the latest 100, and one showing as unsubscribed with the older stuff I've kept. Is there any way of moving the older episodes and putting them in the same place as the newer ones? They actually are in the same place in finder, but in itunes they show up as two separate podcasts.

Regarding opml file - I think that would get me subscribed to all the feeds, but not import the media I already have, unless I'm missing something?

Regarding icatcher - I used to use this on my ipod and really liked it. But I want something for my Macbook and as far as I know icatcher is only for iOS.

By DPinWI on Monday, December 7, 2015 - 16:00

Oh, you have it correctly, and i missed your point. I am not sure of an easy way to import previously downloaded media. I don't archive that, and hadn't thought of it.

I think you will need to ensure that your old stuff, and the new feed have the same information in the tags. They are likely being separated because one has a different field like Album artist from the other. Have a look and see if you can spot the difference.

By wheelysneakycat on Monday, December 7, 2015 - 16:00

Well I imported all my media into itunes and tidied it up as best I could. But it's a real mess and itunes does some really strange things sometimes e.g. putting a podcast beginning with letter p in between those beginning with c and d, even though the rest are arranged alphabetically, I got someone sighted to look and they can't find any explanation either. As for listening to the podcasts, so far I can't figure out how to make itunes play episode after episode in one podcast without jumping to another podcast and playing an episode from there. The ability to delete downloaded podcasts seems random, sometimes it asks for confirmation, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes just pressing backspace works, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes I have to delete several times before it actually disappears from the list. On the other hand it seems after podcasts have been played they disappear from the list of my downloaded episodes, even though they must be somewhere because they turn up if I do a search for them. But how to actually browse to them I've no idea, it's as if it only displays episodes I haven't listened to but I haven't so far found an option to configure this. So I'm finding it a very frustrating experience and listening to podcasts has become a pain and I really miss downcast. Would be glad to hear any tips for listeningg to podcasts with itunes.