Those that use a different software to manage their music are left with the option to add the music to iTunes as well to synchronize it with the iPod or to use a third party syncing software like Froddle Pod or Yamipod.

A major problem for iPod owners who use a different software program to manage their music and iTunes to sync it to the iPod is that they have to add the music to two programs instead of just one.

They naturally add the music to their primary music management software but also to iTunes since they need to use it to sync the music to the device.

sync itunes

The portable software SynciTunes has been developed for this exact situation. It allows the iPod owner to select a music folder for synchronization with iTunes.

Options like including subfolders or preventing volume changes in iTunes are selectable in the program interface to customize the synchronization.

SynciTunes will automatically remove songs from the iTunes library that do not exist anymore. It will also update iTunes tags automatically if songs have been updated outside of iTunes.

Do you own an iPod? What’s your preferred way of adding songs to the device?

Today’s giveaway is another popular software program. MediaMonkey Gold is an all in one music management solution. The MediaMonkey team provide a free version of their software with limited (but still extensive) features.

At its core is the ability to list all audio files of a computer system. The first step after the installation is the scan of parts – or all – of the computer’s storage devices. Music that is discovered that way will be automatically archived in various categories according to their tags. All files without tags will be moved into unknown folders.

Music is sorted by various parameters in the library including location, title, artist, genre or rating. Parameters can be removed or added to the library with a right-click on the item and the selection of Options > Choose Tree Nodes. The very same menu contains options to add or remove sortable columns which are used to display the music in the main panel.

The program layout makes it pretty easy to find specific music of the collection. The libraries and the main panel can be used to sort the music quickly. The search on the other hand is pretty fast as well which makes it the best option to find that one track that you are looking for.

Probably one of the first things that a new user will be doing is to make sure that his music collection is tagged properly. MediaMonkey comes with extensive means of tagging and cleaning a music collection. Options include automatically tagging from the web, tagging from information that the filename provides, synchronizing tags and cleaning them.

Music can also be tagged manually in the extensive tag editor. MediaMonkey comes with an auto-organizer that can rename the music collection with the help of selected tags.

Other features include:

• Easy Playlist creation with the ability to create automatic mixes
• Record, convert and burn music
• Build in Podcast Catcher
• Party mode
• Sync with iPhones, iPods, and most any MP3 phone or Audio Device
• Visualizations
• Statistics

MediaMonkey Gold adds several interesting new features to those of the free version. It provides the possibility to create multiple music collections which comes in handy if multiple users share a computer or if you want to keep music separated from each other.

Other features include a file monitor which will automatically monitor locations on the hard drive for new music. advanced auto playlists (create 256 Megabytes of music that match the following criteria), auto-conversion and leveling, cataloging physical music CDs, a sleep timer and more.

MediaMonkey can be extended with addons in various categories like visualization, DSP or devices much like Winamp or other music players.

Five free copies of MediaMonkey Gold have been donated and are up for grabs. If you want to win them write a comment. It would be nice if you would tell us what tool – or set of tools – you are currently using to manage your music collection.