Frequently Asked Questions
How does Melo work?
Melo keeps track of play counts in the iTunes library on your Mac, and updates your last.fm profile when it detects a change. Songs you listen to in iTunes will appear right away, and Melo will look for device plays three times an hour.
How is it different from any other app for last.fm?
It’s simple. Just open the app and connect it to your last.fm profile. Tiny menu bar icon stays out of your way.
It’s reliable. Melo records every single play, and uses a just a fraction of your Mac’s power.
What will Melo update on my last.fm profile with?
Songs, music videos, podcasts, and audiobooks you listen to. You can disable everything but music in Preferences.
Media must be played in iTunes for at least half the duration (or for four minutes, whichever comes first). Everywhere else: to completion (devices update the play counts when they automatically switch to the next song).
What devices are supported?
Melo records plays from iPods, iOS devices, and Apple TVs (2nd generation) which are connected to the Mac where the app running.
Everything must be “synced” to iOS devices, because when you “manually manage” the music, iTunes won’t transfer the play counts to the library on your Mac.
Make sure that “computers and devices update play counts” is enabled in Sharing Preferences in iTunes.
What if there’s no network connection?
Melo will keep track of every play, and send them over your last.fm profile as soon when you connect to the Internet.
How about iTunes Match?
Unfortunately, iTunes Match is unreliable at play count sync. As soon as Apple fixes the issue, Melo will take those plays into account.
How do I disconnect Melo from my last.fm profile?
Command-option-click the profile button.
How does Melo open at login without an entry among login items?
Melo is sandboxed to keep your Mac safe and secure. Sandboxed apps are not visible in System Preferences.
Errors
Melo couldn’t find iTunes library file
Melo is sandboxed to keep your Mac safe and secure. Sandbox allows Melo to read files only from your Music folder. Melo will look for library at the following paths:
~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.xml
~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music Library.xmlIf are seeing this error, it’s likely because you’ve moved the iTunes Library to another location in your system, and the sandbox is denying Melo access to the file.
Instead, move just the iTunes Media folder (you can do it the Advanced Preferences in iTunes), and keep the library files in ~/Music/iTunes, where Melo will be able to read them.
Melo found multiple iTunes library files
One of the recent versions of iTunes introduced a bug where it sometimes creates two library files:
~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.xml
~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music Library.xmlWhen this happens Melo can’t scrobble iPod plays, because iTunes never updates one of the files. Delete both files to fix the issue. iTunes will automatically re-create the correct lirary file.