SuperSync Version 3.3 Reviewed
SuperSync is a software application that enables you to easily synchronize your music between multiple computers. Not only does SuperSync function as a music library manager but it is also a music server that can be used to access your music from anywhere on the Internet. Find out in this review how SuperSync performs and if it's worth having installed alongside iTunes.
Pros:
- Easily sync all your music between multiple computers
- Access your iTunes library using a LAN or WAN
- Basic SuperSync package comes with 2 licenses
Cons:
- Only works with iTunes
- Can be complex to configure
SuperSync – Getting Started
System Requirements:
- Operating system: Windows (7/Vista/XP/2000/NT/Me/98), MAC OS-X (10.2.8 or higher)
- Minimum Processor: 800 MHz
- Memory: 256 MB RAM
- Hard drive space: 50Mb miniumum
- Network connection: LAN/WAN
Interface: SuperSync's graphical user-interface (GUI) is well laid out and easy to use. The menu tabs at the top of the screen provide a wealth of options and useful tools such as an IP address checker.
User-Manual: The user-manual that can be accessed from the Tools menu provides a good amount of information on most of the softwares' functions; there's also a quick start guide if you prefer to just jump straight in.
Configuring and Syncing Your iTunes Library
Configuring: When SuperSync runs for the first time you can use the built-in wizard to setup your music server - this is an essential step in order to sync multiple iTunes libraries between computers. There are 3 types of remote library you can choose to sync with, which are: networked SuperSync media servers (daap), mass storage devices, or an iPod (read only). Configuring SuperSync to work via a network is relatively simple if you already understand basic networking, but if you're a newbie then you may find it confusing at first. However there's plenty of help via the user manual and the online FAQ on the SuperSync website.
Synchronizing: Once you have set up your server, you can then sync with remote iTunes music libraries. In a home environment you would typically want to connect to other computers using IP addresses. SuperSync provides a useful tool for finding this out rather than having to use 'ipconfig' at the command prompt for instance. This integrated tool can be found in the Tools menu and provides an analysis report and general notes about your network. By using the 'Connect to Server' option in the Remote menu, you can type in the IP address of the computer you want to connect to along with the password that you have set up. During testing we found that SuperSync performed very well by connecting to another computer on our network and remotely reading its iTunes library. We were also able to sync files and playlists between computers without any problems.
Personal Music Browser: SuperSync has a built-in music browser that is displayed in your web browser. This handy feature gives you a browser-embedded player with features such as play/pause, next/previous track, and volume control. You can also view the genres, artists, and albums that you have in your iTunes library; it's also possible to play your playlists too. This browser-based tool also has a search tool for quickly finding a particular genre, artist, album, etc.
Conclusion
Is it Worth Buying?
SuperSync successfully combines the functionality of a music library manager with the flexibility of being able to synchronize multiple iTunes collections. Even though you can synchronize from mass storage devices and transfer music from your iPod, the most impressive feature is SuperSync's ability to operate over LAN and WAN networks; being able to access your iTunes library over the Internet for example gives you the freedom to access your music wherever you are. If you intend on configuring Supersync to connect over a WAN then you could find it confusing unless you already know a little about networking. That said, the user manual is very helpful and there's also a good FAQ on SuperSync's website. If you have multiple sources that you store your iTunes music library on, then SuperSync is well worth the investment to save you time and give you the flexibility in the way you store and listen to your music.
