Classic iPod software for Mac

Lumen iPod Classic manager without iTunes.

Drag music onto iPod Video and Classic. Direct iTunesDB sync, FLAC to AAC, artwork, and playlists — on your Mac.

Get the Mac trial See features

macOS 12+ · Apple silicon & Intel · Direct download · 14-day trial

Supported hardware

Built for iPod Video and Classic

Lumen detects the model you plug in and shows it on screen. Full write support where the database format allows.

iPod Video
Full sync
iPod classic
Signed sync
iPod nano 1–2
Full sync
nano 5+
Read-only
iPod shuffle
Coming soon

What Lumen does

Modern iPod music management

Import tracks, edit tags, build playlists, and sync a real iTunesDB — without opening iTunes.

Drag and drop from Finder

Drop songs in. Lumen reads tags and artwork, then stages them for sync. No iTunes import wizard.

Real iPod database writes

Direct iTunesDB access with model detection and signed sync for Classic. What you change is what the iPod sees.

Local-first on your Mac

No account. No analytics. Your library stays on disk. Network is only used for optional app updates.

Built-in player

Preview before you sync

Scrub, set volume, and hear tracks in Lumen while a living iPod screen follows along.

Your music stays on your Mac

Lumen manages your iPod locally: no accounts, no analytics, no cloud library. License checks run offline. The only network traffic is optional update checks. Every sync writes a database backup first.

Pricing

Pay once. Keep it.

One Mac license. No subscription. Free 14-day trial.

$29 one-time

Direct download for macOS. Not on the App Store.

Mac trial coming soon

Set storeUrl in site.config.json or publish a DMG to releases.ipod.rafael.ltd · macOS 12+

FAQ

iPod manager questions

Do I need iTunes to manage my iPod on Mac?

No. Lumen reads and writes the iPod’s iTunesDB directly. Leave iTunes and the Music app closed.

Which iPods does Lumen support?
  • iPod Video  5th & 5.5 genFull sync
  • iPod classic  6th & 7th genSigned sync
  • iPod nano  1st & 2nd genFull sync
  • nano 5th gen+, touch, iPhoneRead-only

Newer models use database signatures Lumen does not write yet, so you can browse safely but not change the library.

Can Lumen put FLAC files on an iPod?

Yes. Formats the iPod cannot play (like FLAC) are converted to AAC on import so they play on the device and in the app.

Is my iPod library safe?

Yes. Nothing is written until you sync, and each sync backs up the previous iTunesDB first so you can revert if needed.

Which Macs are supported?

macOS 12 Monterey and later, Apple silicon and Intel. Lumen is a direct-download Mac app (not Mac App Store) so it can access mounted iPod disks. Release builds are signed and notarized for distribution.

Is Lumen offline and private?

Your music and iPod data stay on your Mac. No accounts or analytics. License verification is offline. Optional update checks are the only network use. Read the full Privacy Policy.

My iPod doesn’t show up on macOS — what now?

Since macOS 15.4.1, Apple often no longer auto-mounts iPod USB disks. The disk may still appear in diskutil list without a /Volumes mount.

  1. Put the iPod in disk mode: hold Menu + Select to reboot, then Play + Select at the Apple logo.
  2. If it still isn’t mounted, mount manually (FAT32 example): sudo mount_msdos /dev/diskNs1 /Volumes/iPod — use diskutil list to find N.
  3. Grant Lumen Full Disk Access in System Settings → Privacy & Security, then reopen the app.

Lumen watches /Volumes and picks up the device as soon as it appears.

How do I activate my license?

After purchase you receive a license key by email. In Lumen open Settings → License, paste the key, and click Activate. Verification is offline. Questions: support@ipod.rafael.ltd.