We get asked this question a bunch of times: How do I transfer music from my iPod back to my computer? Well, with each new revision of iTunes, the answer is pretty different depending on the method. Today, we’ll take a look at a solution that strives to deliver the same perfect results every time.

CopyTrans 4 is $19.99 Windows application that can help you to restore your iTunes library from any iOS device. We’ll be giving away 25 free copies of CopyTrans 4 this week so find out how you can win one.

If you don’t have a proper backup solution, you’re susceptible to data loss — and one of the most common complaints we hear about is the total loss of music libraries. Even if you have your entire iTunes library stored on your iOS device, Apple doesn’t allow you to copy files from the iOS device back into iTunes. CopyTrans 4 is a simple yet sophisticated application that will allow you to do just that, specifically:

• Transfer music, photos, videos, podcasts, audiobooks, movies and ringtones from any iOS device back to your computer, directly into iTunes
• Transfer playlists, artwork, ratings, play counts and other metadata back into iTunes
• Create backups of your iOS device to your PC without iTunes
• Organise your iOS media without iTunes

Here’s a computer with a fresh copy of iTunes, after the hard drive crash and the operating system was reinstalled. I’m going to demonstrate how easy it is to get your media files from any supported iOS device (from this list of supported devices) back into iTunes, without having to deal with duplicate files or manual intervention. Everything’s automated with CopyTrans 4!

After installing CopyTrans 4 and connecting my iPhone running iOS 5, CopyTrans managed to detect all of the media files, including play counts, ratings, playlists and artwork.

While it scans my iOS device, it will also check to see if the same files exist in iTunes, preventing me from copying over any duplicate files. If the file does not exist in iTunes, CopyTrans 4 will state that the file is safe for transfer. Basically, my job is to select the files I wish to copy back onto my PC and let CopyTrans 4 do the rest.

When the time comes to actually transfer the files back, CopyTrans 4 provides 2 options. The first is the Smart Backup option — using this method, the selected media files are automatically added back into iTunes, but duplicate files are skipped. Using the Manual Backup method, you’ll be asked to either select a designated folder to save the files or to backup to iTunes.

And that’s that. CopyTrans 4 will get to work and begin copying the selected media files back to iTunes or to a designated folder. Depending on the number of files selected, the transfer time could vary from minutes to hours.

It’s really that simple. Now, you can just as easily restore your iTunes library (in case of failure or corruption) from your iOS device — CopyTrans 4 handles everything for you.

Download the trial version and give it a whirl; you can transfer up to 250 songs with it (100 songs per session).

We’ve got 25 free copies of CopyTrans 4 to give away this week!

How do I win a copy?

It’s simple, just follow the instructions.

Step 1: Fill in the giveaway form

Please fill in the form with your real name and email address so that we can get in touch if you are chosen as a winner. Click here if you can’t view the form.

The giveaway code required to activate the form is available from our Facebook page.

Step 2: Share!

You’re almost done. Now, all that’s left to do is to share the post. There are 2 options to choose from or you can do both!

This giveaway begins now and ends Saturday, Oct 29th. The winners will be selected at random and informed via email.

Spread the word to your friends and have fun!

MakeUseOf would like to thank WindSolutions for their generosity while participating in this giveaway. Interesting in sponsoring? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us via email.