good riddance to record stores ?

[seeline]

What file format(s) are Gimell and Chandos using for "lossless"?

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) really does sound better to my middle-aged ears, but the files are very large - the exact reason why most people stick with MP3s. (FLAC files supposedly aren't "lossy.")

I would *love* if download outfits would offer the choice of:

1. MP3 (anywhere from 192 k to 320 k)

2. FLAC

3. Ogg (maybe)

+ liners and artwork.

But then, I've always been something of a dreamer.

Edited December 4, 2008 by seeline

[rockefeller center]

Some of the classical sites I mentioned are offering an option of what they call 'lossless' files. I don't really understand where 'loseless' fits in the grand spectrum of audiophilia but have seen this regularly mentioned in the classical magazines as 'near-CD quality' or even 'better than CD quality'.

Lossless = no information is removed from the audio stream. "identical information" can't result in "better quality".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC

[seeline]

But there are other "lossless" formats. FLAC is the one I prefer, but Apple has their own, proprietary "lossless" format, and so on...

[rockefeller center]

(FLAC files aren't compressed.)

FLAC is used to compress audio data. What do you mean with "aren't compressed"?

Audio sources encoded to FLAC are typically reduced in size 40 to 50 percent (46% according to their own comparison).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC

[rockefeller center]

But there are other "lossless" formats. FLAC is the one I prefer, but Apple has their own, proprietary "lossless" format, and so on...

Why would anybody want Apple's propriety format? Screw Apple and their iRestrictedBlackBoxes, btw.

[seeline]

My bad (d'oh!) - but they still sound better to me than MP3s (for the most part), and they definitely *are* huge files.

Edited December 4, 2008 by seeline

[seeline]

A lot of classical fans use Exact Audio Copy software, for both vinyl and CDs.

[rockefeller center]

My bad - but they still sound better to me than MP3s (for the most part), ad they definitely *are* huge files.

The audio stream is IDENTICAL to the source audio so no need to explicitly say that they "still sound better". Yes, they're certainly larger files than ogg vorbis or mp3.

[seeline]

I was replying to Bev's comments about not being able to tell the difference between MP3s encoded at high bitrates vs. low bitrates; plus the material he posted above re. various file formats used by Chandos and Gimmell. (Link.)

The other part of this (again, in reply to Bev) is that the quality of the source material is pretty important. I have some things as 128 k MP3s, and I doubt they'd sound much better if they'd been ripped at a higher bitrate, let alone in WAV or FLAC.

Edited December 4, 2008 by seeline

[rockefeller center]

A lot of classical fans use Exact Audio Copy software, for both vinyl and CDs.

Maybe you can do a tutorial on ripping audio from vinyl using EAC sometime.

Edited December 4, 2008 by rockefeller center

[seeline]

Not me! I've never used it, though I do have some EAC files.

A plain-English tutorial would be nice, though.

[seeline]

But there are other "lossless" formats. FLAC is the one I prefer, but Apple has their own, proprietary "lossless" format, and so on...

Why would anybody want Apple's propriety format? Screw Apple and their iRestrictedBlackBoxes, btw.

I wish Apple would start *believing* that!

[Jazzmoose]

Not me! I've never used it, though I do have some EAC files.

A plain-English tutorial would be nice, though.

I've thought the same about FLAC, but apparently I've just reached the "technologically challenged age".

[captainwrong]

Some of us like surface noise

You've just given me a million dollar idea. It'll be an attachment for the iPod with a loop of surface noise and some random crackles that mixes in with your mp3s. Maybe I could make it skip every now and again and I'll have to add a little bit of distortion every 20 minutes or so to simulate innergroove mistracking. Even better, I could use the motion sensor in the iPhone so you have to physically flip it over every 20 minutes.

[Jay]

(whatever happened to reversing polarity, by the way?).

Sorry to derail the thread (which is interesting - go METAL ROCK!), but I wanted to thank Bev for this humorous trip down memory lane.

[A Lark Ascending]

Some of us like surface noise

You've just given me a million dollar idea. It'll be an attachment for the iPod with a loop of surface noise and some random crackles that mixes in with your mp3s. Maybe I could make it skip every now and again and I'll have to add a little bit of distortion every 20 minutes or so to simulate innergroove mistracking. Even better, I could use the motion sensor in the iPhone so you have to physically flip it over every 20 minutes.

Any chance of an off-centre spindle hole option. I love that feeling like being at sea when the music shifts a fraction of an interval at every revolution of the turntable. Could set the iPod to 'Wow!'.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Could set the iPod to 'Wow!'.

Oh don't short-change yourself; set it to "Zowie!"

MG

[captainwrong]

In all seriousness, can I just tell you all about the SPLITTING HEADACHE I have from a visit tonight to my local record store, where the speakers above the bins are aimed right at your ears and cranked to 11? After about ten minutes, I almost left empty handed because I just wanted some silence and couldn't even think of what it was I was looking for anymore. The funny thing is, it wasn't even music I'd expect to be that loud, like some metal or hip-hop. It was some kinda wimpy folksy indie rock.

Good riddance to that anyway.

[BruceH]

Does anyone else find it a trifle strange that there's a thread titled "Good riddance to record stores" in topic titled "The Vinyl Frontier"?

[Hot Ptah]

In all seriousness, can I just tell you all about the SPLITTING HEADACHE I have from a visit tonight to my local record store, where the speakers above the bins are aimed right at your ears and cranked to 11? After about ten minutes, I almost left empty handed because I just wanted some silence and couldn't even think of what it was I was looking for anymore. The funny thing is, it wasn't even music I'd expect to be that loud, like some metal or hip-hop. It was some kinda wimpy folksy indie rock.

Good riddance to that anyway.

The store I went to tonight had Miles Davis' "Workin'" album on at a low volume.

[porcy62]

Does anyone else find it a trifle strange that there's a thread titled "Good riddance to record stores" in topic titled "The Vinyl Frontier"?

Hmm. The honourable master Michel with a link to an article the thread started. Master Michel wise and faitfhul is, he warned us. The author of the article clearly to the dark side of the force converted he was.

Digital is the path to the dark side. Digital leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

With the cd you start, then an iPod and the downloading and at the end yourself you will lose. Pulverize planets and records stores you will do.

If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.

The followers of the dark side everywhere are, even in the vinyl forum they are.

The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is.

Edited December 7, 2008 by porcy62

[Jazzmoose]

[Big Beat Steve]

Got to show this my 8-year old son (who's a big Star Wars fan).

Maybe this will make him understand even better why I've got a whole wall of the room next door (our music room) crammed full with albums with funny huge black plastic discs! :D

[cliffpeterson]

I recently did a day trip to boston/cambridge. in eight hours, I hit:

cambridge: planet records, newbury comics (harvard square), stereojacks, twisted village, looney tunes, and cheapo records. avoided in your ear. had a short conversation with stereojack.

boston: newbury comics on newbury street and looney tunes on boylston.

can't say what hurt more-my head or my wallet

[Chalupa]

Does anyone else find it a trifle strange that there's a thread titled "Good riddance to record stores" in topic titled "The Vinyl Frontier"?

Hmm. The honourable master Michel with a link to an article the thread started. Master Michel wise and faitfhul is, he warned us. The author of the article clearly to the dark side of the force converted he was.

Digital is the path to the dark side. Digital leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

With the cd you start, then an iPod and the downloading and at the end yourself you will lose. Pulverize planets and records stores you will do.

If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.

The followers of the dark side everywhere are, even in the vinyl forum they are.

The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is.

That just might be the post of the year right there.