buying opera online as MP3 - any experience?

[yashin]

Has anyone tried to buy their music online in MP3 or similar version?

I have looked at some sites such as the Chandos Opera in English and they talk about lossless MP3 formats.

Any experience of this or similar (i don't mean itunes but i know it is similar).  Some prices seem ok but others a bit steep when you consider the sales in some shops.

Any sites or format advice greatly appreciated.

[Opus106]

I have looked at some sites such as the Chandos Opera in English and they talk about lossless MP3 formats.

Do you have a link?

And re: the other questions, you may want to consult this thread.

[marvinbrown]

Has anyone tried to buy their music online in MP3 or similar version?

I have looked at some sites such as the Chandos Opera in English and they talk about lossless MP3 formats.

Any experience of this or similar (i don't mean itunes but i know it is similar).  Some prices seem ok but others a bit steep when you consider the sales in some shops.

Any sites or format advice greatly appreciated.

Although I have been tempted to purchase operas on line, especially from the mp3 stores of DG and amazon.co.uk I have never done so.  I have a few concerns that keep me from doing so:

  1) Do the tracks flow seamlessly??  This is VERY VERY important to me, I need for the music to flow seamlessly (without interruption!) from one track to the next.  When comparing mp3 sites selling the same opera recordings sometimes I see a difference of 1 second in the track times for the same track    For example, take a look at the Karajan Ring Cycle on amazon.co.uk mp3 store and the Deutsche Grammaphone mp3 store of the same recording. I am puzzled why there is a 1 second difference between identical tracks??  Is there a break in the music between the tracks on the longer tracks?? 

  2) My past experience with downloading purchased music has shown that tracks are not always "clean".  Some tracks have had clicks, static and other noise etc. which can make the music listening experience unpleasant. 

  3) And finally with some very rare exceptions most mp3 downloads are no cheaper than the CD recording..........you can always import the music from the CD and store the CD away.

  Just a few things for you to consider.

  marvin