New to MP-3 and in need of advice.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I want to buy my wife an MP-3 player for Xmas, but I really know very little about them or what I should buy. I'd like it to store around 20+ CDs worth for her, with room left over so she can download stuff. She is no audiophile, and really does not listen to classical music, however I'd want to convert her CDs to at least 128 kbps. What would you recommend? Would a 4 Gb suffice for this? Could you recommend a model (I will not buy an iPod)?

I'd like to load all the music on there for her, so when she opens it up, she can just start listening immediately. What software will I need to convert her CD tracks to MP-3?

any and all advice will be appreciated.

Thanks,
XB

[KevinP]

The software you want is EAC--Exact Audio Copy. Freeware, Google it. I would recommend doing better than 128k though. Frankly, I'd recommend VBR, variable bit rate. I never use the software that came with my player.

I have a Samsung player and I quite like it. I won't bother giving you the model number since It's a few years old already and the models available here in Korea and not necessarily available elsewhere, but I would suggest looking into what they offer in your area.

Oh, and it plays .flac and .ogg too, two alternatives to .mp3.

[Mark]

While Kevin's answer is certainly more than valid, I think it may be a little over-complicated for a 'newbie'.

My advice is simple: buy this ...

Creative Zen V Plus

... which can also handle video playback and has a radio built in, then rip CDs using Windows Media Player (WMP). You then transfer tracks straight to this tiny device (also, and effortlessly, using WMP). You'll find this process straightforward enough, and while it's not the most sophisticated method, it's easy for a beginner to get to grips with.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Thanks guys. I was looking at a Creative Zen player in one of our local stores: 8 GB for $129.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10093688&catid=10205&logon=&langid=EN

How many CDs will 8 GB hold?

[Mark]

Thanks guys. I was looking at a Creative Zen player in one of our local stores: 8 GB for $129.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10093688&catid=10205&logon=&langid=EN

How many CDs will 8 GB hold?

The 8Gb is a great model, but let me make you aware of two things. Firstly, scrolling through dozens of albums or tracks on such a tiny screen would make 8Gb feel like way too much space. The higher the capacity, the bigger the screen you want to avoid fatigue/frustration/boredom. Secondly, Creative only make their 1Gb version in black/orange - the 8Gb is definitely black/red.

I have the 2Gb version (black/green, and without radio or video capabilities), and when I'm encoding MP3s at anywhere between 192kbps and 320kbps, I'm managing to squeeze on about 20-23 CDs. Bear in mind that non-classical needn't be encoded so large: you could comfortably get away with 128kbps-160kbps (just alter the output settings in WMP). This would result in smaller filesizes; and, as most non-classical discs come in at roughly half the length of classical ones, I reckon such reduced bitrate encoding would mean you could put about 60-70 CDs on my 2Gb - double that for the 4Gb I linked to.

[71 dB]

I want to buy my wife an MP-3 player for Xmas, but I really know very little about them or what I should buy. I'd like it to store around 20+ CDs worth for her, with room left over so she can download stuff. She is no audiophile, and really does not listen to classical music, however I'd want to convert her CDs to at least 128 kbps. What would you recommend? Would a 4 Gb suffice for this? Could you recommend a model (I will not buy an iPod)?

I'd like to load all the music on there for her, so when she opens it up, she can just start listening immediately. What software will I need to convert her CD tracks to MP-3?

any and all advice will be appreciated.

Thanks,
XB

Sounds like the capacity should be 2 GB or 4 GB. Bitrate 192 kbps gives ok sound quality for relatively small filesize. Whatever player you buy REPLACE the default phones! I recommend Sennheiser PX-100 or PX-200 headphones. The sound will be much better compared to the crappy default phones.

[Mark]

Whatever player you buy REPLACE the default phones! I recommend Sennheiser PX-100 or PX-200 headphones. The sound will be much better compared to the crappy default phones.

Couldn't agree more, and two good choices of phones for a small player.

[BachQ]

(I will not buy an iPod)?

In that case, I recommend the Sansa^TM by Sandisk.^TM  I hate everything Apple.





I would recommend the 4GB ($104), but your wife can easily get by with the 2GB ($75 ..... 62% discount at Amazon).  I use mine 2 hours per day, and have never had a problem.  There are over 1,000 customer reviews at Amazon, so you can do your research.  It's super-easy to load music using Windows^TM Media Player.^TM

Don't even think about using their standard ear phones.

[longears]

Agree with D.  We've had a few and the best by far is the SS Sansa we got for my wife last year.  Like it so much I keep wanting to buy one for myself event though I have a perfectly good iPod.  Saw the 8gb Sansa going for $129 last month.  Also has a slot for more storage via micro SD card.

Easiest/best ripping program I know is CDex.  Freeware.  You can rip straight into LAME.  I use preset insane, CBR 320kbps.  If wifey ripped into preset extreme, a VBR averaging around 245kbps, sound would still be very good for a lossy codec and she could get about 7 classical CDs per GB, or 10-12 pop CDs per GB.  If you think 4GB will be enough, then get 6 or 8.

The Sennheiser PX-100 recommended by ELGAR is a great inexpensive pair of phones.  Not bad cheap earbuds are Sony EX51s.  Best bargain in buds I know is Etymotic 6i, for around $70--but these may be more intrusive than wifey likes.  mine's happy with the X51s, which have adjustable flange sizes that don't intrude very far into the ear canal.

   

[Mozart]

How can you get itunes to properly name files that you have ripped?

[Mark]

How can you get itunes to properly name files that you have ripped?

You have to do that manually. iTunes uses Gracenote database by default - to which you can submit corrected data; or at least, you can when using Sony's SonicStage software. Not sure if the same is possible via iTunes.

[Mozart]

You have to do that manually. iTunes uses Gracenote database by default - to which you can submit corrected data; or at least, you can when using Sony's SonicStage software. Not sure if the same is possible via iTunes.

So what program will give the best filenames? Generally I want to see the artists and the name of the arias. Itunes is giving me either names like track 01 1 or 3-09 Handel_ Rinaldo - Act 3_ Al Tri.m4a it cuts off the whole name of the aria. I used to not have this problem.

[Mark]

So what program will give the best filenames? Generally I want to see the artists and the name of the arias. Itunes is giving me either names like track 01 1 or 3-09 Handel_ Rinaldo - Act 3_ Al Tri.m4a it cuts off the whole name of the aria. I used to not have this problem.

Tragically, there's no easy solution (at least, not one I've found). This is why I manually retag EVERYTHING ... including filenames. Let me give you a quick example.

I download Beethoven's Third Symphony (LSO label/Wyn Morris conducting), and I rename all the files so they go like this:

01_LSO_Beethoven_Symphony_No_3
02_LSO_Beethoven_Symphony_No_3
03_LSO_Beethoven_Symphony_No_3
04_LSO_Beethoven_Symphony_No_3

... and so on. Next, I use a retagger program (eMusic Tag Editor from Abyss Audio), and batch-edit all the tags. I include the composer's surname, put ALL artists featured on the WHOLE recording against EVERY track on the album in question (even if they didn't perform on a specific track - I do this to prevent duplicate entries in media players which catalogue by artist instead of by album ), add the label name to the comment field, choose one of four titles for the genre field (classical is just too generic, so I go with Orchestral, Instrumental, Vocal and Chamber), rename the album title using the following convention:

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 'Eroica' (LSO)*

... and finally, rename the individual tracks thus:

Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 'Eroica': I
Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 'Eroica': II
Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 'Eroica': III
Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 'Eroica': IV

That's it (other than to check that the track numbering is correct - essential for accurate playback on devices and in media players ). Yes, it's long-winded, and yes, it misses out a shitload of detail (I never bother with tempi indications; what's the point, when I want to listen, not read?). I also NEVER include the year ... a fact sure to shock some. But there's good reason for this. I can never decide which year to include: year of recording, year of remastering, year of release, year of reissue ... it just goes on. And besides, there's often no way of telling exactly when a recording was made/remastered/released/reissued.

So, there in a nutshell is my system. And it works beautifully, even if I do say so myself.




*What happens when there's more than one recording of a work on the same label? I add on the conductor/performer(s) to the filename and album title field.

[Mozart]

Wow that seems complicated Most of the time I just name the folder Mozart Le Nozze Di Figaro Solti and a few of the singers and I look up the cd on amazon or i put a copy of the cd picture in the folder. Your system is way more organized but way to much work for me Thanks for the tip though Mark, I might consider using it.

[Mark]

Wow that seems complicated Most of the time I just name the folder Mozart Le Nozze Di Figaro Solti and a few of the singers and I look up the cd on amazon or i put a copy of the cd picture in the folder. Your system is way more organized but way to much work for me Thanks for the tip though Mark, I might consider using it.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: I append a small (155 x 155 pixel) jpeg of the CD cover to each and every file in an album folder. Makes for ease of searching, now that WMP 11, iTunes and WinAmp (to name but three) all handle album/cover art.

[Mozart]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: I append a small (155 x 155 pixel) jpeg of the CD cover to each and every file in an album folder. Makes for ease of searching, now that WMP 11, iTunes and WinAmp (to name but three) all handle album/cover art.

Ohh how do you do the album art? I also have to look on amazon.

[BachQ]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: I append a small (155 x 155 pixel) jpeg of the CD cover to each and every file in an album folder. Makes for ease of searching, now that WMP 11, iTunes and WinAmp (to name but three) all handle album/cover art.

Album covers are great ........

[Mark]

Ohh how do you do the album art? I also have to look on amazon.

Download a shell extension called AudioShell from a company called SoftPointer (Google it). Once installed, it adds extra tabs to the 'Properties' dialog that comes up in your context menu when you right-click an MP3 file. In the second of these two tabs, you can add or remove album art. You can also amend a fair few ID3 Tag fields. As to how you get the album art ... I do it manually! I just grab images off the Net, resize and drop 'em into the relevant folders, then do the above outlined procedure having first highlighted all the files in an album.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Thanks guys. All great suggestions.  (I hate all things Apple too.)

Be assured, the included 'phones are headed for the trash as soon as I open the package. Entry-level Sennheisers are on my list of purchases to go with this. I've used a pair of HD-500 Jubliees as well as a (much more portable) pair of HD-25SPs for years.

[DavidW]

You might not even need buds at all.  I recently bought an rca mp3 player and it can give enough juice to my Sennheiser 497s which are just straight up headphones.

I second the EAC suggestion with lame, and say use the default setting for encoding and it will sound fine (average bit rate=192).  That seems to be the best balance between quality and file size.

My thoughts on players-- the flash player is for mobile, it doesn't have to store alot (1-2GB) because you just swap out music on your pc another time.  If you wanted to buy your wife an mp3 player for her to store her entire collection in then you need something with alot more memory (depending on how large her collection is).