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
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.
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 (http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Portable-Media-Player-Black/dp/B000IBNXX2/ref=sr_1_3/102-1372585-9822515?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1192867521&sr=1-3)
... 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. ;)
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?
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on October 20, 2007, 01:47:29 AM
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. ;)
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on October 19, 2007, 09:35:24 PM
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 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-PX-100-PX100-Headphones/dp/B00009QH7P/ref=pd_bbs_1/202-9113303-0581422?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1192878123&sr=8-1) or PX-200 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-PX200-Closed-Mini-Headphone/dp/B000089GN4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-9113303-0581422?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1192878178&sr=8-1) headphones. The sound will be much better compared to the crappy default phones.
Quote from: 71 dB on October 20, 2007, 03:05:02 AM
Whatever player you buy REPLACE the default phones! I recommend Sennheiser PX-100 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-PX-100-PX100-Headphones/dp/B00009QH7P/ref=pd_bbs_1/202-9113303-0581422?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1192878123&sr=8-1) or PX-200 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-PX200-Closed-Mini-Headphone/dp/B000089GN4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-9113303-0581422?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1192878178&sr=8-1) 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. :)
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on October 19, 2007, 09:35:24 PM
(I will not buy an iPod)?
In that case, I recommend the
SansaTM by
Sandisk.
TM I hate everything Apple.
(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/6f/dd/d223c6da8da0f5f943922110.L.jpg)
(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/9b/df/bd61228348a0579d7137e010.L.jpg) (http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/84/1b/d1cd228348a0579d7137e010.L.jpg) (http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/ef/8e/0beac6da8da0486a13c01110.L.jpg)
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
WindowsTM Media Player.TMDon't even think about using their standard ear phones.
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.
How can you get itunes to properly name files that you have ripped?
Quote from: HandelHooligan on October 20, 2007, 01:44:06 PM
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.
Quote from: Mark on October 20, 2007, 01:55:15 PM
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.
Quote from: HandelHooligan on October 20, 2007, 02:03:48 PM
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. ;)
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.
Quote from: HandelHooligan on October 20, 2007, 02:57:29 PM
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. ;)
Quote from: Mark on October 20, 2007, 03:04:06 PM
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.
Quote from: Mark on October 20, 2007, 03:04:06 PM
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 ........
Quote from: HandelHooligan on October 20, 2007, 03:22:57 PM
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! :D 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. ;)
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.
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. 8)
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).
Quote from: DavidW on October 20, 2007, 06:09:06 PM
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. 8)
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).
I embrace DavidW on two points:
1. The
SansaTm also carries enough "juice" for powering my
SonyTM monitor headphones ........ a wonderful sonic experience .........
2. An avg. bitrate of 192 is very satisfactory, (unless you're a dog or a Vulcan) ....... the key is to achieve "the best balance between quality and file size."
Quote from: D Minor on October 21, 2007, 05:53:54 AM
An avg. bitrate of 192 is very satisfactory, (unless you're a dog or a Vulcan)
Or listen to opera and have half-decent cans.
Quote from: Mark on October 20, 2007, 03:31:41 PM
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! :D 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. ;)
Well, I bought the 8 Gb Sansa. I am charging it via my ANCIENT USB 1.0 port now (maybe this is why it doesn't show up under "Removable Media" under "My
Computer" ???).
I ripped the first CD for her using WMP (don't know what version it is, and apparently there is no way to find out--right clicking and going into "Properties" tells me nothing!). I looked in the folder where it placed the files, but I don't see any type of bitmap file (.jpg, .tif., .bmp) for the cover. The instructions for the Sansa say, "For correct Album Work functionality, the art and associated music file may need to be located in the same folder." How do I get it there? Is it supposed to be a .jpg? I want her to be able to browse the album covers, and not have to read tons of text. Thanks.
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on December 03, 2007, 01:14:17 AM
Well, I bought the 8 Gb Sansa. I am charging it via my ANCIENT USB 1.0 port now (maybe this is why it doesn't show up under "Removable Media" under "My
Computer" ???).
I ripped the first CD for her using WMP (don't know what version it is, and apparently there is no way to find out--right clicking and going into "Properties" tells me nothing!). I looked in the folder where it placed the files, but I don't see any type of bitmap file (.jpg, .tif., .bmp) for the cover. The instructions for the Sansa say, "For correct Album Work functionality, the art and associated music file may need to be located in the same folder." How do I get it there? Is it supposed to be a .jpg? I want her to be able to browse the album covers, and not have to read tons of text. Thanks.
Copy the artwork from Amazon (or wherever), and paste it directly onto the album box in Sansa.
Thanks, but I couldn't find an Album Box anywhere; I looked in all the folders ("music", "photos", etc.) I pasted the .jpg I swiped from Amazon into the folder with the MP-3 tracks, then tried pasting this into the "Music" folder, but an error message came up that said the .jpg filetype is not supported.
Anyway, at least I was able to transfer the tracks. I'm listening to them now. At 256 kpbs, they sound pretty good. I'll no doubt give in soon and get one of these new-fangled MP-3 thingies for myself! ;D
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on December 03, 2007, 01:14:17 AM
Well, I bought the 8 Gb Sansa. I ripped the first CD for her using WMP
Good choice for the player. Did you try CDex? Really great, flexible, easy-to-use, free ripping software.
If it were only a question of sound quality, which means enough output to drive serious headphones, I might go with an iAudio or Sandisk. But I listen to lots of live rock music albums and of course classical music which is frequently broken up into many tracks per movement. Therefore I have to have gapless play. Only the iPods can give you this out of the box, though the other players can be modified to do this.
Quote from: drogulus on December 03, 2007, 01:50:44 PM
If it were only a question of sound quality, which means enough output to drive serious headphones, I might go with an iAudio or Sandisk. But I listen to lots of live rock music albums and of course classical music which is frequently broken up into many tracks per movement. Therefore I have to have gapless play. Only the iPods can give you this out of the box, though the other players can be modified to do this.
I know that the amps on iPods are supposed to be very good, but I wasn't aware that iAudio's or Sandisk's were. Do you have any technical data on this, please?
Quote from: Mark on December 03, 2007, 02:00:35 PM
I know that the amps on iPods are supposed to be very good, but I wasn't aware that iAudio's or Sandisk's were. Do you have any technical data on this, please?
No, I'm just relying on what the folks at the Hydrogenaudio Forums (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php) say about these players, as well as the high output spec for the iAudios.
What is everyone's thoughts on the Microsoft Zune? I don't have one, and I don't think it's available in Canada yet, but it's another alternative to Apple:
The older version:
(http://zunemusic.net/files/images/zune_group_shot.jpg)
Newer ones:
(http://regmedia.co.uk/2007/10/03/zune_latest_range.jpg)
Apple bashing aside, I have to admit I am the owner of an iPod...
I know it's limited format-wise, but it's the only good music player with an actual hard disk. I have a 30 gig one and it's absolutely full (of music only)... I'm probably going to go for a larger model next year.
I'm no big fan of Apple's computers, but I think the iPod is still one of the best portable music player around. Then again, I'm no audiophile and I simply encode my files to mp3 format (at the highest resolution I can get).
Am I the only one who insists on gapless? I can't imagine anyone would prefer those little interruptions in the middle of the music.
About iPod sound quality, I saw a paper from a couple of years ago that demonstrated that the headphone output of a 3G iPod differed considerably from the line out due to a coupling capacitor which rolled off the bass. This has almost certainly been corrected since then. My iPod 2G Nano sounds pretty much the same through the headphone out as the line out (the line out is a little better, but they both sound flat).
Quote from: drogulus on December 04, 2007, 04:51:07 PM
Am I the only one who insists on gapless? I can't imagine anyone would prefer those little interruptions in the middle of the music.
About iPod sound quality, I saw a paper from a couple of years ago that demonstrated that the headphone output of a 3G iPod differed considerably from the line out due to a coupling capacitor which rolled off the bass. This has almost certainly been corrected since then. My iPod 2G Nano sounds pretty much the same through the headphone out as the line out (the line out is a little better, but they both sound flat).
Maybe not, but I don't need it in the hardware technology. I have no problem with a small gap between movements since that is what you would see "live". Where movements are
attacca I just rip them that way now, since I use VBR encoding. Back in the day when I used CBR, I had a nifty little program called MPEG Audio Scissors (which is an anti-name as you will see). In any case, you could simply edit out gaps or applause or whatever in Audacity, and then make a list of the 4 (or however many) files and then click and it would compile them very neatly into one large file. It claims to be compatible with VBR, but that's not true: it totally screws up the track length information. What the hell, I'm happy... :)
8)
----------------
Now playing: Brahms Symphony #3 in F Op 90 - Scottish CO / Mackerras - Symphony #3 in F Op 90 3rd mvmt - Poco allegretto
I'm now boycotting iTunes till they gets some decent-sounding files (yes, after I've spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars).
Also, I am now re-ripping CDs to the Apple Lossless format. What's weird is some CD's files' bitrates are larger than others, so I assume just because you buy a CD doesn't mean you're necessarily getting the highest bitrate sound.
Quote from: Que on December 04, 2007, 05:07:02 PM
Hmmm Is that so? 8)
(http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/gallery/artoftrek/vulcan-master.jpg)
Q
If you are ripping VBR, an average bitrate of 192 will use a sampling rate of 320 or more if it is needed for "busy" sections of music, and then drop down to (mine is 112, but it could be as low as 64) if there is nothing to fill it up. Thus, average. So yes, it IS so. Although since I can't see your picture, perhaps you were making a joke that I can't get... :-\ :D
8)
----------------
Now playing: Scottish CO / Mackerras - Variations on a Theme of Haydn Op 56a pt 07 - Vivace
So, eh, how do I get those little thumbnails to display on my Sansa player?
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on December 04, 2007, 05:54:10 PM
So, eh, how do I get those little thumbnails to display on my Sansa player?
Don't know how you do it through the player, but if you embed them in the file when you rip it, they will show with no further effort. WinAMP now supports album cover graphics, but I don't think Gracenote supplies them. Get one of those little freeware programs that adds the picture (or any picture) to the file. Then the Sansa will show them with no further input from you... :)
8)
----------------
Now playing: Seiler / Walch - Boccherini - G 062 Duet for 2 violins in Eb "La Bonne Notte" 3rd mvmt - Minuetto sostenuto - Trio
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on December 04, 2007, 07:04:15 PM
Don't know how you do it through the player, but if you embed them in the file when you rip it, they will show with no further effort. WinAMP now supports album cover graphics, but I don't think Gracenote supplies them. Get one of those little freeware programs that adds the picture (or any picture) to the file. Then the Sansa will show them with no further input from you... :)
Great, thanks. Can you suggest such a freeware program? I looked at the EAC website and I didn't see anything about supporting album cover graphics.
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on December 04, 2007, 10:03:47 PM
Great, thanks. Can you suggest such a freeware program? I looked at the EAC website and I didn't see anything about supporting album cover graphics.
Google for, download and install AudioShell from a company called SoftPointer. Then, whenever you right-click on an MP3 file and select 'Properties', you'll be able to amend its tag fields (the parts that tell you who's playing what, etc), and add album art effortlessly.
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on December 04, 2007, 05:02:18 PM
Maybe not, but I don't need it in the hardware technology. I have no problem with a small gap between movements since that is what you would see "live". Where movements are attacca I just rip them that way now, since I use VBR encoding. Back in the day when I used CBR, I had a nifty little program called MPEG Audio Scissors (which is an anti-name as you will see). In any case, you could simply edit out gaps or applause or whatever in Audacity, and then make a list of the 4 (or however many) files and then click and it would compile them very neatly into one large file. It claims to be compatible with VBR, but that's not true: it totally screws up the track length information. What the hell, I'm happy... :)
8)
Yeah, but......
??? I don't want to re-join hundreds of music files in Audacity!!
>:( Say you have a live album of rock music broken up into different tracks, some of which are songs and some index points in extended works (the same applies to many symphonies, oratorios, etc.). In my case I want to have both the whole album in one playlist, and the separate songs which I can add to different mixes. So I don't want to be required to turn the album into one file and then re-record it to separate out those tracks which
should be separated. And it isn't the inter-track gaps between movements/songs that are the problem,
it's the gaps in the music itself. How many joins do you want to do? Why should you be forced to do them?
Maybe you have to be a Deadhead to grasp this issue (though I would think a recording of the
Messiah would do it. too.).
:)
Quote from: drogulus on December 05, 2007, 01:13:24 PM
Yeah, but...... ???
I don't want to re-join hundreds of music files in Audacity!! >:(
Say you have a live album of rock music broken up into different tracks, some of which are songs and some index points in extended works (the same applies to many symphonies, oratorios, etc.). In my case I want to have both the whole album in one playlist, and the separate songs which I can add to different mixes. So I don't want to be required to turn the album into one file and then re-record it to separate out those tracks which should be separated. And it isn't the inter-track gaps between movements/songs that are the problem, it's the gaps in the music itself. How many joins do you want to do? Why should you be forced to do them?
Maybe you have to be a Deadhead to grasp this issue (though I would think a recording of the Messiah would do it. too.). :)
Oh, no, I didn't make myself clear. I only use Audacity to do edits if needed, like chop a long silence or applause off the end. Then I use that MPEG Audio Scissors program. You open it and it has like a list box thing. You add files to the list, as many as you want, then give the resulting file a name and click "go". It makes a new file, totally seamless, and leaves the old files alone. No, I understand totally what you mean. I have, for example, piano variations where every variation is a track. For purposes of putting on a portable, it makes far more sense to load one file than 33! :)
8)
----------------
Now playing:
Boccherini - Seiler / Walch / Poppen / Lester / Penny - G 324 String Quintet in C Op. 30 #6 5th mvmt - Ritirate con variazioni
Well, I want the songs and the album both. With a gapless player I don't have to choose between them. I load the album and it plays continuously, and on my party mix I load the songs I want. :)
Actually, I do create multiple-track single files for some works where I know I will always want the whole piece undivided. So your way makes sense for me too in a subset of cases. But I want/need the flexibility of my way as well. Now that I've experienced gaplessness on the player I couldn't possibly go back.
It's the same with Winamp on my computer. You have to tweak a setting in the output plugin and then it's gapless, at least for FLAC, mp3 and some other formats. I couldn't live without that.
192 is good enough for Andrew Lloyd Webber isn't it? ;D
Quote from: drogulus on December 05, 2007, 02:46:09 PM
It's the same with Winamp on my computer. You have to tweak a setting in the output plugin and then it's gapless, at least for FLAC, mp3 and some other formats. I couldn't live without that.
Oh? And what setting would that be? And do you have a separate plugin, or just the standard one? And if I want a moment of silence but not the "jump", do I have to add it to the end of the track? :)
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Now playing: Dvorak Op 011 - Shaham / Orpheus CO - Dvorak Romance in f for Violin & Orchestra Op 11
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on December 05, 2007, 02:46:41 PM
192 is good enough for Andrew Lloyd Webber isn't it? ;D
Umm, yeah. Probably 128 would work there. Or 112 even... ;)
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Now playing: Shaham / Orpheus CO - Dvorak Romance in f for Violin & Orchestra Op 11
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on December 05, 2007, 02:52:09 PM
Oh? And what setting would that be? And do you have a separate plugin, or just the standard one? And if I want a moment of silence but not the "jump", do I have to add it to the end of the track? :)
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You use the Directsound plugin, which is the default one. Go to Options > Preferences > Output Plugins > DirectSound Output > Buffering > Buffer-ahead on track change. Change the value from 500 to somewhere between 1000-1500 ms (I use 1000). This technique only removes the gaps that shouldn't be there, not the coded ones.
Don't use a gapless plugin. It's not necessary and it will remove hard-coded gaps that you actually want. I don't think they work that well.
Quote from: drogulus on December 05, 2007, 03:40:31 PM
You use the Directsound plugin, which is the default one. Go to Options > Preferences > Output Plugins > DirectSound Output > Buffering > Buffer-ahead on track change. Change the value from 500 to somewhere between 1000-1500 ms (I use 1000). This technique only removes the gaps that shouldn't be there, not the coded ones.
Don't use a gapless plugin. It's not necessary and it will remove hard-coded gaps that you actually want. I don't think they work that well.
Excellent, thanks. I'm new to WinAMP, I used MusicMatch since 1999 until Yahoo killed it a few months ago. I know there are a lot of things you can do with this, but not a real good idea how to do them yet. :-\
Glad to give this a try though. :)
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Now playing: Shiraga / Wiese / Clemente / Bényi - K 491 PC #24 in c for Piano & Flute Quartet (arr. by Hummel) 1st mvmt - Allegro
Just ordered the PX-100s
In Vancouver: $77.98
Amazon.com: $33.95
Welcome to CANADA, where you can get half as much for only twice the price! >:(
(Good thing I make it down to the states now and again, and I can have stuff shipped there.)
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on December 06, 2007, 12:16:52 AM
Just ordered the PX-100s
In Vancouver: $77.98
Amazon.com: $33.95
Welcome to CANADA, where you can get half as much for only twice the price! >:(
(Good thing I make it down to the states now and again, and I can have stuff shipped there.)
Just bear in mind the PX-100 are open-back. So you'll be leaking higher frequency sound. If that's not an issue, you're good to go. ;) If it is likely to be an issue, switch your order to the closed-back (but still excellent for the price) PX-200.
FYI (http://www.slate.com/id/2163508)