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Grex > Music3 > #162: Your favourite audio storage format |  |
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| Author |
Message |
| 13 new of 85 responses total. |
tod
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response 73 of 85:
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Dec 31 19:35 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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mcnally
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response 74 of 85:
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Jan 1 04:05 UTC 2004 |
I don't know what Ramsey will prefer but when I encode my own MP3s I
generally use LAME with the "--alt-preset=standard" command-line flag
which encodes variable bit-rate MP3s that average about 160kbps.
I can typically get 8-10 hours' worth of music on one 80 minute CD
at that quality, so ~5 hours' worth of music on one Minidisc doesn't
seem at all farfetched to me..
He could have an MP3/CD device that plays MP3s from CD-Rs for less
money (plus the media is about 1/10 the cost) but the CD-based devices
can't match an important attraction of either the minidisc-based or
the harddrive-based players -- pocket-sized form factor.
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scott
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response 75 of 85:
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Jan 1 18:48 UTC 2004 |
I've got one of those NetMD recorders, but I've never tried using the
software. My guess is that it's possible to play stuff over the USB/spdif
adapter to the MD, and it'll record that content in one of the ATRAC formats.
The USB/spdif (stereo digital optical link) that came with mine basically
became an audio output under OS X and would likely do the same thing under
Windows.
The standard ATRAC format is 74/80 minutes stereo. Mono mode has been around
for a long time and allowed double the capacity. The LP2 and LP4 modes are
more drastic compression, and reviews I've read indicate that they are roughly
like using various MP3 quality levels.
I'd recommend checking out http://www.minidisc.org for a plethora of useful
information.
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mcnally
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response 76 of 85:
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Jan 1 22:30 UTC 2004 |
Thanks, I guess I'll do that, though I'm visiting with family at the
moment and browsing is painful on this computer (old Mac + AOL = bad
combination <shudder>)
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scott
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response 77 of 85:
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Jan 2 03:52 UTC 2004 |
There's actually a NetMD software FAQ, and the site is mostly text, so give
it a try. The FAQ was pretty interesting... not sure my unit can do the full
stuff, but it involves DRM from some sources.
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krj
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response 78 of 85:
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Jan 2 19:20 UTC 2004 |
I'll just chime in to wish Mike good luck... Leslie and I have only
used MD as a tape recorder replacement for recording live music and
radio. I've seen the MP3/MD machines touted but I have no idea
how they work.
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mcnally
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response 79 of 85:
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Jan 2 23:11 UTC 2004 |
Consulting the site that Scott mentioned, it seems fairly clear that
the wording "supports MP3/WMA/WAV" on the front of the package is
misleading (probably deliberately so.) Apparently none of the current
Minidisc player/recorder devices play audio in anything but various
revisions of Sony's ATRAC formats, meaning any music transferred to the
minidisc device has to be converted and, in the case of existing digital
music files, the software to do so insists upon doing so only through some
sort of "check out" / "check in" DRM regimen that I wouldn't care to put
up with.
Also, the Minidiscs are much lower capacity than I thought they were --
about 160Mbyte per disc -- and the touted "5 hour play time" (also
mentioned quite prominently on the package) only applies to files encoded
as LP4, the lowest-quality ATRAC format.
In the end, I wound up surprised by how uncompetitive the devices are
and really bothered by the poor quality of the software and the cumbersome
DRM scheme it apparently enforces. I'm recommending to Ramsey that he
return the product to the point of purchase, citing its inability to do
most of the things the package seems to promise, and save a little more for
a hard-drived based player such as the iPod or Dell's new DJ. Supposedly
Apple may be announcing new, lower-capacity, lower-price iPods at MacWorld
next week.
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gull
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response 80 of 85:
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Jan 4 01:22 UTC 2004 |
Minidisc is going to be the 8-track tape of the digital world. Avoid
it; it's a proprietary format that I don't think will last.
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scott
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response 81 of 85:
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Jan 4 05:36 UTC 2004 |
I dunno; for live recording it's wonderful. But if a recording iPod came out,
I might go for it...
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eprom
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response 82 of 85:
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Mar 27 02:41 UTC 2004 |
hmmm...I noticed that a real music CD can stand more abuse and
scratches than a CD-RW...or maybe it just seems that way.
anyways, my question is: does anyone else use a Sharpie to
label their pirated music collection?
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mcnally
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response 83 of 85:
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Mar 27 07:55 UTC 2004 |
I use a fine-point Sharpie to label when I make a mix CD or
a backup for the car. Does that count?
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slynne
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response 84 of 85:
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Mar 27 13:12 UTC 2004 |
I use Sharpies for all kinds of things including labeling CD's :) Those
pens are the best.
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tpryan
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response 85 of 85:
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Mar 27 19:08 UTC 2004 |
I like using Sharpies, but also found Fellows CD Markers to
have a very consistent fine point.
Black for audio CDs
Blue for data CDs
Green (the color of money) for DVDs
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