One of the points we make to potential clients is that we save you time. Who wants to spend their precious private time stuffing CDs into a PC?
Of course, we want to save time too. We are always looking for faster CD ripping, as you would be if you were ripping your own collection. Maybe when looking at iTunes CD ripping settings you will have seen the term mentioning High Efficiency encoding. Maybe you thought (or hoped) that this would be an even faster way of ripping your music.
Sorry, it’s not. This setting relates to spoken word material. You can happily rip this at 48Kbps and get a good result. Compared to music there’s just not that level of variation in speech. If you take this route, and save a lot of disc space along the way, HE encoding will give you an even better result. Just don’t think it will work wonders on Bach or Blur.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Harsh Reality
The time has come to say this, and in a line or two I'll break the news.
Eight or so years back when we started to plan our service a used CD had some value. They were reasonably expensive but even at that stage the writing was on the wall. While sentimental attachment was high the actual price was much lower than people thought. Since then a couple of dynamics have hit the market.
First, no one is buying CDs. Stroll down your High Street, the music and entertainment names of the past have folded. Try the supermarket, not the most comprehensive of displays. See what's available and you'll see desperate price promotions and that's against a VAT rate of 20%. Even so they gather on shelves picking up dust.
Second, technology has ripped into the delivery of music. Indeed our CD ripping business exists because people want to move from shiny plastic to digital. In supply and demand terms people are voting with their feet and they're walking away from CDs.
Today there is effectively no market for secondhand CDs. Even our local charity stores don't want them - if HMV can't sell all those Greatest Hits albums, what hope is there for Oxfam?
So now I'm going to say it. Your CDs are worthless.
Sorry, I know its a shock, I know you think more heirloom than hangup so this sounds like heresy. But that's the blunt fact of the matter. Check out eBay if you want proof. The market for CDs left a few years ago and it isn't coming back. I regret being the one to tell you but the sooner you understand this the better it will be. Then you can do something sensible with them (like stick them in iTunes) and find something else to do with the space.
Eight or so years back when we started to plan our service a used CD had some value. They were reasonably expensive but even at that stage the writing was on the wall. While sentimental attachment was high the actual price was much lower than people thought. Since then a couple of dynamics have hit the market.
First, no one is buying CDs. Stroll down your High Street, the music and entertainment names of the past have folded. Try the supermarket, not the most comprehensive of displays. See what's available and you'll see desperate price promotions and that's against a VAT rate of 20%. Even so they gather on shelves picking up dust.
Second, technology has ripped into the delivery of music. Indeed our CD ripping business exists because people want to move from shiny plastic to digital. In supply and demand terms people are voting with their feet and they're walking away from CDs.
Today there is effectively no market for secondhand CDs. Even our local charity stores don't want them - if HMV can't sell all those Greatest Hits albums, what hope is there for Oxfam?
So now I'm going to say it. Your CDs are worthless.
Sorry, I know its a shock, I know you think more heirloom than hangup so this sounds like heresy. But that's the blunt fact of the matter. Check out eBay if you want proof. The market for CDs left a few years ago and it isn't coming back. I regret being the one to tell you but the sooner you understand this the better it will be. Then you can do something sensible with them (like stick them in iTunes) and find something else to do with the space.
Artefacts of the Last Century
I have been forced to consider the value of a CD.
Some eight years ago, when we started our CD ripping project, there were one or two places you could sell used CDs. At that time a main stream CD was selling at a considerable price. Even in those days people were shocked at just how little they could command once used.
Fast forward and what has happened. Carnage on the High Street retail landscape and there are now very few sales outlets for music CDs. In fact I can’t think of a shop that sells solely music, those handful left mix in video and computer games. Look in your supermarket and you’ll see CDs for three or four pounds, maybe even with a buy one get one free promotion too. Don’t forget, this is even taking into account the VAT hike to 20% we got hit with early this year.
Matched with the plummeting cost of new CDs there is the simple fact that today there are very few takers for CDs. Try and find anyone under 25 who thinks first of plastic rather than digital. It’s proven a deadly mix for the entertainment industry, hardly a day goes by without a new tale of woe from the once mighty names.
Here’s the blunt fact. You need to understand that in effect CDs are now worthless. They’re not old masters or fine wines, not even minor works by an obscure sculptor. They are artefacts of the last century - shiny scrap. What is to be done? Get with the march of time and technology, get your CDs onto iTunes in true digital format, enjoy them via an iPod or Sonos. Then chuck them on the scrap heap.
Some eight years ago, when we started our CD ripping project, there were one or two places you could sell used CDs. At that time a main stream CD was selling at a considerable price. Even in those days people were shocked at just how little they could command once used.
Fast forward and what has happened. Carnage on the High Street retail landscape and there are now very few sales outlets for music CDs. In fact I can’t think of a shop that sells solely music, those handful left mix in video and computer games. Look in your supermarket and you’ll see CDs for three or four pounds, maybe even with a buy one get one free promotion too. Don’t forget, this is even taking into account the VAT hike to 20% we got hit with early this year.
Matched with the plummeting cost of new CDs there is the simple fact that today there are very few takers for CDs. Try and find anyone under 25 who thinks first of plastic rather than digital. It’s proven a deadly mix for the entertainment industry, hardly a day goes by without a new tale of woe from the once mighty names.
Here’s the blunt fact. You need to understand that in effect CDs are now worthless. They’re not old masters or fine wines, not even minor works by an obscure sculptor. They are artefacts of the last century - shiny scrap. What is to be done? Get with the march of time and technology, get your CDs onto iTunes in true digital format, enjoy them via an iPod or Sonos. Then chuck them on the scrap heap.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
iPod Ear Bud Best Buddies
Just been reading the US edition of technology magazine Wired. They have a review of dual driver ear phones.
Even if you spend your money on a top of the range iPod Classic you still get a pair of basic earphones, which in manufacturing cost terms must be around 50p worth of equipment. OK, they still look cool even after all these years but they’re hardly the best way to enjoy your iPod and your CD ripping prowess.
Take a step up, get better ear furniture. Which is what this review does, looking at these dual-driver items you will get far better sound from the same digital audio files. Wired test four pairs, Galaxy Audio EB10, NOCS NS800, Ultimate Ears UE700 and Apple’s own In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. Dolar prices range from $79 right up to $280 for the Galaxy offering.
The accolade of Editor’s pick goes to the Galaxy, not surprising as these are the most expensive. What impressed me is that even though the Apple buds are two years old, they stand up pretty well in comparison. Reading the review I’d find it hard to justify spending nearly three times the money, I think I’d go with Apple’s offering and enjoy the extra functionality.
Even if you spend your money on a top of the range iPod Classic you still get a pair of basic earphones, which in manufacturing cost terms must be around 50p worth of equipment. OK, they still look cool even after all these years but they’re hardly the best way to enjoy your iPod and your CD ripping prowess.
Take a step up, get better ear furniture. Which is what this review does, looking at these dual-driver items you will get far better sound from the same digital audio files. Wired test four pairs, Galaxy Audio EB10, NOCS NS800, Ultimate Ears UE700 and Apple’s own In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. Dolar prices range from $79 right up to $280 for the Galaxy offering.
The accolade of Editor’s pick goes to the Galaxy, not surprising as these are the most expensive. What impressed me is that even though the Apple buds are two years old, they stand up pretty well in comparison. Reading the review I’d find it hard to justify spending nearly three times the money, I think I’d go with Apple’s offering and enjoy the extra functionality.
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