My first I-Pod!
Discussion
So, after working in the music biz for 20 years selling vinyl & CDs as well as DJ'ing and being an avid music fan I've finally given in, decided to 'bite the bullet' and get an i-pod.
I've got a ma-hoo-sive record & CD collection that I have no intention of transfering onto I-tunes, not just because of the time involved but also the loss in audio quality, I want one for convienience and for the Mrs to use on a Sony Air dock.
The question is, what do I get and where from. I want to store approx 5000 tunes....eventually, but I don't need a camera or any other gimmicks. Thanks for your help.
I've got a ma-hoo-sive record & CD collection that I have no intention of transfering onto I-tunes, not just because of the time involved but also the loss in audio quality, I want one for convienience and for the Mrs to use on a Sony Air dock.
The question is, what do I get and where from. I want to store approx 5000 tunes....eventually, but I don't need a camera or any other gimmicks. Thanks for your help.
So you want a digital music player, not an Ipod. (Ipod being Apples brand name).
Does it need to be portable, or do you just want this for digial playback/access in the home?
The Ipod supports: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV.
To store 5000 tracks you are looking at 25gb+ depending on format. You will have to rip all your CD's into some format even if that is uncompressed wav.
Does it need to be portable, or do you just want this for digial playback/access in the home?
The Ipod supports: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV.
To store 5000 tracks you are looking at 25gb+ depending on format. You will have to rip all your CD's into some format even if that is uncompressed wav.
5pen said:
He's not being smart. If you don't want to use iTunes you are probably better off with something other than an iPod.
Ok, I was just reminded of this sketch for a moment!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSINO6MKtco
So, the advantages of MP3 player over an I-Pod. Name me a decent one that connects to the Sony Air system.
An Ipod Classic, if you need lots of storage and no gizmos. Rip the cds with something other than itunes, at a decent bitrate (256Kbs+) then just drag-n-drop into itunes.
These seem to be getting phased out,, only 160GB versions available now..
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/MP3_Playe...
These seem to be getting phased out,, only 160GB versions available now..
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/MP3_Playe...
Lordbenny, if you're going to use a Sony AIR, which has wireless speakers - then your remark about not using iTunes due to loss of sound quality is bordering on laughable.
I'd lay good odds on you not being able to tell the difference from 256kb/s MP3/AAC bitrate to ALE (Apple Lossless Encoding) on that playback chain.
That aside, if you only want 5000 songs on the iPod, then 320kb/s in AAC format, would be your best compromise on an iPod Classic, with enough reserve space to add more whenever you want.
As for iTunes - if you want to maximise file space, then you need to use it for the AAC format, otherwise the generic MP3 format at 320kb/s will work too, whether you use iTunes or another piece of software to create them.
For me, iTunes makes the most sense with using an iPod, but some people just can't seem to get their head around it - so try it, import a few CD's at the different bitrates, then play them back on the AIR, and see which works for you.
Depending on the size of HDD you have, you my need a second one (which isn't necessarily a bad idea) to store the ripped CD's to, and anything else important, like Photos, etc. in case the main drive goes down or the OS gets itself in a tizzy.
I'd lay good odds on you not being able to tell the difference from 256kb/s MP3/AAC bitrate to ALE (Apple Lossless Encoding) on that playback chain.
That aside, if you only want 5000 songs on the iPod, then 320kb/s in AAC format, would be your best compromise on an iPod Classic, with enough reserve space to add more whenever you want.
As for iTunes - if you want to maximise file space, then you need to use it for the AAC format, otherwise the generic MP3 format at 320kb/s will work too, whether you use iTunes or another piece of software to create them.
For me, iTunes makes the most sense with using an iPod, but some people just can't seem to get their head around it - so try it, import a few CD's at the different bitrates, then play them back on the AIR, and see which works for you.
Depending on the size of HDD you have, you my need a second one (which isn't necessarily a bad idea) to store the ripped CD's to, and anything else important, like Photos, etc. in case the main drive goes down or the OS gets itself in a tizzy.
Must get to be a bit taller as much of this goes over my head.
Have just bought wify ipod touch for Christmas and on Christmas day will need to start copying CDs onto it.
So I plug in the iPod into the lap top, then stick the CD into the drive and then I...................???
Do some instructions come up magically on the screen?
Have just bought wify ipod touch for Christmas and on Christmas day will need to start copying CDs onto it.
So I plug in the iPod into the lap top, then stick the CD into the drive and then I...................???
Do some instructions come up magically on the screen?
Skyedriver said:
Must get to be a bit taller as much of this goes over my head.
Have just bought wify ipod touch for Christmas and on Christmas day will need to start copying CDs onto it.
So I plug in the iPod into the lap top, then stick the CD into the drive and then I...................???
Do some instructions come up magically on the screen?
Right now, install iTunes.Have just bought wify ipod touch for Christmas and on Christmas day will need to start copying CDs onto it.
So I plug in the iPod into the lap top, then stick the CD into the drive and then I...................???
Do some instructions come up magically on the screen?
Copy all your CD's into that - just stick them in and choose the option to rip them.
Once they're in, go to the music library and ensure they have album art.
Then once she gets the ipod, plug it in, and choose SYNC from the left hand menu in iTunes.
Unless you "jailbreak" it (ie hack it), you will need to use iTunes to manage the iPod contents.
Thudd said:
Skyedriver said:
Must get to be a bit taller as much of this goes over my head.
Have just bought wify ipod touch for Christmas and on Christmas day will need to start copying CDs onto it.
So I plug in the iPod into the lap top, then stick the CD into the drive and then I...................???
Do some instructions come up magically on the screen?
Right now, install iTunes.Have just bought wify ipod touch for Christmas and on Christmas day will need to start copying CDs onto it.
So I plug in the iPod into the lap top, then stick the CD into the drive and then I...................???
Do some instructions come up magically on the screen?
Copy all your CD's into that - just stick them in and choose the option to rip them.
Once they're in, go to the music library and ensure they have album art.
Then once she gets the ipod, plug it in, and choose SYNC from the left hand menu in iTunes.
Unless you "jailbreak" it (ie hack it), you will need to use iTunes to manage the iPod contents.
Best bet, if quality is a concern is to use a ripper such as dBpoweramp or EAC. These both use Accurip to check that the copy on the HDD matches that made by others.
Personally I use dBpoweramp (it does cost but around £25 one off) and rip everything to FLAC ensuring that I have lossless database on the computer. This also uses multiple ID tag databases so more likely to actually get the correct (and correctly spelt) track listings.
Using the batch converter that comes in the same package the FLACs are then converted to 256kbs AAC ready for the iPod. iTunes is then started and pointed at the existing AAC directory.
As regards space, my current library of 4900 tracks encoded at 256kbs AAC occupies 38Gb. The FLAC versions occupy closer to 150Gb.
Sorry but its all starting to go over my head....yes Thudd you are correct, she wants to listen to queen, Michal Ball, the Carpenters etc on an iPod rather than hit every frequency from 0 to 30000hz.
For me I may prefer something better but as my ears are now knackered I don't suppose I can pick up the last little nuance.
Guess as far as ipod is concerned it all boils down to the earphones unless you use a dock anyway?
So getting back to it, I will try and have a go this weekend loading a few CDs onto iTunes and see where I go from there.
Be back later, thanks everyone and sorry Benny for hijacking your thread
For me I may prefer something better but as my ears are now knackered I don't suppose I can pick up the last little nuance.
Guess as far as ipod is concerned it all boils down to the earphones unless you use a dock anyway?
So getting back to it, I will try and have a go this weekend loading a few CDs onto iTunes and see where I go from there.
Be back later, thanks everyone and sorry Benny for hijacking your thread
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