Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
I believe that itunes uses the AAC format . If Itunes sells you the song then you are able to copy it 3 times. If you get a new computer you need to de register your old computer w apple so as not to waste one of your 3 copys. I have heard some say if you burn your itunes bought song onto a disc and then copy that burned copy you bypass this issue. If you are simply ripping your own cd to your own computer you own the rights (I think) and you can make as many copies as you want. I have ripped about 400 cds using itunes AAC at 160 bit rate to generally pretty great results...
Am i right in thinking that most on-line sales such as emusic are mp3 @ 128bit with the exception of iTunes that are sold in the format of AAC files? Are there not copywrite protection isues with the AAC files that will prevent the user from backing up their files or copy write them to other sources?
further thought marc,
Jeff (of Charlotte and jeff) had said that if you connected the ipod by the usb like data port instead of the headphone jack to the home sterio or car sterio that the sound would be much better, but I have seen no other refernece to this online ( and I searched) and the sales people at the source say that that is bunk there is no difference to music, and that that type of connection only benefits you by the fact it now doubles as a power recharge station . At apple they only seem to have the headphone adapter kits as well. In short to improve sound you are left with tweaking the encoding format (like I describe earlier) which helps a lot or using as encoding format that leaves the music files too big to be practical. You can also buy a sterio audio receiver (like the one i refer to earlier) which can store limitless cds in a onboard computer, but they are extremely expensive...I think that will change soon though.....
Jeff (of Charlotte and jeff) had said that if you connected the ipod by the usb like data port instead of the headphone jack to the home sterio or car sterio that the sound would be much better, but I have seen no other refernece to this online ( and I searched) and the sales people at the source say that that is bunk there is no difference to music, and that that type of connection only benefits you by the fact it now doubles as a power recharge station . At apple they only seem to have the headphone adapter kits as well. In short to improve sound you are left with tweaking the encoding format (like I describe earlier) which helps a lot or using as encoding format that leaves the music files too big to be practical. You can also buy a sterio audio receiver (like the one i refer to earlier) which can store limitless cds in a onboard computer, but they are extremely expensive...I think that will change soon though.....
I have put some effort into searching what file formats to use Marc. I found Mp3s at 120 bit rate to be crappy, and I found that apple lossless , which is a compressed format , but without anything removed, to be too big ....I have found the apple format AAC (which I think are mp4's)at at 160 bit rate to be much much better....You may have to stick with apple and itunes , as I think the mp3s are more universal, but I here that all these formats are evolving and within 5 years the ipods will be limitless in terms of storage space... Also , the Ipod is quite a good user friendly interface with your music collection , once you learn how to customise the genras and other identifying bits of information (which is quite easy) and I cant believe that there isnt a cheap type of new receiver which is basically a bigger version an ipod...but maybe thats wghat your friend has..
As everyone knows I have a problem with lists, but here goes. I’m not exactly sure how to define this list …I think that is nice that each of you have chosen to define it slightly differently.
In my mind, three albums stand above all others in the grunge world. They are:
Nirvana, Nevermind
Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream
Pearl Jam, Ten
These albums have what it takes to be classics; they’re strong from start to finish, flow from cut to cut, contain no filler and where, incidentally, all commercially successful and had a big impact on the public. Earlier I noted Disarm as being my favourite track off of Siamese Dream, because, as it is viewed in context of the album, it is the pivot point in the sequence of the whole. After all, Grunge was big on the turning point. It was all about the contrast, the crispness of acoustic guitar chords juxtaposed against layers of distortion, tender poetic moments contrasted with occasionally truly misogynistic anger, and all wrapped in a tidy package of plaid, angst and on occasions, volume. Most importantly it had to emote the depravity of a disenfranchised generation of youth.
From the top 3 grunge albums
Nevermind, 1) Smells Like Teen Spirit (interesting story about where that song came from), 2)Lithium
Ten, 3)Black & 4)Jeremy (having said what I said about solid albums, I would have cut the tenth of the eleven tracks on the album (Deep) to make it a solid “Ten”)
Siamese Dream, 5)Cherub Rock, 6)Disarm
I think though, that one of the main things that bonds Grunge together into a cohesive style is association. The reason that I bring this up is that when I sit down to listen to various albums and try to decide if they musically fit into the “grunge” slot it becomes difficult. Art Bergman’s Sexual roulette from 1990, for example, fits the mould in many respects but would never have been thought of as grunge.
6) Art Bergmann – Bound for Vegas
One of my favourite grunge tunes is Nirvana’s 7)The Man who sold the World, that is in fact a song that was written twenty years earlier when Cobain was only three. When you go back and listen to Bowie’s recording the performance is intrinsically very similar, but by association we think of it as Grunge when Nirvana performs it. Hmmm, we all know that Bowie was ahead of his time, but 20 years?
Enough wanking from me about what is or is not grunge. Damned if I can put my finger on it, but am indeed interested in digging a little deeper into some of the roots of the scene.
From the top of the grunge charts comes Stone Temple Pilots’ 8) Big Empty, from, in retrospect, a pretty crappy album and Pearl Jam’s 9Better Man.
Brian, I applaud you for your eloquent acronym “GLFWEOOOB” to define the limits of your list. I think that Beck’s 10) Looser might fall in to one of the o’s. I remember working with Stuart when that was first released and we both drove in to the job site and had heard it on the radio and said “WHAT WAS THAT!”
Lemonheads, definitely. 11) Bit Part, ‘cause I luv Juliana Hatfields voice in it.
I took a re-listen to Moist’s Silver and, in retrospect, could not believe how derivative it was. Parts of it almost sound like it where lifted. I had never really thought of it as Grunge for some reason… maybe because it was Canadian and I had a very narrow geographical idea of where Grunge came from. Vancouver is after all a good 20 km from Washington State. In any case, I was so big into Moist at the time that I have to give them the nod with 12) Push.
…and here is where things start to go awry and veer off into various obtuse directions.
Lou Reed’s Magic and Loss is another one of my favourite albums from the era. Deep and moving it is at times shocking and 13) Power and The Glory makes the cut for bringing our life full circle and setting us up for the Magic and Loss.
Next comes the Irish Segment of the listification
James: 14) Sometimes. It’s interesting to listen for the influence of the Waterboys in their music, or maybe it’s just the passion of the Irish!
Irish nod number two goes to U2 for coming back and re-defining themselves in 1991 with the release of Achtung Baby, their first full studio release since Joshua Tree. U2 found a new sound, and a new direction for the band that reflected the world that was changing around them. No it ain’t “GLFWEOOOB”, but you can definitely hear the influence and a lot more on 15) Zoo Station
The Waterboys were granted well on their way down hill when they recorded Dream Harder, however, 16) The return of Jimi Hendrix manages so beautifully to capture the energy the artist’s life. The lyrics are pure poetry …stunningly Irish, although I think the album should have be seriously paired down to an ep!
…brings us back full circle to Seattle, the birth place of lord Jimi …now if I could only be clever and somehow tie it all together! I think there is a thread there somewhere though.
And getting progressively further from GLFWEOOOB
The Lowest of the Low – 17) Bleed a Little While Tonight
R.E.M – 18) Texarcana
Counting Crows – 19) Mr. Jones
Tragically Hip – 20) Little Bones
And lastly, and in part because I don’t know how to count or play games by rules, the start of something completely new, but really not that new at all, sort of; US3 – 20) Cantaloop
This list does not reflect, in whole or in part, the views or opinions of the author!
In my mind, three albums stand above all others in the grunge world. They are:
Nirvana, Nevermind
Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream
Pearl Jam, Ten
These albums have what it takes to be classics; they’re strong from start to finish, flow from cut to cut, contain no filler and where, incidentally, all commercially successful and had a big impact on the public. Earlier I noted Disarm as being my favourite track off of Siamese Dream, because, as it is viewed in context of the album, it is the pivot point in the sequence of the whole. After all, Grunge was big on the turning point. It was all about the contrast, the crispness of acoustic guitar chords juxtaposed against layers of distortion, tender poetic moments contrasted with occasionally truly misogynistic anger, and all wrapped in a tidy package of plaid, angst and on occasions, volume. Most importantly it had to emote the depravity of a disenfranchised generation of youth.
From the top 3 grunge albums
Nevermind, 1) Smells Like Teen Spirit (interesting story about where that song came from), 2)Lithium
Ten, 3)Black & 4)Jeremy (having said what I said about solid albums, I would have cut the tenth of the eleven tracks on the album (Deep) to make it a solid “Ten”)
Siamese Dream, 5)Cherub Rock, 6)Disarm
I think though, that one of the main things that bonds Grunge together into a cohesive style is association. The reason that I bring this up is that when I sit down to listen to various albums and try to decide if they musically fit into the “grunge” slot it becomes difficult. Art Bergman’s Sexual roulette from 1990, for example, fits the mould in many respects but would never have been thought of as grunge.
6) Art Bergmann – Bound for Vegas
One of my favourite grunge tunes is Nirvana’s 7)The Man who sold the World, that is in fact a song that was written twenty years earlier when Cobain was only three. When you go back and listen to Bowie’s recording the performance is intrinsically very similar, but by association we think of it as Grunge when Nirvana performs it. Hmmm, we all know that Bowie was ahead of his time, but 20 years?
Enough wanking from me about what is or is not grunge. Damned if I can put my finger on it, but am indeed interested in digging a little deeper into some of the roots of the scene.
From the top of the grunge charts comes Stone Temple Pilots’ 8) Big Empty, from, in retrospect, a pretty crappy album and Pearl Jam’s 9Better Man.
Brian, I applaud you for your eloquent acronym “GLFWEOOOB” to define the limits of your list. I think that Beck’s 10) Looser might fall in to one of the o’s. I remember working with Stuart when that was first released and we both drove in to the job site and had heard it on the radio and said “WHAT WAS THAT!”
Lemonheads, definitely. 11) Bit Part, ‘cause I luv Juliana Hatfields voice in it.
I took a re-listen to Moist’s Silver and, in retrospect, could not believe how derivative it was. Parts of it almost sound like it where lifted. I had never really thought of it as Grunge for some reason… maybe because it was Canadian and I had a very narrow geographical idea of where Grunge came from. Vancouver is after all a good 20 km from Washington State. In any case, I was so big into Moist at the time that I have to give them the nod with 12) Push.
…and here is where things start to go awry and veer off into various obtuse directions.
Lou Reed’s Magic and Loss is another one of my favourite albums from the era. Deep and moving it is at times shocking and 13) Power and The Glory makes the cut for bringing our life full circle and setting us up for the Magic and Loss.
Next comes the Irish Segment of the listification
James: 14) Sometimes. It’s interesting to listen for the influence of the Waterboys in their music, or maybe it’s just the passion of the Irish!
Irish nod number two goes to U2 for coming back and re-defining themselves in 1991 with the release of Achtung Baby, their first full studio release since Joshua Tree. U2 found a new sound, and a new direction for the band that reflected the world that was changing around them. No it ain’t “GLFWEOOOB”, but you can definitely hear the influence and a lot more on 15) Zoo Station
The Waterboys were granted well on their way down hill when they recorded Dream Harder, however, 16) The return of Jimi Hendrix manages so beautifully to capture the energy the artist’s life. The lyrics are pure poetry …stunningly Irish, although I think the album should have be seriously paired down to an ep!
…brings us back full circle to Seattle, the birth place of lord Jimi …now if I could only be clever and somehow tie it all together! I think there is a thread there somewhere though.
And getting progressively further from GLFWEOOOB
The Lowest of the Low – 17) Bleed a Little While Tonight
R.E.M – 18) Texarcana
Counting Crows – 19) Mr. Jones
Tragically Hip – 20) Little Bones
And lastly, and in part because I don’t know how to count or play games by rules, the start of something completely new, but really not that new at all, sort of; US3 – 20) Cantaloop
This list does not reflect, in whole or in part, the views or opinions of the author!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Okay, we've switched to the new blogger. I'm with you both, Stuart and Derek, in that I'm reluctant to switch to something new when something old works well. I always resist upgrading to itunes, because I figure at some point the music transfer or some other feature is going to stop working and I'll curse myself for messing around with a good thing. However, I get the feeling that the longer we hold out, the more we'll be prompted to switch and the slower the 'old blogger' is going to get for us so I've made the change. Not sure whether you'll see this change, or if the choice to upgrade is up to each member/poster. Other than a few tweaks here and there, the interface looks pretty much the same so I'm guessing that most of the changes have been made to the back-end, so the overall performance should improve (less chance of losing those posts, Bri).
Marc, I'm guessing that the issues your client is experiencing stems from the encoding of the music file, but you can explore a little more at the Sonos forum site. I've never used another file format for my ipod but my ears aren't as keen as yours, and have arguably been damaged by years of high volume headphone use. I do like the concept of streaming the music from a central harddrive to different speakers in different rooms of the house, though. I suspect this is how we'll all listen to our music at home very soon.
As for book club tonight, I'll bring my ipod and put together an hour's playlist of music that I think will go well with a Michael Crummey novel. Might be a little tricky, given that I have yet to start the novel, but there many hours left in the day, and I'm planning on leaving work a little early.
Marc, I'm guessing that the issues your client is experiencing stems from the encoding of the music file, but you can explore a little more at the Sonos forum site. I've never used another file format for my ipod but my ears aren't as keen as yours, and have arguably been damaged by years of high volume headphone use. I do like the concept of streaming the music from a central harddrive to different speakers in different rooms of the house, though. I suspect this is how we'll all listen to our music at home very soon.
As for book club tonight, I'll bring my ipod and put together an hour's playlist of music that I think will go well with a Michael Crummey novel. Might be a little tricky, given that I have yet to start the novel, but there many hours left in the day, and I'm planning on leaving work a little early.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
The reason i ask the question below about the mp3's, is that a client recently hade an audio system installed, nothing at all over the top (Yamaha receiver) along with a rather cool Sonos mp3 player. As far as i can tell, it is basicly a hard drive which is connected to the receiver and it gets it files loaded on to it from a the home pc. The Sonos has a very cool remote that has an iPod like GUI.
To make a long story short, i had a stack of disks on the job site and Lisa loaded them onto the Sonos via iTunes on her pc an i was astounded at how different the sound quality was when listed against the original cd it was burned from. Dynamic range was down and the soundstage and imaging were very flat compared to the wav. file. ...and i don't even have a very good set of ears!
Was the difference in the mp3's or the Sonos? ...or is there an installation problem with this particular unit? Eager to hear any thoughts you might have on mp3's.
I know, i know; i am supposed to be listening to the music and not the sound, but i feel as if i am only getting 90% of the music.
To make a long story short, i had a stack of disks on the job site and Lisa loaded them onto the Sonos via iTunes on her pc an i was astounded at how different the sound quality was when listed against the original cd it was burned from. Dynamic range was down and the soundstage and imaging were very flat compared to the wav. file. ...and i don't even have a very good set of ears!
Was the difference in the mp3's or the Sonos? ...or is there an installation problem with this particular unit? Eager to hear any thoughts you might have on mp3's.
I know, i know; i am supposed to be listening to the music and not the sound, but i feel as if i am only getting 90% of the music.
Stuart, if i am not mistaken, I believe that the host of the site, Kyle, would first have to sign on with the new google blogger before any of his invited guests would be allowed to post with the new blogger; so until he does so, you are off the hook!
Stuart, I am curious about what file formats you are using on your iPod? ... have any of you other iPloders experimented with file formats other than the mp3 ...care to comment on your findings?
Still working on the list, honestly.
Stuart, I am curious about what file formats you are using on your iPod? ... have any of you other iPloders experimented with file formats other than the mp3 ...care to comment on your findings?
Still working on the list, honestly.
Hey Stuart I have my iPod connected to my living room stereo on a regular basis so yes I am set up for your convenience. As for the new vs old blogger I am like you Stuart. If something works then why switch so I haven't tried the new version.
Looks like we're good for Friday February 16th at my place. Still waiting on Marc's list re 1991-1994 but once that's in perhaps I can rip some compilation discs that cover the period.
Looks like we're good for Friday February 16th at my place. Still waiting on Marc's list re 1991-1994 but once that's in perhaps I can rip some compilation discs that cover the period.
Are you set up for ipods Derek? it saves me having to bring 8 cds along.... by the way Derek, you and Brian and Kyle are welcome to bring your ipods to Yvettes book club night ,as Yvette falls short in the music host department, and I am set up for it...( not that Im pressuring you Mr Mercer....)
Lads please do comment on my new metabeats blogger question that I asked previously, you may have missed it...Has it worked for you well?
s
Lads please do comment on my new metabeats blogger question that I asked previously, you may have missed it...Has it worked for you well?
s
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Just re-reading earlier posts and I see you're hosting, Derek, which is fine. Hope Ciaran has earplugs.
I'm into bringing some of the classical pieces and Prokofiev is fine with me.
Good to hear about the Courthouse as I muchly dig east-end venues. As much as I enjoy traipsing through the Queen West West and College St. environs, the $20 cab rides seem like so much waste of beer money. I couldn't help but laugh at one of the quotes in the article, specifically,
“The opening week of The Courthouse is a tribute to the Montreal Bistro and Top O' The Senator” states Taylor. “Following in their footsteps, we hope this will become another great home for local and touring artists alike”.
He might have added, "Except we'll try to avoid those footsteps which led to suddenly closing up shop".
I'm into bringing some of the classical pieces and Prokofiev is fine with me.
Good to hear about the Courthouse as I muchly dig east-end venues. As much as I enjoy traipsing through the Queen West West and College St. environs, the $20 cab rides seem like so much waste of beer money. I couldn't help but laugh at one of the quotes in the article, specifically,
“The opening week of The Courthouse is a tribute to the Montreal Bistro and Top O' The Senator” states Taylor. “Following in their footsteps, we hope this will become another great home for local and touring artists alike”.
He might have added, "Except we'll try to avoid those footsteps which led to suddenly closing up shop".
Yawn....well....was a nice little siesta...what day is it.....what?!!?
Okay, a little long since suggesting that we come up with lists and actually posting my own. Some will say that I've just waited until others have posted their lists so that I can agree with some of their choices but split hairs on some choices and come up with tracks that they've missed so that I look especially clever but....really, it's just laziness, and a busy bit of business travel in the last week and a half. If you're looking for examples of the above, look no further than this week's (last week's?) eye magazine, which boldy compiles its critics picks for best music of 2006 in late January. Can't imagine there were that may releases in December that would have prevented a much earlier listing but whatever.
Onto my list, which does include many of the tracks previously listed....
1991-1994 kyliep faves, limited to 20, but no doubt missing some key songs that i'll curse myself for forgetting:
Okay, a little long since suggesting that we come up with lists and actually posting my own. Some will say that I've just waited until others have posted their lists so that I can agree with some of their choices but split hairs on some choices and come up with tracks that they've missed so that I look especially clever but....really, it's just laziness, and a busy bit of business travel in the last week and a half. If you're looking for examples of the above, look no further than this week's (last week's?) eye magazine, which boldy compiles its critics picks for best music of 2006 in late January. Can't imagine there were that may releases in December that would have prevented a much earlier listing but whatever.
Onto my list, which does include many of the tracks previously listed....
1991-1994 kyliep faves, limited to 20, but no doubt missing some key songs that i'll curse myself for forgetting:
- Rave Down - Swervedriver
- Grey Cell Green - Ned's Atomic Dustbin
- Only Shallow - My Bloody Valentine
- Vapour Trail - Ride
- Mesmerize - Chapterhouse
- Creep - Radiohead
- Obscurity Knocks - Trash Can Sinatras (though I'm more than happy with Brian and Derek's picks here)
- Deluxe - Lush
- Lazy Day/Rodney King - Boo Radleys
- Today - Smashing Pumpkins
- Cannonball - Breeders
- Trigger Cut - Pavement
- Start Choppin' - Dinosaur Jr.
- Animal Nitrite - Suede
- Weirdo - Charlatons UK
- Big Time Sensuality - Bjork
- Whatcha Want - Beastie Boys
- Laid - James
- Sunshine Smile - Adorable
Honourable Mentions: Confetti - Lemonheads, Fait Accompli - Curve, We Are Each Other-The Beautiful South, Sliver-Nirvanna, Interstate Love Song-Stone Temple Pilots, Backwater-Meat Puppets, Loaded-Primal Scream, Connected-Stereo MCs, Hobo Humpin Slobo Babe-Whale, Call Me-Sons of Freedom, Can You Dig It-Mock Turtles, Slide Away-The Verve, Helpless - Sugar, Homeboy-Adorable,Big - New Fast Automatic Daffodils, Mockingbird-Grant Lee Buffalo, Velvet Roof - Buffalo Tom
February 16th looks good for me re: cd club meeting. Where we having it? Could possibly do it at my place...
i believe the 16th of feb is good for me...i have nothing really to add to your lists 91 to 94 , but i wait with baited breath for the compilation....the james laid album is probably my favorite from that era and one of my fave albums of all time...still played regularly...yada yada....I will work on my moist cd compilation for Brian in the meantime....are you lot all using the updated metabeats blogger and if so was the transition without problem, I am always suspicious of changing things that work perfectly well...
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