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General discussion

How do you acquire most of your MP3s?

Aug 15, 2005 9:47AM PDT

How do you acquire most of your MP3s?

From an online subscription service (which one?)
From a pay-per-download service (which one?)
From a P2P client (is it legal?)
I rip them from CDs that I own (tell us more)
Other (tell us more)
I don't have MP3s (why not?)

Discussion is locked

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I Mostly Rip My Own CD's...and some from my friends.
Aug 16, 2005 12:08PM PDT

I like CD's over MP3's, but I love the MP3 format too because of its flexibility and portability. I have a philosophy, if the CD is good enough (meaning 4-5 songs are great), I buy it. If I only like one or two songs, I try to find them as part of a compilation, soundtrack, etc. If I can't find them, I try to get it from a friend.
I don't like to buy music from an online service. It's not that I refuse to pay, but that I don't like the quality that's available.

When I rip MP3, I use settings and bit rates that are not usually available from online services. Sometimes I encode at 192 Kbps CBR, 224 Kbps CBR, or 224 Kbps VBR. It all depends on the type of song and purpose. As you can see, my settings are way better than the 128 kbps AAC, WMA, MP3, etc that are "standard" for online music. I'm not an audiophile, but I consider myself an above average listener. I often notice the difference between a 128 Kbps MP3 file and a 192 Kbps one. Bottom line there's nothing out there that would make me wanna buy an MP3 song.

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Dwonload per megabit
Aug 16, 2005 12:36PM PDT

allogmp3.com

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typo
Aug 16, 2005 12:38PM PDT

I meant allofmp3.com great site and affordable

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I get most of my mp3s
Aug 16, 2005 1:59PM PDT

I get my mp3s from itunes & from my cd library. I like the option of buying a single song or the entire album

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Come on!
Aug 16, 2005 2:01PM PDT

I'm a musician...and I understand that muisic isn't about money. Its about expressing yourself. (at least thats what it should be about) . I can tell you that if I were to get a major album out there, I wouldn't care if people downloaded it. If they want to listen to my music then thats great! I mean do these artists really need more money? They still sell probably about half of their music through CDs which would be millions if they are big. And come on!...do they need a new set of rims for their hummmer h3?

All in all. They should not care about the money. That should be a second thing, and they should just be hapopy that they're making music that people like.

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I'm with you on this issue...
Aug 17, 2005 5:30AM PDT

but we'll both probably take all kinds of flak for "ripping off these artists". Most of the tunes I get off Soulseek is 1960-1980 era music I grew up listening to. Most stuff since then has absolutely no interest to me. I don't consider 99% of today's sounds as "music".

The stuff I download from the distant past is almost exclusively music I already bought long ago on LP. Since I already bought the rights to it once, I think I have the right to recopy it into another format. Besides, the old Hippie philosophy (and the music I've downloaded is mostly by supposed Peace and Love artists of that time) was that music was the end all. They all claimed to not be into the music scene to get rich. When they wrote and performed those albums, it was a labor of love. Now 30 years later some of them suddenly demand money again for a product I already purchased years ago.

I would also like to add that my downloading free music, I actually discovered a modern band that I truly enjoy - Dream Theater. Because of the free access and exposure to their music I have gone out and purchased 6 of their CD's and converted them to MP3's for my Creative Zen player.

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Come on !
Aug 16, 2005 2:02PM PDT

I'm a musician...and I understand that muisic isn't about money. Its about expressing yourself. (at least thats what it should be about) . I can tell you that if I were to get a major album out there, I wouldn't care if people downloaded it. If they want to listen to my music then thats great! I mean do these artists really need more money? They still sell probably about half of their music through CDs which would be millions if they are big. And come on!...do they need a new set of rims for their hummmer h3?

All in all. They should not care about the money. That should be a second thing, and they should just be hapopy that they're making music that people like.

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Aquiring MP3's
Aug 16, 2005 2:06PM PDT

I receive most of the mp3's from pay per download on both MSN Music along with Musicmatch Jukebox.

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I rip them from cd's I own
Aug 16, 2005 2:47PM PDT

I've only had an MP3 since the beginning of the year. I was tired of never having the cd's on hand that I wanted to listen to. So after some shopping I purchased the 20 gig Apple IPOD and never looked back. Although right now I may have been a little hasty about getting the 20 gig model. After copying all of my cd's to my harddrive I had just about 4800 songs. Now I realize with about 1.5 gig left that I have to be careful how much music I buy in the future.

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from ALLOFMP3.COM about 7 cents per song!
Aug 16, 2005 2:50PM PDT

awesome website supercheap!

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In transition
Aug 16, 2005 4:43PM PDT

I suspect that many of of us are "in transition" when it comes to the source of music. I ripped many of my CDs onto Windows Media a couple of years ago but that was the first stage. After my kids bought me an Ipod Shuffle the real conversion started. Virtually all of my listening is either on the Ipod or the computer. With very few exceptions I doubt I'll buy any more CDs. I recently bought my first "album" on Itunes. I've even used Windows DME to convert some old LPs and cassette tapes to digital format. Before Podcasting became the rage I was listening to old Prarie Home Companion and radio tapes on my Ipod.

BTW, we need to find a better word thn MP3 to describe digital music.

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MP3 from P2P
Aug 16, 2005 5:11PM PDT

It's not legal but cannot feel the difference
between download from another user folder and
lend a own CD to a friend...
There is something wrong in that law then...

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From my own CD's
Aug 16, 2005 6:40PM PDT

I have more than enough CD's of my own to fill hundreds of hours of music. In fact it will probably cost me a bomb in flashcardsSad Why pay for stuff when you can have it for free? Ecrivain.

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Why MP3?
Aug 16, 2005 7:07PM PDT

Why work for your music when satellite radio is available? Whatever mood you're in, there's a channel of digital quality music waiting for you without the hassle and the cost of downloading. It's in your car, your home, your computer, and in your headphones any time you want it.

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(NT) (NT) Why Not? - MP4s are much better quality.
Aug 16, 2005 8:18PM PDT
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Re. acquiring mp3's
Aug 16, 2005 9:05PM PDT

Although there has been a deluge of articles lately about subscription download services, P2P networks, etc. there are very few that point out the wonderful sites that offer free and legal downloads (e.g. Amazon.com, download.com, archive.net and many others). Granted you won't find the latest from the Black Eyed Peas et al, but as far as I'm concerned, that's a plus. You have the chance to hear some really fantastic cutting edge stuff and expand your musical horizons. Add to that the fact that these little-known artists welcome the exposure, and you have a win-win situation. And you don't have to deal with the appalling situation of not really owning the music you pay for.

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I use Total Recorder
Aug 16, 2005 9:57PM PDT

Unlike most people, most of the MP3 are spoken word. I use a program called Total Recorder to record streaming audio from sources like NPR.

I don't think I would have bought and MP3 player had it not been for Total Recorder.

Although, I have noticed that some stations are offering direct MP3 downloads which I really like.

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MP3's
Aug 16, 2005 11:07PM PDT

I backup all of my CD's and listen to copies of my CD's. Local libraries have a ton of CD music that can be converted to MP3 format. Who needs to down load them?

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Don't do much with MP3's
Aug 17, 2005 12:53AM PDT

Started to look at MP3 players. It's a challenge for a novice to determine what you really need. Most files come from my own CD's, converted (ripped?) using various applications. Not sure what formats are compatible with what players. Not sure if I want or need subscription capability. Does I-Tes = Napster = WalMart? In short I'd say info-overload is limiting my progression into the world of MP3.

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Do not have one
Aug 17, 2005 1:19AM PDT

Cell phones and mp3s fall into the same category.
Users have them both in position, turned on or not,
apparently to forstall any eye contact, now I do not have to talk to anyone.

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I rip them from my CD collection
Aug 17, 2005 1:25AM PDT

I listen solely to classical music and there is little downloading available. I listen to the music on one of two hard drive players when hiking, on an MP3 Cd in my car or in my bedroom. Since I am unwilling to fire up my computer when I am listening in my living room I have no access to MP3 other than a CD there unfortunately. I would like a hard drive connected my music system.
Jerry Howard

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Evolution
Aug 17, 2005 2:07AM PDT

I've gone from the good/bad old days of napster into legally acquiring music- whether it's from podcasts or free samples of music or places like mp3 com etc. I've really started to use subscription services since I listen to so many different kinds of music and am always on the lookout for new tunes.

I'd no more want to own the majority of music I listen to than I'd like to own the majority of video a person can view via cable or satellite. It's all about access, to me. Plus, with music to go, I can take it with me wherever I go- for a small fee. If I really want to "own" something, I'll buy it.

Contrast that with the enormous costs of actually buying music and then having to care for and transport it. Sooner or later, it's gonna be digitized anyway and put on an mp3 player. Sheer volume will dictate that. Meanwhile, I've downloaded approximately 90 songs this week and I've played them at home, in the car and at a jobsite. In the bad old days of cd purchases from all those major corporations which have been convicted of price fixing, etc., I would have paid at least .99 for each track. Outrageous! $90. In a week.

My costs for listening to the music wherever I've wanted to, minus the trips to the store: $1.25 as I belong to Yahoo Music Unlimited. It's got it's share of problems, but tell me, what store doesn't?

Finally, mp3's have changed the way music is disseminated, who can be a playa and how can music be accessed- all for the better. I'll never forget the feeling I got when I first found and downloaded world fusion music performed by a Pakistani man who was on NOBODY's charts. Yet here he was, here was his music and here was quite a treat.

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Yahoo! Music Engine is the best kept secret that I use
Aug 17, 2005 2:15AM PDT

For less than 5 bucks a month, I download as much music as I possibly can. Its allowed me to discover so many artists I would never have experimented with if I was purchasing CD's.

Some music I know people want to own, but with my subscription I'm able to buy tracks for 79cents, or album for 7.99.

No matter what your favorite format, for less than 60 dollars a year (about the cost of 4 CDs), you can still use your favorite way to aquire MP3s, and use this also.

But once you get started, I dont see how economically you would be able to justify using anything else. Unless you illegally aquire musice. And once again at this cost, why would u even take that chance.

I rotate about a Gig of new music in and out of my portable player every two weeks.

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Immoral to use permanently
Aug 17, 2005 2:16AM PDT

Though I have gotten many MP3's from KAZAA in the past, I have tried to get the albums of those artists I enjoy in order to be legal, and delete those files I got of artists I did not care for. In contrast to those who don't use MP3's due to the lower audio quality, I use them only in extreme portability situations...it is unlikely that anyone will carry vinyl and the stereo equipment necessary to get optimum playback to the top of Mammoth at 11K ft!--KJR

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Good Point
Aug 23, 2005 10:50AM PDT

You bring up a good point in that when I used to use KAZAA years ago it was to sample stuff that I would actually buy...And would buy if available to buy! I prefer the clean quality of legitimate suppliers, and support their business.

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Homer
Sep 5, 2005 5:16AM PDT

Immoral?

Yeah, but what are ya gonna do?

Homer

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rip them from CD's I own-Plus
Aug 17, 2005 2:30AM PDT

I own about 400---it's been a long process. In second place, buy them from iTunes and audible.com.
In third place, rip them from burned CD's from friends.


MP3's are great. I listen to a lot of radio programs that are on at inconvenient times for me, but now I can catch them by subscription. Also, have very little time to read, but now I can catch up on my reading with audiobooks, and get in exercise at the same time. It maximizes exercise time, and drive time.

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I love Ripping CD tracks to my MP3 Player
Aug 17, 2005 3:03AM PDT

I use the Sony NetMD Mini Disk MP3 player to rip music from my CDs. Yes, I am from the "Old School" loving the quality CDs provide music but I think these "New AGE" DJs who use CD's to mix music @ clubs will not understand this...There is nothing like a platter on a turntable to mix music. Most DJs use this argument but they do not appreciate the fact that the MP3 is for pleasure.

MP3 format and players are small and lite, for now is great, when you are jogging, listen to music on public transportation, etc but until they develope a MP format that revials CD quality, it will not replace the CD. I hope MP3 lives on.

I got tired of carrying CDs and the player around which can be very heavy and bulky. So I elected the Sony Net MD, a beautiful marriage with CD quality and MP3 format because I am not too big on MP3 Flash and HardDrive players.

So "DJs" get a grip, you thought your CDs were going to replace the platter but Record Companies STILL provide platters to allow the REAL DJs to do their thing.

And that's the truth!

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Where MP3's
Aug 17, 2005 4:44AM PDT

The usenet groups is the best places to download MP3's from - and very, very safe. As long as you use a filter, it can almost be done without interaction.

Cheers

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Get new CD's from YourMusic.com and rip them to OGG
Aug 17, 2005 6:45AM PDT

Back in March 2005, I subsribed to a service called YourMusic.com offered by BMG. For $5.99/month, they send me the CD that's on top of my queue. I set up my queue on their web site, similar to how Netflix works, and every month they send me the first CD. I can also buy as many CD's as I want for $5.99/disc (a set of 2 CD's costs $11.98, 3 CD's $17.97 and so on). A Dual Disc (one side audio CD and other side DVD) only costs $5.99 since it's physically only one disc. Very happy with the service.

I rip my CD's to OGG and not MP3. I compared both formats and I came to the conclusion that OGG is closer to the quality of the original WAV file.

Your milage may vary.