Most songs are now available in the new DRM free format.

Music quality wise am I better buying CD's or the iTunes Plus equivalent or is there little difference...

thanks, beoaus.

iTunes plus song are still compressed, using a lossy algorithm.

But the bit rate of iTunes plus is twice the one of "old" iTunes tracks, so it is better than it used to be. Most people should not hear the difference, but you will always get someone who will tell they can.

In other word, it is now very close to CD quality.

p.

You are better buying the CD in my view - nice hard copy!

Peter :

You are better buying the CD in my view - nice hard copy!

................and the ability to then rip losslessly, if required.

New iTunes tracks are re-produced direct from the record companies, or at least I was told so.  Just wondering if some are actually better than CD's, especially some poor 80's produced tracks...

I have to re-purchase a a few hundred lost CD's...

thanks beoaus.

beoaus:

New iTunes tracks are re-produced direct from the record companies, or at least I was told so.  Just wondering if some are actually better than CD's, especially some poor 80's produced tracks...

I have to re-purchase a a few hundred lost CD's...

thanks beoaus.

I wouldn't bank on it. Someone here did say something similar a while back  - my worry would be that they're still compressed and so it's arguable how much "better" they will be than the CD version.

Also, if you're replacing back catalogue, I've found CD's to be cheaper than Amazon and iStore downloads - I normally start here to find the best prices for CD's.

For albums, I'd buy CDs, for individual tracks, I buy from iTunes.

Also, if you've lost you CDs, then you'd better buy CDs again, at least you'll have a physical version and a file version. 

Thanks.  I'll try the link in the UK for CD's.  Had a quick look at Amazon though the international freight is a worry.

beoaus.

beoaus:

Thanks.  I'll try the link in the UK for CD's.  Had a quick look at Amazon though the international freight is a worry.

beoaus.

Ahem!  - missed the Oz Factor

I would imagine you have similar CD price comparison sites in Australia though.

Not that I have found...

Just priced a batch of CD's via HMV in the UK which I have used before...  120quid for CD's 90 odd shipping...  I'll have to find a a better way.

beoaus

beoaus:

Not that I have found...

Just priced a batch of CD's via HMV in the UK which I have used before...  120quid for CD's 90 odd shipping...  I'll have to find a a better way.

beoaus

 

is THIS any better - they at least claim free worldwide delivery and offer prices in Aus$?

Puncher:

Peter :

You are better buying the CD in my view - nice hard copy!

 

................and the ability to then rip losslessly, if required.

I agree CDs are probably still the best because of the ability to rip.  Its the best hard copy and sometimes, a CD can be re-sold.  Being an optimist for the future of downloads, iTunes and others are easier, don't have shipping costs, or packaging waste.  I like the concept of iTunes LP and have purchased one album so far.  I am hoping that ultimately Apple will sell lossless tracks.  This of course will cost extra and may not be DRM free. Already some recording companies sell tracks and albums in the lossless FLAC format.  I hope Apple feels the pressure.  (Am I dreaming?) 

linder:

te.  I like the concept of iTunes LP and have purchased one album so far.

Do you mean the new format of liner notes and art work introduced with iTunes 9?

Can you tell us what you think of it ... to save me buying an album I don't want just to explore the technology :D

I suspect that the richness of the additional material will vary from album to album ... which is a pity because unlike the old LP or even the CD one wont be able to inspect the materials before making a purchase :(

elephant:

linder:

te.  I like the concept of iTunes LP and have purchased one album so far.

Do you mean the new format of liner notes and art work introduced with iTunes 9?

Can you tell us what you think of it ... to save me buying an album I don't want just to explore the technology :D

I suspect that the richness of the additional material will vary from album to album ... which is a pity because unlike the old LP or even the CD one wont be able to inspect the materials before making a purchase :(

I do mean the new format introduced with iTunes 9.  iTunes LP varies among the albums but basically you get liner notes, cover artwork, photos and usually music videos.  When you play an iTunes LP, the application displays the artwork and menu within the entire area used by iTunes.  You could also do a full screen.  I have a 27 inch iMac and iTunes LP looks spectacular.

In the old days of vinyl albums, there was large cover art and liner notes that were sometimes more of a collector's item than the record.  However in the very very old days of 78 rpm records, you could listen to a recording before buying it. I think the ability to preview a recording is one of the best feature of iTunes.

My guess or wishful thinking is iTunes LP is part of Apple's tablet strategy.  They will need iTunes content that will be more compelling on a smaller screen.  I have seen the 'Mayhem' iTunes LP on my nephew's Mac.  Although I didn't know what 'Mayhem' was, I was amazed.  It is presented like a comic book with an option of hearing actors reading the dialog.  I think it was at least 25 pages.  Don't ask me about the music!

linder:

My guess or wishful thinking is iTunes LP is part of Apple's tablet strategy.  

I agree - I have the same hypothesis ... as well as this idea --> Time Inc's vision of a tablet magazine

linder:

They will need iTunes content that will be more compelling on a smaller screen.  I have seen the 'Mayhem' iTunes LP on my nephew's Mac.  Although I didn't know what 'Mayhem' was, I was amazed.  It is presented like a comic book with an option of hearing actors reading the dialog.  I think it was at least 25 pages.  

Great ! I may do that just for the experience ...

linder:

Don't ask me about the music!

I won't, the name says it all already :-)

linder:

 Although I didn't know what 'Mayhem' was, I was amazed.  It is presented like a comic book with an option of hearing actors reading the dialog.

based on your experience - and sampling the two Mayhems available - I went for the second as the song was more to my taste 

you are right - the experience of the comic was great 

a bit like those extra DVDs of The Watchmen

however it was a heft download - 195.6MB for the comic alone, the song was 8.3MB

I am now very tempted to buy some of the others (I did some iTunes sampling):

• The "Norah Jones" with two music videos included, but I already had bought the CD 
• The Rolling Stones "On Yer Ya-Ya's Out!" although I shudder to think what its included 25 minute DVD will be in download
• "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" ... although how many variations of 'Obsessed' can one take ?
• Jack Johnson "En Concert" is appealing
• The Doors: "40th Anniversary Mixes" ... but again I already have the CD version

It is a little frustrating having to do the trade-off between a CD with all its advantages, and these iTunes packages with their bonus features !

I am however very pleased that the iTunes catalogue has grown from 4 albums at the launch to now 14 (although to call the two singles of Mayhem albums is a little rich except they are inexpensive)

I took the plunge and purchased the Jack Johnson "LP" and had an enjoyable experience as music, but the visual component was little more than a changing montage of photographs from the live tour -- nothing as powerful as the comic book that was packaged with "Mayhem".

One surprise with my two iTunes LP purchases was that their "liner notes" content does not "play" when iTunes steps through the playlist.

I was using the "Recently Added" playlist, so all the songs in the LP played, but the associated visual content did not play.

The issue appears to be iTunes as the "liner notes" content is not ticked [√] in the playlist, not can it be activated with a "tick", it requires selection by a mouse (and then double click or the "play").

And I tried to see if it was possible to construct an "LP" only playlist ... no such luck, there appears to be no discrete meta-data that identifies this content as being of a unique type requiring special handling ... ah well, roll on iTunes 10?

PS it is interesting that the "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" content is misclassified by the iTunes store, I think it is not actually formatted as "LP" content ... it does to only have bonus music videos not the interactive content.

Puncher:

beoaus:

Not that I have found...

Just priced a batch of CD's via HMV in the UK which I have used before...  120quid for CD's 90 odd shipping...  I'll have to find a a better way.

beoaus

 

 

is THIS any better - they at least claim free worldwide delivery and offer prices in Aus$?

Looks to be better on the CD prices...  I'll try this again....

I use the Apple TV and as yet the LP component does not seem to integrate well the music videos so...

For my back catalog replacement it looks like CD's the newer stuff I'm not so sure. What did you think of the sound comparision with Nora Jones on CD and thru iTunes, same question with the Doors?

I bought AmyWinehouse on CD, iTunes and the 180 HQ record... The record wins over the CD and iTunes...

this thread is going in a few directions...