iChoones

[Catsby]

Catsby is a fan of music. He likes to listen to it, but he does not consider himself an audiophile.
He owns an iPod, and currently uses about 4% of it. Catsby has been pleased with the sound quality to date, mainly because he listens to it whilst there is background noise and through the "please mug me, i have an iPod" headphones.

In order to expand the use of the iPod to about 10%, Catsby has purchased some songs from iTunes. As before, he is happy with the sound from the iPod itself.
Catsby is lucky enough to have purchased a car with a Bose sound system. So Catsby burnt the songs to CD, in order to play them on the way to work. In short, Catsby does not "feel" the songs are all there. Catsby doesn't feel the need to nod his head to the same song when it is played from the CD, but he does when it is on the radio.
This saddens Catsby.

Does this mean Catsby should no longer buy from iTunes due to the bit rate not being adequate? If so, Catsby would like to know if is it relatively easy to import songs purchsed elsewhere to the iPod? Or has Catsby pissed a great deal of money up a wall?

Catsby thanks you in advance for all contributions, even from those with disturbing avatars!

 

[Cask]

What is the bitrate you get from the itunes store?

 

[Catsby]

Catsby believes it is 128. But Catsby was offered no choice in the matter, as far as he can remeber.

 

[Tom]

I too have a bose system, but I tend to download mp3s. They don't sound particularly brilliant, so if you can, try and get the original wav files and use those instead. The wmp method of compression (can't remember the one) is much better than mp3, which is getting very old now.

 

[Loxleyhood]

Is Catsby aware that his avatar is in fact a picture of Twisp?

 

[Catsby]

Catsby is aware of this.

 

[Cask]

Could always buy it from itunes and download a nice 256kbps EAC/Lame copy from emule if it keeps your conscience clear. Pretty bad for itunes making their rips such low bitrate but maybe it isn't their fault.

 

[Alliandre]

It is reasonably easy to transfer songs from CD to Catsby's iPod. Catsby should just use iTunes to get them onto Catsby's computer, then get them off the computer with Catsby's iPod

From other places it's pretty much as easy, though Catsby may have to convert the file type to one that Catsby's iPod recognises. I had the problem of my iRiver not recognising any of my AAC files. It wasn't pretty after downloading 16GB of music

 

[pcg79]

rip from CD at a nice high bitrate, and use ephpod (it's free) to transfer songs over

 

[Brynn]

rip from CD at a nice high bitrate, and use ephpod (it's free) to transfer songs over

i use ehpod because the one that came with the ipod wouldn't work - for some unknown reason.

 

[pcg79]

i use it because its better

 

[babs]

iTunes tracks are great. They are 128k granted, but it's MP4 and sounds much nicer than mp3.

 

[Wij]

Where have you been Mr Catsby ?

 

[Bodhi]

As I pointed out on the spam thread in the music forum, I don't see the point in buying mp3's. As Catsby has found out, if you burn them to CD and play them on a decent hi-fi they sound quite poor, all compressed and muffled (in comparison to an original CD anyway). I mean it's nice to be able to download tunes and all, but it's even nicer to get a crystal clear copy from HMV.

 

[JBP|]

get an adapter for the ipod so it can plug into your car stereo

(assuming your cd player has an auxillary socket)


works a treat with a zen

 

[Alliandre]

get an adapter for the ipod so it can plug into your car stereo

(assuming your cd player has an auxillary socket)


works a treat with a zen

Catsby could also plug it in using one of the tape player ones as well.

 

[leggy]

Itrip baby

 

[Tom]

As I pointed out on the spam thread in the music forum, I don't see the point in buying mp3's. As Catsby has found out, if you burn them to CD and play them on a decent hi-fi they sound quite poor, all compressed and muffled (in comparison to an original CD anyway). I mean it's nice to be able to download tunes and all, but it's even nicer to get a crystal clear copy from HMV.

My sentiments exactly. When somebody offers a pay service that allows you to download uncompressed wavs (and 24-bit ones would be nice) of albums, then I'll pay. Until then, I'll be pirating ahoy!

 

[Tom]

Catsby could also plug it in using one of the tape player ones as well.

Those are shite. They do a very poor imitation of the RIAA curve. Seriously, don't even bother.

 

[Alliandre]

Those are shite. They do a very poor imitation of the RIAA curve. Seriously, don't even bother.

True. But you do get music if your car hasn't got a cd player (like the two that I drive most of the time)

 

[babs]

Google leggy's post, if you can get one here that is.

 

[Catsby]

Where have you been Mr Catsby ?

Catsby has been on a journey of self discovery. Catsby found that in the end, he was where he had left himself.

Catsby thanks everyone for their input, and indeed, Catsby could wire the iPod straight into the stereo. However, Catsby is unsure if this would actually improve the sound quality. Catsby thinks that if it does, this implies sound qualit is lost when burning the CD in wav format. Catsby is further left in the dark.

 

[nath]

I would imagine it's just playing it on the stereo shows up the lack of quality, whereas on headphones you're not as aware of it.


Probably.