General Asylum

• Re: More questions about HiRez audio download sites, like MusicGiants - Tuckers 15:32:26 03/08/07 (2)
  In Reply to: More questions about HiRez audio download sites, like MusicGiants posted by Ray Kimber on March 7, 2007 at 14:05:12:

  We've done some work with them in the past. The music is really great! But it basically uses it's own proprietary player that is using Windows Media Center technology and DRM'ed lossless WMA files.
  As such you are stuck with the quality of Windows Media Player for playback. We are not big fans of the sound quality of Windows Media Player (to us it sounds bright, hashy and flat).

  But as a source of online lossless music, it's about the only game in town for major lable stuff.

  You should check out High Definition Tape Transfers, they are now offering hi-rez 24/96 downloads of their music, which has been converted to digital from early generation master tapes. The music selections are first rate, the sound can be really good.

  See Link below
  
  
  

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  • Master tape? - Jon L 16:03:08 03/08/07 (1)
    In Reply to: Re: More questions about HiRez audio download sites, like MusicGiants posted by Tuckers on March 8, 2007 at 15:32:26:

    I don't believe HDTT downloads are from master tapes. I understood they are converting reel-to-reel tapes into 24/96 PCM.

    I just paid for their Dvorak violin concerto 24/96, and it's sonically wonderful despite the tape hiss, etc.

    As far as the-download-website-that-will-remain-nameless, their Flac downloads do differ from my own CD rips. Mainly, downloads are appreciably louder in decibel level compared to CD rips, making you wonder if some kind of gain is applied during upload/download. Sound quality, once adjusted for volume, is pretty comparable to CD rips, though there are subtle differences depending on CD and files.

    The files, when compared, are of course not bit-identical, but I'm not sure how to make sure some of that is not due to different offsets.
    
    

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    • Re: Master tape? - Tuckers 12:11:43 03/10/07 (0)
      In Reply to: Master tape? posted by Jon L on March 8, 2007 at 16:03:08:

      I have bought some of these downloads, but have not actually downloaded them yet.

      If the files are 24/96 and they will have greater dynamics than a downsampled 16 bit file because the dynamic range is much greater. One of the things downsampling does is compress the dynamics.

      Depending on the downsampling method (I believe he is using Pow-r) it uses a dynamic algorithm that definitely changes the sound. The current crop of downsampling algorhytms are similar to HDCD in how they work and have similar or better results giving a 18-20 bit percieved resolution. It's definitely preferrable to use these algorythms to doing a simple bit reduction, they sound much closer to the higher-bit file.
      
      

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• I can't believe more folks haven't responsed? - mattcecil1@yahoo.com 09:13:21 03/08/07 (0)
  In Reply to: More questions about HiRez audio download sites, like MusicGiants posted by Ray Kimber on March 7, 2007 at 14:05:12:

  maybe try posting in PC audio or something?

  i signed up for MG about a year and a half ago, i got so fed up with the really compressed music avail for my Ipod. I've owned several ipods over the years and only purchased 1 song from Itunes...Snoop's 'Drop it like its Hot'! still i get Itunes gift cards for X-mas.

  anyways, after fiddling with MG for a few months i gave up. At the time their library wasn't all there...now i see its expanded greatly.

  The owner, Eliot, called me personally on the phone when i cancelled my subscription. i figured it was an act of desperation, but he was so nice and wanted to inform me about other items re: the site. he even offered to drop some of the silly contract issues they had orignally involving recurring annual fee's.

  i do know 1 thing, all the music i listened to from MG site sounded good AND downloading their software didn't make my computer crash, like other sites have before.

  after seeing you Post this twice w/o much of a response I had to chime in... sorry i'm not more help though.

  when will people learn that 'Friends Don't let Friends MP3?'

  
  
  

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• I was looking at this... - damage k 16:09:28 03/07/07 (0)
  In Reply to: More questions about HiRez audio download sites, like MusicGiants posted by Ray Kimber on March 7, 2007 at 14:05:12:

  a few days ago. But if I were to pay for a higher resolution than MP3 (which I don't use) I would like it to be uncompressed. This stuff is WMA so I think in some way I already feel a bit short changed, straight away tied to a compression format. I use a PC now for alot of music in the house and also an iPod for sounds out and about, and although I can use Apple lossless whilst on the move I find that whilst at home on my PC system it does not feel as good as a well ripped uncompressed RBCD.
  I probably would like to try a higher resolution than most that are currently available elsewhere, but are we likely to see any uncompressed RBCD or even higher sample rates. If the PC is going to become the true future of proper audio for the masses then somebody must go one better...
  Would also give me an excuse to get the new USB DAC I've been trying to justify...

  Cheers,
  K
  
  

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