Comments on: Media Series Part 1: Audio

By: Janis Gonser

Janis Gonser — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:41:50 +0000

Scott,
Thanks for pointing this out.

Here is the Wiki reference on AAC for further clarification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Audio_Coding
and a brief description of the .m4p file extension on fileinfo.net
http://www.fileinfo.net/extension/m4p, which I was referring to as the Apple-only file format.

-Janis

By: Scott Spinola

Scott Spinola — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:55:28 +0000

Thanks for the tip! I’ll have to check those out when I get around to ripping my vinyl (right after I buy a turntable!).

Also, I just noticed a common misconception you included in your original article. The AAC audio format used in the iTunes store is not an “Apple only” format, it is the DRM applied to the purchased files that makes iTunes purchases Apple-only. Perhaps that is what you meant. AAC is a standard MPEG format just like mp3 and any company can use it. You can rip your CDs to AAC and move them to any other device that accepts the format, which, granted, is not too many. I believe Sony Playstation, Nintendo Wii, and Microsoft Zune use it to name a few.

By: Janis Gonser

Janis Gonser — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:33:20 +0000

Hello Scott, Considering your numbers, 150 and 300 does sound nostalgic. I am glad that I started now and not later. In regards of the LP conversion, Sarah and I are actually looking into buying some hardware that does the mp3 conversion as painless as possible. Here are the two devices we are considering. - Ion USB Turntable - InstantMusic Vinyl & Cassette Ripper I think the InstantMusic Vinyl & Cassette Ripper might be the better choice since it's not tight down to just records. I will post a comment after giving it a try. -Janis

By: Scott Spinola

Scott Spinola — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:53:54 +0000

Ah, the nostalgic days of having 150 records and 300 CDs. I guess everything is relative, but I chuckled when I saw those numbers.

With a music collection numbering over 600 LPs and 1100 CDs (numbers I am quite certain many out there can top) the process of fully digitizing my collection has taken me many months so far and I’m still only about 80% finished with my CDs. I still plan to purchase CDs for the foreseeable future, at least until the quality of digital downloads improves to true CD quality, but I also dabble in digital purchases now and again, usually as single track impulse buys.

I would love to know your experiences if you ever decide to tackle digitizing your LPs. I know that many of my most cherished records were never published on CD so the need to digitize them from vinyl is critical.

Thanks for sharing your digital music experiences!