Just received some cds I bought off of amazon..

[fleabag]

I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

 

[jpeyton]

Not sure why you feel regret. Buying CDs is the best way to purchase music today, as it has been for the last 20 years. I would rather support the record labels by purchasing a physical copy of my music, and be able to make high-quality DRM-free digital copies as I see fit.

 

[Squisher]

Plus, they sound better.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Just be careful when buying imports. Sony is still putting that root kit crap and other wonderful software on their CD's in other countries.

 

[imported_Lipton]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Not sure why you feel regret. Buying CDs is the best way to purchase music today, as it has been for the last 20 years. I would rather support the record labels by purchasing a physical copy of my music, and be able to make high-quality DRM-free digital copies as I see fit.

Yeah, buying music is never a negative thing. Keeping the original ones and using the copies guarantee that you won't destroy the CD and throw that money away. You get good quality and an unlimited amount of copying.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

:heart: The Offspring

 

[fleabag]

Any other songs should I add to my collection? I think what I bought should give an idea as to what I have and what I don't have. (i.e things before 1999)

 

[1prophet]

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

Very worthwhile but unfortunate with the clipping, did all the tracks hit 100% peak level when you were using EAC to rip them?

 

[RGN]

You bought the 3 best Beastie discs, so yeah, very very very much worthwhile.

Encoding won't hurt License to Ill, that fidelity of the recordings on that disc sounds like shit.

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: 1prophet

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

Very worthwhile but unfortunate with the clipping, did all the tracks hit 100% peak level when you were using EAC to rip them?

Thankfully these CDs we're pretty good about it, none of them 100% but did hit like 95% peak level. Cds made in 1999 however all hit 99.9% which is really too bad, it's almost as if the RIAA is purposely making reasons for people NOT to buy CDs anymore..

 

[Howard]

Gotta watch out for compression, too.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: fleabag
Any other songs should I add to my collection? I think what I bought should give an idea as to what I have and what I don't have. (i.e things before 1999)

Well, as somebody who was 14-24 during that decade and who spent much of it basking in music, I can give you some suggestions you might not otherwise get.

But let me narrow it down. You like BB and The Offspring. Is that because you like different genres or is there something both of them share that appeals to you?

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: 1prophet

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

Very worthwhile but unfortunate with the clipping, did all the tracks hit 100% peak level when you were using EAC to rip them?

Thankfully these CDs we're pretty good about it, none of them 100% but did hit like 95% peak level. Cds made in 1999 however all hit 99.9% which is really too bad, it's almost as if the RIAA is purposely making reasons for people NOT to buy CDs anymore..

Do you guys understand how the peak level works?

I often get files with a Peak Level below 90%. What is this Peak Level for?
The Peak Level of a song the maximum volume within the song. So 100% will have the maximum volume possible in a file. A file with Peak Level 50% will have only at its loudest point half of the maximum possible volume. So this is no quality information, it is useful for creating a CD mixed of tracks from different CDs and for normalizing.

That doesn't mean that it was poorly mastered or anything. I have some CDs that I know are good that have nearly all the tracks hit 99% of peak level. You need to actually load the song into a program and see where the minimum levels are for it to mean anything.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Not sure why you feel regret. Buying CDs is the best way to purchase music today, as it has been for the last 20 years. I would rather support the record labels by purchasing a physical copy of my music, and be able to make high-quality DRM-free digital copies as I see fit.

the regret is that you are handing money to thugs. and yet you don't really have a decent alternative. not to mention you are buying standard def music because they murdered hidef sound with drm and a format war.

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: fleabag
Any other songs should I add to my collection? I think what I bought should give an idea as to what I have and what I don't have. (i.e things before 1999)

Well, as somebody who was 14-24 during that decade and who spent much of it basking in music, I can give you some suggestions you might not otherwise get.

But let me narrow it down. You like BB and The Offspring. Is that because you like different genres or is there something both of them share that appeals to you?

I like lots of genres, what I don't like is grunge and what hiphop/rap has turned into this last decade.

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Not sure why you feel regret. Buying CDs is the best way to purchase music today, as it has been for the last 20 years. I would rather support the record labels by purchasing a physical copy of my music, and be able to make high-quality DRM-free digital copies as I see fit.

QFMFT

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: 1prophet

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

Very worthwhile but unfortunate with the clipping, did all the tracks hit 100% peak level when you were using EAC to rip them?

Thankfully these CDs we're pretty good about it, none of them 100% but did hit like 95% peak level. Cds made in 1999 however all hit 99.9% which is really too bad, it's almost as if the RIAA is purposely making reasons for people NOT to buy CDs anymore..

Do you guys understand how the peak level works?

I often get files with a Peak Level below 90%. What is this Peak Level for?
The Peak Level of a song the maximum volume within the song. So 100% will have the maximum volume possible in a file. A file with Peak Level 50% will have only at its loudest point half of the maximum possible volume. So this is no quality information, it is useful for creating a CD mixed of tracks from different CDs and for normalizing.

That doesn't mean that it was poorly mastered or anything. I have some CDs that I know are good that have nearly all the tracks hit 99% of peak level. You need to actually load the song into a program and see where the minimum levels are for it to mean anything.

Audio compression has become a problem. The problem we've been experiencing in the last two decades was the reduction in dynamic range, CDs were to provide great dynamic range over cassettes but because of the audio compression they experience, they're losing all their benefits with the way they're mastered.

 

[1prophet]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: 1prophet

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

Very worthwhile but unfortunate with the clipping, did all the tracks hit 100% peak level when you were using EAC to rip them?

Thankfully these CDs we're pretty good about it, none of them 100% but did hit like 95% peak level. Cds made in 1999 however all hit 99.9% which is really too bad, it's almost as if the RIAA is purposely making reasons for people NOT to buy CDs anymore..

Do you guys understand how the peak level works?

I often get files with a Peak Level below 90%. What is this Peak Level for?
The Peak Level of a song the maximum volume within the song. So 100% will have the maximum volume possible in a file. A file with Peak Level 50% will have only at its loudest point half of the maximum possible volume. So this is no quality information, it is useful for creating a CD mixed of tracks from different CDs and for normalizing.

That doesn't mean that it was poorly mastered or anything. I have some CDs that I know are good that have nearly all the tracks hit 99% of peak level. You need to actually load the song into a program and see where the minimum levels are for it to mean anything.

Yes, and I use Cool Edit Pro which can tell if their is possible clipping due to overcompression. Any file below 100% shows no possible clipping while those at 100% it's hit or miss.

Speaking of mastering one of the best mastered pieces I have heard is Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Alan Parsons quadrophonic mix off the original 1/2" Master Tapes on DVD-Audio.

 

[kinev]

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

One of my "desert island CD's"

 

[FoBoT]

http://www.pics.bbzzdd.com/bet.../dwell/worstthread.jpg

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
http://www.pics.bbzzdd.com/bet.../dwell/worstthread.jpg

Your insight is astounding.

 

[warmodder]

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: 1prophet

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

Very worthwhile but unfortunate with the clipping, did all the tracks hit 100% peak level when you were using EAC to rip them?

Thankfully these CDs we're pretty good about it, none of them 100% but did hit like 95% peak level. Cds made in 1999 however all hit 99.9% which is really too bad, it's almost as if the RIAA is purposely making reasons for people NOT to buy CDs anymore..

Do you guys understand how the peak level works?

I often get files with a Peak Level below 90%. What is this Peak Level for?
The Peak Level of a song the maximum volume within the song. So 100% will have the maximum volume possible in a file. A file with Peak Level 50% will have only at its loudest point half of the maximum possible volume. So this is no quality information, it is useful for creating a CD mixed of tracks from different CDs and for normalizing.

That doesn't mean that it was poorly mastered or anything. I have some CDs that I know are good that have nearly all the tracks hit 99% of peak level. You need to actually load the song into a program and see where the minimum levels are for it to mean anything.

Audio compression has become a problem. The problem we've been experiencing in the last two decades was the reduction in dynamic range, CDs were to provide great dynamic range over cassettes but because of the audio compression they experience, they're losing all their benefits with the way they're mastered.

People like compression so that's the way mainstream music will be released. It's an extremely tight, well polished commercial sound that scales well across systems. The mastering is hardly the limiting factor in most people's listening experience anyway. (ipod head phones, mp3 compression, etc all kill the sound way more--but people are fine with it)

 

[erikistired]

even with shipping buying cds off amazon can be the win. i find most cds i want for less than a buck, tack on 2.99 for shipping. i don't care if they are used, i rip them and put them in a box.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: 1prophet

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: 1prophet

Originally posted by: fleabag
I'm now ripping them as we speak in EAC and encoding them as FLAC, so I'm wondering should I feel any regret? Oh and in terms of supporting the RIAA, my justification for buying these discs was that they were made before the RIAA started prosecuting its customers. (not to mention that CDs were of higher audio fidelity at the time compared to now)

Albums:
Smash -The Offspring
Check your head -Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique -Beastie Boys
ILL Communication -Beastie Boys

So what do you think? A waste or worthwhile? I just can't believe that the music made today has so much clipping and that's straight outta the studio!

Very worthwhile but unfortunate with the clipping, did all the tracks hit 100% peak level when you were using EAC to rip them?

Thankfully these CDs we're pretty good about it, none of them 100% but did hit like 95% peak level. Cds made in 1999 however all hit 99.9% which is really too bad, it's almost as if the RIAA is purposely making reasons for people NOT to buy CDs anymore..

Do you guys understand how the peak level works?

I often get files with a Peak Level below 90%. What is this Peak Level for?
The Peak Level of a song the maximum volume within the song. So 100% will have the maximum volume possible in a file. A file with Peak Level 50% will have only at its loudest point half of the maximum possible volume. So this is no quality information, it is useful for creating a CD mixed of tracks from different CDs and for normalizing.

That doesn't mean that it was poorly mastered or anything. I have some CDs that I know are good that have nearly all the tracks hit 99% of peak level. You need to actually load the song into a program and see where the minimum levels are for it to mean anything.

Yes, and I use Cool Edit Pro which can tell if their is possible clipping due to overcompression. Any file below 100% shows no possible clipping while those at 100% it's hit or miss.

Speaking of mastering one of the best mastered pieces I have heard is Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Alan Parsons quadrophonic mix off the original 1/2" Master Tapes on DVD-Audio.

Compression has nothing to do with clipping.

 

[Orsorum]

I am one of those strange people who loves having music. Sometimes I make bad choices (C+C Music Factory, anyone?), but I love having new music around, even if it's old music (Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker FTW!). As long as it adds something somewhat meaningful to your collection, go for it.