Napster!!!!

chut · 10-10-2003, 09:28 AM

Hey!
check these out!

http://www.napster.com/bits/

hijinks21 · 10-10-2003, 09:41 AM

its gonna suck though.. probably DRM and a god awful downgraded codec like wma or something

roughkat · 10-10-2003, 10:27 AM

It is wma.

chut · 10-10-2003, 12:02 PM

WMA can be converetd to mp3

frodobaggins · 10-10-2003, 12:13 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by chut

WMA can be converetd to mp3

Why would you do that ?

Never transcode from one lossy format to another, you lose quality. Only convert if the device you are trying to play it on won't accept the original format.

hijinks21 · 10-10-2003, 01:12 PM

yes WMA can be comverted but not if WMA has any kind of DRM in it. If it can then i'm out of the loop

chut · 10-10-2003, 02:27 PM

I was going to convert to mp3 so that I can downlaod and still use winamp. I've found some freeware converters that claim to be able to do this but haven't tried them out yet. If winamp can play WMA then I probably won't convert. But there will be some DRM limitations imposed on these files downloaded. so, I don;t want to have to deal with limited copies and such. There are ample reasons to convert, if it's possible, in my opinion. Lets see how long it takes for someone to write an app to defeat the DRM.

Peter

fluffy2097 · 10-10-2003, 02:58 PM

I wouldn't use the service even if you can transcode it. The quality will be terrible like everying the RIAA makes. When their CD's sound like crap, do you really thing a highly compressed Microsoft version will sound better?

chut · 10-10-2003, 03:15 PM

I uh...I for one don't think CD's sound terrible. Maybe my ears don't work right. I have some cd's and I think they sound just fine. I have been waiting for a "purchase the music I want program" for a long time. Not a "purchase the **** we want to sell you" type of program. If this sounds ok and the restrictions are not mind boggling, I will use this service. (depends on what music is offered of course)

fluffy2097 · 10-10-2003, 04:01 PM

Depends on the CD's you buy. However, many CD's these days are not produced properly. Their levels are not set correctly and music will sound far to bassy or tinny. It's not a problem with the media, or playback equipment. It's a problem in production. I am not an audiophile. I'm sure you have CD's in your collection that sound a LOT better then others, and thats what I'm talking about.

The WMA format is also crap. It just sounds terrible except at very high bitrates. Why should I pay good money for low quality music?

I could be wrong though. I'll decide to use it when I hear one for myself and if find it acceptable. That will be when someone I know gets the service.

hijinks21 · 10-10-2003, 04:13 PM

i think the best solution is just to give high quality files with no DRM in them for a good price. If its priced right people will pay to get just what they want since they know its gonna be good quality. I don't know how many of my friends house's I go to and they are playing like 92k/bs mp3s they got off kazaa thinking there's nothing wrong. Grant that most rates on kazaa are around 128 but I think that still sucks.

GIVE ME NO DRM AND GOOD QUAILITY FILES! You'll have a customer back in no time.