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Brian W.
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| Posted: 19 January 2015 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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Neil Young's Pono Music website is now up and running.
They only sell flac. I've downloaded several things from
them. (Some download-exclusive Annette Funicello albums,
for example.)
Pono works like iTunes, where you have to download their
software. But there's a bug where I can't finish
checkout through the software, I have to checkout and
purchase on the website, then it will open the software
and download it when you press "download my music." The
files will download to your computer in the "My Music" or
"Music" folder in a "Pono" file that is created there.
Song downloads are $1.99.
I still prefer Qobuz, actually, because you can download
as many times as you want -- Pono, you only get the one
download. In fact, I had a song download not complete --
I only got the first 14 seconds -- and I have a customer
service ticket in process where they told me they had to
get a new file from the record company. It's been almost
a week and I haven't heard anything back. Also, one
older digital single from about 2005 that they had
available, I downloaded it and it was not lossless, so I
complained and asked for a credit, and they said they'd
"ask" about it. That was about two weeks ago, and
haven't heard anything back. But... it's all English and
no dealing with proxy servers.
Go to PonoMusic.com if you want to register.
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Bwci Bo
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| Posted: 19 January 2015 at 7:43pm | IP Logged
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I went to download the mono version of Tommy James & The Shondells' Crimson And Clover but alas, the store is only open to U.S. residents. Bah!
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Brian W.
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| Posted: 19 January 2015 at 7:46pm | IP Logged
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Bwci Bo wrote:
I went to download the mono version of
Tommy James & The Shondells' Crimson And Clover
but alas, the store is only open to U.S. residents.
Bah! |
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That was one of the first things I downloaded, and I
meant to bring it up on the board... it runs a little
longer than the US 45, and the version on the 40th
Anniversary CD that is mono sounds like it could be a
different mix, so I actually do wonder which is correct.
It sounds to me like the B-side is a disc dub.
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aaronk
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| Posted: 19 January 2015 at 7:57pm | IP Logged
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Brian, the version on 40th Anniversary sounds like a disc dub to my
ears. I think it's the right mix, but there are signs of vinyl distortion and
noise
throughout.
Edited by aaronk on 19 January 2015 at 7:58pm
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Aaron Kannowski
Uptown Sound
91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop
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The Hits Man
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| Posted: 20 January 2015 at 12:12am | IP Logged
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Actually, Pono has been open to the general public for a
couple of weeks, and I am impressed by what is there, so
far. I'll be glad when they get all the independant
labels ingested, like Unidisc. I also wish the labels
would get off their booties and start mastering and
issuing more of their vaults.
The minute I download something from Pono, I immediately
back it up to a second hard drive for safe keeping.
Edited by The Hits Man on 20 January 2015 at 12:14am
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Brian W.
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| Posted: 20 January 2015 at 6:20am | IP Logged
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The Hits Man wrote:
The minute I download something from Pono, I immediately
back it up to a second hard drive for safe keeping. |
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Yeah, me too.
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Hykker
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| Posted: 20 January 2015 at 7:37am | IP Logged
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Brian W. wrote:
Pono works like iTunes, where you have to download their
software. |
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Well that's a deal killer for me. I refuse to install
special (potentially buggy or ad/spyware-laden) software just
so I can download a song.
Dumb name too.
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The Hits Man
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| Posted: 20 January 2015 at 11:43pm | IP Logged
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Hykker wrote:
Brian W. wrote:
Pono works like iTunes, where you have to download their
software. |
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Well that's a deal killer for me. I refuse to install
special (potentially buggy or ad/spyware-laden) software
just
so I can download a song.
Dumb name too.
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The name "Pono" means "righteous" in
Hawaiian. Once you understand that, the name doesn't
sound so dumb anymore. Some people don't like it
because it sounds too much like "porno".
Almost every online vendor requires you to install some
kind of software/app. iTunes does it. HD Tracks does
it. 7-digital does it.
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EdisonLite
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| Posted: 21 January 2015 at 11:43am | IP Logged
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What is "HD Tracks"? Is that a site like Pono that offers lossless tracks? Up until recently, I thought the only lossless site available was Qobuz, and that only works if you have a French proxy.
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Brian W.
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| Posted: 21 January 2015 at 3:40pm | IP Logged
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Oh, Gordon, you really need to get out more. ;)
Yes, HD Tracks sells 24-bit lossless, but they are album-
only for most of their releases. They've been around for
about four years. They also have a very small catalogue
that is heavily slanted towards classic rock.
Edited by Brian W. on 21 January 2015 at 3:41pm
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The Hits Man
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| Posted: 22 January 2015 at 1:00am | IP Logged
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Brian W. wrote:
Yes, HD Tracks sells 24-bit lossless, but they are
album-
only for most of their releases. They've been around
for
about four years. They also have a very small catalogue
that is heavily slanted towards classic rock. |
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And, that's what makes Pono special. It is the perfect
replacement for iTunes because Pono sells lossless, and
aims to get the same music as iTunes.
Oh, now, people are complaining that Pono only sells
FLAC. Well, no one complains that iTunes only sells
AAC, or that Amazon and 7-digital only sell mp3.
Gordon: Google Pono Music Store and check it out. They
are selling pretty much the same stuff Rhino had a few
years ago.
BTW, Brian, I tried to buy from Quboz, but couldn't get
a proxy to work, and i wasn't sure about the rate of
exchange. So, i'll just wait until they start up here
in the U.S.. I read somewhere that they were all set to
go, barring a few legal issues, and that they are going
to be up and running here by the second quarter.
Edited by The Hits Man on 22 January 2015 at 1:03am
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EdisonLite
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| Posted: 22 January 2015 at 1:47pm | IP Logged
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That'll be great if quboz is up in the US by 2nd quarter. Also, I'm surprised iTunes hasn't gone lossless yet. WAVs have to be supplied to them - it's been that way for a few years now - and then they convert to 320 mp3. So they already have so much in WAV format.
My guess is if/when they start losing revenue to Pono, all of a sudden they'll offer lossless, whether it's WAV or FLAC.
BTW, the first FLAC I ever bought was a Roberta Flack FLAC.
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EdisonLite
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| Posted: 22 January 2015 at 7:31pm | IP Logged
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Brian W. wrote:
Oh, Gordon, you really need to get out more. ;)
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True! And by "get out more", you really mean stay in more ... and check out all these lossless sites I was unaware of! :)
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The Hits Man
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| Posted: 23 January 2015 at 11:54pm | IP Logged
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EdisonLite wrote:
My guess is if/when they start losing revenue to Pono,
all of a sudden they'll offer lossless, whether it's WAV
or FLAC. |
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That's probably the size of it. Apple is stubborn, too.
Quote:
BTW, the first FLAC I ever bought was a Roberta
Flack FLAC. |
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The first FLAC I bought was Paul McCartney's "Band On
The
Run" hi-rez when it was first available several years
ago.
Edited by The Hits Man on 23 January 2015 at 11:55pm
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Brian W.
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| Posted: 04 February 2015 at 4:29am | IP Logged
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By the way, 7Digital is selling more and more FLAC. By
major artists, too... The Prince "Love or Money" digital 45
is available there in FLAC. The new Mark Ronson album,
some Michael Jackson, some Madonna.
Spotty FLAC selection, though, and nothing I can't get
anywhere else so far, but it is a good sign that more
websites are starting to offer higher rez files.
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The Hits Man
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| Posted: 05 February 2015 at 12:50pm | IP Logged
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I'll bet iTunes will be the lone holdout.
Edited by The Hits Man on 05 February 2015 at 12:51pm
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Brian W.
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| Posted: 22 February 2015 at 4:04am | IP Logged
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Deleted comment... never mind. :D
Edited by Brian W. on 22 February 2015 at 4:22am
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EdisonLite
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| Posted: 24 February 2015 at 12:52pm | IP Logged
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Speaking of all this, I recently had a conversation with a friend, in which I said I didn't like the sound of mp3s as much as CDs (or WAVs) and that I prefer buying CDs over mp3s because of the diminished sound of mp3s. He said that no one in the world can hear the difference, and that he didn't think I could either. So - I just posed a question about this up on my facebook page, asking people whether they can hear a difference or not.
If you have any opinions on this, and wouldn't mind looking me up on facebook and commenting there, I'd really like to know your thoughts.
I'm writing this here because it seems like there are a lot of us here that seek out CDs and avoid mp3s at all costs and get upset when a song is only available as an mp3. And also because ... with PonoMusic spending millions to get their lossless website up, I wonder why they would do this if no one in the world can hear the difference.
You can find me on facebook if you search for "Gordon Pogoda", although many of you are already my fb friends. And of course, feel free to post (copy/paste) your thoughts both on fb and here.
I'm also reaching out to the people here because you are very knowledgeable about this subject, even putting up frequency graphs here to show the limitations of mp3s (though that doesn't necessarily mean anyone can hear a difference.) But with the vast knowledge of people here, I thought it would helpful if people can explain (either in technical terms or layman's terms) what the difference between the two is (assuming you hear any) ... on the facebook survey.
I also welcome any answers of "No, I can't hear any difference." I'm not trying to skew the facebook responses to my side since I say I hear a difference and seek out CDs. I'd really like to get a rough concensus of how many do or don't hear a difference. Since I've posted on facebook, where I have a lot of non-music business friends, I imagine most people will respond "There's no difference" or "I've heard they're supposedly less quality and but I can't hear the difference myself."
Edited by EdisonLite on 24 February 2015 at 12:57pm
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bitman
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Of course, not all mp3's are created equal. Also, with advancing years the hearing starts to go a bit. In Neil Young's case (as with any musician) their ears are going to be more attuned to this sort of thing. I can hear the difference in lo-res mp3's. But, once you get up to the 256-320 bit rate range, I can't really tell them apart from .wav. However, I'm sticking with .wav just because I'm old school and I know I can trust it to be the best sound quality available to the average consumer.
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MMathews
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| Posted: 24 February 2015 at 4:01pm | IP Logged
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So true about not all mp3's being equal. The software used to create an mp3 and the settings used in that software will have a great impact on the result. A slow-encoded mp3 at 320k is almost indistinguishable from a wav when examined in spectral view.
And then of course, everyone's hearing is different which makes Gordon's survey an interesting one.
I think most of us who purchase music want to get the best quality we possibly can for our money, even if it's higher quality than we are capable of hearing.
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Top 40 Music on Compact Disc : Chat Board
Topic: Pono Music is up and running
