The Classical Download Thread

[Todd]

dBpoweramp is my go-to for ripping.  EAC is the backup that I still use for some error-laden discs/tracks.

[badflautist]

That's exactly the kind of drive I use - although as DavidW suggests the capacity for higher speed does (usually) result in fast ripping.  I use/paid for dBpoweramp

https://www.dbpoweramp.com/cd-ripper.htm

there are LOTS of rippers but I like this because its stable, error-checks its own rips, has pretty good database for classical recordings, its easy to add/import album art etc and of course you can choose the settings for the ripping that you prefer.

If you have not done much ripping before - its easy - literally pop the disc in the CD drive, it will read it and prompt you to open the ripper etc.  You WILL quite often need to tweak/change/occassionally add ALL of the track information that you want to see.  When I have several discs to rip I just load one on in the background and then go on with whatever other work on the computer I happen to be doing.  It will rip away in the background quite happily.....

Thanks for troubling to answer in such detail.
However my main interest would be going the other way, burning/writing to cd from downloads. Have you used these drives for that?

[Roasted Swan]

Thanks for troubling to answer in such detail.
However my main interest would be going the other way, burning/writing to cd from downloads. Have you used these drives for that?

yes indeed (I think they would all do read and write as standard) but worth checking it says the max read speed and max write speed in the specofocations before you buy.  Again there are plenty of programmes to do just that.  I use Nero Burning.  No idea if this is a "good" programme - its just the one I've used for years, it seems to work fine and I'm used to it!  The interface is an easy drag and drop from the download file folder into the Nero Burning folder.  I tend to use standard CD-R for this - worth buying a good quality ones but these are still cheap for a pack of 25 etc online.  Obviously when you download the music files do them as lossless/WAV options otherwise you are just burning lo-res mp3's to CD.

[prémont]

yes indeed (I think they would all do read and write as standard) but worth checking it says the max read speed and max write speed in the specofocations before you buy.  Again there are plenty of programmes to do just that.  I use Nero Burning.  No idea if this is a "good" programme - its just the one I've used for years, it seems to work fine and I'm used to it!  The interface is an easy drag and drop from the download file folder into the Nero Burning folder.  I tend to use standard CD-R for this - worth buying a good quality ones but these are still cheap for a pack of 25 etc online.  Obviously when you download the music files do them as lossless/WAV options otherwise you are just burning lo-res mp3's to CD.

Sound advices, which are completely consistent with what I've been doing for years with good results (incl. Nero).

[badflautist]

yes indeed (I think they would all do read and write as standard) but worth checking it says the max read speed and max write speed in the specofocations before you buy.  Again there are plenty of programmes to do just that.  I use Nero Burning.  No idea if this is a "good" programme - its just the one I've used for years, it seems to work fine and I'm used to it!  The interface is an easy drag and drop from the download file folder into the Nero Burning folder.  I tend to use standard CD-R for this - worth buying a good quality ones but these are still cheap for a pack of 25 etc online.  Obviously when you download the music files do them as lossless/WAV options otherwise you are just burning lo-res mp3's to CD.

Sound advices, which are completely consistent with what I've been doing for years with good results (incl. Nero).

Thanks to both. No, I wouldn't touch mp3, 16 bit FLAC at least.

[stingo]

qobuz has a sale on Erato downloads until October 15th.

[71 dB]

No, I wouldn't touch mp3,

Depends on the bitrate. If it is 320 kbps, you are in real challenge to tell it apart from lossless formats. If it is 192 kbps, hearing the artefacts is about training your ears to detect them.

16 bit FLAC at least.

You don't need anything more than 16 bit FLAC. Anything higher doesn't give any audible benefit unless it is a different master in which case it is about comparing masters rather than formats.

[Fëanor]

Depends on the bitrate. If it is 320 kbps, you are in real challenge to tell it apart from lossless formats. If it is 192 kbps, hearing the artefacts is about training your ears to detect them.

You don't need anything more than 16 bit FLAC. Anything higher doesn't give any audible benefit unless it is a different master in which case it is about comparing masters rather than formats.

OK, so it's not just me 

I decided a decade ago that 16/44.1 sounded as good to my (aging) ears as any higher rez. I also agree about 320 kbps.

... And also agree that mastering is 90% of good sound no matter the medium or resolution -- figured that one out back when vinyl was still king.

[71 dB]

OK, so it's not just me 

It's not just you. It's everybody critical to the snake oil BS by audio industry.

I decided a decade ago that 16/44.1 sounded as good to my (aging) ears as any higher rez.

You don't need aging ears for that. People with young good ears hear hi-rez being better because of

(1) confirmation bias/placebo effect
(2) hi-rez version is actually different master!

... And also agree that mastering is 90% of good sound no matter the medium or resolution -- figured that one out back when vinyl was still king.

Well, good sound is the cumulative end-result of many things from what mics are used to record the instruments to mixing and master. Great mastering alone can't turn crap into gold, but maybe it can turn silver into gold. However, if we already have the mixed songs and all there is to do is master it and choose the format of delivery, mastering is easily 90 % of what matters. Near 100 % even.

[Roasted Swan]

As part of the Chandos website Winter Sale they have the entire Naxos catalogue downloads as 60% off.  However what is extra value is that the 60% is coming off a "regular price" of £5.30 which means you can download a full Naxos album (including the newest releases) as FLAC for just £2.30.  Given that the regular RRP of a Naxos CD is now over £10 - some places significantly more - this is a genuine bargain.

[DavidW]

I've found the following sets (which are my respective favorites) on Qobuz for about $10 each:




If you're a downloads type of person and haven't heard these, then wow are you in for a treat!

[Papy Oli]

I've found the following sets (which are my respective favorites) on Qobuz for about $10 each:



If you're a downloads type of person and haven't heard these, then wow are you in for a treat!

The complete Skrowacthingy boxset (28CD) is on Qobuz for £8 and a bit 

https://play.qobuz.com/album/4260034860902

[Spotted Horses]

The complete Skrowacthingy boxset (28CD) is on Qobuz for £8 and a bit 

https://play.qobuz.com/album/4260034860902

Unfortunately the 28CD box set is not available from qobuz in the U.S. It is available on presto-classical as a FLAC download for $253.

Does anyone here have experience with a VPN which would give me a UK IP number?

[Daverz]

Unfortunately the 28CD box set is not available from qobuz in the U.S. It is available on presto-classical as a FLAC download for $253.

Does anyone here have experience with a VPN which would give me a UK IP number?

I had no problem adding the set to my cart (I'm in California and have the Studio subscription to Qobuz) for $9.89, though I didn't try to buy it (I already have this set).

[DaveF]

Unfortunately the 28CD box set is not available from qobuz in the U.S. It is available on presto-classical as a FLAC download for $253.

Does anyone here have experience with a VPN which would give me a UK IP number?

I don't know if this will work for you, but right at the bottom of every Qobuz page is a dropdown box that allows you to choose a country.  If I search with it set to Netherlands (which is where my VPN takes me anyway), I can find the box with a price of €10.  (Having said which, I can also find it with the country set to US for $9.89).

[Roasted Swan]

The complete Skrowacthingy boxset (28CD) is on Qobuz for £8 and a bit 

https://play.qobuz.com/album/4260034860902

I have this set on CD - it is uniformly excellent.  Cycles of core repertoire for sure but very well done.  Bruckner is probably the highlight.

[Spotted Horses]

I had no problem adding the set to my cart (I'm in California and have the Studio subscription to Qobuz) for $9.89, though I didn't try to buy it (I already have this set).

Duh, incompetent searching on my part.

[Spotted Horses]

I did go for the 28 CD Skrowaczewski box for a bit under $10 on Qobuz. I listened to some of the Bruckner and I though the performance and recording were satisfying. Then I tried to download with their app. Nothing. I complained to their customer service, who said they know of the issue and it is expected to be fixed by Thursday. It used to work! I'm not downloading 28 CDs of tracks one by one. I guess I'll wait until Thursday. So much for instantly available downloads.

The problem is on Mac, maybe I can try to get it to work on a PC.

Note added: The windows app is working.

[NorthNYMark]

Yeah, I use a Mac and the downloader won't work. I got that Skrowaczewski set there a while ago for the $9.99 price, and it seriously must be the best bargain ever. I haven't listened to all of it yet, but what I have heard (the Bartók, all of the Brahms, most of the Bruckner, and some scattered Beethoven) has been uniformly excellent to outstanding. He seems to have a very warm, tastefully tuneful style that reminds me a little of later Bruno Walter (which, to me, is a GREAT thing). The sonics are very good as well.

I'm also eyeing that Petrenko Shostakovich set, but I think I'll wait until they fix the downloader issue.

[Spotted Horses]

I'm also eyeing that Petrenko Shostakovich set, but I think I'll wait until they fix the downloader issue.

Confirm, still doesn't work as of today (across multiple MacOS versions) although I've used it in the past. I certainly won't consider streaming from Qobuz, consider how inept they are.

Resorting to my work computer to download, which is a windows machine.