[slinkelist] Digital Audio server
Brian Atkins
brian@posthuman.com
Sat, 18 Nov 2000 17:15:04 -0500
Right, I want pure wav files, not mp3. Hard drives are just entering the
range where this financially makes sense. The important thing to realize is
that hard drive capacity is doubling every 12 months or even faster, for the
same price.
shawn@sboyle.com wrote:
>
> I didn't figure MP3 compression into it because Brian specifically mentioned .wav files. If you do consider compression I bet the cost/min of music definitely falls below that of a changer. And granted MP3s can be randomly accessed better but with multiple changers you get almost the same amount of flexibility. Maybe I just don't like the idea of too much convergence. To me the PC is not the best way to deliver music -- backups and restores are a pain in the ass, you have to get the audio from wherever the PC is to wherever you amp is, and I don't care what OS your using a PC will have more down time than a CD player.
>
> Plus there's the fact that CD's are hardly the final word in digital audio. SACDs are patiently waiting in the wings, and there's the possibility of multichannel [more than two] audio being delivered on DVD. While I have no idea how most of us will get our music in the future, I know it certainly won't still be on CDs. And with more data being stored on the disc [bringing with it better sound] it becomes less and less practical to store that data on a HD, or stream it over the internet. [Attention record companies -- this is a great way to beat Napster.]
>
> My point isn't that MP3s are bad, it's that an Slink-e and changer solution is not obsolete. And I don't think this type of solution will become obsolete for a long time.
>
> Who needs to work? This is much more fun.
>
> -Shawn
>
> On Fri, 17 November 2000, Schaaf John wrote:
>
> >
> > Don't forget that MP3's are compressed. Even at 5 to 1 compression, 30 gig
> > hard drives can be had for under $200 and you win over a $200 200 disc
> > changer. I know they can be had for under $200 also, just some numbers. I
> > compress MP3's at 10 to 1 and can't hear the difference so it comes out way
> > cheaper. Also, a hard drive can be accessed on a per song basis faster than
> > your changer can change cd's. You do however loose the ability to fade
> > between tracks from different cd's if you have more than one changer. You
> > can also back your MP3's up onto cd-r's so if your data HD does blow up, you
> > don't lose your collection and they will restore pretty quick (or use tape)
> > and they are then also portable.
> >
> > Just more thoughts.
> > I am really going back to work now.
> >
> > John
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: shawn@sboyle.com [mailto:shawn@sboyle.com]
> > Sent: Friday, November 17, 2000 9:14 AM
> > To: slinkelist@nirvis.com
> > Subject: Re: [slinkelist] Digital Audio server
> >
> >
> > I think this depends on which direction Sony goes with their equipment. As
> > long as they keep a two way interface, whether it's Control A1 or two way
> > IR, or Firewire, or whatever, there will be a need for the hardware based
> > Slink-e. Personally I will never give up my CD changers. Hard drives are
> > fast, but it's all too easy to lose data. I'll still use MP3s to copy the
> > occasional disc that I don't like enough to spend $15 on, but I'll keep the
> > bulk of my music on nice, safe, cheap CDs. [If my math is right the cost/MB
> > of CDs in a changer is much lower that of hard drives.]
> >
> > Then there's my Sony receiver and MD deck both of which I control with the
> > Slink-e, and if Sony wakes up and gives it's next line of DVD changers the
> > same Control A1II features that it's CD changers have, I'll be all set.
> >
> > I'm going to keep my little Slink-e box a part of my home theater setup for
> > as long as I can.
> >
> > -Shawn
> >
> >
> > On Thu, 16 November 2000, Brian Atkins wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > no no no, what Colby has to realize is that with 180GB hard drives now
> > > becoming available, he needs to work on ditching the whole hardware based
> > > CDJ approach (i.e. slink-e and changers). He needs to come up with a way
> > > to auto-rip CDs via changers into WAVs, and modify CDJ to work with those.
> > > I want to get rid of my changers!!! (and I hate MP3 quality) I would
> > gladly
> > > pay for the CDJ software if it could do this.
> > >
> > > P.S. I am not sure if it is what you want, but look at shoutcast.com
> > >
> > > Tom Hammond-Doel wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Slightly off subject.
> > > >
> > > > Is there a REASONABLY priced digital audio server out there? All the
> > > > thing has to do is have an ethernet connection in and a decoded MP3
> > > > audio out. After that, even CDJ could control the thing with the
> > > > correct interface placed on it.
> > > >
> > > > I've seen the Audiotron, DAS, and AudioRequest, but they're over spec'd
> > > > and subsequently overpriced.
> > > >
> > > > Just a SIMPLE NETWORK MP3 PLAYER! That's not too much to ask is it? Is
> > > > this another device I'm going to have to build myself (I'm a firmware
> > > > engineer)? For that matter, Colby, this seems like a prime project for
> > > > you. Want some help? Throw a Net+Arm and MP3 decoder on a card, or use
> > > > a PC104. Seems pretty simple.
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> > > --
> > > Brian Atkins
> > > Director, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
> > > http://www.singinst.org/
> > >
> > >
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--
Brian Atkins
Director, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
http://www.singinst.org/