mp3 players and i-pods?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,lester
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 05:08 PM

so I assume the ipod has a line-in? with which you can record from an lp or tape. If you have to go through a computer its definitely not easier than the iriver.

(but hey if you are happy with it, great. I use mine to record sessions
and I know Id need add-ons to do it with an Ipod so its not for me)

the itunes site notes the following- which is definitely not an issue with iriver..
'Synchronization occurs only in one direction, from your computer to your iPod. This means you cannot transfer music, automatically or manually, from your iPod to a computer, and you cannot use iPod to copy a music library from one computer to another. But, if you legally are allowed to copy music files, you can configure your iPod as a hard disk to move music files.'

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 05:09 PM

sorry that was from me.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 05:40 PM

I don't get that - "you cannot transfer music, automatically or manually, from your iPod to a computer" but "you can configure your iPod as a hard disk to move music files." How can both those statements be true? Where else would you be moving the music files but to the computer?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:15 PM

McGrath of Harlow - I use Real Player (free version) to copy tracks from a CD to my iRiver (v. similar to an iPod). You can set it up to convert to mp3 and copy, does a CD in 10-12 minutes on my 5 year old machine, (speed 750 MHz, ie fairly slow these days).
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Amos
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:44 PM

With iTUnes, you drag the track list of the CD into your iTunes collection and the computer transfers them. You can drag them onto the iPod if it is connected.

A

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Terry K
Date: 14 Jan 06 - 05:26 AM

McGrath, - I recommend iTunes for converting your CDs, absolutely brilliant, very quick (and free!) - I don't think there's any difference between Mac and PC (I have PC). You simply stick the CD in, click download and it all happens before your very eyes. I suspect all of the similar programs do it but I love the way the track numbers, names, time, genre boxes all fill in automatically (there's an auto-access route to some master database).

Though I haven't needed to do it, when you attach your iPod to the USB it comes up as an E: drive in My Computer, then you can do what you like. Allegedly.

On the battery front, I guess it depends how much you use the beast. I go on the principle that technology moves so fast that my iPod will probably be well redundant by the time the battery expires.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Grab
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 02:11 PM

Terry, that's an approach I don't get.

I avoided getting MP3 players early because they didn't do what I wanted (record voice and line-in), and/or they didn't have enough capacity for a reasonable amount of stuff (several hours of music), and/or they were too expensive, and/or they were too clunky.

These days though, you can pretty much get whatever you want to fit any of those niches. OK, you can guarantee that it'll have more capacity or be cheaper this time next year, but you'll still have it. Unless you change how you use it (if you want to store files as well, or if you decide that actually you *do* want to rip every CD in your collection to your MP3 player), then your decision will still be valid, and your player should still keep working for you. I guess my point is that unless you've had to make some big compromise in the player you're buying today, you shouldn't *need* another until your first one breaks.

And that's where Apple can go swivel on a splintery stick, as far as I'm concerned (and all the others with built-in batteries). No way am I spending all that on an iPod, just to have the damn thing die because it was badly designed in the first place. That's also why I'd rather not have a hard-drive one, because they just aren't as durable as Flash ones.

Graham.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Lester
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 04:51 PM

Graham

You are oviously not a "gadget boy". No one waits until a gadget has failed before buying a new one. When something different/better/shineyer comes out you just buy it. I have 3 ipods of various vintages but I will buy the next on that takes my fancy as well. Its probably why I have 7 melodeons and another on on order.

Join gadgetdom buy shiney consumer durables wether you need them or not :-)

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 07:04 PM

If it ain't broke don't fix it - and don't replace it either, if it still does the business.

When they do break down, of course, with most gadgets it turns out there's no one around who can fix them, and if they could it'd cost more than buying a replacement. Sad.

That's one reason traditional musical instruments are better objects of desire.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Grab
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 07:46 PM

Oh no, I'm definitely into my shinies too! :-) That's why instrument-wise I've currently clocked up 5 acoustic guitars, 1 electric, 2 octave mandolins and 1 fiddle, plus my wife's electric piano too.

But I'd rather get *different* shinies and have a range of stuff to play with, instead of spending money upgrading stuff that I don't really need to. That means I make sure the first one I buy is one that'll last. Unless I'm consciously just buying something to get me by, of course, in which case I'll buy an average one and upgrade when it no longer does what I want.

McGrath, for ripping CDs to MP3, I thoroughly recommend CDEX (free software). Simple, and does the job well.

Graham.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Terry K
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 03:37 AM

I guess it comes down to how you want to use it. My 20 gig iPod is for my whole collection so all the CDs, tapes, LPs can stay in the loft. And my whole music library is managed on the laptop, so for example if a particular song is being discussed on Mudcat, you can find and play all the versions you own instantly.

I see above that people like the iRiver, but it's only got 1 gig so is definitely only suitable for keeping a few selected tracks.

And the cost difference is just that - £80 for 1 gig versus £200 for 20 gig.

regards, Terry

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: alison
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 05:54 AM

OK, slightly off topic.... I was using an ITrip to play songs through my car radio, worked realyy weel for a while, now appears to have died.

has anyone else tried any transmitters that they recommend, or am I doomed to the "via the cassette" way?

thanks

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 12:37 PM

actually the iriver comes with a 20gig hard disk as well

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 12:44 PM

I got my 40 Gb iRiver H340 for 220 pounds on eBay
Superb piece of kit.
Ray

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 03:34 PM

thanks everyone for your help.

I finally settled on an MP3 player that cost £25. It has over a thousand MB so if Les got a hundred songs on his daughjters 550mb job, I should be able to get 3 or 4 albums no trouble.

Now can I upload that old Blues project Album from anywhere - the one with Koerner, Ray and Glover and Mark Spoloestra and Dave Van Ronk?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 03:47 PM

Always got to go one better eh Al :-)

Hope you don't listen to it whilst you do your Spotlight Guest performance at Market Rasen Folk Club :-)

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 04:40 PM

I've got the Maze at Nottingham before then Les - god alone know how I'm going to fill THAT room - no bugger's ever heard of me. What happened was, that I got this really good review for the album in Maverick magazine. I think on the strength of that, I got the gig at The Maze.......and fair enough it was a better review than jackson Browne or Christy moore got in the same issue - you know, really detailed song by song - still it doesn't alter the fact that no bugger's ever heard of me.

I think if I survive the Maze experience - MarkeT Rasen will come as light relief! One good thing, The Maze have given me No Fixed Abode as a support act and Tony and Una have got some sort of a following - so who knows......watch this space and see Whittle go mad......to the music on his mp3!

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Jan 06 - 07:01 AM

nobody knows about The Blues project then?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Scrump
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 05:17 AM

Just seen this thread. I'm interested in getting an mp3 player, mainly for listening to music while on the train etc., but if it would record as well that would be good. Using SD cards or similar would be my preference, if such a player exists? Physical size isn't the most important factor to me, but the capacity in terms of memory size is (if you can use SD-type cards you should be able to swap them in and out anyway (?)).

Also I gather that if you use ipods you get locked into itunes in some way (?) I'm not interested in downloading software from the web (not normally anyway) - I mainly want to create mp3s from CDs or vinyl records I already own (I can do all this so I don't need advice on that, thanks).

I just thought that things might have moved on since the above thread was last updated in Jan this year, and wonder if anyone has any current recommendations? With the festive season approaching, I might drop a few appropriate hints ;-)

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 06:37 AM

Maplin have a really cheap Mp3 player (£9.98) that comes with an 128Mb SD card!

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Scrump
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 06:46 AM

Thanks manitas. That sounds pretty good! I use SD cards in my camera anyway, so it would be handy to be able to use the cards for either purpose. I'll check it out.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rockhen
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 12:15 PM

Whoops, WLD, just read the last posts on here after PM-ing you about mp3 players, sorry. You got one and I hadn't read that! I've got 2 albums of yours on my mp3 player already. Keep 'em coming!