Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho

Subject: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: GUEST,emily rain
Date: 08 Apr 04 - 10:49 PM

for those of you stymied by realaudio and other baggy commercial applications for managing digital music, i offer this link:

http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/index.php

it's freeware, and very very easy to use. rip a whole disc to mp3 or wav with the click of a button. drink up me 'earties!

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 08 Apr 04 - 11:55 PM

Great idea! You can easily manage to put all of the small labels out of business. Won't that be fun? We small label folk can always go out and get jobs stocking shelves at Walmart. Who the hell needs the music we've been producing for over forty years, anyway? I guess, at seventy-five, I'm too old to stock shelves, but Walmart hires old farts like me to work as "greeters," so there's hope for the future, eh?

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 02:24 AM

Well, seeing as how the dnlds just won't for me...

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 11:10 AM

well...it's not like this was a new concept. There are dozens of programs out there that do similar things, and it is not necessary to use ANY of them to do illegal stuff. I have 6-7 programs to manipulate audio files for my own convenience, not to steal music. Too bad Emily used the word 'pirate'. If one uses this program or others to deprive ANY company, large...or small like Sandy, of their livelihood, shame on them!

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: harvey andrews
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 11:12 AM

I think this thread should be removed. It's antithetical to all things Mudcat.Well said Sandy.

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: Amos
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 11:28 AM

Emily did not use the word pirate and she did not suggest pirating. She said you could take the cuts from a CD and transfer them to a computer.

If you do that for your own use, there is no harm and no foul, such as for playing while using the CD drive for other purposes, or transferring the files to an iPod or similar.

The promotion of ships is not equivalent to the promotion of piracy just because pirates use ships! (I admit that the "me hearties" remark was unfortunately chosen, though!).

A

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: Johnny in OKC
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 11:35 AM

Note to Amos:
"Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho" is the
Subject, as entered by Guest Emily Rain.

True, it's not the first such program, but it's
the first such link I have seen on Mudcat.

Next you will have the FCC shutting down Mudcat
for promoting music piracy, yo ho.

Love, Johnny

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: steve in ottawa
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 12:03 PM

Setting aside fair use questions, one thing to consider if you play music from your computer is the fan noise.

Just a heads-up to let people know that finally quiet computers are available. There are even computer cases out there designed to look like audio components, with equalizer displays and volume knobs (eg. TVC-103 Case).

(Canadian dollars)
One general low noise site: http://www.quietpc.ca/
One home audio site: http://www.totalvoicecontrol.com/HTPC.html

The advantage of plugging your audio collection into your computer is that it gives you so much flexability with playlists. The disadvantages...lots of 'em.

Anyway, it's something to keep in mind, when deciding whether to get your next computer from a big box store, or to get it custom made locally, choosing quiet components.

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 12:12 PM

Sandy, being on the cusp between old values and new technology, and given that much of the audience at my gigs is young folks, I view things through a different set of prisms. But one thing I am troubled with by the young ones is their refusal to sacrifice the convenience of technology to basic moral values. Please note that I did not say Christian values. A universal concept in the civilized world, and a timeless one, is that it is wrong to take something that does not belong to you. Further examining that value, that would mean that giving something away that clearly is not yours to give away is theft and falls under that same umbrella. I hear far too many people alibi'ing the theft of our intellectual property just because the technology exists to do it. I hear far too many people willing to sacrifice the existence of small and very valuable labels like Folk Legacy, because "the big companies are ripping us off". Note to those that use this reasoning: not liking the structure of the industry does not make it OK to steal.

I think Emily's title indicates what her intent is. Theft is theft. Lawbreaking is lawbreaking. If you want the laws changed, you work to change the law. But stealing intellectual property is not the way. And know this: this forum is here, and folk musicians are still around, primarily because of devoted musicians and labels like Folk Legacy and the Paton's, Rick Fielding, Dan Milner, Camsco, Dick Greenhaus, Frank Hamilton, et al, being able to at least feed themselves and pay basic bills while pursuing the music they love. If the activities such as "pirating" continue, it won't be long before they will not be able to do that. If you are worried about the big boys, you should not promote this activity. Why? Because the only ones that will survive will be the big boys. Then where will we be? Young ones, let me ask you this. You value an independent music industry. You have made a success of it. What happens to it if it cannot survive because of basic economics?

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: michaelr
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 05:08 PM

Emily posted this in the Faery Songs thread:

"...i've been stealing music left and right...
i give you this link [same as above] in the spirit of sharing, and with no desire for personal gain."

She seems confused, doesn't she?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: steve in ottawa
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 05:17 PM

Your philosophy of relying on the goodness in people was tried with the shareware concept. It sort of worked at first. Many software authors got paid enough to be encouraged to keep writing. But gradually, more and more people experienced using a program but never sending in that required fee to the software's author, and each time they did that, the easier it got to not send in a donation for their next piece of great shareware.

Today there are only a few programs that still rely on shareware concept (WinZip is one). There's mostly freeware (best at: www.pricelessware.org) and there's time-limited demoware that stops working if you don't buy it after a month or so.

Rail against the unjustness of copying music for a friend if you like, but human nature doesn't recognize everything we recognize intellectually and morally. When Dick wants to impress Jane with his musical taste, he'll play mixes he's made himself and offer to make her a copy. When Harry asks to borrow a CD, Dick will loan it.

I'm pretty sure music copying cannot be prevented. On the other hand, slowing the mass distribution of copyrighted material to strangers seems easily possible. I'm not sure why governments haven't bothered. Small labels' income from their back catalogues will shrink for a while yet.

Although my parents always had good jobs, my dad had less than 400 vinyl records. That seemed to be enough. As kids, we knew the 10-15 that we liked really solidly. Most of today's young people are going to grow up with huge music collections. But I wonder if they'll appreciate music in the same way I did. And I wonder what music was for people who only knew it performed live and unamplified.

(written to Bill Morrisey's Standing Eight original CD).

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: GUEST,gigix
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 05:49 PM

I'm with Steve. Clear and sound.
Luigi

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 05:58 PM

strange, Emily Rain has been around off & on for several years, and I never saw her 'think' like this before...I am not sure what to make of what 'seems' to be an attitude of 'sharing' someone else's property.

Perhaps she will come back and answer these questions?

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: emilyrain
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 07:22 PM

okay, i'm sorry for any and all offense.

::::"...i've been stealing music left and right...
i give you this link [same as above] in the spirit of sharing, and with no desire for personal gain." She seems confused, doesn't she?::::

touche, michael! i was just joshing, but it does send an inconsistent message, doesn't it?

for those who are curious, here's my philosophy on music pirating / file sharing as it applies to the BIG LABELS: whether or not i have access to the music for free, i will never, repeat never, buy CDs at retail, and rarely rarely at used shops or on clearance. recent studies indicate that most file sharers are like me, and therefore cd ripping applications and peer to peer networks make barely a dent in cd sales. mick's point about universal principles is well taken, and i respect his view and anyone who agrees with him. there are several areas of my life where i take a hard line moralist stance... but big label music isn't one of them. i'm not sure why that is, and i'll think about that and let you know what i dredge up.

here's my philosophy on music pirating / file sharing as it applies to SMALL or INDEPENDANT LABELS: i frequently and cheerfully pay retail for local artists' cds, and if i rip them to my computer it's for personal use only. i understand that pirating these cds takes money straight out of the pocket of the musician. there was one recent instance where i dubbed a friend's copy of a local band's cd, but then i sent the band $15 and a nice note. :)

are there contradictions and inconsistencies in my personal moral code? absolutely. am i and others like me putting anyone out of business? jury's still out, but i'm inclined to think not.   

bill d. is correct that i'm in and out here, but i have expressed these same views on mudcat before. i'm sure you folks have already read all the other threads on this debate... it's been a while since i perused one. i forgot that not everyone is as nonchalant about it as i am, and so i'm sorry again for my flippant thread title, and for not approaching the issue with more respect.

peace, cats.

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 07:57 PM

Fair enough, Emily. I may not agree with you completely, but you stepped right up and explained yourself, and I admire that. Many of my younger friends have a philosophy very similar. I disagree mightily on the "convenient" distinction between big and small labels, as I think that it becomes too easy to alibi ones actions. One is either paying for that which they should, or they are not. But I have great respect for the fact that you paid for the ripped copy from the local indie artist. I have done the very same thing when something is out of print, but only AFTER I contacted the owner and got his permission. In one case, he burned the copy for me and I paid him.

Thanks for the response,

Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: CDex: pirate cds and make mp3s yo ho
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey,
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 08:01 PM

I have allways offerd my songs gladly to those who reqested them, I will allways do so, I have the misfortune to have written several famous songs, my fault, I believed that the more people who sang my songs the better. I have lived for most of my life trusting to others, the world of technology has passed me by, on my own website I offer free downloads, but there are those who have made a lot o money from my work, One way or another, they will pay.