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MSN Music preview launched | |
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| Time: 15:47 EST/20:47 GMT | News Source: E-Mail | Posted By: Byron Hinson | ||
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Microsoft has launched the beta version of their MSN Music Preview site which is aiming to compete with the Itunes music store, don't think we can say compete with any others as they are not really in the game. | ||
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| #1 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 9/1/2004 4:47:06 PM |
| I don't want to be a snob, but all of these download services crank up the compression way too high for my tastes. My ears tire out quickly because of the dumbed-down highs and loss of detail. To me it's sort of like aural claustrophobia--you feel like you're listening in a tin can. |
| #2 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 9/1/2004 5:37:11 PM |
| #3--I know it sounds picky, but I can hear it right away. Where I notice it most is in the cymbals in pop music; classical music is more demanding and the loss of detail is pronounced. I don't know what the compression was on the song I listened to, but I don't think it was 160--you're right, 160 is typically not bad. I start to have trouble telling the difference in the 190-260 Kbps range with WMA (depending on the music), but even then sometimes I find my ears get "tired" more quickly than with the original CD, and the ambiance/presence of the recording is slightly different. I have trouble bringing myself to pay for the compressed version (especially 128 Kbps) rather than to go out and buy the CD, unless I absolutely know I only want one song from the album. For classical, etc., I don't think I'd even consider it. |
| #3 By 3339 (64.160.58.137) at 9/1/2004 7:22:23 PM |
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"I like how you can have up to 5 computers and you can remove old computers to add new ones. This seems to be much more flexible then iTunes or Napster"
Ummm, sphbecker, this is EXACTLY THE SAME policy as iTunes. What is more flexible about it? This post was edited by sodajerk on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 at 19:23. |
| #4 By 2459 (69.22.124.228) at 9/1/2004 8:11:25 PM |
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Ummm, sphbecker, this is EXACTLY THE SAME policy as iTunes. What is more flexible about it?
iTunes initially offered the 5 computer limit. Apple later reduced the limit to 3. |
| #5 By 3339 (64.160.58.137) at 9/1/2004 8:48:18 PM |
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No, enforcer, you too are wrong, initially it was 3 and they upped it to 5.
"Now you can authorize up to 5 computers to play the music you purchase from the iTunes Music Store" http://www.apple.com/ilife/itunes/ |
| #6 By 8556 (12.217.111.74) at 9/1/2004 9:23:33 PM |
| sphbecker: What do you consider to be "very high quality" audio equipment? Audiophile gear that presents a deep and wide soundstage makes MP3’s and other compressed formats sound like its coming from a pinpoint between middle of the speakers. Compression kills dimensional detail and realism, even a veneer of realism is missing. Nope, audio compression does not reproduce high end stereo sound. |
| #7 By 2459 (69.22.124.228) at 9/1/2004 9:25:54 PM |
| you're right sj. My mistake. |
| #8 By 3465 (68.50.165.16) at 9/1/2004 11:33:58 PM |
| This just doesn't beat going somewhere on the internet and download my mp3's for free.... |
| #9 By 9549 (12.150.6.130) at 9/2/2004 7:58:23 AM |
| not having losslessness is on purpose. iTunes and WMP10 aren`t there so you can get download a music collection and keep for only $.99 they are more for you to enjoy the music that you want and when you decide that you like it enough to encourage you to purchase the CD so you can have it on as many Computers or entertainment devices that you want. How do you think they have all these deals with record companies to provide the music? The record companies want you to listen then buy the real cd and now becuase you want a lossless or high quality version of the song you downloaded with one of these music stores you have to pay twice, thats how they make their money off of this. If you can put up with the limited quality then do it if not just buy the cd. |
| #10 By 2459 (69.22.124.228) at 9/2/2004 3:49:20 PM |
| Just to be specific, the songs are 160kbps/256 kbps peak 2-pass VBR |
| #11 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 9/2/2004 5:21:46 PM |
| Are all the songs 160Kbps, n4cer? I listened to several that sounded of lower quality than that. |
| #12 By 2459 (69.22.124.228) at 9/2/2004 5:48:24 PM |
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The 30-sec previews aren't (probably to save space/bandwidth).
The text from the PR http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2004/sep04/09-01MusicBetaLaunchPR.asp says: "Superior sound quality. MSN Music digitally encodes tracks using Windows Media variable bit-rate encoding, with an average bit rate of 160 Kbps and a peak bit rate of 256 Kbps, offering the industry's highest fidelity audio in a compact file size." The files I've seen (a friend purchased some tracks) were 2-pass 160/256 peak VBR. This post was edited by n4cer on Thursday, September 02, 2004 at 17:50. |
| #13 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 9/3/2004 1:43:28 AM |
| n4cer--that would make sense. I only listened to the previews. I may have to try buying a song or two to see how they sound. 160kbps is getting into the range for me where I would at least consider it. |
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