geir ove rapp’s weblog

Finally things start to happen. HDtracks is a new online record store offering DRM free downloads of uncompressed music. Currently they are offering AIFF, FLAC and MP3 (320 kbps), which means its files are compatible with all digital players, and they even they plan to extend their offer to also include downloads in HD, meaning 24 bit/96 kHZ, which match the quality of DVD-Audio. I really need to buy the Slim Devices Transporter soon…

The catalog of HDtracks is currently quite limited, but it holds some titles of i.a. Henry Rollins Band, Ray Davis and The Kinks, Norah Jones, The Byrds and some other interesting artists. The price charged for a complete album is $ 11.98 which is quite reasonable.

I’ll test it out as soon as I get home to my Squeezebox. You should test it out too at www.hdtracks.com.

For those of you who have read my previous posting on this issue, R.I.P. audio CDs, here is the paradox. After spending several hours ripping my CDs and storing them in my basement I finally thought I was rid of them. But no! In my search for new music to my collection, I can hardly find any web shop offering music download in a lossless file format. Most shops offer MP3 or WMA. The only legal sites for downloading FLAC I can find is Metallica Live and Nine Inch Nails album Ghosts. Thumbs up!! The rest of music industry; get a grip!

So I guess I still have to go to my local record store to buy the CD, just to rip it and put it away…