External Hardive general question

[David]

Hi all I'm still decorating (nearly finished first part) hence my absence....dint all clap at once 

Anyway to the point.I have got an external hardrive 320 GB.as I dint know a great deal about these my only question is simple.

Can I put my complete CD collection onto my External hardrive completely and not have them on my PC at all.

I don't know how many tracks I will get on it but my hope is that I can clear my PC hardrive and use this External one for my CD collection and save space.

Thanks 

[Rik]

Yes, David. However, if it's CD as distinct from MP3, you'll only get about half a disc on 320GB. Are you sure you're not doing up the Forth Bridge?

[Steve]

Certainly useful as a backup for your CD's, depending how much you compress them will determine how much overall space you need. However I would suspect that due to the constraints of the USB interface trying to play them from an external hardrive may not be best in terms of eventual output quality. If your worried about space it probably best in the long run to to add or replace the original harddrive to increase the machine's capacity. Adding a hard drive is usually straight forward providing there is space in the case and a spare connector on the motherboard.

Another option is to get a networked drive or NAS then your music will be accessible for every PC in the house from one central location. It also may give you other options with the use of networked music players

[Steve]

Rik ,320Gb not Mb

[Rik]

True... Make that 500 David.

[David]

you're not doing up the Forth Bridge

No just the whole house interior,from ceilings to floors including lighting and renewing flooring,decided to rip the downstairs toilet out and tile floor walls new WC and WHB......recarpet stairs.then attack the main bedroom which will be totally gutted and refurbed......I just cant stop.

I did see a Sony machine http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/5321916/Sony-NAS-EH35HD-Giga-Juke-Hi-Fi-System/Product.html?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Electronics-_-All-_-Sony%2BNAS-EH35HD%2BGiga%2BJuke%2BHi-Fi%2BSystem&source=5065&engine=froogle_electronics&keyword=Sony+NAS-EH35HD+Giga+Juke+Hi-Fi+System
It looks fiffly though as you have to tranfer the Cds to mp3 first which would drive me nuts

[Steve]

I thought the basis of storing music digitally on a PC is that it has to be encoded in some other format whether it be MP3 AAC Flac etc . Once the job is done its done its just a matter of feeding the CD\DVD drive. Even to transfer your CD's to the external drive you are going to have to change the format in which the music is contained. Encoding your CD's into a versatile digital format opens up so many other oppurtunities for reproducing that music whether it be to an Ipod,mp3 player,xbox etc etc.

Personally I would never use a PC CD drive for playing music unless I was importing it at the same time.The sound reproduction from your average PC doesn't do it justice, likewise I would never play an MP3 file through a decent HiFi as it sounds bloody awful.

[john]

I think the Sony machine will automatically save your CD's in MP3 format Dave but anyway for that sort of money you could probably get a laptop that you can plug into your HiFi and which would then do much the same thing. I have all my CD's stored on a 320Gb external hard drive (I cant't remember exactly how many but there's plenty of space left) and use Windows Media Player to select them and store them etc.

Can I put my complete CD collection onto my External hardrive completely and not have them on my PC at all.

That rather depends on how many CD's you've got David  

[john]

IPersonally I would never use a PC CD drive for playing music unless I was importing it at the same time.The sound reproduction from your average PC doesn't do it justice, likewise I would never play an MP3 file through a decent HiFi as it sounds bloody awful.

I think you maybe more critical than most Steve, I've played MP3 files from the PC through my HiFi and I'm find the sound quality quite acceptable, in fact I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference from the original CD. Having said that I'm in my 50's so my ears are probably less sensitive than yours.

[Rik]

I can tell the difference, John, but it does depend on the musical style and quality of the original to an extent. A bit like JPEG really, most of the time you don't see the loss unless you go looking.

[john]

...most of the time you don't see the loss unless you go looking.

I think your right Rik, I've listened to my CD's in the past and listened to the MP3 version at a later date. I haven't done an A-B comparison, i.e. switching from one to the other to purposely try and find differences. Maybe if I did I would indeed notice but when I simply rip the CD to MP3 and play the files through the PC via the HiFi I've found that I'm quite happy with the result. Perhaps if I had some seriously expensive kit (like a Meridian) it would show up any deficiances.

By the way I went to John Lewis's in Liverpool a few weeks ago and asked to listen to a Meridian F80 as they had one on display. Whilst it sounded okay I was really expecting it to sound better than it did, although to be fair they only played a DAB source rather than a CD and perhaps more importantly it was in the general audio display area in the main store rather than a separate demo room. I was not that impressed that I was ready to pay £1500 for it but at least it appeared quite well made.

[Steve]

I tend to use a compression of 192kps AAC on my ipod and PC it seems an acceptable compromise between  quality of reproduction and the file size.I see no value to me in say a 320kps encoding for these particular machines, in essence to me its a waste of harddrive space. This level of encoding gives good quality sound to an Xbox, PS3 and a Bose Home cimema but as soon as it hits  a Roksan amp the music sounds thin and the treble has a horrible sort of worbling sound.

[john]

I use 192 Kbs too Steve and I think you may be right concerning the quality of the equipment you play it through.

[David]

Thanks all,Im just reading your comments,my Email notification isnt working at present hence the delay.

[David]

you could probably get a laptop that you can plug into your HiFi

Thanks for that John.I have a almost brand new lap top and this did not occur to me to do it this was.

That rather depends on how many CD's you've got David 

I just knew someone would jump on this 
The Sony machine has a radio and would allow me to access the CD library without searching for a particular disc.and with the bonus of storing it all.
I only listen to my mp3 and would not run it through a stereo so this isnt an issue  Im thinking of being able to see what tracks and albums etc if this makes sense.
I find that I have CDs which I had forgotten about they have been in the cupboard so long and its time to organise them all....I nearly bought an album last week only to check and find it was here all the time 

[Rik]

By the way I went to John Lewis's in Liverpool a few weeks ago and asked to listen to a Meridian F80 as they had one on display. Whilst it sounded okay I was really expecting it to sound better than it did, although to be fair they only played a DAB source rather than a CD and perhaps more importantly it was in the general audio display area in the main store rather than a separate demo room. I was not that impressed that I was ready to pay £1500 for it but at least it appeared quite well made.

You need it in a proper demo room, John. It won't sound it's best doing DAB in the middle of the store.

[Rik]

Thanks all,Im just reading your comments,my Email notification isnt working at present hence the delay.

It's fine here, David.

[Rik]

I nearly bought an album last week only to check and find it was here all the time 

It's even worse when they change the cover on it... You need a small database and a catalogue, David.

[Steve]

I think think the naming of the Sony device is misleading i.e NAS EH35 HD looking at the spec here I see no mention of any networking abilities at all. Although the reviews on Amazon are favourable

If you want some ideas regarding a central music library and connecting to remote devices have a look at www.ripcaster.co.uk. Devices like the logitech squeezebox can utilise your existing hardware whether it be a desktop or laptop,your home network and any piece of audio equipment with a line in.But there again I seem to have moved away from the original question.

PS I wish someone would buy me a sonos system for Xmas.I am going to have to beg and get lots of brownie points. Yes dear coming now anything I can do for you.

[Rik]

Try santa@idnet.com, Steve.

[Ray]

I must admit that I am rather tempted by the Logitech Squeezebox Boom now that I've started to transfer my cd collection onto the Homeserver.

[Rik]

Don't be tempted, Ray, go for it, it's a buyer's market right now. 

[Lance]

Rik is up to his old tricks again!

[Rik]

Less of the old. 

[Ray]

Rik is up to his old tricks again!

I noticed that, Lance, I knew he'd bite when I made my original post.