Adventures in Purchasing Digital Downloads …

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nicoff

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Recently I decided to purchase a few EDM tracks to carry around and in the process had a chance to explore different sources for buying digital downloads.

I explored Beatport, Apple Music, Qobuz, and Amazon Music because they all offer downloads and have sizable EDM offerings.

Beatport has perhaps the largest collection of EDM music. They only offer MP3. However their price per track is higher and the resolution of the files is lower.

Apple Music has a huge library. However, they use AAC (Apple proprietary format) and while those can be converted to MP3, I decided to pass.

Qobuz sells CD quality and High Def (if available). High Def versions cost more. Both can be converted to MP3 easily. I bought a few CD-quality tracks (in FLAC) and down-converted them to MP3.

Amazon Music has the lowest price of them all. They only sell MP3 files but their tracks are higher resolution than Beatport. I ended up doing most purchases via Amazon (lower price of all). Simple to do with an Amazon Prime account.

I also learned that depending on the selection, one site may allow purchasing a single track while another may require you to buy the whole album.
 
What device are you carrying to listen to music. I may be mistaken, but most any software/app that will play MP3 will probably play AAC music, but I am not really current with the current DAPs.

When I have done what you are doing, using an older DAP (digital audio player) I have just used my current music in whatever resolution, and downconverted it to MP3 or AAC, some of the syncing software has that built in,

If you love the music, and will listen to it on your main system as well, consider getting Redbook (16/44) or higher files, and then convert the ones that you want to carry about.
 
Bones13 said:
What device are you carrying to listen to music. I may be mistaken, but most any software/app that will play MP3 will probably play AAC music, but I am not really current with the current DAPs.

When I have done what you are doing, using an older DAP (digital audio player) I have just used my current music in whatever resolution, and downconverted it to MP3 or AAC, some of the syncing software has that built in,

If you love the music, and will listen to it on your main system as well, consider getting Redbook (16/44) or higher files, and then convert the ones that you want to carry about.
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Thanks! I have access to CD-Quality and High-Res files via Qobuz (streaming) for listening in my main system. I also listen to Spotify in my main system (I know that they do not offer CD-quality, but their library, software GUI, and music suggestions are the best).

I also down converted several of my FLAC files to MP3, but I still needed to purchase several tracks that I did not already own. I use the tracks with DJ controllers (mp3 is the preferred format because of their smaller file size plus compatibility with most equipment).
 
A more budget friendly solution: buy the cd instead. At the moment they are available for a bargain. Some at the second hand store, some at sites like ebay and the more rare ones on discogs. Then digitalize with exact audio copy.

With this method it does cost me about 1 or a few euro each.
 
NewAlkyogre said:
A more budget friendly solution: buy the cd instead. At the moment they are available for a bargain. Some at the second hand store, some at sites like ebay and the more rare ones on discogs. Then digitalize with exact audio copy.

With this method it does cost me about 1 or a few euro each.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Unfortunately that option would not work for this type of music because very few are ever issued on CDs.
The cost per track is somewhere between US$1-$2 so in my case it really would be faster and more cost efficient to purchase the tracks that I want online.
 
Bones13 said:
Another place to find CDs is your public library, for listening to, of course.
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Agree! I used to check out many CDs from public libraries way back when. I am not sure if they even have CDs anymore (I have not listened to a CD in many years).
 
There were still CDs in the Mobile public library back in December. Got a new Seattle public library card yesterday, but did not explore it much. I plan to look into that later, being more interested in digital books and audiobooks there currently.
 
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