BBC Legends

[Bryn]

No wonder they are cheap. The file labelling is horrendous. Many file names are of excessive length and without leading ordering numbers. Editing them is likely to take many hours, and being mp3s, gapless playback is also likely to be a major problem. What a mess! Caveat emptor!

[cloughie]

No wonder they are cheap. The file labelling is horrendous. Many file names are of excessive length and without leading ordering numbers. Editing them is likely to take many hours, and being mp3s, gapless playback is also likely to be a major problem. What a mess! Caveat emptor!

I had initial problems in that the Vol 1 only had 12 cds and the other 10 but they quickly downloaded an alternative pair of zip files. Must say I like the simplicity of Presto downloads which individual files are offered as well as zips. But once I’ve got the ones I want burnedboff I’ll be happy at the price offered!

[gurnemanz]

Sorry to hear about hassle. Those big downloads often require a lot of file and folder rejigging to become conveniently usable. And often editing of metadata.

[Bryn]

Sorry to hear about hassle. Those big downloads often require a lot of file and folder rejigging to become conveniently usable. And often editing of metadata.

It's far worse than that. Despite each of the downloads showing as being "complete", they will not open easily in Windows 10. I eventually tried with 7-zip and that appeared to work, except Vol 1 only contained the mp3s for CDs 1, 2, 7, 10, 14 and 18 and Vol 2 only those for CDs 2, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17 and 19, Some of the folders did not contain all the mp3s they were listed as containing, either. The zips occupied 1.1GB and 1.07GB respectively. Bearing in mind that these are 320kbps mp3s, both zips are clearly far too small to hold the mp3s for 20 discs each. I have sent a decidedly angry response to ICA Classics requiring resolution of this mess.

I have just had a very swift response from Martin Kendrick of Knight Classical. He has apologised and sent me links to Wetransfer downloads of the zips, which are over 3GB each. Fingers crossed I will advise if and when they download and open as hoped.

[Bryn]

The first attempt at downloading from Wetranfer failed at 3.6GB (about 1 minute before it was due to complete). A second attempt was eventually successful and while the file naming is still problematic, all files appear to be there. Now for the Vol 2.

Vol 2 has now also been successfully downloaded via Wetransfer. I will resist the temptation to quote the download links.

[Mario]

Yes, I too had trouble opening Vol 1 of the BBC Legends on offer.

Having read about the problems here with downloading, I paid £7.50 for Vol 1, and held back paying for and downloading Vol 2 in case of problems with Vol 1. I pointed out the problems to the afore-mentioned Martin Kendrick, who sent me a separate link for BOTH Vol 1 & 2.

I downloaded both with no problems, all links for all the CDs worked, and giving each CD a brief listen, all is working wonderfully well.

Honest little chappie that I am, I wrote to Martin, pointing out that I had only paid for Vol 1 and I now owe him £7.50 for Vol 2.

His reply was, “Happy Christmas Mario. Consider it compensation for all your problems, have Vol 2 on me free of charge!”

I’m impressed.

Mario

[Bryn]

Yes, I too had trouble opening Vol 1 of the BBC Legends on offer.

Having read about the problems here with downloading, I paid £7.50 for Vol 1, and held back paying for and downloading Vol 2 in case of problems with Vol 1. I pointed out the problems to the afore-mentioned Martin Kendrick, who sent me a separate link for BOTH Vol 1 & 2.

I downloaded both with no problems, all links for all the CDs worked, and giving each CD a brief listen, all is working wonderfully well.

Honest little chappie that I am, I wrote to Martin, pointing out that I had only paid for Vol 1 and I now owe him £7.50 for Vol 2.

His reply was, “Happy Christmas Mario. Consider it compensation for all your problems, have Vol 2 on me free of charge!”

I’m impressed.

Mario

Indeed. Though my ire at the original problems was considerable and expressed as such in my complaint, Martin's response was both swift and apologetic. Full marks to him for doing his best to resolve the issue. Best of luck getting the files in some sort of order.

[Mario]

Luck neither required nor necessary.

All files are exactly in the right order. Dragging and dropping as I speak into newly created folders.

Mario

[mathias broucek]

The Richard Itter collection sets are £2.50 from the same source...

[Mario]

Heavens above!

I’m having to download CDs faster than I can catalogue them!

Many thanks mb – there are some beauties there!

Mario

[gurnemanz]

Also 20CD Barshai historical cornucopia for £7.50. https://icaclassics.com/releases/rudolf-barshai

Someone on Amazon quotes:
"A fine Barshai memento" "Unmissable"
ROB COWAN in Gramophone - January 2016

[Mario]

Hi gurnemanz, thank you for adding to my confusion!

Mario

[Bryn]

Luck neither required nor necessary.

All files are exactly in the right order. Dragging and dropping as I speak into newly created folders.

Mario

While I found fewer problems of track ordering in Vol. 2, Vol. 1 is full of problems due to the lack of leading numerical designations. I find I have to order them according to the # column in windows Explorer, then add the relevant numbers, with leading 0 for tracks 1 to 9 to get them to play in the right order.

[gurnemanz]

PS to Barshai above.

Duly downloaded and worked perfectly with zip file conveniently expanding into 20 folders. Metadata in good nick and booklet included. Unusually for such a big download no rejigging necessary.

[Bryn]

PS to Barshai above.

Duly downloaded and worked perfectly with zip file conveniently expanding into 20 folders. Metadata in good nick and booklet included. Unusually for such a big download no rejigging necessary.

Many thanks for that. Just the fillip I needed to go ahead and purchase. I note that, unlike when I first attempted to download Volumes 1 and 2 of the BBC Legends sets, the purchase link takes you straight to WeTransfer for the download.