Spotify

[johnb]

iPeng which does a lot of the above for Squeezecentre and associated players and runs on an iPhone. A very sweet little application....

I have been looking enviously at the iPad+iPeng combination but can't justify forking out £400 for a remote, even though it seems to be ideal.

[ucanseetheend]

I also use the premium service and think it is good value. I would like to know how the artists on there get recompensed - the details, as opposed to the general concept (they get paid every time a track is paid). I have heard rumblings that this payment is very low and that certain distributors have withdrawn their catalogues.


There are several shortcomings in the richness of the Spotiy user experience. I suspect this is an intentional design strategy - to keep the software as simple as possible, given the number of different platforms it runs on and the overriding need for speed in finding and loading a track. However Spotify have recently, and perhaps inevitably, announced Spotify 'apps'. and at some point I'll wade through the hype and verbiage and see if there is anything there of value which may help improve search, create playlists and also provide an automated switch-on and switch-off service.

Like johnb I also use Logitech Squeezecentre and have recently bought iPeng which does a lot of the above for Squeezecentre and associated players and runs on an iPhone. A very sweet little application but sometimes I want to listen to Spotify direct...

I am sure Seven though Spotify has a large classical music catalogue I dont think the software/search facilty is targetted at that audience.

[gradus]

Having switched off volume normalisation I hear a better sound than before.
Many thanks johnb.

[Stunsworth]

I'm a premium subscriber and the range of music is astonishing. As a premium subscriber I also have access to the Spotify app on my phone.

Biggest gripes are the poor tagging of some classical albums, and the brief silence between tracks.

I use the mobile app and use AirPlay on the phone to route the music to my stereo via an Apple TV2.

[Alf-Prufrock]

If I understand the matter aright, Spotify would put a break between the third and fourth movements of Beethoven 5, and in all similar attacca situations. Do I understand correctly? If I do I shall never use Spotify.

[johnb]

Alf-Prufrock,

Yes there are momentary gaps whenever one track ends and another begins. With, as an example, Previn's Belshazzar's Feast the gaps last for around 1/3 of a second - similar to a drop-out in the days of tape recorders.

There have been many requests for Spotify to provide a gap free option but, so far, they haven't given any indication that they are considering doing so. I might be that the process by why they create the files also creates the gap (and a very short fade in) in order to accommodate the adverts they use for non-paying users. If that is so, providing a gap free would be a significant problem for them - at least as far as their enormous existing catalogue is concerned.

In spite of the gap problem there is such an enormous wealth of classical recordings on Spotify that it is still an amazing resource, e.g. this evening I listened to Sargent's Planets with the BBC SO and Lutoslowski's Concerto for Orchestra conducted by the composer.

Another example is the Messiaen Anniversary Box Set which many people have ordered but which hasn't been available (see the Bargain's thread) - well the whole lot is there on Spotify. Or fancy exploring Ligeti - a search on his name reveals 61 CDs (admittedly that was using Squeezebox and it's Third Party Plugin for the search - searching via the Spotify application is much more a challenge.

[ucanseetheend]

My free Spotify ended?

Having created a facebook account and then registering for Spotify I had it for 14 days and now it appears as offline and unable to connect. When I logged in to my Spotify account it said my free time had expired and I had to subscribe to premium. How is this? The advertisement says free for 6 months

[Dave2002]

Having created a facebook account and then registering for Spotify I had it for 14 days and now it appears as offline and unable to connect. When I logged in to my Spotify account it said my free time had expired and I had to subscribe to premium. How is this? The advertisement says free for 6 months

I have a premium account, and I don't have this problem. However, I gave quite a few of the introductions to friends and colleagues. The rules have changed over the years. I think that currently you only get about 20 hours free (including the adverts too, maybe) each month, and then it stops. I suspect that if you wait a few more weeks you'll get an allowance then too.

Check the latest charges. There may be a light user rate which will give you most of what you want, without having to pay the premium rate.

If you really think you're not getting the deal you signed up for, then send an email to customer services and see what they say.

[Dave2002]

Alf-Prufrock,

Yes there are momentary gaps whenever one track ends and another begins. With, as an example, Previn's Belshazzar's Feast the gaps last for around 1/3 of a second - similar to a drop-out in the days of tape recorders.

There have been many requests for Spotify to provide a gap free option but, so far, they haven't given any indication that they are considering doing so. I might be that the process by why they create the files also creates the gap (and a very short fade in) in order to accommodate the adverts they use for non-paying users. If that is so, providing a gap free would be a significant problem for them - at least as far as their enormous existing catalogue is concerned.

In spite of the gap problem there is such an enormous wealth of classical recordings on Spotify that it is still an amazing resource, e.g. this evening I listened to Sargent's Planets with the BBC SO and Lutoslowski's Concerto for Orchestra conducted by the composer.

Another example is the Messiaen Anniversary Box Set which many people have ordered but which hasn't been available (see the Bargain's thread) - well the whole lot is there on Spotify. Or fancy exploring Ligeti - a search on his name reveals 61 CDs (admittedly that was using Squeezebox and it's Third Party Plugin for the search - searching via the Spotify application is much more a challenge.

The worst offenders for gaps are typically variations. I gave up on some variations by Boris Blacher, and bought the CD instead.

Sometimes even iTunes can be problematic with tracks. Not sure if the problem extends to CDs which I rip myself, or indeed what would happen with the Squeezebox server (which uses the same iTunes library). I ought to see if my CD rip of the Blacher variations has this problem - in which case I'll have to keep the CD to hand. (Think it's this CD - http://www.amazon.com/Boris-Blacher-.../dp/B00095LMDA)

I like the Sargent Planets too - I believe I still have the LP somewhere. Is it available as a CD still?

Interesting about the Messiaen box. I too keep getting messages every few days, but at least they've not cancelled my order yet.

Spotify is perhaps a better bet than download sites, such as eMusic - though it depends how one uses these services.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Once you purchased a standard or premium account how do you cancel it if after 6 months you've had enough? I can't find anything on the spotify site to indicate this.

[johnb]

Once you purchased a standard or premium account how do you cancel it if after 6 months you've had enough? I can't find anything on the spotify site to indicate this.

http://www.spotify.com/uk/help/faq/payment/how-can-i-cancel-my-subscription/

[Suffolkcoastal]

I've tried that page JohnB but there isn't any indication on how to cancel on the subscription page. I like to know how I can cancel before I apply to join in the 1st place.

[johnb]

Suffolkcoast,

If you go to the "Subscription page", using the link in the website I pointed to, there is a further link to "Manage your subscription: View your options". That takes you to a page asking you to reconsider unsubscribing. At the bottom of that page there is a link: "Click here to continue to the cancellation page". That takes you to the page where you can either revert to a free user or cancel your subscription.

As is so often the case, it sounds more complicated than it is in practice.

[Suffolkcoastal]

None of this appears on my subscription page, looks like I may have a problem downloading the page properly.

[johnb]

Suffolkcoastal,

The only thing I can think of is that all the options might not be displayed if you don't have a premium account.