Spotify

[Parry1912]

In spite of the gap problem there is such an enormous wealth of classical recordings on Spotify that it is still an amazing resource

Perhaps a "What have you been listening to on Spotify" thread would be useful?

Recently I've been listening to:

Prokofiev - String Quartets 1 and 2 (Pavel Haas Quartet)
Das Rheingold (Thielemann)
Frank Martin - Six monologues from "Jedermann" and Three excerpts from "Der Sturm" (Fischer-Dieskau and the composer)
Vaughan Williams 4th Symphony (the composer)
Vaughan Williams 4th Symphony (Boult 1950s)

among others

[Dave2002]

Perhaps a "What have you been listening to on Spotify" thread would be useful?

among others

Maybe, but why not simply go to the "What are you listening to now?" thread, and indicate that you're using Spotify.

What might be of interest is to post your Spotify username and/or to provide a list of Spotify playlists. I don't think there are any major issues with privacy etc., or does it expose details which one might be wary of disclosing? [e.g who your friends are, or your taste in Abba! ]

[Dave2002]

Has something happened to the Squeezebox/Spotify plug-in from Triode again? Actually last time I thought I had this problem I think it turned out to be a password issue, or maybe there was also a file I had to delete. I was about to email Triode, but then found some hints from a previous email from him. Spotify is not currently working for me with my SB3 Squeezebox, but it works on other machines. Napster does work though.

Looks like more toubleshooting needed!

[Dave2002]

Has something happened to the Squeezebox/Spotify plug-in from Triode again? Actually last time I thought I had this problem I think it turned out to be a password issue, or maybe there was also a file I had to delete. I was about to email Triode, but then found some hints from a previous email from him. Spotify is not currently working for me with my SB3 Squeezebox, but it works on other machines. Napster does work though.

Looks like more toubleshooting needed!

I think I've solved this yet again. I think that what happens is that when Logitech issue an update the details of my Spotify password get lost, and then none of the devices will connect to the service - obviously. There's no visible error message though. I don't know why Spotify passwords get wiped, yet seemingly the passwords for other services (e.g Napster) don't.

[johnb]

You're a brave man if you allow the automatic updates to Squeezebox Server (now Logitech Media Server). I've turned them off and only use a new version (a) when it provides something new that I want and, most importantly, (b) when user reports show that there are no bugs. Going on the last few releases it seems that versions 7.x.0 are best avoided.

[somename]

I have spent a few five pounds on a occasional months of Spotify Unlimited, particularly to listen to things like operas and Brian's Gothic (with a Bruckner Symphony the ads are bareable because you just turn your headphones off between the enormous tracks!). However sometimes I found the service was not up to scratch for something you're paying for: albums disappearing, poor naming, poor search. And when they introduced the five-song play limit for normal users I thought that was against the spirit of what I originally starting using the program for. So now I use Grooveshark, which may have problems with incomplete albums and quality but at least it is free, has no audio ads and if I really want to listen to a particular piece I do not have, I can usually find it. (www.grooveshark.com, it all runs out of your browser). Really the service is far from perfect but then so was Spotify and I can't really consider giving them money when their program and service has so many problems.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Just spent 90 mins trying to either backup or copy the two playlists I've created in Spotify to CD but nothing works. Looks like a waste of money to me.

[johnb]

Just spent 90 mins trying to either backup or copy the two playlists I've created in Spotify to CD but nothing works. Looks like a waste of money to me.

Were you trying to copy the actual tracks to CD? If so had you purchased the tracks from Spotify?

(My understanding is that Spotify is primarily a source for streaming music but with an option to buy and download albums/tracks.)

[Suffolkcoastal]

I'd purchased 5 tracks from spotify and created two playlists from them. I was trying to copy the two playlists on to a CD and also my external hard drive as a back up, but there appears to be no way of doing this even though the website says you can (but doesn't tell you how to do it).

[Dave2002]

I'd purchased 5 tracks from spotify and created two playlists from them. I was trying to copy the two playlists on to a CD and also my external hard drive as a back up, but there appears to be no way of doing this even though the website says you can (but doesn't tell you how to do it).

Doesn't this give some clues:

"Where is my downloaded music stored on my computer?

Purchased tracks are automatically downloaded to your computer’s default music folder, and can be found in a folder called “Spotify”. The music files are organised by Artist, and then by Album.

If you would like to change the location to which tracks are downloaded, you can do this in the Preferences page in Spotify."

Taken from http://www.spotify.com/uk/help/faq/purchases/
I've never tried this myself, so don't know if it works. I don't see why it shouldn't though. There's also an off-line mode, which I have used to create temporary files for playback while not connected to the internet.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Thanks John, yes the off-line mode has worked and they have just appeared as temporary files on my pc's hard drive. An odd way to get the playlists in a recordable format to back-up but appears to be working. Itunes is so much easier.

[Dave2002]

Thanks John, yes the off-line mode has worked and they have just appeared as temporary files on my pc's hard drive. An odd way to get the playlists in a recordable format to back-up but appears to be working. Itunes is so much easier.

What format are those files in? I thought that Spotify is based on the use of Ogg Vorbis formats, so you may have to go a step or two more to get them in a format you can use.

[Suffolkcoastal]

No idea I'm afraid Dave they show as HP Music files, they appear to have copied successfully though.

[Parry1912]

When I open Spotify it's currently giving me the chance to listen to a jazz album by 'Andre Pervin' (sic)

That's almost as good as Andrew Preview

[amateur51]

When I open Spotify it's currently giving me the chance to listen to a jazz album by 'Andre Pervin' (sic)

That's almost as good as Andrew Preview