The future of collecting

[ARBurton]

I have always enjoyed browsing my cd shelves in search of inspiration for cds to take on car journeys of any reasonable length, not least commuting to work. A recent change of car brought me to a crisis as the car I bought has no cd player. (Admittedly I could and should have noted that before buying, but that`s another tale.) It has a media thing with usb socket which will play mp3 files but the prospect of converting yards of cds into that format with all the labelling which would be required is overwhelming. I am left feeling distinctly left behind by technology.....

[Dave2002]

Sadly it looks as though you have to rip the CDs. I thought there might be a way round, but this link suggests otherwise - http://www.tomsguide.com/answers/id-...g-car-usb.html A warning here for anyone buying a new car. A few years ago there were cars with a CD player and some form of storage, so that putting a CD in it would play, but would then be ripped internally so available later when the CD was taken out. That would seem like a good way to go, but maybe no longer an option. Pity!

[Pulcinella]

Our Kia Venga has an iPod connector, but it sadly does not recognise my iPod Classic.

It occasionally can be coaxed into playing something, but in a rather erratic and unprogrammable fashion.
Even Classic FM is preferable to that.

[teamsaint]

I have always enjoyed browsing my cd shelves in search of inspiration for cds to take on car journeys of any reasonable length, not least commuting to work. A recent change of car brought me to a crisis as the car I bought has no cd player. (Admittedly I could and should have noted that before buying, but that`s another tale.) It has a media thing with usb socket which will play mp3 files but the prospect of converting yards of cds into that format with all the labelling which would be required is overwhelming. I am left feeling distinctly left behind by technology.....

You aren't alone, ARB

Steve Knightly of Show of Hands, one of the country's leading folk musicians ,recently treated himself to a smart new van to take all his sound and lighting kit to concerts, and was disappointed on his first trip to discover that couldn't find anything that would play a CD........

[richardfinegold]

1) Ever heard of streaming? Attach your smart phone to the usb outlet, pay monthly streaming fee to Spotify or whomever, and have access to more CDs than you could possibly own
2) if you have any music stored on flash drives, even if not in MP3, your cars player will downconvert it to MP3, no need to make new files
3) my Apple Optical drive attaches by usb to to the car usb, and plays CDs, although probably in MP3 resolution.
4) if your car does Bluetooth, stream that from a smart device

[ARBurton]

Yes, I have Spotify and can synchronise playlists on that to play via my phone via the bluetooth connection ,setting it to offline mode to avoid gobbling up my mobile data. And I am ripping some cds to flash drives in mp3 format. Both of which at least provide ways of carrying music into the car. But it`s altogether a different experience from taking cds off shelves on the spur of the moment....

[Dave2002]

But it`s altogether a different experience from taking cds off shelves on the spur of the moment....

Or from going into a shop (or a charity shop ... ), coming out with some discs, and playing them immediately.

[richardfinegold]

Yes, I have Spotify and can synchronise playlists on that to play via my phone via the bluetooth connection ,setting it to offline mode to avoid gobbling up my mobile data. And I am ripping some cds to flash drives in mp3 format. Both of which at least provide ways of carrying music into the car. But it`s altogether a different experience from taking cds off shelves on the spur of the moment....

I was forced to get a new car a few months ago and the circumstances were somewhat urgent and the last thing I was worried about was the CD player, although when the deal was done and I realized that the new car didn’t have one I was upset. I have found that I don’t miss them. Many a CD would go missing in the car. The data issue is a real one and
I did go over my limit the first month. We bought a bigger data plan, but interestingly I was reviewing our usage last night and it has returned to the previous baseline, so I changed it back to the old plan (except that when I called the provider, they offered us twice the original plan for only $1 more per month than what we formerly had paid so we came out ahead there). The reason it returned to baseline is because I began using my Sony portable player, with music on SD cards, and the usb sticks, which I have managed not to lose. I also have some music downloaded to the phone in m3.
Car listening isn’t a particularly satisfying experience for me, as I work in Chicago and am fighting traffic during the commute. I just need background music. If you live in a quiet country area it might be different

[Bryn]

Though the radio/player in my car does play CDs, including those carrying mp3 or m4a files, my preferred option is to use a USB stick, though only the very compact variety. I find the longer standard ones too prone to disconnection due to vibration over dodgy road surfaces.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The thread title does pose an interesting question. I edit an alumni magazine, which has been going since 1882-83. It has always been the same size, though the cover styles have varied over the years. There has been a tradition of keeping the "Annual Reports" together on book shelves, and a few people have managed to acquire the full set. Recent editions have been available online, and people have been encourage to choose this option, rather than the printed version. Many have gone along with this, but others have been upset because it has knocked on the head their lifetime hobby of collecting and arranging the yearly offerings. This is in spite of the availability of every single issue in electronic form.

When I visited friends in the LP era, I liked to admire their collections. Having them neatly arranged on a shelf helped to prompt discussions. The same is possible with CDs. Saying "Excuse me, may I have a look at your list of downloads on your iPad" isn't the same, and I never bother to ask, so we have to find other, less interesting things to discuss.

[richardfinegold]

When I visited friends in the LP era, I liked to admire their collections. Having them neatly arranged on a shelf helped to prompt discussions. The same is possible with CDs. Saying "Excuse me, may I have a look at your list of downloads on your iPad" isn't the same, and I never bother to ask, so we have to find other, less interesting things to discuss.

That is an interesting point. Physical Media, because there is something tangible and potentially visible, leads to exploration and discussion in a way that digital media do not. I discovered many Composers by browsing lps or CDs in shops, but scanning an on line index of unfamiliar Music doesn’t trigger nearly the same level of interest.

[gurnemanz]

The last CD I bought was several months ago. This is akin to a drug addict's cold turkey in my case. I can actually imagine it might have been my last. Groaning shelves, convenience of other digital music media, internet radio (and TV) and of course downloading are all factors, but I do agree with points made by Richard and Alpie above. Also there's not much pleasure or satisfaction in buying someone a download as a birthday present.

[richardfinegold]

The last CD I bought was several months ago. This is akin to a drug addict's cold turkey in my case. I can actually imagine it might have been my last. Groaning shelves, convenience of other digital music media, internet radio (and TV) and of course downloading are all factors, but I do agree with points made by Richard and Alpie above. Also there's not much pleasure or satisfaction in buying someone a download as a birthday present.

[Beef Oven!]

I was forced to get a new car a few months ago and the circumstances were somewhat urgent and the last thing I was worried about was the CD player, although when the deal was done and I realized that the new car didn’t have one I was upset. I have found that I don’t miss them. Many a CD would go missing in the car. The data issue is a real one and
I did go over my limit the first month. We bought a bigger data plan, but interestingly I was reviewing our usage last night and it has returned to the previous baseline, so I changed it back to the old plan (except that when I called the provider, they offered us twice the original plan for only $1 more per month than what we formerly had paid so we came out ahead there). The reason it returned to baseline is because I began using my Sony portable player, with music on SD cards, and the usb sticks, which I have managed not to lose. I also have some music downloaded to the phone in m3.
Car listening isn’t a particularly satisfying experience for me, as I work in Chicago and am fighting traffic during the commute. I just need background music. If you live in a quiet country area it might be different

I wasn't forced, but I just chopped my Lexus in for a Mazda 6 and it has a toaster, teas-made and everything conceivable except for Bluetooth! I ask ya, in this day and age! (unless it's there and I can't suss it). Any road up, seems I need to feed the dashboard CDs

Edit: I say I wasn't forced, but sometimes your past life catches up with you

[Jonathan]

I've mostly stopped buying CDs these days - it's not just the lack of space but the easy availability of streaming services. The only CDs I still buy are those from series which I have started buying on disc and so will continue to do so until they are finished. Once those half dozen are completed, then that's it! (aside from the discs which I review which I will continue with)...