Bookshelf Apps

Deutsche Grammophon now selling FLAC downloads

July 25th, 2009 2

On a recent iChat conversation I was told about Deutsche Grammophon’s new FLAC download store (news via ctnz on the Linn forum). Chris tells me that he may have helped move this process along as he emailed them recently asking about FLAC downloads, and now they’re doing it. Seems like they are one of the few record companies that do listen to their customers.

This also may be part of a larger experiment, Deutsche Grammophon is part of Universal Music, so I’m sure they are watching this new sales channel carefully. I guess there is also a reasonable assumption that classical music listeners are less likely to steal music.

You can take a look at their selection of FLAC downloads. They’ve got 184 albums on there so far, quite a selection really.

On the downside it’s a all 16/44.1 so far. If the started selling tracks at 24/96 that would be brilliant. It’s still a lot more convenient than purchasing a CD, even if the selection is small.

I’m starting to dislike the CD purchasing experience. Ripping is not hard, but it is a bit of a hassle, and then I’ve got the physical disc to store away forever, it’s a waste of space, but I do need to keep it for proof of ownership. I know it does form a sort of last resort backup, but with hard drives so cheap these days it’s easier to have a good disk based backup system.

For a sample of what 24/96 can sound like download this free Ryan Adams concert from the internet archive. It really is a more enjoyable listening experience at this higher bitrate.

2 Responses

Phil Blaustein
August 8th, 2009

Checked the link. Thanks. If you go to the Boston symphony home page, they have a new feature with a minimal selection of what they call HD downloads.

http://www.bso.org

It’s a start.

BBrip
August 12th, 2009

It’s great that they are starting it, but of course the selection is still too small to make an impact. But it’s a start

BBrip

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