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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Buying music online in wav format

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What are the best download sites where I can buy music in full wav quality or other lossless format?

There seem to be one or two but they all seem to cater for more specalist areas of music.

I am looking for something with the choice of Spotify or iTunes which have all the oldies I may need and the latest chart tracks.

Thanks.

John
 
Posted Tue 25 May 10 @ 4:30 am
I don't think anything like this exists yet, especially in the UK.

It's generally accepted that MP3 files from 192 - 320kps are good enough for most people's needs.

Keith
 
Buy the CDs and rip them to wav files. You're not going to find music in wav format for download. The files are just too big and would take up too much band width.
 
If your looking for sound quality higher then 192kbps then the only option right now is to purchase the original CD and rip it.
 
iTunes music is 256 and good enough, your average person couldn't notice a difference between 256 and 320.

Ripping CD's is what I do mostly, but occasionally I buy on iTunes it's convenient and you own it.

Good Luck

Joey..
 
juno records have wav releases & are uk based if it fits your music genres.
 
If http://www.beatport.com is available in the UK then that's one the best with juno records.

You can get the music in mp3, mp4 or wave.
 
Thanks for the replies.

It's a shame that wav download hasn't taken off in any major way yet. I keep hearing articles on the radio and the TV about the future of downloads with lossless formats, etc. but nothing much seems to have happened this way. I wondered if there were any sites I had missed.

I checked Juno earlier but they don't cover much modern R&B. My needs are varied, mostly top 40/pop but I also need oldies and soul tracks. I can't really use mp3 for serious production work. CDs were mostly provided for me but this has stopped now due to budget cuts. I really need to use wavs or CD rips, but if I haven't got the CDs in the first place ....

I find myself buying a fair amount from iTunes every now and again but their quality is often too 'bright' / exaggerated at upper frequencies. Very false sounding.

Thanks anyway. Looks like I will still need to buy CDs for the time being.

Cheers

John
 
Have you considered dj only forums or record pools? eg DMC ...& never rule out vinyl if your after oldies & soul tracks.
vinyl still has many advantages if you have the resources as some cd remasters of classics sound terrible.

you can get some great results ripping vinyl with a good stylus & some mild external eq
you also have the exclusivity of b sides & obscure tracks which may never be reissued.
 
I agree WAV downloads would be great.
 
It's also recording industry standard.

Joey...
 
VDJ should start this service, I would sign up to that.
 
JoeyKJ wrote :
iTunes music is 256 and good enough, your average person couldn't notice a difference between 256 and 320.

Ripping CD's is what I do mostly, but occasionally I buy on iTunes it's convenient and you own it.

Good Luck

Joey..



Yeah, their (iTunes) proprietary (.m4a) 256 bitrate files are excellent, imo. iTunes has really expanded their library of music as well. They are starting to carry a lot more import dance music.

Rick
 
wav files are huge I mean on beatport you can download in wav but a 5 minute song is 40 mb thats huge and thats why most places dont let you download in wav
 
If you or anyone here is into House music, then Traxsource is the way to go. On most tracks, you have the option of getting WAV or MP3's

WAV's cost more too though.....
 


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