hdtracks for uk? [Archive] - The Art of Sound Forum

oldson

11-12-2011, 20:34

i am interested in downloading some hires files, to see what all the fuss is about.

registered with hdtracks only to read they only sell to US residents.

i know some people in the uk have managed to get around this by leaving there address line as US, when registering,and paying via paypal.

my worry is, is it legal to download these files if you live in the uk?

any other pitfalls?

how many of you guys have done it?

Ali Tait

11-12-2011, 20:48

Yes, I've done it no problem using paypal. Bought loads with no issues.

morris_minor

11-12-2011, 20:49

I hope it's not illegal :eek: 'cos I've quite a few downloads from 'em.

I registered with my uk email address so I haven't tried to hide my location. Paypal works a treat :eyebrows: .

DaveK

11-12-2011, 21:14

+1^

oldson

11-12-2011, 21:22

when you guys registered did you fill in ANY of your address?

oldson

11-12-2011, 21:40

took a chance and started a download.
is it normal for it to be slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow?

Ali Tait

11-12-2011, 21:46

If it's a hi rez file it'll be a gig or more. Takes time.

DaveK

11-12-2011, 21:48

when you guys registered did you fill in ANY of your address?

Yep, I was as honest as I could be - can't remember if the form would accept 'UK' though but I've been DLing their files for around a couple of years now, always paid by PayPal and never had any cause for concern.

oldson

11-12-2011, 21:51

cheers guys.
looking (or should i say hearing) forward to these.

morris_minor

11-12-2011, 23:16

Just a thought. If anyone was breaking licensing restrictions, wouldn't it be HDT for selling files to locations other than the US? They should have more restrictions in place on their site ;)

brian2957

11-12-2011, 23:22

morris_minor

11-12-2011, 23:26

Linn Records offer hires downloads of both their catalogue and other labels - checkout the jazz from Ozella if that appeals.

Also eClassical.com have hires files, I believe ...

oldson

11-12-2011, 23:43

"Unrecoverable playback error: Not enough storage is available to complete this operation"

downloaded ok but get the above message when trying to play on foobar.
any suggestions?

alfie2902

11-12-2011, 23:56

"Unrecoverable playback error: Not enough storage is available to complete this operation"

downloaded ok but get the above message when trying to play on foobar.
any suggestions?

Check your buffer length in Foobar.

File>Preferences>Playback>Output look at buffer length.

A recent download seems to raise it up tp 8100ms try lowering it to say 1500ms or perhaps lower & see if you get playback.

brian2957

11-12-2011, 23:57

Thanks Bob , I have used Linn in the past . Their output isn't exactly

mainstream and in many cases is an acquired taste. I will certainly look

into your other suggestions.

AndrewR

12-12-2011, 05:53

Is HDT the only source of hd files for UK users . Surely there are more. I've

been thinking about going down this road but wouldn't know where to start

as far as downloading or streaming is concerned.

archive.org has quite a lot of 24 bit 96kHz free live music. Including some Grateful Dead.

Andrew

morris_minor

12-12-2011, 08:33

http://www.gubemusic.com/ has 44.1/16 FLAC downloads. I've had a number of Beady Belle albums from them.

oldson

12-12-2011, 21:38

downloaded eagles hotel california album to compare with the flacs i have ripped from cd.
now i know what all the fuss is about!!!!
wipes the floor with cd.

this could get expensive, if most of the music available was not classical or jazz.

Welder

12-12-2011, 22:13

I would be rather careful about so called High Resolution downloads.
I would be particularly careful when making comparisons to redbook rips.

There are enough net reports, with back up measurements and data of up-sampled redbook, different masters used for Hi Res downloads, 24/96 that are in fact 16/48 or 24/44 not to mention some downloads that have been brick wall filtered rendering the term Hi Res fraudulent imo.

One really needs to know exactly what master was used to get the Hi Res download. Not a lot of point in comparing a 1970’s original CD master with a 2010 repertoire re-master for example. ;)

Ali Tait

12-12-2011, 22:14

There's a fair bit of decent stuff on HD tracks if you search.

morris_minor

12-12-2011, 22:17

downloaded eagles hotel california album to compare with the flacs i have ripped from cd.
now i know what all the fuss is about!!!!
wipes the floor with cd.

Absolutely! :)

roob

12-12-2011, 22:21

There's a fair bit of decent stuff on HD tracks if you search.
But is it all genuine high res or just upsampled old material?
They have been caught out several times.

Ali Tait

12-12-2011, 22:27

Yes, true, if what you read is correct. I have a look to see if it's been done from the original master tapes, which I think a lot have. Even if not, their prices are pretty reasonable, so I don't worry about it too much.

RichB

13-12-2011, 12:46

As an aside I'd never heard of HD tracks and had a look at their site, picked up a free 5 track sampler from there for simply signing up... quite impressed with the quality and selection. Would imagine i'll make a purchase from there. Thanks to AoS for pointing this one out to me, oh, and i'm UK based but a non-country specific email.

Ali Tait

13-12-2011, 17:58

It doesn't matter, just pay via paypal and you'll have no problems. I've been buying from there for quite a while.

oldson

13-12-2011, 20:08

But is it all genuine high res or just upsampled old material?
They have been caught out several times.

how would i find this out for the album i downloaded?
you got me curious now.

btw it still sounds far better than the original( 8x over sampling)

roob

13-12-2011, 21:21

Look here http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/HD-music-fft-atlas-reference-thread.
Also check out the HD Tracks threads here http://www.computeraudiophile.com/Forums/Music/Audiophile-Downloads
This is an interesting one http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Latest-Downloads-HDtracks-are-major-disappointment
and finally http://hdmusicreviews.shutterfly.com/forum

morris_minor

13-12-2011, 23:48

Also see this http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/How-check-recording-quality

oldson

17-12-2011, 20:13

gonna think twice before i buy any more hi-res downloads.
got lucky with my eagles download.
thanks for the replies.

luckily there is very little available to my taste, anyway.