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Other => Technical stuff => FLAC and other lossless audio formats => Topic started by: bluewater on January 24, 2008, 19:38:35

Title: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on January 24, 2008, 19:38:35
It's the way in the future - to download music in Flac format. I've found/tested
three places so far that sell lossless downloads.
If you know sites that sell music in FLAC/lossless or have
good/bad experience with them, please
add them to my list. I am a happy customer myself.

Sites that are malware/bloatware/spyware/dictature free... No DRM, No WMA,...

Personally I have no interest in itunes as it requires you to install "itunes" to your computer, and i don't like any sites that require you to
install a program/add-on specific to the site to your computer. But if you have
experience in itunes etc., tell us what are the good sides in them, do they sell lossless?

These are the three sites i found and spent money on, mostly they are electronic music:

1. Magnatune

+ you can _choose_ how much you want to pay, so it can be very cheap for you
+ artists get 50%
+ 60 days time to download as many times in as many formats you want
+ 3 of your friends can download also
+ you can ask for them to send you a physical cd-r of your purchase
- the artwork that comes with the downloads looks like crap

2. MusicZeit - download platform

+ customer support is great
+ 30 days time to download 3 times
+ quality artwork scans with albums
- limited in number of artists, probably only their own artists

3. Music is here

+ some quite rare items
+ bulletproof for payments - "verified by vista" system
- you have to be very careful when downloading because
- you get only 1 chance to download and if something goes wrong when downloading you're on
your own. so i avoid it if i can find the material elsewhere

Definitly the Magnatune way of doing things works.
For payments I used Visa electron. Paypal i don't have.

Common thing to the sites is: pay only for the albums/tracks (no initial payments), free registration

links to the sites:

http://magnatune.com/

http://www.musiczeit.com/

http://musicishere.com/
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: japanesebaby on January 24, 2008, 21:25:11
good topic!
thanks for your research and sharing the links. :smth023

Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on January 25, 2008, 13:21:41
Typo where i said "verified by vista" meant "Verified By Visa"
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on January 26, 2008, 11:12:03
This site seems to sell Radiohead - In Rainbows in Flac.
http://www.7digital.com/artists/radiohead/in-rainbows/
Most of the other records and other artists however are in mp3/wma/aac only
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on January 27, 2008, 11:54:16
Linn Records offer higher-than-cd quality FLAC's:

1. SACD and Dvd-audio quality (96khz, 24bits)
2. Studio masters that have not been to CD

catalogue is jazz/classical/folk

http://www.linnrecords.com/
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: Steve on January 29, 2008, 12:19:59
Quote from: bluewater on January 27, 2008, 11:54:16
Linn Records offer higher-than-cd quality FLAC's:

1. SACD and Dvd-audio quality (96khz, 24bits)
2. Studio masters that have not been to CD

catalogue is jazz/classical/folk

http://www.linnrecords.com/

JAZZ!! :evil:

All very well if you can afford a DSD recorder (& like Jazz      :smth078 )
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: japanesebaby on January 29, 2008, 12:30:12
thanks for more links again, bluewater. :smth023

i've been checking some of these stores for their classical music collections, partially out of professional interest, and it's delightful to find a lot of old music there - by "old" i don't mean something by mozart but something truly old, like some medieval/renessaince stuff that isn't very easy to find from any common record stores. also Magnatude seems to have a lot of very decent bach recordings, by some american bach society which i hadn't heard of before. pretty decent performances, the ones i listened to.
to be honest, i was halfway expecting "classical" to mean something utter crap like "new age classical" or some utterly uninteresting movie soundtrack-ish "new-romantic" stuff that's composed today way too much and which always gets tucked under the name "classical", just as if it had some real relevance (which it doesn't). :roll:
it's nice to notice it's not like that.

now, if there only was something similar for new music - and by "new" i mean truly new, modern/avantgarde classical music composed today. that's another area where it's sometimes hard to find recordings...


ps. looking at the list of performers found on linnrecords classical section, good names in there. so jazz or no jazz, i do like stores that try to offer quality, whatever the field of music was - you just need to choose the field you want...;) so if you don't like jazz, then don't download. i won't download jazz either but it doesn't mean the store was bad... 
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: Steve on January 29, 2008, 16:52:06
@Marika. You're right. I'll ignore the "J word" ;)

Linn are a very renowned audio company actually (my first turntable was an LP12 & it was dreamy).
So if they are offering studio masters, then if the style appeals, I would highly reccomend them.
They aren't some "McMusic" outfit & their sound engineers are brilliant.
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on January 30, 2008, 13:17:59
For japanesebaby & others (including me) interested in J.S.Bach recordings in Flac: Czech Radio listeners and the visitors of www.rozhlas.cz have a unique opportunity to download the six complete Brandenburg Concertos in mp3 / Flac

http://www.rozhlas.cz/d-dur/download_eng

New Czech Radio recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos
Marek Å tryncl - Autor:Martin Kutil

"The Brandenburg Concertos are an essential work in the baroque orchestral repertory, and yet we had to wait until last year to get the first complete Czech Radio recording performed on ancient instruments and based on the original scores, in line with modern standards of authentic performance."
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: Steve on January 30, 2008, 14:31:25
Apparently http://www.bleep.com/ are starting to offer Flacs too on their "warp" download site
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on January 30, 2008, 18:47:51
Burning Shed is an online label and store specialising in
Singer-Songwriter, Progressive, Ambient/Electronica and Art Rock music. Downloadable artists include Porcupine Tree, A marble calm, the resonance association

+ 24 hours time to download the purchase
- no chance to pre-listen to the records. i would probably purchase some music there
if i had a chance to listen to the artists

http://www.burningshed.com/store/downloads/

Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: Steve on January 30, 2008, 19:18:52
Quote from: bluewater on January 30, 2008, 18:47:51
Burning Shed is an online label and store specialising in
Singer-Songwriter, Progressive, Ambient/Electronica and Art Rock music. Downloadable artists include Porcupine Tree, A marble calm, the resonance association

+ 24 hours time to download the purchase
- no chance to pre-listen to the records. i would probably purchase some music there
if i had a chance to listen to the artists

http://www.burningshed.com/store/downloads/



Porcupine Tree. Has to be done........
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on January 31, 2008, 14:34:25
Quote from: japanesebaby on January 29, 2008, 12:30:12
now, if there only was something similar for new music - and by "new" i mean truly new, modern/avantgarde classical music composed today. that's another area where it's sometimes hard to find recordings...

You might want to take a look at Cdbaby.com. They have the widest selection of
classical/ avant garde i've seen. No Flac support though, but
you can opt for them to send the cd's without plastics, then the postage is only
5$ or so for a pile of cd's. I just ordered some Earnest Woodall cd's there. A very nice place.

edit: Or you might want to check out for example this guy called "Igor Ogogo" at music is here. Cdbaby and Music is here have quite similar selection, i find myself buying mostly from music is here and previewing the albums at cdbaby (2min of each track).
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on February 02, 2008, 18:33:03
For fans of King Crimson, Robert Fripp & Eno, Adrian Belew live recordings - there's some independent music company called "DGM live" born from the ruins of EG Music Group. They use bittorrent for downloads

http://www.dgmlive.com/archive.htm

But may i quote one user:
"I must say, you’ve got some audacity to charge money for this rubbish"

edit: there are some great free downloads though...

Robert Fripp's "Glass And Breath" album is downloadable for free (register first)
here:

http://www.dgmlive.com/archive.htm?artist=14&show=1167

Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: yrbadrenau on February 04, 2008, 19:43:26
Quote from: Steve on January 29, 2008, 12:19:59
Quote from: bluewater on January 27, 2008, 11:54:16
Linn Records offer higher-than-cd quality FLAC's:

1. SACD and Dvd-audio quality (96khz, 24bits)
2. Studio masters that have not been to CD

catalogue is jazz/classical/folk

http://www.linnrecords.com/

JAZZ!! :evil:

All very well if you can afford a DSD recorder (& like Jazz      :smth078 )


Some problems with jazz??? I'm a Cure fan since 1985, but i'm a jazz fan too. Charles Mingus, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, like the holy trinity for me... 
Like 17 seconds, Faith and Pornography... in another way.
And just listen one time in your life to Ella Fitzgerald Berlin concert. The only artist who makes me "pleurer de joie" (cry because i'm happy, shit i can't translate this). jazz is just beautiful. just open your mind
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on February 05, 2008, 12:04:35
Those who look for Skinny Puppy, Godspeed you black emperor, Broken social scene, the new pornographers and other indie
artists from Canada (didn't find Arcade fire though) should check out

http://www.zunior.com/

Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: Steve on February 05, 2008, 12:36:27
Oh nice one.
No Arcade Fire?
No problem. Overrated band anyway IMHO
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: scatcat on February 05, 2008, 13:14:09
Quote from: yrbadrenau on February 04, 2008, 19:43:26

Some problems with jazz??? I'm a Cure fan since 1985, but i'm a jazz fan too. Charles Mingus, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, like the holy trinity for me... 
Like 17 seconds, Faith and Pornography... in another way.
And just listen one time in your life to Ella Fitzgerald Berlin concert. The only artist who makes me "pleurer de joie" (cry because i'm happy, shit i can't translate this). jazz is just beautiful. just open your mind


i love ella Fitzgerald... 8)... Charlie Parker...  ;)

( i'll go hide in my corner now.. )
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: Steve on February 05, 2008, 13:31:15
I seem to have a phobia for jazz, but as long as I can't here it, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TebUMhJAKSM

Back on topic.
Anyone downloaded any of these flacs yet?
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on February 05, 2008, 14:23:49

Be warned  :twisted:
http://mgn.musicgiants.com/ - evil site, DRM, mainstream selection, expensive,
only MS internet explorer is supported
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: scatcat on February 05, 2008, 14:30:51
Quote from: bluewater on February 05, 2008, 14:23:49

Be warned  :twisted:
http://mgn.musicgiants.com/ - evil site, DRM, mainstream selection, expensive,
only MS internet explorer is supported

thanx for the feedback.. bluewater.  :smth023
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: japanesebaby on February 05, 2008, 14:42:03
thanks for all the loads of links again - you keep us "well fed", bluewater. :-D
and i need to check that cdbaby site soon...

Quote from: bluewater on January 30, 2008, 18:47:51
Burning Shed is an online label and store specialising in
Singer-Songwriter, Progressive, Ambient/Electronica and Art Rock music. Downloadable artists include Porcupine Tree, A marble calm, the resonance association

+ 24 hours time to download the purchase
- no chance to pre-listen to the records. i would probably purchase some music there
if i had a chance to listen to the artists

http://www.burningshed.com/store/downloads/



i've used burningshed for quite some time - mostly just to grab their free downloads though. :oops:
anyway, i like their selection. i did find the resonance assocation that way, some other stuff too.

by the way i think some of their downloads do have a preview possibility, unfortunately not all of them but some do.


@steve: i did download that fripp album yesterday night but i've had not time to listen through it yet. anyway the torrent download worked well.
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: Steve on February 05, 2008, 14:52:02
@Marika.
Didn't see that one.
Let me know if it's any good.
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on February 05, 2008, 14:53:14
i've downloaded over 40 albums in Flac - 27 of them from Music is here, 5 from MusicZeit
and 8 from magnatune. Average cost 7 eur/album. Magnatune is the cheapest but music is here
has an interesting kind of a "bug" in the pricing, they charge only 0.99eur per track even if the tracks are 30min long, so
for a cd of 2 side-long tracks they charge only 1.98euros. Musiczeit is more expensive and old-schoolish
electronic music only. Haven't had any problems of any kind so far.
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: Steve on February 05, 2008, 17:26:33
I bought Futile & Arriving Somewhere soundtrack all off the Burning shed / Porcupine Tree online shop with no problems except the artwork was a tiny bit too big for the CD case. :D
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: yrbadrenau on February 05, 2008, 22:43:45
Quote from: scatcat on February 05, 2008, 13:14:09
Quote from: yrbadrenau on February 04, 2008, 19:43:26

Some problems with jazz??? I'm a Cure fan since 1985, but i'm a jazz fan too. Charles Mingus, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, like the holy trinity for me... 
Like 17 seconds, Faith and Pornography... in another way.
And just listen one time in your life to Ella Fitzgerald Berlin concert. The only artist who makes me "pleurer de joie" (cry because i'm happy, shit i can't translate this). jazz is just beautiful. just open your mind


i love ella Fitzgerald... 8)... Charlie Parker...  ;)

( i'll go hide in my corner now.. )


You won't be alone then, don't worry
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: japanesebaby on March 04, 2008, 23:59:43
(i guess it's a bit of a double-post about this subject but anyway:)

NIN's new 'ghosts' collection (halo 26) is available for FLAc download for $5 from the official site:

http://ghosts.nin.com/main/order_options

for check-it-out purposes, mp3 download for 'ghosts I' is available for free.
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: japanesebaby on May 19, 2008, 21:22:12
Quote from: bluewater on January 24, 2008, 19:38:35
1. Magnatune

+ you can _choose_ how much you want to pay, so it can be very cheap for you
+ artists get 50%
+ 60 days time to download as many times in as many formats you want
+ 3 of your friends can download also
+ you can ask for them to send you a physical cd-r of your purchase
- the artwork that comes with the downloads looks like crap

http://magnatune.com/

i guess it's sort of spam but kind of spam which i seem to enjoy:
when you're registered at magnatude, you receive an emailed link for "magnatude song of the day" every day. you can download one song for free, the link is valid on that day only.
sometimes i hate what they have for me, sometimes i don't care - but i've noticed it often manages to cheer me up, on a daily basis. because you never know what you get: it could be classical, ambient sounds, indian music, punk... you name it! yes, it's silly, i know.
today i got a track from this:

http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/abs-haydnmasses/

:smth020
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: bluewater on June 12, 2008, 21:47:27
Has anyone found legal lossless downloads of new cure singles or will there ever be? I won't buy the new singles in cd-single format, it is so silly.
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: japanesebaby on June 13, 2008, 09:08:50
Quote from: bluewater on June 12, 2008, 21:47:27
Has anyone found legal lossless downloads of new cure singles or will there ever be? I won't buy the new singles in cd-single format, it is so silly.

you're not the only one searching for the only one(;)):

http://curefans.com/index.php/topic,5100.msg51330/boardseen.html

no sight of it. :?
that's why i just bought the 7" instead.


Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: nosecret on July 16, 2009, 13:31:28
Checked all the sites mentioned. I liked www.musicishere.com. I bought both in FLAC and in WAV, noticed the possibility to pay by PayPal too. I made a mistake while downloading, emailed support, they provided me the link to download once more and replied very quickly. Great suprise. A little bit awkward design but the servise is very good.
Title: Re: Legal FLAC Download Sites
Post by: wandra on December 08, 2010, 05:54:36
You can download FLAC music at http://www.rhino.com (http://www.rhino.com). They have around 20 cure titles.

For those that are interested I have made a list of legitimate sites for downloading FLAC music at http://flacatac.com/music (http://flacatac.com/music). Many of the sites offer free downloads and some have pretty big collections. Unfortunately one of the most promising (qobuz) is french.