Prefatory note: I am poor. Do not bug me about the ethics of this article. Uh, it is to be used for academic purposes only.
How many times have you looked for a brand new and/or really hot album or EP, only to find there is no info on the bitrate? If you're somewhat new to downloading indie music you may not have experienced this yet, but don't worry, your time is coming. The new releases by major label indie artists have teams of technicians in the US and India, working around the clock to have their works removed from download sites soon after they're uploaded. Ok, I'm not too sure of that bit about India. For example, some months ago right when Avey Tare's "Down There" dropped, it was listed as ATDT.rar on filestube (or variants thereof). In addition there was no information on the bitrate. What's a downloader to do? Basically, if you know how long the album is, you can figure out what size the file should be. From there you can filter the search results on filestube (and many other search engines) by file size, and Voila! 320 kbps of brand new album or EP for you. In case you're not left-brained like me, I'm gonna show you how step by step.
1. Plug in an album name into your favorite file search engine (mine is www.filestube.com), in quotations, and include a file format. e.g.
"Small Black - New Chain" rar zip
Actually I think with filestube, if you search for "rar" it brings up "zip" results as well.
2. Now that you've made sure your download exists, we can figure out what size it should be.
Go to www.discogs.com and find your album.
Under "Shopping" click "Buy Digital"
This will load a page with the titles of the songs and the play time for each song.
3. Estimate the total play time for the whole album. Let's go through an example, "Young" by Summer Twins.
Round the Moon - 3.5 min
Was it worth it? - 3 min
Veronica Sawyer - 3+ min
Why don't you say? - 3.5 min
Ghost Train - 3 min
Jake Ryan - 2.5 min
So, the average play time is about 3 min per song. There's 6 songs, so this EP is about 18 min long. (Note: the actual play time is 18:49)
4. Calculate the size of the file needed for 320 kbps bitrate. Using the above example of "Young" by Summer Twins
18 min * 60 sec/min * 320 kb/sec * Byte/8 bits = 43,200 kB = 43 MB
So we will look for a file that is about 43 MB.
5. Set the range of file sizes to search for. You may not be able to find something that is exactly 320 kbps, we are after all getting something for free. The file may be 30 % smaller due to being variable bitrate. 30 % is a number I pulled right out of my ass. So, file could be as small as
0.7 * 43 MB = 30 MB
Note: if we repeat step 4, for a 192 kbps file, we see that 30 MB is not much greater.
6. Download the file. Unfortunately not as easy as it sounds. You may have links that look very promising, but when you load the host e.g. Megaupload, the file has been removed. : (
Or the file is still on the host, so you download it, and one second later you have the file. PARTY! Then you find out it is just an empty folder of 0 kB : (
Or you download the file, only to find out the archive is password protected : (
When I'm doing this, I try to download about 3 different files in case some of them crap out.
Well that's all, hope you learned how to freely acquire higher quality albums and/or EPs. Happy downloading!
You're probably not reading this anyway! So here is just the essential info you need to make your musical decision: to listen/download or not.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Hiatus and/or Minimalist blogging
The blogging style and/or frequency is going to change to accommodate my job searching needs.
I decided this yesterday. The day before that, I had an unproductive half day of job hunting and a jam session later with a new friend who had some really nice synths. While the jamming was great and we had fun swapping music tips, I was kind of on edge until he left thinking "ok, I need to blog but at the same time I don't wanna rush him off". So after the jam session was over and I dropped him off it was already 2 AM. When I got back home I tried my damnedest to listen to all the new music I had downloaded (mixed with other vetted tunes, on shuffle). I had started a blog entry for a song which sounded good the first 30 seconds, I won't deny. But on the second listen, I wasn't so sure anymore. I noted down some other titles of interest. Some moments later I passed out on my couch. At some point I woke up and headed straight to bed without setting an alarm, and didn't wake up again till 1-ish PM...which is NOT GOOD since I need to contact recruiters during business hours.
Anyways, I plan to continue communicating which new/lesser known tracks I'm digging. Either via minimalist "mention" blog posts, tweets, or some blog aggregator autotweet.
Hopefully when I do find a job I'll have time to blog again [via sitting at a desk all day, surfing internets 90 % the time]. Incidentally, do yall know anyone that needs a technical contractor?
I decided this yesterday. The day before that, I had an unproductive half day of job hunting and a jam session later with a new friend who had some really nice synths. While the jamming was great and we had fun swapping music tips, I was kind of on edge until he left thinking "ok, I need to blog but at the same time I don't wanna rush him off". So after the jam session was over and I dropped him off it was already 2 AM. When I got back home I tried my damnedest to listen to all the new music I had downloaded (mixed with other vetted tunes, on shuffle). I had started a blog entry for a song which sounded good the first 30 seconds, I won't deny. But on the second listen, I wasn't so sure anymore. I noted down some other titles of interest. Some moments later I passed out on my couch. At some point I woke up and headed straight to bed without setting an alarm, and didn't wake up again till 1-ish PM...which is NOT GOOD since I need to contact recruiters during business hours.
Anyways, I plan to continue communicating which new/lesser known tracks I'm digging. Either via minimalist "mention" blog posts, tweets, or some blog aggregator autotweet.
Hopefully when I do find a job I'll have time to blog again [via sitting at a desk all day, surfing internets 90 % the time]. Incidentally, do yall know anyone that needs a technical contractor?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Teen Daze
Thought I'd 'spice things up' with a photo of an 'effing hipster' photo credits
One of the newest blissed out tracks from 'chill-daze' powerhouse Teen Daze. But let's not pidgeonhole him, as he is a multi-faceted artist that has shown himself capable of several genres to date. Even if there were a near complete 'buzz drought' of 2k10.825 and onward, we can take comfort in knowing that Teen Daze will steadily release a stream blogworthy new tracks, like an IV to a patient. Speaking of which, stay tuned to YPNRTA because in the future I plan on hosting a 'Secret' tracks listening party. It's simple really, you come, you chill, you listen to a whole 'mixtape' of "unreleased" buzzworthy tracks. For now check out Shadows
Teen Daze - Shadows
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Stephen Farris: A YPNRTA Premier(?)
ripped off from sickoftheradio.com
What do you get when you mix hip-hop and chillwave? I'm not sure which I like better: hipwave or illwave. But that is the genre I would assign to this mindfuck of beats, synths, and samples. This guy is so indie, he's using a free Soundcloud account (i think). Which is a bummer because I was hopin to download his remix of Top Girls' "Can't Stop". Just look at this videodromy pic, and ask yourself why you're not listening yet?
Stephen Farris - Short Breath
Sunday, October 10, 2010
'September' 'Mixtape'
What will you find on my 'mixtape'? 'Genres' will be some combinatoric of the following: 'Witch'/Lo/'Electro'/Psych/Noise/Dream/'Experimental'/-Fi/Shoe/Chill/House/Rock/Pop/Gaze/Wave. Oh and here's a little copy-paste action via Winamp with the playlist. Some discussion of the tunes "after the jump"
Download 'September' 'Mixtape'
These songs were either released/leaked ca September or are part of EPs/albums that were. I didn't decide to make this mixtape until...well pretty much the first of oOoOOctober so didn't start werkin on it till then. Didn't remember if a few of the albums were released in the timeframe or I've just been running around so much that it slipped my mind. A lot of love, care, and most importantly discretion has gone into making this 'mixtape'. I think all the tracks here are "legit". But if not: DONT ASK ME TO REMOVE ANYTHING. THAT WOULD MEAN I HAVE TO MAKE A NEW ZIP FILE AND REUPLOAD. I DONT HAVE TIME FOR THAT BULLSHIT. GO FUCK YOURSELF...NEWAYS
El Guincho leads us off with some innovative combination of steel drums and electropop. Coincidentally oOoOO has a song titled Mumbai on their new EP. You have no idea how tempting it was to include that on the mixtape...for novelty. But I decided to 'hold myself to a higher standard' and not be 'gimmicky' this go round.
I had some mixed feelings about including Small Black's "Search Party" [via I already gave it a blog entry and want 2 expose yall to more diversity] but I just <3 it sooo much.
So I think it was two weeks ago when Active Child and 'The School of Broken Bells, srsly why we teachin our kids to play choral instruments that sound like bangin a knife on cookie pans yall' or w/e they r called...NEWAYS those two, did some mutual remixing of respective tracks, and the result was wonderful.
I'm honestly not sure why Glasser's "Home" was released so early and heavily blogged. Nor why "Apply" wasn't just as heavily blogged. I mean we all make mistakes. Sometimes we just get complacent and we take whatever the newest release is from an artist we respect and just 'blgo the shit out of it' [via bein an effing 20-something]. I've been guilty of this in the past, but no more (at least thats what I tell myself).
This Crystal Fighters - Star of Love album is a "grower". Still not sure how I feel about it on the whole. But since it has 'Basque influences' feel like it will aid greatly in my 'personal development' as a 'tastemaker'.
Not sure when, but Twin Shadow remixed Surfer Blood's "Floating Vibes" which I recommend giving a listen. But for now...wait seriously, is it even possible you haven't heard "Slow" yet? If so, take a step back, think about the title, and how appropo it seems to describe yer ability 2 keep up with 'buzzbands'.
I remember getting a tip a while ago on No Joy's "No Summer" from @foamingbbq (I believe it's still on bandcamp). So when "Heedless" was released, listening to it was a no-brainer.
Checked out The Black Ryder's new album "Buy the ticket, take the ride (but only if ur tall enough, SERIOUSLY my wife is bangin the "Guess Your Age" booth guy and if I lose this Carney gig she'll probs leave me yall)"...on a tip from @mexicansummer
Ok so Deerhunter's "Halcyon Digest" is good. UNDERSTATEMENT. But I think we're all a bit perplexed as to how the P4K's rating system works [via why did it get a 9.2]? Not saying it didn't deserve a 9.2, but I feel there are other albums that deserve a comparably high rating, possibly higher relatively, that I don't even see on the p4ks.
A remember in recent history I clicked some link 2 download a free track by Warpaint. They made me enter a valid email address. Totes worth it. Can't wait for "The Fool"s release.
Veronica Summer's Sawyer Camp was on a tip from @righthear. Actually a few of my mixtape/blog entry songs are. I think we might be blog bff's...bbffs. Wish they were a gurl, I'd totes hit that.
Hey remember when I made that comment about albums not being rated high enough on the bitchsporks? I'd like to enter Women's Public Strain as evidence Exhibit A. On that note, I was recently not selected for jury duty. That whole process was a dog & pony show. Quite lolz worthy. Yall should keep an eye on my tumblr and watch me fail to articulate the irl fail...NEWAYS let me say this about Women. They are as good/if not better than Interpol at their prime. It was so hard to not listen to this album a second time in a row ca 4 AM when I was already dead tired.
oOoOOooH I'm likin this "Witch House" stuff. More please. Think that this atx local band "Missions", who opened 4 SLAY BALLS last night might be next in my listening qUeUEeee
Learned of Eternal Summers thanks to a label sampler from @kaninerecords...I think. They played a show at this East Austin dive, Club 1808 the following week. KISMET! It's a quaint little venue in an uh...interesting part of town where the 'non hipster' locals congregate at one of the myriad liquor stores.
At the end I just wanted something a little more mellow than the mellow. Btw, checked out Memory Screen on a tip from @teendaze.
Download 'September' 'Mixtape'
WINAMP
playlist
16 tracks in playlist, average track length: 4:26
Playlist length: 1 hour 10 minutes 59 seconds
Right-click here to save this HTML file.
Playlist files:
1. El Guincho - Bombay (3:39)
2. Small Black - Search Party (2:50)
3. Active Child - I'm In Your Church At Night (School Of Seven Bells Remix) (5:40)
4. Glasser - Apply (4:59)
5. Crystal Fighters - In The Summer (3:56)
6. Twin Shadow - Slow (3:54)
7. No Joy - Heedless (3:21)
8. The Black Ryder - To Never Know You (4:28)
9. Women - Drag Open (4:52)
10. Deerhunter - Earthquake (5:00)
11. Warpaint - Undertow (5:51)
12. Summer Camp - Veronica Sawyer (3:19)
13. oOoOO - Hearts (5:14)
14. School Of Seven Bells - Heart is Strange (Active Child Remix) (5:11)
15. Eternal Summers - Eternal (2:59)
16. Memory Screen - Bbvroi (5:46)
These songs were either released/leaked ca September or are part of EPs/albums that were. I didn't decide to make this mixtape until...well pretty much the first of oOoOOctober so didn't start werkin on it till then. Didn't remember if a few of the albums were released in the timeframe or I've just been running around so much that it slipped my mind. A lot of love, care, and most importantly discretion has gone into making this 'mixtape'. I think all the tracks here are "legit". But if not: DONT ASK ME TO REMOVE ANYTHING. THAT WOULD MEAN I HAVE TO MAKE A NEW ZIP FILE AND REUPLOAD. I DONT HAVE TIME FOR THAT BULLSHIT. GO FUCK YOURSELF...NEWAYS
El Guincho leads us off with some innovative combination of steel drums and electropop. Coincidentally oOoOO has a song titled Mumbai on their new EP. You have no idea how tempting it was to include that on the mixtape...for novelty. But I decided to 'hold myself to a higher standard' and not be 'gimmicky' this go round.
I had some mixed feelings about including Small Black's "Search Party" [via I already gave it a blog entry and want 2 expose yall to more diversity] but I just <3 it sooo much.
So I think it was two weeks ago when Active Child and 'The School of Broken Bells, srsly why we teachin our kids to play choral instruments that sound like bangin a knife on cookie pans yall' or w/e they r called...NEWAYS those two, did some mutual remixing of respective tracks, and the result was wonderful.
I'm honestly not sure why Glasser's "Home" was released so early and heavily blogged. Nor why "Apply" wasn't just as heavily blogged. I mean we all make mistakes. Sometimes we just get complacent and we take whatever the newest release is from an artist we respect and just 'blgo the shit out of it' [via bein an effing 20-something]. I've been guilty of this in the past, but no more (at least thats what I tell myself).
This Crystal Fighters - Star of Love album is a "grower". Still not sure how I feel about it on the whole. But since it has 'Basque influences' feel like it will aid greatly in my 'personal development' as a 'tastemaker'.
Not sure when, but Twin Shadow remixed Surfer Blood's "Floating Vibes" which I recommend giving a listen. But for now...wait seriously, is it even possible you haven't heard "Slow" yet? If so, take a step back, think about the title, and how appropo it seems to describe yer ability 2 keep up with 'buzzbands'.
I remember getting a tip a while ago on No Joy's "No Summer" from @foamingbbq (I believe it's still on bandcamp). So when "Heedless" was released, listening to it was a no-brainer.
Checked out The Black Ryder's new album "Buy the ticket, take the ride (but only if ur tall enough, SERIOUSLY my wife is bangin the "Guess Your Age" booth guy and if I lose this Carney gig she'll probs leave me yall)"...on a tip from @mexicansummer
Ok so Deerhunter's "Halcyon Digest" is good. UNDERSTATEMENT. But I think we're all a bit perplexed as to how the P4K's rating system works [via why did it get a 9.2]? Not saying it didn't deserve a 9.2, but I feel there are other albums that deserve a comparably high rating, possibly higher relatively, that I don't even see on the p4ks.
A remember in recent history I clicked some link 2 download a free track by Warpaint. They made me enter a valid email address. Totes worth it. Can't wait for "The Fool"s release.
Veronica Summer's Sawyer Camp was on a tip from @righthear. Actually a few of my mixtape/blog entry songs are. I think we might be blog bff's...bbffs. Wish they were a gurl, I'd totes hit that.
Hey remember when I made that comment about albums not being rated high enough on the bitchsporks? I'd like to enter Women's Public Strain as evidence Exhibit A. On that note, I was recently not selected for jury duty. That whole process was a dog & pony show. Quite lolz worthy. Yall should keep an eye on my tumblr and watch me fail to articulate the irl fail...NEWAYS let me say this about Women. They are as good/if not better than Interpol at their prime. It was so hard to not listen to this album a second time in a row ca 4 AM when I was already dead tired.
oOoOOooH I'm likin this "Witch House" stuff. More please. Think that this atx local band "Missions", who opened 4 SLAY BALLS last night might be next in my listening qUeUEeee
Learned of Eternal Summers thanks to a label sampler from @kaninerecords...I think. They played a show at this East Austin dive, Club 1808 the following week. KISMET! It's a quaint little venue in an uh...interesting part of town where the 'non hipster' locals congregate at one of the myriad liquor stores.
At the end I just wanted something a little more mellow than the mellow. Btw, checked out Memory Screen on a tip from @teendaze.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wolf Gang
ripped off from last.fm user Anchises
'Indie' electronic artist Wolf Gang with a 'New' track. Active Child remixed the single "Back to Back" awhile ago which was my first exposure to Wolf Gang. It's hard to form an unbiased opinion of the stand alone work when it has been reworked so masterfully. Well 'today' is the day I learned about Wolf Gang the artist, not the remixee. You may have noticed the "inverted commas" with the words "new" and "today". Well it seems that The Blue Walrus knows the manager personally and has had a copy of this song since last summer! Take that P4K! Ok, can't hate on the p4ks too much...they have been liking the HRO photos I've been reposting. Probably some indie blogodome bullshit, they reachin out to kool-aid drinkin HRO 'readers', letting them know they still 'relevant'. Now you listen.
Wolf Gang - Lions in Cages
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