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Digital Library - or Not? Needed?

Newbie here - so take it easy on me. Been browsing the forums and see quite the vitriol in some cases.

I have a system I'm happy with that streams hi res using commercial services that we all know about. Can access almost all my music preferences, as I'm not into rare/underground/etc., but most of my taste is commercial so can easily find on streaming services.

I also have a small CD collection since I was a youngster (lets say 200?), mostly of albums that one can easily find on my streaming services, with a few exceptions (like those of my personal music with bands I've been involved in).

I can't pinpoint a good reason to digitize the CD collection and turn into a digital library, except for the very few exceptions noted. But I have a "fear of missing out" (FOMO), which I'm sure most of us can relate to. Like... there must be a good reason to create the library and have access to it... but my rationale side says "why, when you have access already? And that access is hi-res files?"

Is there another good reason to create a FLAC library like this? Or is my logical brain making more sense than my emotional side?

Thanks!
fade6
flrun's avatar
flrun
92 posts
 
What if something happen to your CD collection? Theft, flood? You said some are from your band so I assume irreplaceable.

The convenience. From a computer you can sit in your Lazyboy, browse and play the music you want. All my CDs are on my computer which is connected to my tv. The computer runs Plex so I can sit and browse all my music, it gives me info about the album, bands. If I want to look at the CD case I go to my CD rack.

Will
mahler123
3,081 posts
 
Streaming can be great when it works well, frustrating when it doesn't.  I am starting to sound like a broken record (remember those?) but remember that streamers are computers, masquerading as audio products, and if you have ever had IT issues elsewhere at work or home, they definitely can happen here.  I understand the FOMO anxiety but the important thing is the music.  If you have a small number of CDs, such as those bands that you mentioned, then it may not be worth the expense and potential aggravation.  What might be worthwhile and keep you in the list of doing what the cool kids do is bluetooth.  The latest bluetooth codecs are in improvement if not the equal of other digital formats but you can keep those few albums on your phone and then play them without having to retrieve the CD, or while you are visiting an old friend, etc
flrun's avatar
flrun
92 posts
 
IT issues more so when it comes to wireless, using DACs, USB cables. I have all physical connections, hdmi from my pc/music server to my pre, ethernet to my Oppo and pre if I want to use DLNA. Simple, I never have issues.

I avoid most things wireless especially streaming, then you are subject to internet speed, loss of signal or interference, etc.
I don't use USB cables because then you have drivers in the mix to deal with. But still I might, I have thought about trying a external DAC to see how much an improvement it could make. 
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,510 posts
 
no romance pegged it.
Just rip the rare stuff and listen to it plugged into your streamer. Unless you have SGC crap.
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
Re: getting rid of your CDs. Well, my portable hard drive died a couple days ago.  I took it to a local computer fix-it joint to get it running again or, alternatively, to extract the files and put them in a new one. I've got both fingers & toes crossed.  Lots of old pictures.  Live recordings of me and my friends playing music.  Fires? Floods?  How about the vicissitudes of 21st Century electronic gizmos?  BTW, I had Qobuz merrily playing on the stereo as I was writing this note.  Moments ago, Stravinsky was replaced with silence.  Gimme physical media, please!
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