The Penultimate Word

DG now has an online store, and it is freakin’ awesome. It has over 2400 releases, including 600 out-of-print releases, any of which can be downloaded instantly. All the downloads are in 320kpbs mp3 format, which is a very high-quality format. The files are DRM-free, that is, not copy-protected, which means you can download them to your computer and copy them to whatever playback device or other computer you wish without restriction. You can, of course, import the files into iTunes and then to your iPod. The one drawback to 320kpbs is that the files are really large, but that is a tradeoff I will gladly make.

You can purchase entire albums or individual tracks. The store keeps track of what you have purchased, so if your internet connection craps out during the middle of a download, you can simply reconnect to the store and try downloading again without having to repurchase the track. Their pricing is very reasonable, although they charge different prices for different tracks, unlike iTunes which charges a flat $0.99/track. I haven’t figured out their pricing yet.

As I write this I am downloading a performance of the Beethoven Quintet for Piano and Wind Quartet in E-flat, performed by Friedrich Gulda and the Vienna Philharmonic Wind Ensemble. My dad purchased the LP of this performance probably in the 1960s, and it was always a favorite of mine. Both the LP and CD reissue have long since gone out of print, and I was frustrated by my inability to find a copy. So I was really happy to find it available for download from the DG store.

The only problem I had with the site is that they make a big deal out of something called the Download Manager, but I could not get it to start (and I am pretty competent in these matters). It wasn’t a huge deal as there are other ways to download files besides using the Download Manager, but it was a little frustrating to be unable to get the thing to work. Other than that minor issue, I am really impressed with the store.

(via Alex Ross: The Rest is Noise)

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