DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERSION is about my life with music. The project (and blog) concerns my attempt to convert all of my compact discs into computer files – or yet another format change (the final format change?).

In early 2010, I realized that my CD player wasn’t plugged in, and I was sure how many weeks (months?) had gone by between when this happened and when I noticed it. Most of my music purchases are now done online, and I rip stuff to my computer on a semi-regular basis. This is how most of my music listening has taken place for a bit of time now (which lets me listen to music during my 2+ hours of bus / train commuting a day).

What saddened me most about the unplugged situation was the realization that I have bookshelves of CDs that I don’t consider in my main listening choices anymore. The library of music I collected over many years of working in record stores and years of music school were mostly in a stored state… well over 3000 discs of music that was taking up wall and shelf space that could also be used for books. Music on computers is perfectly acceptable, whereas books on computer really is an abomination.

So with this project Tamiko (my wife), Celia, Mira (our daughters) and I get:

a) about 3000 discs worth of music to listen to again, anywhere in the house or with an internet connection.

b) valuable shelf space for books (Tamiko and I have acquired with the same voracious appetite as music, a happy habit that Celia and Mira also seem to be picking up)

c) one less earthquake hazard

d) a chance for me to take a look at everything that I have bought again, and reflect on where I was then and where I am now and how this music has changed for me over three and a half decades

e) and finally, hopefully one last format change

The tools (updated as the system changes!):

– An old PowerBook G4 Mac running Mac OS X and iTunes 9. Converts CDs automatically into Apple Lossles Audio Files.

– So far, two FireWire harddrives totalling about 350 GB of space (much more will be needed soon!)

– These are connected by ethernet into a wireless hub – all computers in the house are able to access the version of iTunes running on the computer

– SimplifyMedia, an application that lets me connect via the internet to the collection.

– Celia and Mira (mostly) picking CDs at random for me to rip – one or two a day each.

Of course, since music is such an important part of my life, there is much more involved in this whole project then just ripping discs… and I decided that the blog is a chance for me to create a diary of these thoughts. What I miss most about working in a record store was the conversation that music could incite… the passionate arguments and overbearing opinions. Please sign on and comment on the posts! And thanks for reading.

UPDATES:

– Simplify Media went away in a whimper, and I have since replaced it with the EXCELLENT Subsonic (which uses ffmpeg and lame underneath the hood). Web-based interface, but quite nice nonetheless.

– About to purchase the SECOND terabyte drive (one for backup, other for loading material on to).

– Carbon Copy Cloner runs nightly backups.