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Important notice: Upgrading

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  1. November 22nd, 2009 at 21:45 | #1

    PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
    I decided to gradually *upgrade* (most of) the older posts.
    The main reasons are as follows:

    1. Maintain some *Quality Standards*
    File Format issues:
    Due to file-hosting limitations (maximum allowed size), lossless rips (FLAC) were NOT an option.
    Moreover, some of the mp3 rips weren’t even mine (meaning that at that time I didn’t own the respective CDs)
    I intend to re-rip in FLAC all those CDs currently available in mp3 (or other lossy compression audio).

    Artwork scans:
    All uploads PRIOR TO June 2008, lack proper artwork scans. Up to that point I had to rely on whatever was available on relative sites, e.g. Cover-Paradise.to.
    Most of the galleries found there were (and still are I guess) sloppy or worse; and on top of that, they didn’t always match the specific edition of the CD I had in my collection…
    The idea had started growing on me for some time and ultimately I bought the necessary equipment (Canon CanoScan LiDE 90).
    From that point onwards, each CD-rip is accompanied with *meticulously scanned AND edited* album cover art.

    2. Simplicity
    Split archives
    One of my main concerns regarding this blog is to ensure it’s trouble-free for EVERY reader, in other words *idiot-proof*.
    Perhaps you find the above term a bit harsh (incidentally, it’s NOT an insult) or think I’m exaggerating.
    Better have a look at this screenshot then:
    1½ years old mp3-rip Statistics
    HAVE A LOOK I said, it won’t hurt you!

    Notice anything strange?
    The 1st part of the RAR has been downloaded 772 times, 146 more than the 2nd!
    (It goes without saying that unless you download both “volumes”, you CANNOT extract all the contents)
    This can’t merely be a coincidence; it exceeds the possibility of random mistake.
    It means a considerable amount of visitors are UNABLE to put 2 and 2 together.
    The only positive aspect is that it only applies to a fraction of uploads, mostly old ones.
    In order to make things simpler, (most of) the multi-volume RARs will be replaced by SINGLE archives.
    It’s bound to take some time to re-upload everything…

    File-Hosting Servers:
    Over these 3 years I’m running this blog, I’ve used a variety of such services.
    Unless something extraordinary happens, I’m sticking with Megaupload (FLAC rip storage strictly) and Rapidshare/Filefactory/iFile.it (for mp3 rips)
    You don’t need to be an experienced user to figure out how to get the so-called *download ticket*; The whole process is pretty straight-forward.
    Bandwidth limits issues aside, you shouldn’t encounter any difficulties.

    As expected some have more relaxed restrictions compared to others.
    Megaupload for instance, supports pausing/stopping downloads, an extremely handy feature especially when one’s connection is slow/unstable etc.
    As a general advice, it would be wise to use a Download Manager even if the hosting server doesn’t allow resuming downloads.
    They provide detailed monitoring, are less susceptible to internet traffic interruptions and -depending on the server used- may accelerate downloading.
    (Bear in mind that most -if not all- links can be intercepted)

    That’s about it.

    Before closing I’d like to remind you that “appearances can be deceiving”.
    The blog may seem *inactive* for a certain period of time, but rest assured I DO read EVERY comment/request left on a daily basis.
    It’s just a matter of priorities.
    Speaking of which, here’s a rough list of (some of the) Re-rips in FLAC that you should expect;
    In alphabetical order:

    7for4 (3)
    Al Di Meola
    Angra
    Babylon AD
    Bob Katsionis
    Cobra
    Def Leppard
    Dreamtide (2)
    Eclipse (2)
    Ed-Alleyne Johnson
    Elf
    Fair Warning (2)
    House Of Spirits (2)
    Hurricane
    Gabriel Yared
    Icon (2)
    Jan Cyrca
    Martone
    Mechanix
    Michael Lee Firkins
    Millenium
    Neil Zaza
    Paul Gilbert (2)
    Reingold
    Roulette
    Rodrigo Y Gabriela
    Roger Glover
    Snake Charmer
    Styx
    Synesthesia
    Steve Morse (2)
    Tamas (2)
    Ten (2)
    Tesla
    The Outlaws
    TMG
    UDO
    Uli Jon Roth (2)

  2. November 22nd, 2009 at 23:55 | #2

    Your generosity is amazing,
    jjp

  3. Anonymous
    November 23rd, 2009 at 02:10 | #3

    Thanks buddy for all your hard work and effort in sharing some great music.

  4. November 23rd, 2009 at 02:55 | #4

    Your work in this blog is awesome, words cannot express how great is my gratitude for the music you let us know, thanks.

  5. November 23rd, 2009 at 06:10 | #5

    All you hard work is greatly appreciated. You are THE man!

  6. November 23rd, 2009 at 14:30 | #6

    YES, your effort is GREATLY appreciated, sir!

  7. Flo
    November 23rd, 2009 at 19:15 | #7

    Thanks very much for your blog!
    I’m waiting for the Dreamtide albums – very good band.
    Like you, I saw House Of Lords in a very small club , it was fabulous.
    Great band too.
    If you need help you know where you can find me!
    Flo.

  8. November 23rd, 2009 at 19:30 | #8

    Thank you for some excellent albums in FLAC format.

  9. Anonymous
    November 24th, 2009 at 16:31 | #9

    Thanks, i find many band i never heard of before and some that i cant buy on cd, keep up that good work.

  10. madKingdom
    November 24th, 2009 at 16:48 | #10

    Oh .. bro!! tnx a lot… you`re so good! NIce work… keep it up!

  11. David
    November 25th, 2009 at 07:31 | #11

    Thank you for all your hard work.

  12. November 25th, 2009 at 13:13 | #12

    Many thanks for all the hard work!

  13. November 25th, 2009 at 17:01 | #13

    I never doubted your motivation for a second. Thanks for all the past and future tunes.

  14. November 26th, 2009 at 18:34 | #14

    Keep on flacing my friend

  15. Anonymous
    November 27th, 2009 at 06:51 | #15

    FLAC is the way to go. If users can’t get the second part, that is their problem. Props for you

  16. Stinky93
    November 27th, 2009 at 19:41 | #16

    I think your reasoning as to why people do not download the second rar file is somewhat off the mark.
    My reason 1:
    Many times I download the first part, listen to a few songs, then decide that music is not my cup of tea and skip the second rar file.
    My reason 2:
    They found the link using a search engine, downloaded the file, and didn’t have the password to unrar it, so skipped the second rar download.

    I find it hard to believe that someone with the knowledge to read your blog, locate the download links, and download the first rar file is unable to comprehend the error code winrar spits out when it asks for the second file.

    Keep up the great job. This site is one of my favorites.

  17. Stinky93
    November 27th, 2009 at 19:44 | #17

    This means I’ll finally get a FLAC version of Ten – Babylon, one of my favorite cds.

  18. Anonymous
    November 28th, 2009 at 01:39 | #18

    Will you let us know when which albums are upgraded, please?

  19. November 28th, 2009 at 22:55 | #19

    I’ve already mentioned them in comment #3 (scroll up a bit and you’ll spot them)
    There are approximately 50 re-rips that have to be done.
    I’ll post the first batch on December the 1st.

    It includes, but is not limited to, the following:
    1. Hurricane – “Over the edge”
    2. Hurricane – “Slave to the the thrill” [2008 EU remaster]
    3. Impellitteri – “Wicked maiden” [EU edition]
    4. Ten – “The Robe”
    5. Ten – “Babylon”
    6. Ten – “Ten”
    7. Ten – “In the name of the rose”
    8. Ten – “Far beyond the world”

    More than half have already been uploaded. Some are new additions, I don’t want to post 10 (or more) re-rips consecutively; I’ll try to keep an even ratio…

  20. Stinky93
    November 29th, 2009 at 22:20 | #20

    I think what he was asking was will there be a new notification or will the original post ten pages ago be updated with new information.
    It was my question also. Looks like you just answered it to my satisfaction.
    Thanks for putting Ten forward in your queue by the way. Awesome job you are doing.

  21. Anonymous
    December 4th, 2009 at 04:25 | #21

    Visit all the time from chicago-

    I can’t thank you enough, especially on those days when cash is low and really needing something new to listen to!

    Please know how much your efforts are appreciated!

  22. December 4th, 2009 at 10:25 | #22

    thank you from Croatia

  23. December 7th, 2009 at 17:18 | #23

    Hi, are there any download managers for Megaupload, if you are a free user?

  24. February 6th, 2010 at 08:35 | #24

    Google is your friend people. It isn’t that difficult to do a little homework on your own. The internet is ripe with “how-to’s” and such on everything from download managers to squid flavored ice cream….please, help out by helping yourself out a bit. By doing so you allow uploaders to do what they do best…..share great music with you without putting a monetary price tag on it.

    HUGE THANKS for your blog….found it by accident…check it every week.

    What you do IS appreciated.

    🙂

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