Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple iTunes Offers Led Zeppelin Digital Box Set

200px-Led_zeppelin_boxset.jpg


I bought this box set on cassette when it was released in 1990, it was the first box set of anything I'd ever bought. I loved it, it would be nice to replace it now that all my cassettes are deep in storage. Although I may have already replaced most of it back in the heady days of Napster.

A girl I knew bought the CD version at the same time, they were her very first CDs. She had the practice of scratching her name into her cassettes with the metal pointy thing from her geometry set. Unfortunately, she thought she could carry this over to CDs. She never even got to listen to it.
 
That sounds really cool, but I'm not sure "box set" is the right word for it in this case- If it's all digital... There's no box. :p
 
what is the point exactly of pre-ordering a digital box set? Are they going to run out on opening day? Just pay for it when you can actually download it.
 
not for Spain (yet?)

It would be great if this would be available in Spain too. I don't understand why the Spanish iTunes store is so rubbish compared to the US or UK one.
 
Led Zep is right up there with the Beatles as far as my favorite bands, but these two groups never wantesd to sell singles via iTunes. They want an all or nothing deal. I own all the Zep albums, and all the Beatles releases, but it would be nice if they would open up and allow people to purchase singles or individual albums. I guess you have to start somewhere.
 
Woo! Beatles are next! Not that I care but it would finally shut people up!

nemaslov said:
WHY WOULD ANYONE BUY THAT WHEN THET COULD GET THIS AMAZING BOX OF CDS WITH GREAT PACKAGING FOR LESS!!! AT AMAZON:

Complete Studio Recordings [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]
Led Zeppelin

More about this product
List Price: $129.98
Price: $89.97 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save: $40.01 (31%)
Click to expand...

They don't have to wait for it to be shipped. But why buy it on iTunes? I heard it was going to be on all the digital services, so eMusic and Amazon should have it too. We should wait for them all to agree on a price so they don't risk under cutting each other, well except eMusic.

It should be DRM free right? If eMusic and Amazon are getting it too, it should be DRM free across the board. Can anyone confirm this?

anubis said:
what is the point exactly of pre-ordering a digital box set? Are they going to run out on opening day? Just pay for it when you can actually download it.
Click to expand...

I think it auto downloads if you pre-order. So it's there in the morning when you wake up? I'm not sure but if that's not it. I don't see the point either.


I listen to my digital audio in 128 kbps mp3 files. Which I have done since the days of Napster when I was younger, my ears could hear better and couldn't tell the difference between 128, 192, 156 constant bitrate or 160 192 variable bit rate. Now that I'm older, I don't care. I've had friends want music from my collection but not take it because of the bitrate.
 
bennyboi said:
Zeppelin: I still after 10 years cycle Houses of the Holy, III, II, IV, whatever, and somehow appreciate new details. Listen the Rain Song uncompressed then at 128 and YOU tell ME!

Honestly, it isn't about yours my preference. Certainly Zeppelin songs DESERVE a high bit rate out of respect.
;)
Click to expand...

I have listened to Rain Song at 128 and on the CD. I didn't hear it, perhaps you could describe what I'm missing.

And Zeppelin DESERVE a high bit rate out of respect? I hope you say that tongue in cheek. They don't deserve any better than a Miles Davis, Robert Johnson or Bach digital offering.
 
nemaslov said:
WHY WOULD ANYONE BUY THAT WHEN THET COULD GET THIS AMAZING BOX OF CDS WITH GREAT PACKAGING FOR LESS!!! AT AMAZON:
Click to expand...

The digital set includes a lot more than that box does.

I have that box set, the BBC Sessions release, and How the West Was Won, a total of 127 songs. The iTunes set has 165 songs.
 
question . . .

We're going back and forth about bitrates and what we hear (won't even open the can of worms of digital v. vinyl), but is anyone here planning on downloading this box set, be it from iTunes, Amazon, or even another source? Is anyone here planning on purchasing the physical box set of discs?

What would you see as the added value of the physical set? Does anyone see any advantage in just getting the digital set? What is the value see for people with extensive Led Zeppelin collections, digital or analog?

How about it? Any potential buyers?
 
Awesome!

This is great news...Too bad I have already owned everything from Zeppelin for years or I'd be all over this.
 
back 'em up

lseven said:
I disagree with that. I use lossless for archiving, to have a perfect original master version, so to speak. I'm sure the AES doesn't recommend throwing away the masters, right? :)

That way I can be future proofed. I can re-encode with any algorithm at whatever rate I want. Disk space is cheap and will increase rapidly, so I don't need to worry about it. Just look at the change in the size of iPods. I can store my CDs away without needing to ever rip again... I only want to do that once, ever.
Click to expand...

Back 'em up and then sell the physical discs to a resale shop to recoup some of your money for something else (more music, perhaps?) . . . that's what I say!
 
nemaslov said:
WHY WOULD ANYONE BUY THAT WHEN THET COULD GET THIS AMAZING BOX OF CDS WITH GREAT PACKAGING FOR LESS!!! AT AMAZON:

Complete Studio Recordings [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]
Led Zeppelin

More about this product
List Price: $129.98
Price: $89.97 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save: $40.01 (31%)
Click to expand...

Because iTunes is the easier, faster way to do things.. (not Better.. but easier... and no, I'm not supporting iTunes)
 
Drumjim85 said:
Because iTunes is the easier, faster way to do things.. (not Better.. but easier... and no, I'm not supporting iTunes)
Click to expand...

EASIER!!???

You order on Amazon one click. Three or four days later it arrives. You load in the CDs on any computer you like, takes a couple of minutes per album, about the same time as a download. You can have lossless, MP3s or any quality, no limitations. You can take the CD version in your car. You have backup forever, You have great artwork. Don't have to print our on crappy paper or waste colored printer ink. You have this amazing box that sits on your shelf. And again better quality than you most likely ever get by downloading.
 
chicagostars said:
Back 'em up and then sell the physical discs to a resale shop to recoup some of your money for something else (more music, perhaps?) . . . that's what I say!
Click to expand...

I stopped purchasing CD's about three years ago. Part convenience, part philosophy. I got tired of storing and moving cases and cases of CD's even as backups... quite ostensibly due to the fact that even slight abrasion to the label side of a CD will promote oxidization of the metal substrate and consequently perforation rendering the CD useless.

It's honestly so much cheaper to replace them on a track by track basis if something goes corrupt (which rarely is the case with a half-decent HDD)... If you really are worried, though, you're better off making a DVD ROM backup of your AAC library because DVD's aren't as susceptible to disc rot since they're manufactured differently from CD's.

And philosophically speaking, I think it's important to promote the idea of commercially-viable internet distribution. It's a game changer that the industry is afraid of not due to piracy (which is a red herring), but due to the growing realization by recording artists that the internet affords them global distribution without having to enter into indentured servitude of the record labels who once held a distro monopoly.

Sticking it to the man 99 cents at a time... They didn't believe it could, but it really has added up to a force to be reckoned with.
 
chicagostars said:
We're going back and forth about bitrates and what we hear (won't even open the can of worms of digital v. vinyl), but is anyone here planning on downloading this box set, be it from iTunes, Amazon, or even another source? Is anyone here planning on purchasing the physical box set of discs?

What would you see as the added value of the physical set? Does anyone see any advantage in just getting the digital set? What is the value see for people with extensive Led Zeppelin collections, digital or analog?

How about it? Any potential buyers?
Click to expand...

I would much rather buy the box set. It will only take an hour to rip the songs into iTunes and I will have a hard copy backup, in case I lose the aac copy somehow. Also CDs are 1441 kbps, and it is easy to encode a CD to whatever bitrate I prefer today and I can rip it agoin at a higher bitrate if my preference changes in the future.

The only reason I can see for buying it from iTunes is convenience (not having to go to the store or wait for a delivery.) Also there is reduced use of plastic and paper. When download speeds and storage space become cheap enough to deliver iTunes content at 1441 kbps, then I might start buying music on iTunes. For now I will only use it for impulse buys of certain songs. If I'm going to spend $100 rebuying the Led Zep catalog I want to get full CD quality, and a nice book with lots of pictures and interviews.
 
Let's keep the thread on topic here and not get sidetracked about discussions of bitrates and audio transparency, thank you. This news will please a lot of Zep fans. :)
 
imwoblin said:
Led Zep is right up there with the Beatles as far as my favorite bands, but these two groups never wantesd to sell singles via iTunes. They want an all or nothing deal. I own all the Zep albums, and all the Beatles releases, but it would be nice if they would open up and allow people to purchase singles or individual albums. I guess you have to start somewhere.
Click to expand...

If you go back and read the original post in this thread you will see that:

"Led Zeppelin's entire catalog of songs and albums will also be available for individual purchase and download beginning November 13."
 
Avatar74 said:
I stopped purchasing CD's about three years ago. Part convenience, part philosophy. I got tired of storing and moving cases and cases of CD's even as backups... quite ostensibly due to the fact that even slight abrasion to the label side of a CD will promote oxidization of the metal substrate and consequently perforation rendering the CD useless.

It's honestly so much cheaper to replace them on a track by track basis if something goes corrupt (which rarely is the case with a half-decent HDD)... If you really are worried, though, you're better off making a DVD ROM backup of your AAC library because DVD's aren't as susceptible to disc rot since they're manufactured differently from CD's.

And philosophically speaking, I think it's important to promote the idea of commercially-viable internet distribution. It's a game changer that the industry is afraid of not due to piracy (which is a red herring), but due to the growing realization by recording artists that the internet affords them global distribution without having to enter into indentured servitude of the record labels who once held a distro monopoly.

Sticking it to the man 99 cents at a time... They didn't believe it could, but it really has added up to a force to be reckoned with.
Click to expand...

I have about 6,000 CDs. Some from the beginning... 1983 or 84. Not ONE has worn or oxidized!! I have digitized maybe half but love having the full albums. I find that when I play digitally in random, cuts play that I had forgotten about and I find amazing. Not just the classic cuts that one may purchase. Too many non hit songs will slowly fade.
 
nemaslov said:
EASIER!!???

You order on Amazon one click. Three or four days later it arrives. You load in the CDs on any computer you like, takes a couple of minutes per album, about the same time as a download. You can have lossless, MP3s or any quality, no limitations. You can take the CD version in your car. You have backup forever, You have great artwork. Don't have to print our on crappy paper or waste colored printer ink. You have this amazing box that sits on your shelf. And again better quality than you most likely ever get by downloading.
Click to expand...

Now you don't need to print out the artwork. Plug your iPhone/iPod into your computer, synch up, go to the car, plug the audio aux jack from the phone to the car, and boom... no CD's, jacket art entirely stored on the phone... etc. No wasting CD blanks, no wasting paper, or ink, or jewel cases. Got no aux jack? Well, go get one! :D
 
ChrisBrightwell said:
Violation of copyright law, I say!
Click to expand...

Thank you Mr. RIAA ......

Avatar74 said:
Now you don't need to print out the artwork. Plug your iPhone/iPod into your computer, synch up, go to the car, plug the audio aux jack from the phone to the car, and boom... no CD's, jacket art entirely stored on the phone... etc. No wasting CD blanks, no wasting paper, or ink, or jewel cases. Got no aux jack? Well, go get one! :D
Click to expand...

1. There aren't CD Blanks... just plastic pellets
2. CDs can/do go bad over time.. CD-Rs are worse than pressed CDs though..
3. Hard drives aren't forever either..

:)
 
I've been looking forward to seeing this material on iTunes for a long time... pretty much since the first four-disc set came out in the 1990's.

My only frustration is that some of the original master recordings were of atrocious quality to begin with. Kashmir, though artistically one of their greatest songs, is sonically flattened compared to what it could be.

But we can't go back in time and change that. At the same time, the quirky recordings are themselves historical artifacts and I might find myself repulsed by a cleaner re-recorded version that doesn't have the grit and the character that so personifies the songs as we've come to know them.
 
nemaslov said:
EASIER!!???

You order on Amazon one click. Three or four days later it arrives. You load in the CDs on any computer you like, takes a couple of minutes per album, about the same time as a download. You can have lossless, MP3s or any quality, no limitations. You can take the CD version in your car. You have backup forever, You have great artwork. Don't have to print our on crappy paper or waste colored printer ink. You have this amazing box that sits on your shelf. And again better quality than you most likely ever get by downloading.
Click to expand...


But there are quite a few people who make $100,000 who live in New York who have never had a car and never plan on buying one who MIGHT have friends over at 2am who would download LZ. Ever heard of impluse buying? Printer ink, artwork, bahhh humbug, those from back in the day already have things on their shelves:D

I buy many things from Amazon but sometimes I don't wanna wait for a delivery.....

No I don't make $100k and don't live in NY but I do have some OLD Led Z t-shirts that I wear around the house. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back