Apple Music is great

[martint235]

i just thought I’d start a post praising AM. I’d never really understood subscribing to music and it was something I honestly thought I’d never do.

However I’ve recently started working from home almost all the time so music is on much more in my house. For £10 a month (the price of 1 good album) I get to listen to any album I like that is on AM. I also benefit from Apple making suggestions each day as to what I should listen to. Obviously these are not quite right sometimes but good to experience change. And finally for those rare trips to the office or a holiday, I can download stuff to my phone for no extra charge.

What’s not to like?

 

[Tech198]

What's not to like is songs/albums can disappear anytime..... There is no "100% must have a license" kept type model..

Apple is in control and copyright holders, so they do what they want.. Users are second. During the time i've used Apple Music, I've has songs not sync between devices, Apple keeps updating artwork which really gets me (I think they do that to annoy), and songs/complete albums vanish because copyright holder had their license expire and didn't choos eto renew for various reasons.

I don't mind this happening in iTunes when i purchase stuff or on the App Store, but not my music i want to listen to but use AM for convenience for streaming only.

The Genius and other recommendations are all good, but to me, 'Apple's in control' is priority as the reason why I unsubscribed after songs were disappearing. If Apple could guarantee nothing would go away when using AM ever, then that would be proof enough to me, but my music is what i wanna listen to,,, and i have an issue with music i don't own goes away....which makes me convert it,.

 

[Jjayf]

I like AM for a few reasons, but I dislike it for a few also. My biggest peev is that I can't stream AM downloads through my home entertainment system which connects to my devices via wifi. I can control my system with my phone and play audio from any device, but not downloaded AM content.

My next biggest peev is that Apple can't seem to leave albums as originally released and always has to add bonus tracks or other content not original to the studio release.

 

[martint235]

Wow. I've not had any of these issues yet. It may be cos I'm relatively new to it or maybe it varies from country to country.

 

[Winterfibre]

I use deezer it has a larger library and better quality songs meaning there flac.
Plus if you use a vpn to sign up from another country you can get it really cheap.

 

[onethinline]

Apple Music still has real irritations, mostly with how iTunes Match (or whatever it's officially called now) can unexpectedly falter, but overall I really like the service. The ecosystem integration, including Siri, is great (I'm looking forward to streaming on my Series 3 Watch), but for me the killer feature is the editorial content. The amount of curated albums, playlists, editorial sections, etc. is impressive, though it still takes some real digging to find a lot of it. But Apple (and Beats before it) invested in human curation over just algorithms and I think it pays off. Apple Music succeeds at discovery for me in a way other services like Rdio never really did.

 

[tonyr6]

Apple Music is terrible and yes I gave it so many chances but it is never fixed. Tired of slow loading songs even on a fast connection. The worst is iTunes really I search for a album I want to listen to and all I get is a spinning circle. What is bad is all the ram it wastes.

 

[AidenL]

I’m enjoying it too.

I like the integration where I can ask Siri to play songs via CarPlay.

 

[Brenster]

Seconded with all of the likes. Use it on my iPhone & CarPlay, iPad and via Sonos at home. Also second the ‘anything can leave at any time’ concerns; last year when Radiohead rereleased their albums digitally on their own label, the 2CD collections of the EMI albums disappeared from both AM and Spotify.

Bought them on CD, ripped them then let AM match and store in iCloud Music Library. Enjoy all you can on AM but be aware that things can leave as well as get added, and that if you really love something, buy it and it’s yours for good.

 

[tonyr6]

Okay I redact my last comment. I got AM working again in iTunes. I had to install the 32-bit version of Apple Application Support I just had the 64-bit version installed.

Wow the SQ of AM is still great. After using Play Music for the month AM sounds better Play Music I know sounds terrible.

 

[Brenster]

Okay I redact my last comment. I got AM working again in iTunes. I had to install the 32-bit version of Apple Application Support I just had the 64-bit version installed.

Wow the SQ of AM is still great. After using Play Music for the month AM sounds better Play Music I know sounds terrible.

Depending on your particular taste in music, much of the music badged as Mastered for iTunes in the iTunes store sounds particularly good on Apple Music.

 

[tonyr6]

Depending on your particular taste in music, much of the music badged as Mastered for iTunes in the iTunes store sounds particularly good on Apple Music.

Pre 2006 except for Smooth Jazz, Latin and Christian.

As for Play Music mud quality I was blaming my SoundBlaster Z. I even went as far as removing the drivers, using the stock and even trying third party drivers which refused to install. Even downloading Equalizers (btw I hate them everything is on flat) but it still sounded flat and has a ssss sound. Ordering PC speakers from Amazon then after 5 minutes changing my mind cancelling my order because I know my current speakers sound great as my own music ripped in 192kbps AAC using iTunes sounds great.

Also on Play Music some tracks on there are so messed up they start to skip like a really scratched up CD. No quality control there.

After getting AM working setting it to Windows Audio Sessioin, 48 kHz 24 bit rate sample and playing Dolly Parton my ears woke up and there was nothing wrong with my speakers or my soundcard.

 

[Brenster]

Pre 2006 except for Smooth Jazz, Latin and Christian.

As for Play Music mud quality I was blaming my SoundBlaster Z. I even went as far as removing the drivers, using the stock and even trying third party drivers which refused to install. Even downloading Equalizers (btw I hate them everything is on flat) but it still sounded flat and has a ssss sound. Ordering PC speakers from Amazon then after 5 minutes changing my mind cancelling my order because I know my current speakers sound great as my own music ripped in 192kbps AAC using iTunes sounds great.

Also on Play Music some tracks on there are so messed up they start to skip like a really scratched up CD. No quality control there.

After getting AM working setting it to Windows Audio Sessioin, 48 kHz 24 bit rate sample and playing Dolly Parton my ears woke up and there was nothing wrong with my speakers or my soundcard.

I remember the pain of getting audio working to satisfaction on Windows back when I had a Creative Audigy THX card back in 2002/2003, the pain of which was instrumental in my switching to Mac in late 2003.glad to hear you I’ve got it working and you’re now enjoying the music - which is what it’s all about in my book

 

[tonyr6]

Apple Music stopped working again in iTunes. Had to cancel and get a refund.

At least on the forums there are some who are having the same issues even a few with macs.

 

[AppleRobert]

Depending on your particular taste in music, much of the music badged as Mastered for iTunes in the iTunes store sounds particularly good on Apple Music.

I cannot seem to get a listing of what albums are available that have been Mastered for ITunes. I have been hunting and pecking doing google searches. I am interested in classical and jazz, do you have a source?

 

[Brenster]

I cannot seem to get a listing of what albums are available that have been Mastered for ITunes. I have been hunting and pecking doing google searches. I am interested in classical and jazz, do you have a source?

Other than the iTunes Store itself, there doesn’t seem to be a comprehensive list anywhere of what is and what isn’t MFiT. There are music discussion forums out there with individual recommendations but they’re far from all encompassing.

 

[AppleRobert]

Other than the iTunes Store itself, there doesn’t seem to be a comprehensive list anywhere of what is and what isn’t MFiT. There are music discussion forums out there with individual recommendations but they’re far from all encompassing.

https://www.uofmtiger.com/blog/essential-classical-albums-mastered-for-itunes

Best I have found so far for a source but it is over a year ago.

Personally I would not buy from iTunes and spend the money on the MFiT. Apple Music suffices enough for me.

 

[peterpayne]

Apple Music uses the same files as iTunes, so if the album is "Mastered for iTunes", those are the same files streamed with Apple Music.

The tag "Mastered for iTunes" doesn't appear on AM to avoid confusion, I guess. If sometime the tag is changed to "Mastered for Apple Music" or something like that, I'm sure they'll start using it.

 

[AppleRobert]

Apple Music uses the same files as iTunes, so if the album is "Mastered for iTunes", those are the same files streamed with Apple Music.

The tag "Mastered for iTunes" doesn't appear on AM to avoid confusion, I guess. If sometime the tag is changed to "Mastered for Apple Music" or something like that, I'm sure they'll start using it.

I only came across one on AM which was tagged with Mastered For ITunes, Mahler Symphony 1 Michael Tilson Thomas.

How in the world are people suppose to know that what is MFiT in that store is also mastered as such in Apple Music, thanks for the heads up BUT why aren’t the others labeled as such? Only the one I have found so far so I will continue to scratch my head.

 

[peterpayne]

I only came across one on AM which was tagged with Mastered For ITunes, Mahler Symphony 1 Michael Tilson Thomas.

How in the world are people suppose to know that what is MFiT in that store is also mastered as such in Apple Music, thanks for the heads up BUT why aren’t the others labeled as such? Only the one I have found so far so I will continue to scratch my head.

Mastered For iTunes just means the version sold on iTunes/streamed on Apple Music is converted from a high quality 24-bit 96kHz master, instead of the standard CD quality master (16-bit 44.1kHz). In both cases the songs are converted to a 256 kbps file.

Generally I prefer versions NOT "Mastered for iTunes", some MFIT albums tend to sound "lower". Not all of them, though.

I also had doubts before but just a quick example why I think that. Lately some record companies have been updating their artists' catalogue to Mastered For iTunes versions. When they've done this, the previous versions have been removed from both iTunes and Apple Music, and the new versions are up on both services.

The new versions may include new copyright info and a slightly different cover.

Example: all The Killers catalogue was updated last Summer to MFIT and it was also updated on Apple Music. "Old" versions with old copyright info were removed.

I don't think iTunes and Apple Music use different files or masters.

Anyway you're right there's no official confirmation, that's why we all "think" but we don't actually "know"

 

[Brenster]

https://www.uofmtiger.com/blog/essential-classical-albums-mastered-for-itunes

Best I have found so far for a source but it is over a year ago.

Personally I would not buy from iTunes and spend the money on the MFiT. Apple Music suffices enough for me.

AAppreciate the tip - will check out the link in a minute with a refill of coffee.

The albums that stick with me over time I’ve tended to buy. Had the case where I’d grown very fond of the EMI era Radiohead collectors editions on Spotify then on AM. Each album was the main album from the era along with B sides, EP tracks etc. Then Radiohead gained control of their EMI era recordings and released the albums on their own label. Bye bye Collectors Editions on all streaming services.

Cue a bunch of hasty 2CD+DVD purchases of all the affected albums to rip and import int iTunes & onto my phone. The same also happened to the 2CD 1997 RCA editions of the original trilogy Star Wars soundtracks. The mastering went from ok to lousy on those versions but they were the most complete versions of the scores available. 2015 SOny released new mastering of the 1977-1983 LP soundtracks and away went the 1997 RCA soundtracks from AM & SPotify. I already had these on CD and were therefore ripped. All illustrating that content can be taken away from streaming services as well as added to. Thankfully most of what I’m able has stayed on AM to date, but it could all be taken tomorrow if the labels wished.

None of which is to say I don’t absolutely adore my AM subscription and is by a country mile the best value digital subscription I pay for. Along with iTunes purchases and some physical releases (box sets and band’s self released CDs) and my musical diet has never been better.

 

[matrix07]

Wow. I've not had any of these issues yet. It may be cos I'm relatively new to it or maybe it varies from country to country.

Don't worry. People just hate on it like hating Apple Map and the X. Apparently for this group of people everything Apple does that anybody already did will be ****.
I'm using Apple Music everyday since it launched and it's always getting better. Great app.

 

[Brenster]

https://www.uofmtiger.com/blog/essential-classical-albums-mastered-for-itunes

Great list! Already have a bunch of them from AM music and recommendations from others:

Chopin: Nocturnes, Arthur Rubinstein is an incredible album. rarely heard such expressive, nuanced music coming from just a single instrument. Wonderful album.

Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, Leonard Bernstein. Gershwin’s finest piece. Leonard Bernstein. Nuff said.

Mozart: Piano Concertos 20 & 21, Friedrich Gulda and Symphonies 38-41, Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Two phenomenal recordings of equally impressive performances of my favourite Mozart pieces.

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Janine Jansen. As if the world needed yet another recording of The Four Seasons. Turns out this stripped down, intimate performance of the concertos is a worthwhile take on well worn, over familiar material. Also worth checking out is Janine Jansen’s album of Bach concertos and Max Richters Vivaldi: Recomposed.

Time to line up some of the others on AM for today’s at work listening pleasure.

 

[matrix07]

Great list! Already have a bunch of them from AM music and recommendations from others:

Chopin: Nocturnes, Arthur Rubinstein is an incredible album. rarely heard such expressive, nuanced music coming from just a single instrument. Wonderful album.

Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, Leonard Bernstein. Gershwin’s finest piece. Leonard Bernstein. Nuff said.

Mozart: Piano Concertos 20 & 21, Friedrich Gulda and Symphonies 38-41, Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Two phenomenal recordings of equally impressive performances of my favourite Mozart pieces.

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Janine Jansen. As if the world needed yet another recording of The Four Seasons. Turns out this stripped down, intimate performance of the concertos is a worthwhile take on well worn, over familiar material. Also worth checking out is Janine Jansen’s album of Bach concertos and Max Richters Vivaldi: Recomposed.

Time to line up some of the others on AM for today’s at work listening pleasure.

You like classical music? What is your username in AM so I can follow you?

 

[Vivekshah]

Apple Inc.acquire music-identification service Shazam, taking ownership of one of the first apps to demonstrate the power of the iPhone, recognizing songs after hearing just a few bars of a tune.