which music (media hard drive) would you recommend for sound system

ginjim

got a stereo sound system that hooks up to a cd multichanger but thinking of getting rid of the cds and backing them up to a hard drive.
i hope to play continuous shuffled music from this instead.
i have been looking at ipods and creative zens and looking for about 3000 songs (something i could maybe program too)
the cd output are two rca plugs
what would people recommend instead of the cd changer
many thanks

Marty_J

Anything from Apple or Creative Zen would pretty much do what you want to be able to do.

Creative Zens are usually cheaper and they have a wider selection of models. iPods are compatible with the iTunes Store, and in my opinion are better built and have a nicer interface; the new Nanos are very nice.

What you get really depends on what is important to you.

M4RKM

as an mp3 player addict from the days of a 64mb player that plugged in via a parallel port.. (laughs) i'm sure i can add my 2p's worth into this conversation.

i think an ipod would work better than a zen, on the basis of you could invest in a little ipod dock, which would then make it stand up and hook into the back of your stereo, i'm not sure, if they still do the docks with a remote control thingy on them, if they do, even better, grab an apple remote, and you don't have to stand up to change tracks.. woohoo..

a zen will do the job, slightly cheaper, the interface isn't half as good in my opinion, and i don't think they do docks so it'd just sit on top with the cable plugged in..

ginjim

Marty_J wrote: »

Anything from Apple or Creative Zen would pretty much do what you want to be able to do.

Creative Zens are usually cheaper and they have a wider selection of models. iPods are compatible with the iTunes Store, and in my opinion are better built and have a nicer interface; the new Nanos are very nice.

What you get really depends on what is important to you.

sorry are you saying the zens arent compatible for itunes?
I have an account with itunes and have about £100 of music on there so wouldnt like to lose them
its basically for the sound system of a pub so instead of changing music all the time when i get bored and having the trouble of scratched discs or discs that are stuck all my msic would be on one hard drive rather than 100s of discs
i'd also have xmas music on there or valentines or easy listening etc i can maybe have playlists aswell for particular moods etc

M4RKM

yes, that is correct, if you have purchased music on itunes music store, it can only be played on 5 computers that are authorised to play it (windows or mac) and apple ipods synchronised with that music library..

ginjim

markymoo wrote: »

yes, that is correct, if you have purchased music on itunes music store, it can only be played on 5 computers that are authorised to play it (windows or mac) and apple ipods synchronised with that music library..

i assumed it was 5 medias so (hard drive, disc and other computers)
ive made two copies of discs so far anf would like one more (a music hard drive say ipod or zen?)

M4RKM

i know it is definately 5 copies to cd, AND five computers...

i have purchased tracks from the itunes store, on 2 different computers, an ipod, an iphone, also been on 2 previous iphones, and i've burnt at least once or twice onto discs... so, the limitations ain't as strict as 5 total...

M

Marty_J

Just to clarify, the iTunes Plus tracks will work on any player that can play AAC files. The regular iTunes tracks have DRM copy protection, which is only compatible with iPods.

As the iTunes Plus tracks don't have DRM, there's no limit to the number of times you can burn them to a CD, or number of computers you can have them on.

ginjim

thanks i'm just backing up all my cds via itunes
gonna take me a few weeks i think

so it will probably be an ipod i'm gonna go for
now would you jsut stream the ipod music via 2 rcas or would it go via a docking station?

thanks in advance

Marty_J

A dock like this is a more elegant solution, and it means that you can control it with the remote control.

You'll be able to listen to your music without it though, so either would work.