It seems that I have a problem

Well, as issues go it's not the worst...but, like most, it sometimes gets in the way of things. Yes, I am a dataphile...I love data, information, software, hardware...anything and everything, and it's starting to get worse. I'm starting to get picky about quality...for example, I have started recopying my CD collection all 250 albums...without researching file formats. Before I never heard of lossless, or even lossy...but now that I know I can't help myself but re-recopy them all into FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codex).

After hours of research I have concluded that FLAC is where it's at...and not just 'cause that's what other people say. I've actually listened to my hi-rip MP3 192kb/s, uber hi-rip MP3 300+kb/s and my lossless FLAC files, and though there is only a small difference...I can still tell. FLAC is where it's at, exact audio copy, just like listening to the original CD. To me, it is just that much better and makes all the difference...whether I'm jammin' to my rock or jumpin' to my rap or just mellowin' out to my world and meditation, it feels like I'm sitting right there listening to a privet concert.

The question is, how does one rip and play FLAC...well there are only a few options and Apple really isn't one of them, but if there's a will there's a way. To rip Cd's into FLAC one can not rely on iTunes since it seems apple only made the FLAC plug-in for the mac, and that's only to read the format. But they're on the right track, they have even made there own lossless format ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codex)...the only problem with that is it's Apple Restricted, only Apple products can understand this strange language. So to rip I stuck by Winamp...though, looking into MediaMonkey and trying it out a bit, it was just too much stuff (even for me)...I blame the GUI.

But once you have to awesomely crystal clear lossless FLAC files, how do you play these jewels on portable players...none of them support FLAC at the moment, right? Wrong! Rockbox is the key to my lossless audio woes and as a bonus there are so many bits of awesomeness than even I know what to do with. Of course I've had Rockbox on my iPod for over a year now and trust me, it does everything you want you're iPod to do and then some. It's not limited just to iPod either, there are versions for many media players out on the market...maybe even one for you!

Of course it sounds like I'm just an audiophile, but let me tell you it's the same thing with ever thing else. Sure I'll get a cheap-o copy of a file from a torrent site but I'm always looking to get an even better copy. Games, Music, Videos, Pictures, Books, PDF's, and yes...even porn. It's all good, even if I don't look at it, listen to it, read it, watch it play it, or jerk to it all the time...but if I ever have a yearning for that one thing, isn't it good to have it than to not?