[rideit]

So, I want to digitize my music collection, (in FLAC) and I need a new desktop (or possibly laptop?).
I will also use it to store FLAC files downloaded from bit torrent and the like. What should I be looking for these days?
Pretty sure I want a TB of storage.
Are laptop CD drives robust enough for 500 CD's?
Anyone have anything lying around?
Haven't had a desktop/laptop in 10 years...

 

[jonKranked]

what media format will you be converting from?

you'll need something with a good audio card and the appropriate inputs for starter

 

[rideit]

Converting from CD and downloads over the internet. (Yeah, 'digitize' is redundant!)
Can I get an upgraded sound card for something like this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Pavilion-12GB-Intel-Core-i7-7500U-1TB-HD-BT-WiFi-15-6-TOUCHSCREEN-Laptop-PC/111887008879?hash=item1a0cfc446f:g:LYQAAOSwv~1aJfWW

 

[SkaredShtles]

Paging @narlus to the white courtesy phone...

 

[roflbox]

So, I want to digitize my music collection, (in FLAC) and I need a new desktop (or possibly laptop?).
I will also use it to store FLAC files downloaded from bit torrent and the like. What should I be looking for these days?
Pretty sure I want a TB of storage.
Are laptop CD drives robust enough for 500 CD's?
Anyone have anything lying around?
Haven't had a desktop/laptop in 10 years...

do you mind bringing around a DAC with you for listening?

 

[jonKranked]

downloads over the internet

unless they a bitrate over 1000kbps there will be no benefit of converting to FLAC.

 

[rideit]

do you mind bringing around a DAC with you for listening?

My new phone has a kickass DAC built in. (lg v30+).
That is what this is all about.
I intend to dl at a high bit rate.

 

[roflbox]

My new phone has a kickass DAC built in. (lg v30+).
That is what this is all about.
I intend to dl at a high bit rate.

so you are just looking for a laptop or desktop that can convert CDs into FLAC? And will be handling the listening with your phone?

 

[jonKranked]

are you gonna be using high(er) fidelity headphones for playback?

 

[rideit]

Yes, I have 250 ohm Beyerdynamics.
As well as some very sweet B&O in ear.

 

[rideit]

so you are just looking for a laptop or desktop that can convert CDs into FLAC? And will be handling the listening with your phone?

That's the gist, yes.
Also BitTorrent.

 

[jdcamb]

Don't buy a Sony anything.

 

[roflbox]

That's the gist, yes.
Also BitTorrent.

https://pcpartpicker.com/

I think you could build a PC, just put together what you want in a desktop

 

[rideit]

I'm currently thinking laptop...

 

[roflbox]

I'm currently thinking laptop...

just make sure you pick one with a CD drive, you would be surprised on how many do not, heh

 

[rideit]

Good tip, I wouldn't have even considered that!

 

[rideit]

Thoughts on this one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Pavilion-12GB-Intel-Core-i7-7500U-1TB-HD-BT-WiFi-15-6-TOUCHSCREEN-Laptop-PC/111887008879?hash=item1a0cfc446f:g:LYQAAOSwv~1aJfWW

 

[jonKranked]

just make sure you pick one with a CD drive, you would be surprised on how many do not, heh

you can get it as an add on peripheral still, but yea. my current work laptop has no cd/dvd/bd drive

 

[stevew]

My new phone has a kickass DAC built in. (lg v30+).

goes to 11 and beyond....

 

[Sandwich]

I'd just BYOPC. I'd think for a lot of encoding/converting, a nice quad core would be alright, then you can select the number of drives you want. A couple of 2tb hard drives would be great, and cheap, then throw in a SSD to run the OS on. 16gb or ram, 2x DVD-ROM drives, you'd have a cheap setup capable of what you want it to do.

 

[Sandwich]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Qxcryf

picked quick...

 

[rideit]

Wow, thanks for taking the time to do that!
A bit rich for my blood, though...

 

[Sandwich]

There are easy ways of dropping off some cash. Lower end processor, drop the video card for on-board graphics, etc. I just wanted to provide an alternative thought to a pre-built system. I've built all my own systems for the past couple of years, and it's super easy.

 

[rideit]

goes to 11 and beyond....

In regards to volume/clarity, it goes up to 75, I have only ever listened to it up to 60...

 

[TN]

This project is giving me a headache.
(Sry thats all i can contribute)

 

[roflbox]

Thoughts on this one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Pavilion-12GB-Intel-Core-i7-7500U-1TB-HD-BT-WiFi-15-6-TOUCHSCREEN-Laptop-PC/111887008879?hash=item1a0cfc446f:g:LYQAAOSwv~1aJfWW

I am leery of buying laptops from ebay, check and see if there is a computer shop near you that is reputable, and see what they have in used inventory.

A desktop would be the way to go, but you would need a monitor as well, again see what a computer shop has for used computers.

All of your encoding is CPU bound, have you chosen software yet? if the software is multithread capable, then the higher the core count, the higher the performance should be, if not, then clock speed of an individual core will be your performance (clock speed is things in ghz measurement)

 

[rideit]

Thanks for the tips. The closest computer shop is 90 miles away...

 

[roflbox]

Thanks for the tips. The closest computer shop is 90 miles away...

hah, online it is, have you determined what software you are going to use?

 

[rideit]

For the FLAC component, or the OS?

 

[canadmos]

FLAC is pretty large. I'd think ahead about storage as much as the computer and how you'll back it up. Because spending all that time converting your CDs and stuff will really blow when a drive dies...

 

[rideit]

Was thinking an external Hd like this one:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1367573-REG/g_technology_0g05449_1tb_g_drive_mobile_usb.html?ap=y&c3api=1876,{creative},{keyword}&gclid=CjwKCAiAqbvTBRAPEiwANEkyCIuQIrrQ5XrZLLuqssaU6UgpwDcNZDpqr9aTBwWRhKH8zSrbyqnuSxoCd38QAvD_BwE

I lost all of my music ten years ago on a (now dead) MacBook with iTunes.
Never again.

 

[StiHacka]

Make sure your computer has AC/DC.

 

[rideit]

And some Sabbath.

 

[profro]

I am running Kodi on a Raspberry pi3 with a optical Toslink pi-hat connected to 5.1 surround system. Data is a NAS (also running on a raspi3). NAS is easily expandable and have added built in backup.

Cheap, easily modifiable, expandable, etc.

 

[roflbox]

For the FLAC component, or the OS?

flac part, mostly the converting CDs to flac

 

[rideit]

https://xiph.org/flac/download.html

 

[stevew]

I am running Kodi on a Raspberry pi3 with a optical Toslink pi-hat connected to 5.1 surround system. Data is a NAS (also running on a raspi3). NAS is easily expandable and have added built in backup.

Cheap, easily modifiable, expandable, etc.

i have no idea what this means....

 

[roflbox]

i have no idea what this means....

it means he has his own in home music streaming

 

[rideit]

Sounds pretty lossy!

 

[KenW449]

A bit rich for my blood, though...

PCs are much like MTBs but without having to climb up hills.
You will want to spend at least $500 for a decent Desk/laptop. It may not do everything you want or do it easily, but it will get you there. Or you can buy a higher end PC and it may do things you will never need it to do, like play Pacman at 16,000F FPS. Or you can build it yourself for a custom fit that does exactly what you want it to do, but without the extra frills.