Audio News for June 20, 2008

Rental Program Converts CDs to Digital Files – Those who are converting their CD collection to digital files – no matter at what sampling rate – are discovering that it is a complicated and very time-consuming task.  A number of online services have sprung up to which users ship all their CDs and have them loaded there onto their hard drives or mobile music players.  Now instead of sending off your CDs for copying, you can do it quickly on a rented copier in your home. Primera – who make gear for the duplication of CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays – have introduced their Rent-and-Rip program for personal CD collections. Customers rent a Primera Bravo SE Disc Publisher gadget along with the firm’s PTRip software for $299 per week. The unit’s built-in robotics loads 20 music CDs into the unit and then rips tracks into Apple iTunes or Windows Media Player automatically.  Round-trip shipping for the unit is included in the rental fee.

Canadian Copyright Bill Hassles – The Conservative government in Canada recently introduced a new copyright bill that according to critics penalizes consumers unfairly and virtually guarantees that the nation’s court system will be crushed under the weight of frivolous and costly legal battles. One affected user quipped, “If we are going to copy the Americans, maybe we should learn something from their mistakes too.”  The bill allows Internet service providers to document the online downloading of possibly copyrighted materials, a clear invasion of privacy. The law is said to “bring copyright into the digital age,” but does nothing of the sort – intending instead to stop digital innovation and creativity.  Critics claim that the new law was drafted at the behest of the U.S.-based entertainment industry, to lock in their dominance thru crippling new technologies and distribution models.  One participant in an online discussion of the new bill said that he hasn’t been able to buy any CDs at stores for years because of the copy protection the major labels have on their mostly pop discs.  The protected CDs will not play on his Discman portable or computer.

2008 Jazz Award Winners from the Jazz Journalists Association – Here are some selected awards made at the nonprofit professional organization’s 12th annual celebration on Wednesday:  Lifetime Achievement in Jazz: Marian McPartland; Musician of the Year: Herbie Hancock; Up & Coming Musician of the Year: Lionel Loueke; Record of the Year: Sky Blue – Marian Schneider Orchestra; Reissue/Historical Release of the Year: Cornell 1964 – Charles Mingus Sextet; Record Label of the Year: Blue Note; Composer & Arranger of the Year: Maria Schneider; Male Singer of the Year: Andy Bey; Female Singer of the Year: Abbey Lincoln; Trumpeter of the Year: Terrence Blanchard; Tenor Sax Player of the Year: Sonny Rollins; Alto Sax Player of the Year: Ornette Coleman; Clarinetist of the Year: Anat Cohen; Pianist of the Year: Hank Jones; Organ-Keyboardist of the Year: Dr. Lonnie Smith; Guitarist of the Year: Bill Frisell.