Going back to CDs from downloads – because of gapless issues

The alternative is to use MP3 editing software to splice together the tracks into one continuous file.

In the early days of downloads I too put off buying them, and the problems with gapless playback was one of the main reasons. Like you, I too worry about magazines such as Gramophone encouraging people to buy MP3 files from web shops without raising a big red flag on this issue. I think anyone who buys MP3s and finds they cannot play them back gaplessly should ask for their money back.

As you have discovered, the problem has not gone away, but it is possible to work around it. But you have to be willing to put in some work.

The iPod does complicate things. Some models do support gapless playback, IF the files support gapless. But as far as I know iPods don't play FLAC or OGG files (both support gapless playback natively). And if you want to play MP3s gaplessly, you need to be sure that the MP3s were created with a recent encoder that enables gapless playback. Very difficult to know, obviously, if you're buying files from web shops.

In the end, I decided the best way to guarantee gapless playback was:

- keep buying CDs.
- rip them, create FLAC files for home use, then OGG or MP3 files for portable use (can be done in one pass).

Once you use the right software (I use dbPoweramp, there are other options) you can be sure you will get gapless playback.

Alternatively, just buy FLAC files and generate your own OGG/MP3 files if you need them. But I prefer buying CDs. The cost difference is still minimal, and having the CDs offers more flexibility.

I still use the Ipod -- but I replaced the Apple firmware with Rockbox, which transforms the iPod into a very flexible, open-source music player which supports FLAC, OGG and gapless MP3. I also use the excellent and cheap Sansa Clip player, also replacing the original firmware with Rockbox. For (gapless) home use, I use Squeezebox players.

Easy? No, it takes a bit of effort. But you can maintain complete control over the process, and ensure gapless playback on all players.

If you just "go back to CDs", you lose the wonderful flexibility of having your music available everywhere (in my case via three Squeezebox players scattered around the house, and my mobile players). I just find you listen to far more music if it's on tap anywhere.

12tone - it's possible that you have 'golden ears' but just don't know it yet.  Go on - push the boat out - give FLAC a try.

A workround that works I learnt from a contributor to the previous Gramophone forum, whose name I forgot so I cannot acknowledge him/her.  I use it whenever gapless playback is required, although the process is quite tedious.  It involves burning the downloaded tracks to CD using Nero,  setting a 1 second (which is the minumum you can set) cross-fade between tracks.  Then re-rip that CD, combining all tracks that can logically be combined into one track (such as all tracks of an act in an opera) using a ripper that can combine tracks (e.g. iTunes, or Easy CD-DA Extractor).  You do lose a small amount between tracks, but that is hardly noticeable.  By doing this you certainly lose the tiny gaps that are so annoying.

I have tried combining tracks together using an audio editor, such as MP3DirectCut or Nero Wave Editor as suggested by some others in this discussion, but found that it doesn't always eliminate the tiny gaps.

You don't have to abandon downloads. You say lossless formats are wasted on you. I don't think they are -- they solve your gapless problem at a stroke.

And if you are only willing to buy MP3s, well that's a limitation you're imposing on yourself. But even then, all may not be lost. Do some research.

For example, I know that eMusic uses LAME encoder, version 3.98.2 to create its (high quality) MP3s. This excellent encoder supports creation of MP3s with gapless playback.

Gapless is enabled by default in LAME, so unless eMusic actually "switches off" gapless -- highly unlikely -- then eMusic files should be fine. To make sure, why not email them? And eMusic has a very interesting selection of indie classical labels.

So like I say, a bit of research and you might find a way to overcome your problem. (Just remember, though, that gapless playback of MP3s also depends on the MP3 player recognising gapless settings in MP3 files -- an iPod Classic should be fine. FLAC makes things easier as it is natively gapless -- all players that can play FLAC files will play them back gaplessly. The same is true of OGG files).

jdk - thanks for your response about the headphones. I thought that Grados might have been in your list - I had a pair that were superb for portable and mains listening but the build quality was rather fragile and I broke them.  So now I'm fishing around for replacements.