Bit Torrent for Dummys

I saw a couple of posts today about downloading music and while I don't condemn anyone for their choices, I respect the artists and their rights (and copyrights). But I do LOVE to collect live music and video of my favorite artists. I thought I would start a new thread and share a little of my experiences over the past 10 years with the "tape" trading community and downloading.

"Bit Torrent" isn't the problem, it's the sites that you access with your Bit Torrent client. Like most other things created by man, Bit Torrent can be used for good or evil!

I've used Bit Torrent every day for the past 10 years with no problems. I download mostly live music from "trade friendly" bands that approve of it that has been recorded at a concert or off of a TV. You won't find the top 40 there and nothing that is "copyrighted" or by a band that requets their live music NOT be shared.

I got started with the "trading" community doing BnP, Vine and Trades. BnP is where you send Blanks and a self addressed stamped return mailer to a trader and they burn copys of the discs in their collection and return them to you. Vines (and trees) are organized methods of sharing by passing music through the mail to be copied. I must stress that this is all done with the approval of the artists and not all artists allow taping, trading, and/or downloading. However there are many, many "taper friendly" bands.

Some of the most famous bands included are The Greatful Dead, Little Feat, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Govt. Mule, Phil Lesh, Widespread Panic, Ratdog, Yonder Mountain String Band, Drivin and Cryin, The Black Crowes, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews, and many more you may not be familiar with.

OK, I'll admit that Bit Torrent is not for the feint of heart, requires some time learning the methods and practices, and can lead you DIRECTLY to the dark side! But if you follow the narrow path and be careful it can be VERY rewarding!

Where it all began for me and a great place to hang out and get started is the Allman Brothers web community, Hittin' the Web. VERY friendly place to hang (a lot like venturerider and my other favorite place to hang, klrworld) and lot's of people willing to help you learn and get started "sharing the grooves"! Drop in, sign up, get started and you can thankl me when you get your first CD or DVD!

http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/

In the "Music" forum check out Adopt-A-Newbie, Trades, and Vines. Trades and Vines are an unbeatable low tech way to get started in live music collecting. In "Trades" there are often "freebies" offered just to share and send out good karma. In "Vines" you can sing on to a Vine and when it's your turn the person before you sends you a package with CDs and/or DVDs and you copy them and send the origianls on to the nest person after you on the vine. Easy Peasy!

http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=index&gid=21

Here's a few more good links to get started if you are ready to start a journey. Just beware, it is VERY addictive!

Bit Torrent Clients and Info

I use ABC but uTorrent and Vuze (formerly Azureus) and BitTornado are popular.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitTorrent_(protocol)

http://www.dessent.net/btfaq/

http://www.bittorrent.com/help/guides/beginners-guide

Some Music Archives

http://wiki.etree.org/

http://www.archive.org/details/audio

http://www.archive.org/details/etree

http://bt.etree.org/

Dime doesn't always accept new users, but it's a GREAT site

http://www.dimeadozen.org/

The Traders Den is another Great site that I frequent. They have some GREAT FAQs there about Bit Torrent and suggestions for BT clients to use and where to find LEGAL music.

Check out the info on BnPs, Vines, Trees, and Loops. These are ways to trade and aquire free live music and vodeo via US mail without the risk having to learn all about Bit Torrent.

http://www.thetradersden.org/

FLAC is a common "Lossless" format for CD quality music shared on the net. You may also find SHN files.

http://flac.sourceforge.net/

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~hamilton/shnfaq.html

In addition to CDs, there are tons of DVDs out there too. Great Vintage concerts that were filmed by an audience menber or a PROfessional and may have been broadcast on TV or the original, or a copy, or a copy of a copy, etc. (this is where you will see the term "gererations" to describe how many generations from the origianla copy is). I've found great, rare, old video of most of my favorite bands such as The Eagles, James Taylor, The Who, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, The Allman Brothers, The Greatful Dead, Jethro Tull, and the list goes on and on and on.

Now all this is pretty much Windows PC specific, but the general idea applies to MAc, I just have necer had a MAc and don't know specifics. I did read the Vuze (formerly Azureus) has an osx version for Macs.

Have Fun!