undefined | Better HN

0 pointso104493665y ago0 comments

what.cd

It was truly the Library of Alexandria of music. Cataloging standards were high and you could find even obscure releases in perfect quality in multiple formats (CD rips, multiple vinyl rips). Now I use Spotify and it frustrates me that songs will disappear without notice because their license expired and that I can't find most foreign music I previously listened to. The audio quality isn't comparable, either.

0 comments

peterlk5y ago

This was such a huge missed opportunity by the music industry. A massive network of volunteers dedicated to curating and meticulously tagging music. I might have payed a lot of money for access to such a network. The largest collection of music in human history... Wiped out because there wasn't a business model in time

haroldp5y ago

"What" replace "Oink", and "Redacted" replaced What. It's all still out there.

thirdsun5y ago

It is, but there's a lot of gatekeeping going on. As a music collector and former what.cd member I'd love to join and contribute to Redacted, but I won't go through that interview process.

xzel5y ago

I truly miss what.cd. I spent so many hours listening to music, finding old, new and eclectic music, chatting in the forums and debating on the individual torrent comments. I think I actually shed a tear when I saw it was closed. Thankfully there has been a real attempt to replace what we lost.

weisser5y ago

The library + the community were unparalleled. I spent more time on those forums than anywhere else.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse