Big Finish Downloads

Joined : 04 Feb 2007 Posts : 95

Big Finish's new website is up, with the option to digitally download stories in MP3 format at a cheaper price. I was wondering if anyone had tried this and what they thought of it.

Does it automatically put it in a folder with a gazillion tracks? When you play it on an ipod or the like, does it show the cover illustration? What's the quality like? And does it take a long time to download?

While I can see the advantages of the format, it doesn't seem the same as getting the nice CDs with all the art and stuff. I'm wondering if this is going to affect WhoNa's sales and such.

Age : 32 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 139

I tried it as I really wanted to here the 6th Dr Charlie story. Sadly the track are not labeled, nor is the title of the story, no cover, no artist info nothing. So I had to list everything myself, name each track, order them in iTunes and add the cover, took a bit too.

Now having said all that I found it worth the purchase but thought it could have been better with all of that info. I did contact them and they tell me that they are working that out and that was indeed their intent, so soon enough they will be very much worth the effort.
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Brian A. Terranova
www.kasterborous.com
a Doctor Who Webzine

Joined : 04 Feb 2007 Posts : 95

Ah, so it looks like Big Finish have a ways to go before these downloadables are worth a try. I personally like having the cds and some cover art, not to mention a track listing of some kind. It'll be interesting to see how that all pans out.

How as the Sixth Doctor and Charlie story? I was interested in that as well. Did they get on? Did Charlie realize she couldn't tell the Doctor about his future? I'm also curious to know what the fate of Evelyn was, or if this comes before.

Age : 32 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 139

"Arrangement for War" dealt with how Evelyn left even thought it took place long after she had left, so I doubt they will ever do a story where she really does leave.

This story takes place after Evelyn left but they don't talk about it at all. They do go into issues Charlie has with telling the Doctor about her past with his future and they did it very well I thought. they worked together well too, but I really didn't expect the ending to be honest.

I think that if BF release the downloads with pdf flies of the CD booklet and so on that would be cool.
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Brian A. Terranova
www.kasterborous.com
a Doctor Who Webzine

Admin Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 361

You have to give them credit for releasing them in non-drm mp3 format. Once they figure out the id3 tags and include a cover image, they'll have money every month.

Age : 32 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 139

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 337

Has anyone tried recently have they improved on the whole deal yet? I curious for reasons explained in "apples to apples" in Life,unive..... thread.
thansk-
mz
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"I reject your reality and subsitute my own"- MYTHBUSTERS

Joined : 02 Feb 2008 Posts : 64

As someone who has never listened to any of the Big Finish audio adventures, can someone recommend a good one to start with? Thanks.

Age : 32 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 139

Age : 32 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 139

Joined : 08 Jan 2008 Posts : 59

I'm not a big fan of downloads of this type as I like having the cover art that goes with it. At one time I ordered an audio book in MP3 format and since I like to listen to them in the car, it meant saving them on disc and now I have to get creative and make covers for the cases. I'm finicky I guess.

As for the Big Finish audios, I've basically listened to all of the Peter Davison and Paul McGann ones as well as Colin Baker (he's gradually growing on me). There are good stories then there are stories that are difficult to follow but the way I see it , it expands upon the limited time they had on air (especially Paul McGann).

With #5, Son of the Dragon and Kingmaker were extremely good while Time Works and Minute from Hell were good ones for #8. With #6 (Colin), I liked Medicinal Purposes (which includes David Tennant) and The Reaping.

Joined : 02 Feb 2008 Posts : 64

Age : 32 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 139

any time.

really the whole range is full of great stories and then it also has it's ok stories, just like the TV Show did. But really I love when to arrive at my door, just like the new McGann one did today! YAY!
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Brian A. Terranova
www.kasterborous.com
a Doctor Who Webzine

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 337

Computer gurus: Does anyone know an approx download time for a download using dial-up. I know very sad but just not on the comp enough to merit highspeed yet.
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"I reject your reality and subsitute my own"- MYTHBUSTERS

Joined : 16 Feb 2008 Posts : 375

i don't know

Joined : 11 Feb 2008 Posts : 259

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 337

crap! I was afraid of that. I download an episode of Phineas and Ferb for my son would you believe it took approx 24hrs. Of course I am his hero now.
Thanks very much for the info!
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"I reject your reality and subsitute my own"- MYTHBUSTERS

Admin Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 361

That 500mb is a bit off. A CD holds about 700mb of data, BUT that audio is uncompressed. MP3s are significantly smaller - spoken word even moreso. I'm not sure how Big Finish compresses their audio, but I wouldn't expect a 2 cd audio play to be any bigger than 100mb. Not a quick download, but we aren't talking more than a few hours.

Joined : 11 Feb 2008 Posts : 259

Indeed, I just used 500 MB to make it easier to caculate in my head. Smile

Joined : 17 Feb 2007 Posts : 246

I know who to see for tech info!im stunted i cant do anything but ebay and shop with a computer!i envy those who are good with this stuff!

Joined : 11 Feb 2008 Posts : 259

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 337

According to Paul at Big Finish cover art should be coming next month!
I am no genius by any means see above post however I have ordered 3 seperate downloads now. So far it hasn't been that hard. Download the BF zip file to your computer. Then extract the files to a new folder. Then click and drag each track to your iTunes music folder. That way they have all the track names etc. Once in ITunes you can click info and check off that the track not be included in the music shuffle.
I am sure there is a simple even easier way but mine have been working great in this fashion.
I apologize of course to whona who I have previously purchased audios. The cheaper price available allows me to try out a few that I wouldn't have purchased from you anyway.
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"I reject your reality and subsitute my own"- MYTHBUSTERS

Joined : 11 Feb 2008 Posts : 259

Maybe Big Finish should have a referral credit.

Where have you heard of Big Finish? WhoNA

*goes on to pay WhoNA 10% of purchase price.* Razz

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"Oil an emergency?! It's about time the leaders of this planet of yours realised that to remain dependent upon a mineral slime simply doesn't make sense."
—The Doctor "Terror Of The Zygons" (1975)