The Next Track - A podcast about how people listen to music today

We take a look at the pros and cons of syncing music to your portable device versus using the cloud to store your music. Sponsor: Waltr 2: transfer virtually any media files to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, without using iTunes. Safe 15% on Waltr 2 with the discount code THENEXTTRACK. Check out Waltr 2. Show notes: * Episode #22 - In Praise of the iPod Classic * How Many Matches Does iTunes Match Match, When iTunes Match Does Match Matches? * Apple improves iCloud Music Library matching, ditches copy-protected matched files for Apple Music users * Here’s How Messed Up Apple Music Metadata Is * Macworld: Ask the iTunes Guy Our next tracks: * Kirk: Brian Eno: Reflection * Doug: David Bowie: Stage If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

In this special, one-hour, year-end episode, we feature clips from some of our more popular episodes. If you're just discovering The Next Track, this highlight reel will give you an idea of the topics we cover in the show. * Alex Ross on classical music * Sunny Nam on mastering records * Elijah Wald on the blues * Timo Andres on composing classical music * David Browne on the Grateful Dead * Will Hermes on discovering new music Sponsor: Waltr 2: transfer virtually any media files to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, without using iTunes. Safe 15% on Waltr 2 with the discount code THENEXTTRACK. Check out Waltr 2. Show notes: Below are links to for each of the original episodes featuring our guests, other episodes mentioned in the show, and links to their websites, books, and more. * Episode 18: Alex Ross on classical music * Episode 7: Music and genres * Alex Ross's website, The Rest is Noise * Alex Ross's writings on The New Yorker * Alex Ross's books: The Rest is Noise, Listen to This * Episode 15: Sunny Nam or mastering and remastering * Sunny Nam's company Jacob's Well Mastering * Sunny Nam's recordings on Discogs * Episode 20: Elijah Wald on the blues * Elijah Wald's website * Elijah Wald's Songobiography * Elijah Wald's book: Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues * Episode 24: Timo Andres on contemporary classical music * Timo Andres's website * Timo Andres on Nonesuch Records * Episode 23: David Browne on the history of the Grateful Dead * David Browne's website * So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead * Episode 9: Will Hermes on discovering new music * Will Hermes' website * Will Hermes' writing on Rolling Stone; his reviews on WNYC; All Things Considered * Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York that Changed Music Forever

Chris Connaker of the Computer Audiophile website explains what a DAC is, how it works, and a whether you need one. (And how you already have lots of them.) Sponsor: Waltr 2: transfer virtually any media files to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, without using iTunes. Safe 15% on Waltr 2 with the discount code THENEXTTRACK. Check out Waltr 2. Show notes: The Computer Audiophile website DACs - digital-analog converters: * Digital-to-Analog Convertor, Wikipedia * Schiit Audio * Explanation of 44.1 kHz CD sampling rate * Kirk's Macworld review of the Cambridge Audio DacMagic (it wasn't ten years ago, as I thought, but just six years ago) * dCS Vivaldi * Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface * The Next Track, Episode 6: What is High-Resolution Music? * AudioQuest Dragonfly Red, AudioQuest Dragonfly Black * Kirk's review of the Yamaha R-N 301 receiver * Meridian Explorer USB DAC * iFi Micro iDSD USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier * Schiit Modi 2 USB Digital/Analog Converter Our next tracks: * Kirk: Bob Dylan: Time out of Mind * Doug: Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: Streetcore If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

We welcome Jim Dalrymple of The Loop to discuss his experiences with Apple Music. Sponsor: Waltr 2: transfer virtually any media files to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, without using iTunes. Save 15% on Waltr 2 with a discount code from The Next Track. Check out Waltr 2. This week's guest: Jim Dalyrmple of The Loop. Show notes: * Jim Dalrymple's article on The Loop: Apple Music hits 20 million subscribers by focusing on Hip-Hop * Here’s How Messed Up Apple Music Metadata Is * From 2013: New in iTunes: Genius Shuffle Our next tracks: * Kirk: Born to Run (audiobook), written and narrated by Bruce Springsteen * Doug: The Flamin' Groovies: Teenage Head If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Why not spread a bit of holiday cheer? Doug and Kirk pick their selections for great Christmas gifts. Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to protect your important data forever. Listen to the podcast for a discount code to save 20% on a new Drobo. Visit Drobo.com. Show notes: * IsoAcoustics speaker stands * Auralex Acoustics MoPAD Monitor Acoustic Isolation Pads * The Rolling Stones in Mono * In Praise of Mono Recordings * NRBQ: High Noon: A 50-Year Retrospective * András Schiff: Beethoven, The Piano Sonatas * Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface * Mozart 225 * Mozart 225: The Complete Operas * Soundgarden: Badmotorfinger (Super Deluxe Edition) * Philip Glass and Robert Wilson: Einstein on the Beach Blu-Ray * Under-table cable carrier * Headphone angle plugs * Velcro cable ties * Velcro rolls * The Last Waltz, 40th Anniversary Edition * Drobo on YouTube Our next tracks: This week, we have no next tracks, since much of the show is our next tracks. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Doug and Kirk explain everything you need to know about tagging your digital audio files. Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to protect your important data forever. Listen to the podcast for a discount code to save 20% on a new Drobo. Visit Drobo.com. Show notes: * The ID3 version 2.3.0 specifications * Take Control of iTunes 12: The FAQ * How to better organize your classical music in iTunes 12.5 (using Work and Movement tags) * Smarts, Doug's app for managing smart playlists * Re-Embed Artwork AppleScript * Save Artwork as folder.jpg AppleScript * Scripts Recommended by Task Our next tracks: * Kirk: Johann Sebastian Bach, Complete Cantatas, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner * Doug: Lyle Lovett: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Author Peter Robinson joins us to discuss how he uses music in his DCI Banks series of mystery novels. This week's guest: * Peter Robinson Show notes: * DCI Banks * Girl from the North Country * Playlists for Peter Robinson's novels * Martin Carthy Our next tracks: * Kirk: Bill Evans: Turn Out the Stars * Doug: Leon Russell: Leon Russell And The Shelter People If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Paul Englishby talks about composing music for stage and screen, including the Royal Shakespeare Company's new production of The Tempest. This week's guest: * Paul Englishby * Paul Englishby on IMDB Show notes: * The Tempest at the Royal Shakespeare Company * Clips of Paul Englishby's music for the RSC's production of The Tempest * The Tempest: Music and Speeches * Miles Davis improvising the score for Louis Malle's Ascenseur pour l'echafaud Our next tracks: * Kirk: Mozart 225 * Doug: Mose Allison: Greatest Hits - The Prestige Collection If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Andy Doe answers listener questions about audio equipment and technology in our first Ask Andy episode. Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to protect your important data forever. Visit Drobo.com. This week's guest: * Andy Doe * Proper Discord Show notes: * CD Text to CD Info AppleScript * Blu-Spec CD * MQA Our next tracks: * Kirk: Franz Schubert: String Quintet in C, d. 956 * Doug: The Firesign Theater: Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

The second and final part of our interview with Timo Andres, discussing his compositions, and the business of classical music. Listen to part one. Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to keep your data safe forever. Visit Drobo.com. This week's guest: * Timo Andres's website * Timo Andres on Nonesuch Records Show notes: * The Blind Banister, on the Pulitzer Prize website * Alex Ross of the New Yorker on Timo Andres and other "student composers" in 2004 * Russell Platt of the New Yorker on Timo Andres in 2016 * Time Andres and the Britten Sinfonia * Boston Symphony Orchestra: World premiere of Timo Andres's Everything Happens So Much, November 18, 2016 Our next tracks: * Kirk: Charles Ives: Concord Sonata, bpy Donna Coleman/a> * Doug: Frank Zappa: Yellow Shark If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Doug and Kirk welcome Timo Andres, composer and performer of contemporary classical music. This is the first part of a two-part interview. One of the ways that [...] any type of musician finds their style is by setting out to imitate something and failing. This week's guest: * Timo Andres's website * Timo Andres on Nonesuch Records Show notes: * Alex Ross of the New Yorker on Timo Andres and other "student composers" in 2004 * Russell Platt of the New Yorker on Timo Andres in 2016 * Timo Andres: Shy and Mighty * Timo Andres: Home Stretch * Lou Reed: Metal Machine Music * Boston Symphony Orchestra: World premiere of Timo Andres's Everything Happens So Much, November 18, 2016 Our next tracks: * Kirk: Steve Reich: Drumming on CD - Drumming on vinyl * Doug: Brian Eno: Another Green World If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Doug and Kirk welcome David Browne, author of So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead to discuss the history of this iconic band. Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to keep your data safe forever. Visit Drobo.com. This week's guest: * David Browne's website * So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead Show notes: * Kirk's review of So Many Roads * The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound Our next tracks: * Kirk: The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack * Doug: The Grateful Dead: Terrapin Station If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Doug and Kirk wax nostalgic about the iPod classic, and other one trick pony music players. And Bob Dylan. Sponsor: Doug's AppleScripts for iTunes. Make sure your iTunes management tools are updated for latest version of iTunes and for macOS Sierra at Doug's AppleScripts for iTunes. Reader email: A question about earbuds and low frequencies; see the reply to a question on last week's episode page. News: Bob Dylan wins the Nobel Prize in literature! Check out these Dylan albums to appreciate his poetry: * Highway 61 Revisited, particularly Desolation Row. * Blonde on Blonde, for Visions of Johanna. * John Wesley Harding, a great underrated album, for All Along the Watchtower. And more: * No Direction Home, documentary about Dylan's early years. * Bob Dylan, The 1966 Live Recordings Show notes: * Elegy for the iPod * Apple Composite AV Cable * Mactracker * iTrip Our next tracks: Note that Kirk recorded his next track selection before the news of Dylan winning the Nobel Prize broke. * Kirk: Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 * Doug: Ron Wood: I've Got My Own Album To Do If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Doug and Kirk had some questions about subwoofers. So they invited Andy Doe to explain how they work, how to set them up, and why we might want to use them. Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to keep your data safe forever. Visit Drobo.com. You're listening to this at home for your own pleasure, it doesn't actually matter if it's accurate. What matters is that you like it. This week's guest: Andy Doe, Proper Discord Show notes: * Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer * Wharfdale Diamond SW150 Subwoofer * Mackie HR824 Mk 2 Studio Monitor * Pyle Home PCB3BK 3-Inch 100-Watt Mini Cube Bookshelf Speakers * Online Tone Generator Our next tracks: * Kirk: Johann Sebastian Bach, Suites for Solo Cello, by Anner Bylsma * Doug: Ray Charles & The Count Basie Orchestra: Ray Sings, Basie Swings If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

We welcome musician, historian, and author Elijah Wald to discuss the history of the blues. Sponsor: Master iTunes with Kirk's ebook and save 30% on Take Control of iTunes 12: The FAQ, the indispensable guide to iTunes. Show notes: * Elijah Wald's website * Elijah Wald's Songobiography * Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues * Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties * Inside Llewyn Davis * The Mayor of McDougal Street * Inside Dave van Ronk (the album with the cat on the cover) * Robert Johnson, The Complete Recordings * Kirk's review of Dylan Goes Electric * Robert Palmer: Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta Howlin' Wolf on Shindig, May 20, 1965: Our next tracks: * Kirk: Hot Tuna * Doug: Howlin' Wolf: The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.