How do you store your CDs?

[pzarquon]

It's a question I know many of you have wrestled with, and hopefully tackled with aplomb. We've all probably got more CDs than we know what to do with. And folks have a multitude of ways to organize and store them. Some keep their jewel cases, others dump them for sleeves. Some use binders, others use bins, still others use special shelves.

Nearly twelve years ago, my wife and I combined our substantial CD collections (that's how we knew we were serious!), and our various storage methods... and we've never been able to get our act together. We have fancy Case Logic sleeves that fit in large three-ring binders, we've got plastic bins that hold the CDs in their jewel cases, we've got a couple of boxes of vaguely organized discs in a variety of cases that don't fit (double CDs and novelty cases), and two gigantic Rubbermaid bins filled with CDs that were basically dumped off a bookshelf when we moved and never sorted out.

I'm also a data packrat, and recently got onto a backup kick, so I've also accumulated a couple of foot-high stacks of data CDs and DVDs. And don't forget my wife's iTunes backups. She's easily given Apple over a thousand bucks in the past couple of years, so you bet your sweet bippy I insist she make backups of backups of the tracks she buys.

So we really need to bite the bullet, pick a system, and stick with it.

Thing is, there are still a variety of media storage systems, each with their advantages and disadvantages, and -- most bothersome -- various proprietary quirks that seem to imply that if you pick system {x}, you'll be stuck buying their sleeves/pages/expansion crates for the rest of your life. Which is a problem, because they already don't make the sleeve system I was using in 1994.

I was thinking of just settling on generic Sterilite plastic bins that (1.) fit CDs relatively well and (2.) are stackable... but WalMart in Mililani just stopped carrying the size I had in mind. And while I'm pretty sure I want to go with several bins or crates, I have to admit some of the giant shelf systems are appealing. Why wrestle with 40 plastic bins when you can have one or two well-built cabinets or shelves that'll hold everything?

How do you store your CDs?

[craigwatanabe]

That's a tough one and like you I created a huge collection (had to reduce the pile three times). The bad thing about CD Jewel cases is that they take up a lot of space and they invariably will crack.

I'm thinking of just burning them to the hard drive. With Windows Media Player you can have the scanned image of the CD cover displayed while the file of the album is being played. This way I can just store all of my CD's in storage boxes while I play the ripped tracks and still see the album cover.

[Glen Miyashiro]

I was on a CD-ripping kick a while ago. In a frenzy of zeal, I removed dozens of my CDs and inserts from their jewel cases, ripped the CDs to my hard drive, put the CDs into folders to save space, and (often) threw away the jewel cases. But a couple of years later, I realized that I had made a big mistake. I had only removed the front inserts, and not the rear ones. So if I wanted to reconstitute the original CD, I couldn't because I was missing half of the "cover". :(

[pzarquon]

I've heard several good arguments related to the efficiency of space usage and the lifespan of hard drives versus physical media like CDs, so I know that I could also just invest in a few 500GB (or now, 1TB) drives and save everything in a space the size of a toaster oven.

But, for now, I'm holding onto these plastic artifacts. So I just need to figure out how to keep them from overwhelming the den!

[manoasurfer123]

My wife and I just bought a 250 GB external... we know at one point it will die...and we have back up plans for that...

however we will be buying larger and larger...as things get cheaper and cheaper...

(try look at this company... it's called "storagetek" )
http://www.storagetek.com/

this would be for large amounts of data...

(it's what our state office uses to store large amounts of data... however we are constantly having to expand as our database gets bigger)

[tutusue]

[...]I'm also a data packrat, and recently got onto a backup kick, so I've also accumulated a couple of foot-high stacks of data CDs and DVDs. And don't forget my wife's iTunes backups. She's easily given Apple over a thousand bucks in the past couple of years, so you bet your sweet bippy I insist she make backups of backups of the tracks she buys.[...]
Uh huh! Show this (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showpost.php?p=71769&postcount=4) to Jen! Do you or anyone else know what happens if a purchased song from ITMS becomes corrupted and there's no back-up? Will ITMS allow another download, gratis? In addition to religiously backing up the iTunes folder I also created a spreadsheet for purchased music...a simple copy and paste from iTunes. If a corrupted song is deleted from the library, it's also deleted from every playlist it's in...and the Purchased list, if applicable. I have 2 250gb back-up drives, one in the office and one at home. I should b/u everyday but I don't! :o

I recently bought the video iPod and was surprised to see the album art displayed while the song played. Very cool!

Once copied to my iPod I donated my CDs to the Waianae Public Library. I keep DVDs in a 3 ring binder as I don't really care about the inserts once I've read them. I figure if I need any info about the movie I can check online. Space is at a premium in my little Makaha perch!

[helen]

You are talking about data CD's that you burn vs audio CD that you buy?

In the case of data CD's I use those soft cases that holds around a 100 or so CDs since the blank CDs that I buy are those 50 CDs to a spindle.

For the audio CD that I buy I keep them in the original jewel cases and put those in a CD rack.

[scrivener]

I really want a CD jukebox.

[Linkmeister]

I really want a CD jukebox.

Sony sells a 300-disc player. I kid you not. My biggest problem with that would be the potential for one part of the carousel breaking, thus taking the whole unit's capability with it.

I've only got about 35 CDs; mine are just stacked on a shelf inside a wall unit. They're kinda sorted by style. The 300+ vinyl albums are on the bottom shelves of a couple of bookcases, sorted alpha.

[pzarquon]

Here are some answers from a great bunch of geeks at ask.metafilter.com:

CD storage solutions? (http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/23921)
How to house 300+ disks? (http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/13817)
Case Logic (http://www.caselogic.com/) comes up a lot, and I have some of their stuff... I just don't like how their current binder systems have proprietary setups (they're not standard three-rings). Though you can buy sheets that fit three-ring binders (http://www.caselogic.com/cd_storage_pages_200_disc_capacity/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=44248). I saw this son of a gun (http://www.caselogic.com/320_capacity_cd_wallet/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=42841) at CompUSA. With a 320 disc capacity, I don't see how they can call it a "wallet"!

This looks promising (http://www.caselogic.com/200_capacity_prosleeve_file/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=66182). Except I keep thinking Sterilite or Rubbermaid must make something just as functional but less expensive.

The IKEA "Billy" bookshelf system (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?cattype=sub&topcategoryId=15561&categoryId=15981&parentCats=15561&storeId=12&catalogId=10103&langId=-1) and the Benno tower (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=3&langId=-15&catalogId=10101&productId=11414) is also frequently cited. Except we don't have an IKEA, and they seem a bit overpriced for a bookshelf. Besides, they're not as portable as crates or bins, which I guess is my preference.

[pzarquon]

This looks promising (http://www.caselogic.com/200_capacity_prosleeve_file/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=66182). Except I keep thinking Sterilite or Rubbermaid must make something just as functional but less expensive.Here's another possibility (http://www.meritline.com/720-cd-dvd-storage-wallet-case.html). 700+ CD storage for $70? That's not a bad price versus some of the other specialized solutions I've seen. There's also a 1,000 CD version. And the sleeves, although they appear to again be proprietary, are also decently priced. Buy a bunch in advance and you probably won't have to worry about it again until... well, until CDs are long bypassed as a media format.

I also found the Sterilite boxes (http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/%2805mmqq45l2kcvb45hswqel45%29/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=6100382&Source=froogle) I was looking for at Walmart. But they're pretty small, so I'd be looking at, like, 50 of the things for our collection!

[Menehune Man]

We don't have too many so can store them on a custom built beautiful shelf built by my friend.
Cassettes, yeah I know, but at least their not 8-Tracks. HaHa! are on the bottom and we can even fit 'some' of our books.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Lately I've been using these stackable metal racks (http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=179195). They work pretty well and I've stacked 'em four racks high with good stability.

[Leo Lakio]

Here is a rather major option:http://www.can-am.ca/cdvideo.htm

Expensive, yes, but my library is pretty extensive - over 3000 CDs (and that's what's left after doing several purges of several hundred discs over the years; I also still have about 2500 vinyl albums.) I had drooled over these units for years. About six years ago, I bought three, 3-drawer units, which now hold about 2400 CDs, and it still isn't enough. I'm in the process of deciding if we can reconfigure our living room to add two more units.

As mentioned earlier, I understand Sony is now coming out with a 400-disc jukebox, a consumer model that we plan to adapt for our professional use in our satellite programming. Don't know how reliable they are yet, as we are just beginning our stress testing on them.

[Linkmeister]

Leo, that's a little "industrial" for a unit that has to be located somewhere near the stereo system in one's house, isn't it? I wonder if the maker is affiliated with Snap-On tools. :D

[lurkah]

Here is a rather major option:http://www.can-am.ca/cdvideo.htm
I was thinking that the 3-drawer cabinet would work really nice for storing and being able to horizontally sort my few hundred CDs/DVDs — until I saw the price. :eek: And weight. 95 lbs. empty?

[Leo Lakio]

"Industrial" is probably the right word for it --- but then, I've always worked in the music "industry" in some capacity! They certainly do dominate a space, but when you have a collection like mine in a one-bedroom condo, ANYTHING you use will dominate the area. These units are more like something you might find in a library.

But yes, they are pricey and heavy. That's why it took me years to get up the kala to buy 'em, but they really keep the CDs organized, and I had a friend come over to help me stack them three-high. (The factory ships them directly to you, too, so you actually save a little on shipping.)

Frankly, these things are only for people crazy enough to have music collection-itis (c'est moi), not for the average music fan who actually knows when enough is enough (whoa - channeling my ex-wife for a moment there...)

My favorite storage unit before I got these? Someone gave me an old, square, spinning, wire rack - the kind that used to be used to hold paperback books in drugstores (and you'll still find them in used bookstores.) It held about 900 CDs. I donated it to our halau's gift store a few years ago.

[alohatim]

Cool ideas in your links, Pzarq!

I had seen these things a few years ago. They have updated the style a bit. They are a little expensive--$100 for 100 disks. I am sure these are real nice for data disks that you may not have labelled very well.

Stakka (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1433480&CatId=66)

[craigwatanabe]

try this device...called the Disk Stakka cd/dvd manager from Imation. This thing holds up to 100 disks and has a database controller that when connected to a computer (via USB) it will display, and allow you to select which cd you want then rotate and eject it for you.

The "search engine" allows you to browse your disks much like browsing folders in your computer.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817133603

[adrian]

I just keep them in spindles and hope that I never have to search through them.

[craigwatanabe]

I just keep them in spindles and hope that I never have to search through them.


Yep unless you buy the bulk packs that are just wrapped in cellophane.

[jkpescador]

Has anyone digitized their CD collection and is storing it on a HD? I was just pondering this today. I bet zztype did.

[zztype]

Has anyone digitized their CD collection and is storing it on a HD? I was just pondering this today. I bet zztype did.
You betcha. Don't you have iTunes??? I have hundreds of CDs. I have probably a several hundred digitized (nearly 5,000 individual songs).

But I have another few hundred that I haven't digitized.

I keep them in cardboard boxes and in a stack on my computer desk. In the stack, the ones on the bottom have been digitized and are waiting to go back to the box; the ones on top are awaiting digitizing.

I don't digitize all, as it would overflow my iPod (30 gig video). I only digitize the ones that I want to listen to. If I had a 60 gig iPod, I suppose I would just digitize them all and be done with it.

But every once in a while, I come across one in my "not digitized" box that I should have. This is a nice surprise, almost like getting a free album! :)

Here's what's on my iTunes/iPod: http://zztype.com/itunes/

Blaine

[eatpoi]

Aloha!

My music collection is growing and I hate having to find racks to store all my cd's and their jewel cases. I've started transferring my music to itunes but does anyone have a better way to store those bulky jewel cases?

[Lei Liko]

All my CDs are stored in CD books. When I used to buy CDs I'd throw out the jewel cases into the trash. They take up too much room.

[blueyecicle]

I have 500 DVD's and the cases go into the trash! They are cataloged in books and boxes!

[manoasurfer123]

Over 700 on myside and over 1000 on my wifes side have been burned to MP3 format and stored on an External H/D.

Have everything categorized and can play them without having to search... plus there is no CD's laying all over the place anymore.

The masters go into boxes and stored under the bed!

[blueyecicle]

Over 700 on myside and over 1000 on my wifes side have been burned to MP3 format and stored on an External H/D.

Have everything categorized and can play them without having to search... plus there is no CD's laying all over the place anymore.

The masters go into boxes and stored under the bed!

Geez LOUISE!! I can't even think of 700 Cd's I want to listen to!! :eek:

[manoasurfer123]

Geez LOUISE!! I can't even think of 700 Cd's I want to listen to!! :eek:
My wife consumes cd's like a monkey does banana's!
and she has her own network of friends that do "no no's" ie; share!

[adrian]

I got a huge CD book from Walmart for $10 two years ago, and I still haven't filled it up. But the real pain is trying to label them.

[lurkah]

All my CDs are stored in CD books. When I used to buy CDs I'd throw out the jewel cases into the trash. They take up too much room.
What about all the liner notes and stuff? Do you trash those too?

[Lei Liko]

What about all the liner notes and stuff? Do you trash those too?

Liner notes go into the liner note sleeve, usually in back.

[manoasurfer123]

If you switch all your cd's to MP's...then liner notes go into the description box on the screen!

you can also download pictures of the cover to show what's playing at what time.

[manoasurfer123]

I remember someone who used to write music reviews for a school paper...
he used to literally get free demo CD's sent to him Weekly!

That buggah must have accumulated nearly 300 cd's in just a few years!
Not necessarily mainstream top 40's stuff... but mostly bands that were willing to give out samples to reviewers.

AND those that know PZ's past with school papers... I'm not talking about him!

To tell you the truth... I think it holds true for any reviewers of Music! they end up with a big collection of stuff because people want to push it on to them... bands think... hey maybe we give him a free demo...then he'll write a good review!

[manoasurfer123]

I remember someone who used ..

double post...my bad.

[eatpoi]

Much mahalos people..
Good ideas. I never really gave those cd booklets much thought. I guess I'll look into those. The jewel cases are taking up way too much room.

[dick]

I have a large shelf that holds about 1,500 CDs... it's about 2/3 full. Personally I would never throw away the cases. I like the feel of holding something tangeable (almost say, LP-like). Which is also why I don't really use the itunes store... I just prefer to get a hard copy of the record.

[blueyecicle]

I have 3 boys and if I kept all my cases then the kids would have many pairs of carpet skating shoes!!

Just something else for them to find and take apart!!
:rolleyes:

[jkpescador]

I'm starting to digitize the CDs now .. I'm at 500 plus ... about 2G according to iTunes ... there are CDs everywhere on the floor. I think this will be a good thing though. I better buy a back up drive though.

I already stream iTunes via the wireless network in the house.

I do prefer listening to web radio at work or when listening to music at all. The variety and mixes are pretty good.

Who has the most digitized music?

Anyone put their vinyl into MP3?

[Mike_Lowery]

in mp3 format or on a metal kitchen, NSF-approved rack in my room. If a CD's considered a classic to me (and I'm talking about James Brown, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, EWF, MJ, Rakim, etc.), I keep'em in their jewel cases.

now I'm wondering, why the heck are they called jewel cases anyway?

[GeckoGeek]

now I'm wondering, why the heck are they called jewel cases anyway?

Answer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_case#Origin_of_the_name)

("The message you have entered is too short. ..... Yeah, yeah... Sheesh!)

Who has the most digitized music?

Not I, but I had a co-worker who might be a good candidate. This was about 1-2 years ago. He saved his music on a external hard drive. Then he'd loan it to his friends so they could copy what they wanted, but asked for them to return the favor. So each time he loaned it out, he got even more. Last it knew it was up around 100GB or so.

[craigwatanabe]

[QUOTE=jkpescador;126412]Who has the most digitized music?QUOTE]


I would suspect Clear Channel's Server room probably has the most digitized music in Hawaii since it has to cover serveral radio stations in one server.

And yes KSSK can pull music from 101.9's music library from KSSK's main studio.

[jkpescador]

[QUOTE=jkpescador;126412]Who has the most digitized music?QUOTE]


I would suspect Clear Channel's Server room probably has the most digitized music in Hawaii since it has to cover serveral radio stations in one server.

And yes KSSK can pull music from 101.9's music library from KSSK's main studio.

So why do those stations play the same music over and over every hour?

:)

It sure sounds like it!

[Hellbent]

heres an interesting solution (http://www.mvixusa.com/)
I'm planning on getting this for my videos.

I have about 100 cd's I keep in 2 binders. Havent bought any CD's in years, but I used to rule the BMG invite a friend CD club.

The thing about the DVD-R's is that arent the CD/DVD's life span only 5 years?

[craigwatanabe]

Geez LOUISE!! I can't even think of 700 Cd's I want to listen to!! :eek:

It's obvious Manoa doesn't have kids yet:D . My DVD collection comprises mostly of Nick Jr. or some Disney flick.

When it comes to expenditures, we can't indulge in CD's. There's a thing called food for the table and our table is big.:)

[achow]

I store my CD's in the cases that they came with and then place them on my CD shelf by sections such as Hawaiian, Praise/Worship songs for church, and Pop songs.

[tikiyaki]

Over 700 on myside and over 1000 on my wifes side have been burned to MP3 format and stored on an External H/D.

Have everything categorized and can play them without having to search... plus there is no CD's laying all over the place anymore.

The masters go into boxes and stored under the bed!

Man, I'm in the middle of trying to do that now. I wanna be rid of CD's forever. I tried to sell the ones I put on hard drives, and alot of them the store wouldn't take because they had scratches.

My goal is to be rid of just about all of them, keeping a few for whatever reason...It's the extracting process that gets annoying.

[buzz1941]

You used to be able to get plastic CD racks that would bolt to the wall, but I haven't seen those in years. There are smaller versions you can get at places like CompUSA that supposedly snap together, but guess what? They don't actually fit. So I shaved off the interlocking skegs and glued the units together with MEK.

[tutusue]

It's obvious Manoa doesn't have kids yet:D . My DVD collection comprises mostly of Nick Jr. or some Disney flick.[...]
Manoa has a 2 year old...a real cutie!

Man, I'm in the middle of trying to do that now. I wanna be rid of CD's forever. I tried to sell the ones I put on hard drives, and alot of them the store wouldn't take because they had scratches.

My goal is to be rid of just about all of them, keeping a few for whatever reason...It's the extracting process that gets annoying.
T...have you tried selling on half.com? I, too, have purged CDs from my life...except for a few souvenirs. Living in 400 sq ft mandates purging! As far as 'extracting' goes...iTunes makes it so simple but I'd guess you music types have more professional needs. ;)

[akrauth]

I store mine in those CD case things where there is a certain amount of CD's on each page. I have three cases of regular CD's in which four are on each page and one case of Christmas CD's where there are two on each page. I organize all of them in alphabetical order.

[craigwatanabe]

I store mine in those CD case things where there is a certain amount of CD's on each page. I have three cases of regular CD's in which four are on each page and one case of Christmas CD's where there are two on each page. I organize all of them in alphabetical order.

The problem with storing them like that in alphabetical order is that when you need to insert another CD somewhere in the middle, you have to pull out all the CD's ahead of the one you want just to have that sleeve to put the new one in.

That's why I just sit them on end on a bookshelf. That way if I get a new CD all I have to do is cram it in the middle somehow.

I'm slowly ripping all of my CD's because my three-year old has already made coasters out of some of my beloved CD's especially my Lalo Schifrin's Black Widow CD that I finally found after the album went out of print. Oh well the vinyl sounded better than the CD anyway.

[tikiyaki]

Manoa has a 2 year old...a real cutie!


T...have you tried selling on half.com? I, too, have purged CDs from my life...except for a few souvenirs. Living in 400 sq ft mandates purging! As far as 'extracting' goes...iTunes makes it so simple but I'd guess you music types have more professional needs. ;)

Not really...I use iTunes to extract...it's just that I have so many CD's and so little time to sit there and feed them to my computer. :(

[jkpescador]

I started 2 weeks ago ... up to 5200+ songs ... and there are about 50-60 cds sitting around. Now to figure out which ones can be put away and which ones we need out to play outside, in car, at work, etc. :)

I need to find a script that can help put up my library.xml on a web server so my neighbor can see what I have instead of going through my mess.

[jkpescador]

Can anyone tell the difference between good, higher, highest quality in iTunes?