Download quality and file type
This section will help you decide which download quality and file type is best for you. We recommend you download our free testfiles to help you decide which is best for your needs and most compatible with your computer.
You will find different download choices on this site - Studio Master 5.1 FLAC, Studio Master 5.1 WMA, Studio Master FLAC, Studio Master WMA, CD quality FLAC, CD quality WMA and MP3.
If you are a new to downloading and a PC user, we recommend you choose Studio Master WMA, CD quality WMA or MP3 files. More advanced PC users can also choose FLAC.
If you are not a PC user we recommend you choose Studio Master FLAC, CD quality FLAC or MP3 files.
If you are intending to play your downloads through a Linn DS digital music player such as the Klimax DS, we recommend you choose Studio Master FLAC or CD quality FLAC files.
Studio Master 5.1 FLAC
If absolute surround sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you. FLAC files are lossless at various high sample-rates, for example, 48KHz, 88.2KHz and 96KHz (the sample rate will be dependent on the actual recording method we used to make the recording, so please check each title for specific details). The quality is identical to that of the SACD Multichannel layer and the files conform to the familiar 5.1 standard (Left, Centre, Right, Rear Left, Rear Right, Sub). These files offer true "studio quality" and are what was used by Linn Records to produce the production version of our SACD Multichannel releases.
To play these files back successfully your system must be equipped with a 96KHz 24-bit capable sound card with at least six analogue outputs (many of these are pre-configured for 5.1 applications) and a 5.1 channel audio playback system. Please take particular care to ensure that each channel is played back through the correct loudspeaker (e.g. that the 'Rear Left' signal is routed to play back through the loudspeaker behind the listener and on the left hand side. There is a CHANNEL IDENTIFIER test file to help with this).
Be sure to check compatibility with your computer sound card by using our EXCERPT TEST FILES before you download a file. Please note that very large amounts of storage space (three times that of a stereo Studio Master) are required for each track.
FLAC files can be imported into many media players, but unfortunately Microsoft does not yet support high bit-rate FLAC, so these files will not play in Windows Media Player. There are many other FLAC players available such as Media Monkey and Foobar.
For further information about FLAC please visit the FLAC website.
Please note:
- We recommend you burn a DVD to create a back-up of your download purchase. Click here for instructions.
- These files are too large to burn on to a CD and you will not be able to play these files in your CD player.
Studio Master 5.1 WMA
If absolute Surround sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you.
WMA files are lossless at various high sample-rates, for example, 48KHz, 88.2KHz and 96KHz (the sample-rate will be dependent on the actual recording method we used to make the recording, so please check each title for specific details). The quality is identical to that of the SACD Multichannel layer and the files conform to the familiar 5.1 standard (Left, Centre, Right, Rear Left, Rear Right, Sub). These files offer true "studio quality" and are what was used by Linn Records to produce the production version of our SACD Multichannel releases.
To play these files back successfully your system must be equipped with a 96KHz 24-bit capable sound card with at least six analogue outputs (many of these are pre-configured for 5.1 applications) and a 5.1 channel audio playback system. Please take particular care to ensure that each channel is played back through the correct loudspeaker (e.g. that the 'Rear Left' signal is routed to play back through the loudspeaker behind the listener and on the left hand side.
Be sure to check compatibility with your computer sound card etc by using our TEST FILES before you download a file. Please note that very large amounts of storage space (three times that of a stereo Studio Master) are required for each track.
Information for PC Users.
WMA lossless files can be imported and used directly in most PC audio programs including Windows Media Player.
Information for Mac Users.
WMA lossless files cannot be imported into iTunes nor have we found a way to convert them to play in other programs.
Please note:
Studio Master FLAC
If absolute sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you.
FLAC files are lossless at various high sample rates, for example, 48KHz, 88.2KHz, 96KHz and 192KHz (check each title for actual details). The quality is identical to that of an SACD (Stereo only). The format will be dependent on the actual recording method we used originally. No DSD files are offered as it is not possible to play them back on a PC so an equivalent PCM format is offered. These files offer true "studio quality" and are what was used by Linn to produce the production version of our CD releases. Be sure to check compatibility with your computer sound card etc. before you download a file and note that large amounts of storage space are required for each track.
FLAC files can be imported into many media players, such as any Linn DS digital music player, but unfortunately Microsoft does not yet support high bit-rate FLAC, so these files will not play in Windows Media Player. There are many other FLAC players available such as Media Monkey and Foobar.
FLAC Studio Masters play in Play and VLC, but not in Cog or MPlayer. It is however very easy to transcode FLAC to several other lossless formats.
*192KHz STUDIO MASTERS
The Linn Records Website now contains a number of 192KHz Studio Masters in FLAC. Please note that the majority of soundcards and some media players are only capable of playing back at sample rates of up to 96KHz, so it is very important to check using the TEST FILES to see whether your system is 192KHz compatible before you buy any of these downloads. Please note also that the 192KHz files are approximately twice the size of a 96KHz Studio Master and may consequently take up to twice as long to download.
All the Linn DS players are fully 192KHz compatible and will be able to play these files as easily as the 88.2KHz Studio Masters.
Please note:
We recommend you burn a DVD-audio to create a back-up of your download purchase. Click here for instructions.
You can also play Studio Master files through your digital media receiver or in windows media player.
These files are too large to burn on to a CD and you will not be able to play these files in your CD player.
We will be adding more albums at this quality rate as they become available.
Click here for a full list of all available Studio Master albums.
Studio Master WMA
If absolute sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you.
WMA files are lossless at various high bit rates for example, 48KHz, 88.2KHz and 96KHz (check each title for actual details). We cannot offer 192KHz masters in the WMA format. This download is offered for those who desire the best sound possible. The quality is identical to that of an SACD (stereo only). The format will be dependent on the actual recording method we used originally. No DSD files are offered as it is not possible to play them back on a PC so an equivalent PCM format is offered. These files offer true "studio quality" and are what was used by Linn to produce the production version of our CD releases. Be sure to check compatibility with your computer sound card etc before you download a file and note that large amounts of storage space are required for each track.
Information for PC Users.
WMA lossless files can be imported and used directly in most PC audio programs including Windows Media Player and iTunes. iTunes will convert the files to AIFF.
Information for Mac Users.
WMA lossless files cannot be imported into iTunes nor have we found a way to convert them to play in other programs. Please do let us know if you find a way around this.
Please note:
We recommend you burn a DVD to create a back-up of your download purchase. Click here for instructions.
You can also play Studio Master files through your digital media receiver or in windows media player.
These files are too large to burn on to a CD and you will not be able to play these files in your CD player.
We will be adding more albums at this quality rate as they become available.
Click here for a full list of all available Studio Master albums.
CD Quality FLAC
If CD sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you.
FLAC is a lossless format allows us to compress the music in a lossless manner ensuring that you get all the benefit of a full bandwidth audio performance, but with a file size that is around half that of a normal CD.
FLAC files can be imported and played on a variety of media players, such as the Klimax DS digital music player. To play these files in Windows Media Player you first need to download a filter such as the one at Illiminable.
FLAC files can be played back flawlessly on Macs in OS X. Examples of playback tools are Cog, MPlayer, VLC and Play.
For further information about FLAC please visit the FLAC website.
CD Quality WMA
If CD sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you.
WMA is a lossless format allows us to compress the music in a lossless manner ensuring that you get all the benefit of a full bandwidth audio performance, but with a file size that is around half that of a normal CD.
If you are a PC user it is simple to download WMA. WMA can be imported and used directly in most PC audio programs including Windows Media Player and iTunes.
WMA files can only be imported into iTunes on a Mac once converted to a Mac friendly format. The files can be played on a Mac, but in a limited way. The Microsoft website has further information regarding playing these files on a Mac. We wanted to offer Apple lossless too, but have been unable to get the rights to do this. You can also use "Switch", an audio conversion utility produced by NCH Swift Sound to convert them to aiff or wav type files which can then be easily imported at full CD audio quality in iTunes.
MP3
This file type should work with all computer types including PC, Mac and Linux. This is similar to what most other download sites refer to as "CD" quality. In fact, what they normally mean is that the file is digital, most other compressed music delivery sites deliver very poor audio quality. The audio that we offer is compressed but only to the point that sound quality doesn't suffer unduly (320kbps compared to other sites which are 128kbps).
If the download speed of your internet connection is a concern then this file is best for you. This type of download file is the only one to consider if you have dial up, the others are much too large to download over a dial up connection.