Mix CD

[aceofkittens]

How many songs do you think should go onto a mix CD/playlist? Is there a saturation level beyond which you just don't want to listen anymore?

Comments

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

I put as many as will possibly fit, which is usually 24ish. I like getting bang for my buck, but that's just me.

And...

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you! Pastels! :)

The size CD I have looks like it will fit about 100 MP3s. :)

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

I tend to tune out at about 10-12, fewer if I haven't liked many of the songs already...but I can make it to about 14 if I really, really like the choices.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

See, you and I are nearly identical in terms of music-non-listening ADD. :) I start to tune out after about 10 songs (unless it's something which engages me, like the Old 97's, of course!). And yet given the capacity of CD I'm looking at, I can get more than 100 songs on there, hence my dilemma...

[seismic.livejournal.com]

I'm also on the 'as many as will fit' side.

I get bored with them quickly if there are too few.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Aha, good to know. But do you think 80-90 songs is too many for a "gift mix?" What sort of capacity do you personally have for unfamiliar music to which you haven't necessarily listened before?

[seismic.livejournal.com]

Ah! I shall be more specific. As many as will fit in CD-audio format which ends up hovering around 20. In fact, I did a mix exchange on my journal last year and specified that the mixes were to be in CD-audio. Partly because I can't listen to mp3 CDs in my car and partly because the whole intent was to exchange new music and that whole attention span thing. =)

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Ok, that makes good sense. 20 seems like a good number. :) WOO! Thanks!

[dreamervictoria.livejournal.com]

Depending on the circumstances, anywhere from 13-20. This is the number for a playlist that is

a) to introduce your friends to cool music they've never heard before
or
b) to set a certain kind of mood

I find that putting more than that generally loses people. But if I'm making one for myself to listen to in the car, it will usually be an MP3 CD and will have 30-150 songs on it.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

This is excellent advice, thank you! :) That is exactly what I'm looking to make: a theme playlist/CD sampler. And given my own ADD when it comes to music listening, I just want to make sure that the recepients don't tune out (literally).

I just burned a CD with over 100 MP3 files on it, so... and whoah, it also just ocurred to me that I actually do not have a stereo anymore, just a computer and DVD player. :) Wow, maybe my CDs won't even play in a real stereo!

[goldenmean.livejournal.com]

I generally limit myself to the 74 minute or so CD length when making theme or music sampler CDs for people. For my own playlists, I usually either listen to my 700 odd "Stuff I like pretty well" playlist, the entirety of the 6000 or so songs on my ipod on random, or I make up On the Go playlists of anywhere between 5 and 30 songs if I don't feel like being particularly surprised.

Everytime I get a particularly grating Dead Kennedys -> Halou transition or the like, I think I should subdivide my music more, but I never quite get around to it.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am making a theme/sampler CD and based on your and other people's comments, I'm thinking what you said: 74 minutes or so. Otherwise, the ADD kicks in. Of course, I myself can barely get through 10 songs before I glaze over! :P

Also, here is the wall of games!

[goldenmean.livejournal.com]

That's quite a wall. It's more than I have in the apartment currently, but probably about on par with what I own + have in storage. Maybe a bit more. Looks like the quality is overall higher than mine also. I've still got a lot of sort of meh games from when I was younger and less snobby about my gaming (and most everything actually)

[toastmantom.livejournal.com]

I think that someday we will have to put you and the wall-owner in the same room together and see if you explode.

Also, I'm pretty sure that this is only the most public-facing portion of his collection. The man loves his games.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's just the top few shelves... there's also a cabinet and another big bookcase. :) I asked how many he has and he said he's about to sell some on Ebay but thinks he probably has 350+.

[savia.livejournal.com]

As many as will fit on the CD - if it's good, you won't want it to end.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

You are so getting 100 Old 97's songs! :)

[savia.livejournal.com]

hahah - well, you know, our first xmas together, Sam made me a complete collection of Old 97s CDs. Because they, and he, are awesome. And I would never have REALLY known if it weren't for you! Being that you are also awesome. ;)

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Awww. :) ♥

[saladbar.livejournal.com]

I never listen to CDs anymore. I am of no help.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Sigh... you are useless! Useless! :)