Using This iPod For 30 Days Changed My Life

For the month of June, I decided to do an experiment where I would listen to music exclusively through an iPod. What I didn't know is how much bigger this would get.
Tune in next week for part 2 of 4 in this mini-series.
Thanks again to Kyle Chakya - check out his fantastic book "Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture" www.amazon.com/gp/product/038...
Also check out our full 45 min conversation on Digging The Talks: • How Algorithms Flatten...
This video features original scoring by Andrew Reyes: / andrew_on_keys
__________________________________
► Get the Full Experience on Patreon - / diggingthegreats
► Digging The Greats Podcast - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
► Complimentary Interview Channel - @DiggingTheTalks
► JOIN THE DISCORD - / discord
► Follow me on Instagram: bit.ly/3KJmbG0

[@DillaDonuts]

I swear when im on spotify and i turn on "shuffle" it just gives me a curated playlist of things ive been listening to lately. Cant count the amount of times where certain songs by certain artists just seem to ALWAYS be in the rotation when i have thousands of songs. Wouldnt be suprised if these services are getting money from the labels to push their artists.

[@abzeromusic]

I hate when I start listening to underground hip hop and it just turns into a playlist of Kendrick Lamar and Nas, And it's not that I don't like Kendrick Lamar and Nas. But if I'm listening to open mic eagle , uncommon NASA, and homeboy sandman I wish it would maybe suggest me like pharaoh monch or something, but it never does. It just plays me section 80 again 😂😂😂😂

[@Nerfyboy800]

KZbinr Gabi Belle did a video on Spotify shuffle and basically confirmed it does play some artists in your playlist a lot more than others. Don't know the reason behind it, but it was an interesting video regardless.

[@mimasweets]

My gf is tired if me telling her Weezer came up again in a Spotify recommendation, but I'm only getting them feed to me cause they came up on once I didn't skipped? I guess??? Ooohhh weeeee ooohhh I look just like Buddy Holly 😭😭😭

[@MadMaxBible]

@@Nerfyboy800 The reason is everything online is engineered to an insane degree. Long gone are the days of organically finding stuff, even shuffle on Spotify is not real shuffle.

[@IVUSER]

Don't think it's necessarily agendas, rather their stupid algorithm that keeps playing you the same 2-3 songs you've been playing for a few days instead of the other 40+ you just added. I've experienced it too and it's fucking annoying

[@PLFMM]

You literally brought me to tears when you found the 30pin adapter in your car…even if it was staged I don’t care I love that! I moved to NY in 1998 in a drive away pick up. All I had was a bag of cloths, 6 African drums and a trunk of 1000 cassettes. Now I teach at a University to kids who grew up on Spotify. lol!

[@MATALOMUSIC]

believe it or not cars actually used to have these so possibly wasn't staged

[@KristovMars]

Real emotional journey this episode

[@kelownatechkid]

Most cars STILL support ipods, actually basically all cars with USB ports do lol. My parents' electric toyota runs an ipod touch we stuffed in the glove box

[@endo_VI]

so much respect

[@IAm_DavidB]

full circle moment - also starts playing the song the wedding guy requested

[@twisted2291]

The grip that social media has on the world is crazy. I have unsubscribed to many music platforms, got rid of cable TV, and killed the radio in my car. All of this in the last 10 years. As a DJ and Karaoke host. I have found myself looking at music much differently. I stared collecting CD's, Records, & Cassettes once again. Reconnecting to what I really loved about music in the first place. The connection of physical media in your hands. The manual movements required to play such media, and being able to kick back, read the lyrics, and stories within the booklets, liner notes, and j-cards are amazing. I didn't realize just how much I was missing. Going digital made life easier, but it also stripped away many things that I really enjoyed in life as well. Now I find myself going out more to listen to new and local bands around my area more often. Looking and listening for the next great thing to come along. It is really amazing what happens to you when you disconnect from the digital world and return to the world of analog.

[@redherring777]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="86">1:26</a> this music transition is CRAZY

[@MidtownSkyport]

subtle, yeah

[@rafamigayt]

Yeah, what is this piece? It's also at 13:29. It's kind of awesome. Talking about curating playlists...

[@jamesfrancese6091]

Louis Theroux type beat

[@rafamigayt]

@@jamesfrancese6091 No, that's not it. Found it on Soundcloud, that's a different tune.

[@rafamigayt]

@@jamesfrancese6091 You may be reffering to the tune prior to 1:26. But I'm looking for the clip that plays from this timestamp and also 13:29. Very "chiptune-y" yet interesting.

[@logandeboer1009]

I want to do this. I hate algorithms because I've grown addicted to short form content. KZbin Shorts, Instagram Reels etc. I want to get rid of it all and start living my life away from a phone.

[@Jack-zj1ug]

@@logandeboer1009 might look into the Light Phone 3 if you haven’t. It’s on presale now for 50% off

[@iamcuttlefish]

i find using youtube through a browser app instead to be better

[@_wanderingrocks_]

Old iPod shuffles can be found all day on ebay for like $50. I have three

[@randomusername1735]

I have a firefox extension on my laptop called "Unhook" where you can hide pretty much anything you want on youtube, from shorts to the home feed to the recommendations and comments. I use that and try not to use YT on phone anymore

[@danbo967]

you can use your phone without Apple Music/spotify/etc. you just directly load music onto it and can use the normal shuffle function.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Finally someone had the balls to do what none of us were willing to. Now...where's my iPod?

[@KidTonyGaming]

You never heard of DankPods

[@VertexEffectsInc]

@@KidTonyGaming an iPod you holster in your armpit?

[@isaiahmcclure8894]

Been using an iPod again exclusively for a few months now haha. YOU aren't willing. We've been doing it

[@globalmarauder8682]

Been using an iPod touch 5 for the last decade (never been connected to internet) for listening, and Spotify freemium for sorting out music and organising my playlists(that would go on the iPod later ). I don't mind the extra work.

[@isaiahmcclure8894]

@@globalmarauder8682 agreed man. Wish I never stopped using my iPod. I now have my iTunes with 2,000+ of all my favorite songs and I’ll find music on KZbin once or twice a month for new music to illegally download 😂😂

[@1haitian1]

Not even 2 minutes in and man… the way you transitioned your car chime/beep into being the beat for the background song was flawless. Great job man.

[@eleanorzissou]

I‘m not using music streaming services because of two reasons. One: I was a professional musician until I couldn’t pay the bills anymore. Spotify kills most musicians. I buy music I like and download it, when I‘m not going for Vinyl. Two: I can‘t stand compressed sound. Yes - I can hear it. Tested it more than twenty times in blindfold tests. I had my iPod classic 7 built by PlayerMods in the Ukraine. They’re highly recommended. Bluetooth, 2 TB SDXC, 3000 mAh battery, USB-C, new everything. I love this thing.

[@dbb7_]

god bless you for the suggestion. This sounds more like a computer rather than an Ipod😭

[@krzysztofobodzinski2529]

At this point, you could have just bought a modern DAP and played your locally stored loseless files. Is it because of the nostalgia?

[@Kikiclarak]

@@krzysztofobodzinski2529is not the same, DACs nowadays are not very different from smartphones (they’re android based, touch screen, streaming apps and all that) and whole thing is to disconnect from that and actually enjoy the music

[@krzysztofobodzinski2529]

@Kikiclarak I think you're overthinking it. The problem is with you, not the device. Just load your music, don't turn on the Wi-Fi, and there you go. The touchscreen or the Android aren't evil or somehow making you enjoy the music less. Also, DAPs have physical controls on the sides.

[@BloodZangetsu]

How the hell do u buy that

[@DSmicklas]

Gonna have to check out Filterworld. I think one major reason I love this channel is the "human curators" idea you discussed. I realized a couple years ago that my Spotify algorithm was turning into a snake eating its own tail. I didnt seek out new music, and I was paralyzed by limitless choices to the point I couldn't even choose between things I knew I loved to listen to. I had become the least interested in music that I'd ever been. I started watching this channel and around the same time picked up my guitar again. Now I play guitar more at age 36 than I have since I was 22, and I'm actively improving my music theory in preparation for teaching music to my young kids.

[@insearchofYAH]

We’re getting replaced by the machine lol. Glad you’re taking your creativity and love of music back. Keep it human

[@TonyBullard]

I've noticed, too, that if Spotify (or KZbin Music now) suggests something to me, if I don't LOVE it within 30 seconds, I'm angry. Like, I've developed this hugely high bar that all new music has to hit. It's depressing. I basically don't seek out any new music any more.

[@DSmicklas]

@TonyBullard It's unfortunate that the disc jockey has lost nearly all influence in both the available library and the choice of what to play on air. In a world where choices are endless, the consumer could really use a system of thoughtful curation. It takes nearly as much effort to find good new music as it does a curator for good new music.

[@quappes1450]

I always buy cds idk why. I just put it in the car and listen while driving as it kinda forces me to listen to the entire album and understand it more as the more I listen, the more I learn and crave the music. I just find it better than Spotify idk why

[@jakefromstatefarm1405]

I buy CDs so I can rip them to my phone. My local music library is all .wav files and so quality is never an issue 👌

[@dannydamnmendez]

I bought a CD of "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac the other day because I couldn't get it to play in my car from my Bluetooth transmitter via Spotify. It was the first album I've listened to in years where I played it twice in a row upon first listen

[@ubermatic1821]

🫡 💿 🔊

[@Jack-zj1ug]

It really does feel different. I think part of it is that there are less distractions…like you can’t just switch to something else in an instant. I mean you can switch tracks, but it’s often just nice to let it play and take it all in as a whole. It’s just you and the album, you know?

[@y.a.p8951]

​@@jakefromstatefarm1405 does the same. Never changed it. if I want to hear something else I just use KZbin. Type the song and save for later use but I rip cds to my phone and keep them there.

[@dinoswr]

over the last few years, I've built a fairly sizable collection of over a thousand mostly second hand CDs and ripped them to my computer to play locally. Even though they're effectively the same files as on streaming, the disc being there beside me on the wall gives me this sense of gratitude towards having the music i have and makes me engage with it a lot more. When I'm going outside, I usually just pick a couple albums to bring and pop them on my discman, and for me the appeal of just carrying around the actual music with no need to link up to the big internet is immense. Wonderful video

[@gmatta1112]

Nice 👌 I'm similar, but instead, I put it on my server (along with my movies) because I'm a weirdo, and I set up a plex server to stream in and out of the house. I love it, and the physical collection of movies, TV shows, and music is awesome. The only difficulty now is when I can't find a physical copy because one doesn't exist

[@outerrealmrecords529]

they aren't the same though, they are better.. assuming you ripped them as lossless .

[@chriskingston1981]

Exactly gratitude! I didn’t knew how much power this has

[@skuzzbunny]

i mean, i just play my files on my phone these days, it's not like it isn't plenty smart enough now, and LOTS storage.....😅

[@DeanVRS20VT]

Sounds like Roon might need to enter your life, check it out.

[@DocTrower1980]

Even in the age of Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music, I *STILL* own my iPod Classic. Why? No algorithm to depend on, and no ad breaks to interrupt my musical experience.

[@borstenpinsel]

You can install any audio player, even winamp, and move mp3 files to your phone. 😅

[@horasefu1438]

@@borstenpinsel one of the points in the iPod is that is indeed a player, and just that, being excellent at it. why carry your phone if you don't need to? fiddling with it while doing sports, etc. it's just become rly ridiculous..

[@PeterMoore66]

@@borstenpinsel Or, with iTunes you can seamlessly sync all your music to your iPod. I'm far from an Apple fanboy, but the iPod classic is the BEST way of curating your own music.

[@KristovMars]

​@@borstenpinsel Yeah you could... But the iPod (or Zune I guess...) has several advanced features that haven't made their way to phones yet... There's "Don't fucking interrupt me with phonecalls, software updates, advertising, buffering, or network blackouts". It's neat, especially for someone who loves to listen to an album uninterrupted. Then we have the tactile, physical controls - "Now with REAL Buttons!" - which can be safely and accurately used while driving or when my music-box is in a pocket. There's no risk of accidentally calling 911 or my ex, and only a small risk of skipping tracks instead of adjusting the volume. Please forgive my sass, I say this all with love. Oh yeah, my iPod Nano was* waaay smaller and thinner than any phone I've ever owned. Man I wish I'd never transitioned to using my phone for audio ... * deceased, crushed in a work incident in 2018. Still, it served me so very well for a decade. R.I.P. little electric pocket dee-jay, you are missed.

[@guts5398]

Apple music only plays what you add

[@nicholaspetersen8579]

Finding the ipod cable in your car is just the best.

[@garrybartlett6853]

We used to have a tape that had an aux wire on it, press play and it send the signal down the wire from Phone/tablet etc and to the tapes head where that was converted to music...

[@MrNoodle001]

I would have thought that the van would have had one too, hidden somewhere. Maybe where you'd be able to connect by USB? I thought it strange that it didn't have it.

[@HiBoa]

Something I've always agreed with in regards to anything with an algorithm is that its designed to benefit them and not you, and it's part of the reason I bought an iPod a couple years ago. Found a guy in California that refurbs and updates iPod Classics, and got one shipped over to Australia with an upgraded battery and 1tb hdd. Don't use it as much as I should, but always been contemplating dropping everything for it again. Also for those that have the bluetooth problem, and don't magically find a 30-pin in their car, I'll let you in on a little secret of mine. UGREEN Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter for Nintendo Switch. Happy listening.

[@slenderpup2666]

☝This is the way friends! I've got a 7th gen that's been modded with 1TB of space & an awesome battery & even with the bluetooth "leaching" the battery life, it still holds a charge for easily at least a week of long daily use. I barely charge my ipod at all. I have to charge the bluetooth transmitter daily though!

[@JustinSeara]

Where are you guys getting these modded iPods from?? Any help would be appreciated

[@HiBoa]

@@JustinSeara I got mine from a company called Elite Obsolete Electronics. Hope this helps

[@HiBoa]

@@JustinSeara I got mine from Elite Obsolete Electronics. Hope this helps.

[@madmanterry7095]

This is one of the best vlogs I've ever seen, your videos are so creative, your passion is contagious!!!

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏

[@James_Marshall92]

I don't think this is a vlog it's more like something different that is not nostalgic, more like what happened. People don't need smartphones for an mp3

[@derbytilidie100]

I was at Pharoah Sanders’ final concert before his death in 2022 - thank you for reminding me of a special memory. Honestly, I think a lot of what you described about music can apply to KZbin too. I’ve loved every one of your videos I’ve watched and have been subscribed for well over a year. Yet somehow it doesn’t pop up in my suggested feed so much. I think it’s because I don’t always click on your videos right away, knowing that it’ll likely make me think and require me to pay attention. It’s much easier to click on brainless ‘ambient’ content. But the rewards from watching videos like yours are much greater.

[@MATALOMUSIC]

totally agree! KZbin doesn't show some of my favorite channels even though I watch them all the time

[@wallyfrogmore]

@@MATALOMUSIC it's like people forget there's a subscriptions tab you can click....

[@eboutyytk5064]

I’ve build a custom one for my self with Bluetooth I LOVE THAT THING

[@lt1eg6]

Just took out my old brick and preparing to SD card it. How did you go about bluetooth'ing it? I want to explore all the mixes I've saved over the years.

[@CloudCoderChap]

Do you have a list of materials and / or any 3D Prints you used? Sounds like an interesting project I’ll likely never get around to.

[@bruce-le-smith]

i have a last generation ipod that i just use for offline music with bluetooth earphones, it's so peaceful

[@eboutyytk5064]

@@CloudCoderChap you need the big back version depends on your model. For the 5th gen I think there is a 60/80 gb version so you have more space in side. Then you also need to take out the hdd and replace it with an ssd Adapter because they are smaller. And you have to get an Bluetooth transmitter and solder it to the headphone jack. That’s about it. But it’s not easy to do.

[@axMf3qTI]

@@CloudCoderChap there different options. I saw an back face replacement. Wich is probably the easiest way to go. But a lot of people put in a larger battery, replace the HD with a bunch of sd cards and add Bluetooth. Some people install other firmware too so you're not longer depended on iTunes. The iPod will dual boot. All can be found here on youtube.

[@TybaltKaine]

Nothing like digging in the crates back in the day. I miss going to Flip Side and taking a chance on an entire album by a person I never heard of cause the album cover grabbed me. I've been going "analog" for a while too, and man, this has me convinced to stay that way.

[@MrBaldypete1]

Keep it up man. I do the same. I like to take a chance on music without someone else choosing it for me. It's more fun. Best album I've bought in the last 12 months is Criminal Nights by Lazer Club, an Italian synthwave band. It's funky, it's catchy, it's heartfelt.... great album! My next project, one day, is to create a mix tape (yes, a tape!) 90 minutes of my favourite synthwave tunes, maybe run them through some filtering software to make them a little more lo-fi, cobble together a solution to record them onto a tape and rock my old Sony Walkman WM-EX610!

[@poststalone8503]

I just cancel my Spotify sub and bought a iPod Nano this week! Ripped all the CD collection that I own! And started buying Music again! It feels good!!

[@steveaguay]

I haven't had a lot of algo influence in my music. I fixate on a handful of albums at one time. But I'm extremely tempted to join this iPod conversation.

[@fayettenampeach]

Same here! I was just looking at iPods last night to purchase. I had an iPod shuffle and later got an iPod nano. The iPod nano still works great. I bought a cable for it and gave it to my aunt. I might be an indian giver and ask for it back. Because I don't think she's using it now.

[@Bob_Smith19]

I do not use an iPod. But I do host my own music on my own server. There are no algorithms. Just shuffle and picking what to listen to. I refuse to pay for music streaming services. I try to buy direct from the artists as much as possible.

[@Andrew_On_Keys]

Plex?

[@Bob_Smith19]

@@Andrew_On_KeysNo, AirSonic for music and a mix of Emby and Jellyfin for movies and TV Shows. Jellyfin is still rough which so I can’t switch completely. Neither of them are good for music, same goes for Plex.

[@skuzzbunny]

i just put them on my phone, storage is pretty damn cheap these days, at least for my music collection size.....)

[@5PawZ]

Bandcamp ftw

[@SIGuess]

PLEASE DO MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS it was incredible to see

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you 🙏 3 more of these coming this month!

[@SIGuess]

@@diggingthegreats I would love to see you use a walkman for a week go OLD SKOOL

[@lonesome3958]

​@@diggingthegreatsYES

[@quappes1450]

AGREED

[@KristovMars]

Yepyep, this is a genuinely good film @diggingthegreats - proper documentary with heart, story, drama and your usual high production values. Thankyou. Oh, and it's good to get another reminder that I need to actually follow through on my long-needed migration back to my own collection.

[@Virtualhistorysource]

Great edit. You’ve inspired me to start uploading all of my thrifted CDs to my computer to eventual add to an iPod. Looking forward to the remaining episodes

[@akmadsen]

I did something similar about 6 months ago. Since I have digital copies of almost all music I own on physical media, I'm not going to run out of music to listen to anytime soon, so I cancelled my streaming subscriptions and switched to manually transferring music to my phone via MusicBee. Couldn't be happier about it. I'm listening with much more intent because I actively seek out the music I listen to, and I just enjoy my music more. Great bonus to know that the artists are supposedly benefiting more from my buying physical media. Also, <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="170">2:50</a>: Fela Kuti - Zombie was incidentally one of the first albums I transferred when I made the switch!

[@jackh8702]

Part of the reason why I got into vinyl is to listen to music with a purpose. I can’t skip the songs so I have to think a bit more about which album to play. And that makes me enjoy it more. You should also read the book “Stolen Focus” about how all those apps affect you focus and daily life. It gave me a similar feeling to what you describe in the video. Looking forward to the next episode

[@tapehead-jeff]

Welcome to my world, no social media, no spotify, no Bluetooth, algorithms, subscription fees and even no ads! I work plainly with bygone physical media, started this trend in 2007 with buying my very first vinyl. Today I make my own cassette tapes and cd's to take on the go otherwise I carry my mp3 player. I have all my music digital on the computer all sorted out manually (talking about 5000+ songs). I waved goodbye to socials in 2017 and never regretted it to this day. I love it this way and I can tell you once you go that way, you don't want to go back to the mainstream world people are used to today. I hear people all the time talking they don't like socials and how algorithms and AI are taking over when I tell them about my way of living yet everybody keeps sticking to it, it sounds like a disease sometimes and it makes me feel good knowing I have no part in that. Not even starting about the funny conversations I get with people when they see a real cassette walkman, discman or mp3 player when I'm traveling by train, or when people ask me for my socials but I tell them I don't have any.

[@stuartraymond3595]

I'm in a similar boat but not quite as deep. Got hundreds of records and cassettes and like you all the stuff I downloaded in the early aughts are loaded on my phone. Though I do get albums from Bandcamp and steam DJ sets on SoundCloud. And I still use Instagram for art and I find SOME value in it. But the societal shift from physical, you do the legwork, media to sit back and let the algorithm tell you what you should be listening to is becoming way more obtuse in the space of art. But I'm also seeing many more people rejecting it to some degree. Maybe not and never to the extent you or I do but they see what's going on. And to me what's going on is the devaluing of art. It's why I want to read Filterworld because I think it talks about this. With Instagram and Spotify what we see and hear, without working for it, is given to us without asking for it and it's mostly what gets the most likes, which is a mindless click of a button. The more mindless clicks the more we all see it. And the game is how to get those clicks and it's mostly through Pavlov reactions. Like boobs. Which are great, but put a boob in it and you're going to get more likes. And society isn't connoisseurs like we are, they just consume what's given to them and this all is a recipe for the dumbing down of society. More so. Either way I too got a walkman and listen to everything on old stereos and speakers because I worked for it as did the artist making it and I feel it's a good trade-off and I appreciate it more that way. Thanks for response

[@petertrotman7708]

I have a 160 ipod and I've never looked back. I spent years building up numerous playlist from favourite artists and genres that I've unsubscribed to more than a few streaming platforms but yes, silence is also good for the soul. Break the habit, break the chains that bind.

[@MinimalisTech]

My guy. Dope timing for this video. I frequently use my iPod for offline music too. I only upload albums of the CDs or vinyls i buy. I dig it

[@theplayaslounge]

Dude I have the biggest smile now that you found that cable in your car. Rock Out!!

[@RetroPokemonDepot]

This was so great to watch! I transitioned to using an ipod four and half years ago, and I absolutely love it. At the time, I did it mainly so I could have something with an AUX jack, and to save battery life and storage space on my phone since I mostly used my phone for music anyway. I have never looked back. The lack of an algorithm is super amazing. Especially when I first started using the ipod, I was being shuffled into songs I hadn't heard for so many years because they'd just been buried in my library, never picked up by the modern shuffle algorithm. Having ownership is super important, too. There are so many songs and remixes on my ipod that have been removed from the internet. Being able to listen to whatever I want without being at the mercy of Spotify or Apple Music is so liberating. I still like to use Spotify and Apple Music to discover new music, as I do think having an ipod does leave you more susceptible to being walled in, which you referred to when you talked about only ever listening to music you like. If I didn't actively seek out new music and just only ever listened to what was on my ipod, things would stagnate too quickly. I have added around 600-900 songs per year to my ipod since I've had it, and I still get excited every time I put a song on it. I do feel more engaged with the music when I have to go through the extra steps of adding a song to my library compared to just pressing a button. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the rest of this mini-series! Awesome work!

[@jessiebullock]

Your reaction when your iPod connection to your car worked was so good. Thank you for making this, Brandon! Thank you for the work you put into your channel!

[@michaelmadcat]

I love this! I think it'd be interesting to bust into someone else's old iPod because it's a little time capsule of music curated by an actual human and all the quirks of that individual. It's not that the songs are similar to each other... There's no algorithm predicting you'll likely enjoy it. Instead, it's a collection of songs that belonged to someone... They might seem random, but they're tied to the memories and experiences of that person. I think that's kinda beautiful! During a time where algorithms are driving the world, I think a lot of us are looking for more human connection!

[@bpaymusic]

Too bad Radio Shack went out of business. You could have found your FM transmitter there 😂

[@Klabimmbamm]

I use 2000s iTunes since, well, the 2000s. 150k tracks, all rated, smart playlists. That library is my baby and could never ever be replaced by a streaming service.

[@denzhil9099]

150.000 tracks 🤯

[@Klabimmbamm]

@@denzhil9099 146.212 to be precise.

[@thehearingaid]

@@denzhil9099 Yeah damn i thought my old iTunes was heffy with 90k.

[@CringeLord0119]

How much did you spend on that? That’s a lot

[@mfonenangamodeste3002]

Impressive stuff

[@refusingtoconform]

Mic the Snare did a similar experiment with modern CDs and MAYBE an iPod as well. Very interesting to see a return to old media streaming as a response to contemporary media streaming.

[@mochunk]

I found myself a year or so ago, re-engaging with my bandcamp collection. I also started buying a LOT more albums from underground artists and popping them on my phone. As it's gone on, I mostly only use Spotify for a few podcasts, and all my music usage is from my local collection now. It is hell to curate it all in one place, and I have numerous digital collections over several devices between the phone, PC, and a few old Sansa Clips I still use when running because they are so small. I rarely get to use my vinyl collection any more. I know I am in the minority of music listeners. I mostly listen to underground metal stuff and find it through several youtube channels and blogs which include member recommendations in the comments. It takes work but it is worth it. I now spend 6 hours of my workdays alone in the early morning with no one else around, and that engagement is time well spent.

[@ShaiGuyz]

I NEED THE REST OF THE SERIES NOW!!!

[@wesleylawrence9335]

Duuuuude!!! Love this! Can't wait to see where the journey ends up at the end of the month! Also, the iPod and CD jewel cases, taking me back soooo much!

[@transitengineer]

Wow, this is impressive. Grew-up in the 1960's and 1970's, and came to Apple desktop computers in 1996 (prior to the CRT iMac's). Daily, I listen to music on a classic iPod 5th generation in my automobile, taking walks, and at home. Also, I still take photographs using my digital camera and, not on my Android smart phone (smile ... smile).

[@DashnCars]

I actually just got my iPod out of storage. Got it for Christmas 2004, works great still. Such a time capsule of who I was and where I got my taste from.

[@wiggesobk]

Hold my walkman lol

[@ripewatermelonlol]

walkmans remind me of film cameras while ipods remind me of digital cameras.

[@MetalJesusRocks]

Some of my all-time favorite albums are albums that I didn’t really “get” when it came out. But it’s different and you stick with it, and then suddenly it becomes something you never expected. So many of my Top 10 albums were this way. No algorithm predicting what I would like based on previous likes… it was organic and natural… and something lost today.

[@tayatoyo1]

This topic has been on my mind a lot as well lately! Cool to see it covered in this way. I use Spotify every day but never use any of the features that use the algorithms. I just have 1 playlist with all the albums I want to listen to, then after listening to an album I either add some songs to one of my own playlists or save the album itself (and look for it on vinyl or CD if I really love it) or do nothing with it. I encounter albums I want to listen to by 1. checking out featured artist on albums I love. 2. checking out other albums of artists I like that I haven't heard yet. 3. Recommendations by friends or colleagues. 4. Curated lists found on for example Rolling Stone or specific Reddit subs. 5. Music mentioned in podcasts. 6. Playlists from artist they have made themselves. 7. Music mentioned on this channel or in the podcast :). This way I basically use Spotify more as a music library: doing the actual finding/searching myself and creating playlists with only music that I have added myself and know something about (I also almost always read the bio of an artist to have some context). Anyway, very curious for the next episodes!

[@irem7651]

I really love this channel so underrated

[@christianlongueira6469]

Father of the Bride must’ve meant “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” from Tavares. A disco classic!

[@crosstalkclub]

I've been preaching that "ownership" feeling with music for years now to my friends. Even as band on all the streaming platforms, like everybody else, I still get a small handful of CD lovers in Europe on the USA and I love sharing my music through physical media. Thanks so much for sharing this. Great insights on algorithms and taste-making.

[@GreenMonkeySam]

I love this new series, I love this experiment, I love everything about this!

[@riotafoya]

Down the rabbit hole. Love this content and direction keep it up

[@user-xj6yu6li8h]

I'm not on any streaming platforms (unless you consider KZbin a streaming platform), and I'm still finding this video series intriguing. Love the breaking down of what social media was vs what it is.

[@MickSupper]

Yep, KZbin is my only connection to "streaming" as well. I have at least 2,000 records and CDs to listen to and rarely download songs to my phone.

[@ongamamanyase8049]

That transition of you getting in the car and it making the beeping noise, straight into a beat that was in that same tempo was beautiful. 🙌

[@Mrbeat-88]

The BG music is beautiful. Great job going where non of us wanted to go

[@GlitteratiLive]

Extremely interesting. Six months ago I reconnected my (Technics!) CD-player and have been going to the music section of our local library (which is similar to an old school CD store), so I relate. Looking forward to the next episode. (Btw: switched to Blu Rays for movies as well 😅)

[@MusicFromAnotherTime]

In a weird sort of way I think this homogenization of music is kind of what finally kicked my ass into gear with taking music lessons to make my own music.

[@jamesweldon8118]

Wow what an amazing video. Editing writing research music. Just incredible. Earned a follow for sure

[@HeyDayn]

Totally on board with this! So glad the algorithm suggested this video.

[@johnfoss5490]

🤯

[@stephenstrussvideo]

Loving this kind of content man! Getting some mild Van Neistat vibes with the shooting/editing.

[@diggingthegreats]

🏆🏆🏆

[@Fitzgeralduh]

Promised I thought it was Friday

[@BenCaesar]

@<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="192">3:12</a> bro dressed like he really bout to do a hit 😂

[@jessymina]

Some incredible work you made here man! I absolute loved the sounds, the storytelling, the developing white page of your phone coming undone. I'm super stoked to see more and I'm super inspired, thank you!

[@magnafide]

I want to know from what library did he fill up his iPod? Was it stuff from a certain timeframe? Or did he just throw on all the music he purchased digitally?

[@CptMaximus]

Criminally underrated channel

[@LxftRxght]

My 6th generation is like a time capsule. 30,000 songs where I can relive my youth. Magic.

[@rong.lwilliams3944]

I’ve been deejaying since 1965 in Jamaica 🇯🇲, now living in the USA , and being a former Radio Shack Manager for over 30 years, I still own a ipod 160gb just like the one you have that I currently use in my car. It’s just great 👍🏿

[@yvan2563]

I remember I was in college and I was just getting into Anime. I wanted the OST for one of them, and it was still the early days of the Internet. I stumbled on a website selling things from Japan but from an english-speaker seller. Even the payment was a challenge back then, and then it took literally weeks before I had the CD in my hands. I still have that CD, nearly three decades later.

[@alexposilkin9683]

I’m not dismissing the idea that algorithms are problematic. But back in the olden days, you still had to find out about music from someone (friends, family, the music store guy) or something (magazines, radio, tv) unless you just bought an album based on artwork. The way I’ve been discovering music that is new to me is by thinking of all the music I never got to. The stuff that intrigued me but didn’t want to spend my money on. I make lists and take them on one by one. If I like them enough, I add them to my own library. I make my own playlists. It takes time, but there’s no need to rush! We can still use streaming services and not depend on the algorithm.

[@UnwrittenSpade]

I agree with this sentiment but I have one small gripe. And this may be just chance but maybe not. You know what’s weird? So my Spotify I did what you say I made my own playlist. It’s like 2000ish maybe 500 more or less songs and when I play shuffle at the end of everyday WITHOUT FAIL it plays mostly the same handful of songs. Isn’t that weird? It’s annoying as hell lol

[@Knick_Fury]

You hit on my immediate thought. Almost everything we ever hear is curated by somebody…live music, music broadcasted or streamed, physical media you obtain…”somebody” made a choice to put it out there for consumption. So this has more to do with your habits and practices…how you seek and collect your music. I think the real problem that the streaming platforms present is over saturation. Most people, even hardcore collectors, faced limitations on how much they could consume. With a virtually limitless menu to choose from, it has become easy to stay in that single mode of exposure to music. The other apps on our devices make it even easier to stay engaged with that experience…which of course, reduces the amount of time you may otherwise spend seeking music from other sources external to the digital realm.

[@KristovMars]

For the last few years I've actually found Spotify premium's algo for recommendations really good for me - I've come across lots of great stuff I'd never have heard before. But to speak to folks' point about curation, I do find human curators can sometimes send me to amazing musical journeys I might never encounter otherwise. And what a joy to be the person who recommends an album to a friend, customer, stranger, and see the light in their eyes when it hits the spot for them - love those moments of discovery whether I'm giving or receiving.

[@funkyuk1]

Excellent work as always mate. “Taking in content, and accepting whatever is given to us through an algorithm” is absolutely spot on. What a world we live in 🤦‍♂️

[@DNKI]

This was seriously the best introspective look at the iPod and streaming music I've ever watched.

[@jimtravels]

This whole video is amazing, and takes me back to when I was working overseas and my 60GB iPod was my lifeline. It kept me grounded when I was in new countries, it became a gateway to so many conversations about music, and finding and loading the albums that people wanted me to hear, spending hours on flights isolated from everything and just immersed in music as a way to make hours go by enjoyably. Thank you for this, there is a middle ground to be found here I am certain.

[@billB101]

The algorithm actually brought me here. 🤣

[@TimmyJoePCTech]

You can't wear earphones while you drive. They police will arrest you.

[@Bob_Smith19]

So how does a deaf person drive? Been to court and won multiple times by stating this fact in front of a judge. Always gets thrown out.

[@FDSixtyNine]

In what state is this hogwash you're spewing is true?

[@lonesome3958]

​@@Bob_Smith19deaf people are different. Its a difference between not being able to hear and actively making the decision to take away one of your own senses for personal entertainement. I would doubt that any judge would throw that out as easily as you described.

[@blazedroots]

You’re just wrong about this

[@TimmyJoePCTech]

I was bring stupid

[@kyleking3087]

I dug out my ipod classic 120gb and bought a 30 pin cable off marketplace (theyre impossible to find today) and ive been loving it lately. ive been inspired to digitize my physical music collection and ive found so many great albums i forgot about from my childhood still on it. Ive been using it in tandem with streaming for all the things that are newer, but its been great to listen to music uninterrupted by spam calls.

[@Trimmarius]

As someone who notices the changes in music consumption and other stuff like it since I am ok the generation where physical media was the main source for years into the hyper-consumption of digital media of our generations. It’ll be a great video series over and I hope that this series reaches out of your normal sphere cause more people should hear about you and specifically these video topics. Great video my man.

[@TrenierTrombone]

As a musician this is a thing I've always struggled with. A lot of practicing nowadays is learning from as many of those who came before you as possible, but it quickly gets overwhelming. One of the best things I did during the pandemic was order a bunch of parts and rebuild my old iPod that I used in high school, and I've started towards being intentional with my music consumption, and really focus on what I enjoy. Curation not collection.

[@matheusfraga6146]

I had to subscribe after the small editing nuances. The path of consuming content from great KZbinrs with killing edition is un-returnable. The subtle biping from the car turning into music some frames later is amazing. This small thing just got you one subscriber. For those interested it starts at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="78">1:18</a>, countinuos biping through the next frames, and then turns into music when the car is back. AMAZING. Congrats man

[@Jay_Allegro]

I've been a fan of your videos since very early on. This one was fantastic! Also love the little Brian Eno bit ;)

[@nnlark]

amazing vid. super high-quality and useful production. thanks for sharing your journey here. very pleasant surprise gem

[@tobymakesfilms]

SO SO SO GOOD! I just watched your third episode before I saw the rest! (shoutout KZbin algorithms) I have been on this journey slowly for a year! I have pretty much full time used a (semi) dumb phone (cat s22) for a year now! and I have deleted every social media but KZbin, (this is my creative outlet now) im hoping to dive more into film making! your 3rd video of this series was highly encouraging, im looking forward to watching this rest. Bless you BRO!

[@adavid3002]

First video I ever saw from you and I loved it! The storytelling is soo nice, guess I'll have to subscribe to not miss out on the next 3 parts :)

[@Dikkker]

I use Spotify only for 3 years now, and big parts of it is Podcasts or my sleeping music (because the Sleeptimer is easier to use than Apple's). For most music listening I still use MY music on Apple Music in iTunes mode (no subscription). And when I use Spotify it's mainly to search for a specific piece of music and listen to it. The Algorithm is rarely at work for me. So I really love your idea. Also I cut down on "Social" media, but less radical. I deleted Facebook (yes, I'm THIS old) and Instagram from my Homescreen, but I can still access them manually, which I do occasionally in the bathroom. - However, YT is my entertainment and learning media since many years, because I actually learn A LOT from many wonderful content creators like you!

[@wohtefak]

Love your storytelling. Well thought-out and crafted video 👌

[@andrewknasiak5290]

The youtube algorithm brought me to your channel for this video to help me change my life...thank you

[@mervingabon4930]

I have a 2010 car as well and was heartbroken after upgrading my head unit only to find out it didn’t support “old technology” unless I modify a few other parts. I think I may just do so. I found my old iPod recently and have been having a blast re-learning my palette and being patient with the non-bangers of albums. Kudos brother 🤙🏽

[@Rogers1977]

This video fills me with so much joy. I’ve been religiously using my iPod Classic for several years now and I love it. It’s a 6th gen with 128GB of SD cards in it and a huge battery. I love owning my music and making my own playlists, it all feels so much more personal to me.

[@Valoric]

subbed. This is amazing. I think I need to do this soon and enjoy music again. I want the struggle back. Without struggle, it's a passionless experience.

[@oisinholz]

I've been using an mp3/digital audio player since I was a teenager. Music is a massive part of my life but I've never signed up to spotify because I never felt the need. I've used soundcloud plenty in the past, and enjoy finding new stuff through bandcamp I absolutely adore having a dedicated music source that is not connected to my phone. Its nice to go out for a walk or hike and be able to leave my phone off or in the car or whatever. Sure it means I have a limited stock of music, but I honestly feel that cycling through albums on the mp3 player gets me more connected to those albums. I'll listen to them to death and when I'm done, I'll remove them from the device and fill it up with new stuff. There's something really special about listen to an album in full, rather than just listening to an artists "big" songs. An album, in it's entirety, is a piece of art, and should be enjoyed as such. I love my dedicated music device and I will never go without one. For those interested, I rock a Cowon Plenue D. If it ever dies, I'll no doubt upgrade to the D3 for the Bluetooth

[@EmpaGalactica]

wow, this was a GREAT VIDEO, from the music, editing, the flow chart (also in a way being "analog" just like the iPod or the camera) everything was so beautiful. i feel i've just watched one of my favorite videos on this site.

[@OCDRex11]

"I was alive before the internet." So you are subjectively around 40. I am 46, and this is literally how I have felt for years. This summer I bought my same Sony CD/tape player from my youth. I even bought two new CD"s! I am about to dust off my 5th gen iPod and have a go with it. I so want to disassociate myself from always being online and connected. I am also revisiting my PS2 years and Xbox years - no online. All I am saying is that for those that knew life before "online", we want it back. Some want it more, and I am one of those. Last bit of rant,.... I am only on X now. No other social media platforms! And, I am about to do that one in as well. Great video but the ending was so abrupt. Caught me off guard. Had to rewind and make sure I didn't fat-finger a keyboard command, lol.

[@isaiahmcclure8894]

Same dude, welcome to the club! Been using an iPod for a couple months now. PRO TIP: You can buy a blue-tooth receiver or transmitter (I forgot which), that allows you to use your iPod with AirPods, in the car and anything Bluetooth. I'll never switch back to streaming though. Saving a bunch of money, and saving a TON of phone storage

[@husky3g]

I built an iPod classic 6th gen back in 2022 with 128GB. I put my entire music library on it and bought a Bluetooth adapter. It's the best listening device for music. MP3 players should have never went away. I don't understand how/why people pay money for Spotify when they can rip CDs and create their own music library that they will have until the end of time.

[@MarchRoth]

For anyone looking for the camera he uses there, its made by a company called Camp Snap, and they're sold for about $60

[@_knotty3510]

Started on a similar journey with cds end of last year and have also just rediscovered my wife's 7th gen nano. So liberating. You've captured how I've been feeling for some time. Great vid. (Thanks to the ...algorithm for bringing me here!)

[@kmixed]

I frequently use a 2nd generation IPod touch (it has Bluetooth) and its legitimately a god send as a person who never really uses streaming and has never found it too appealing, its cool to see more people have been dabling in stuff like this recently and love the video!

[@corychecketts]

This video made me happy. I’m glad more people are using iPods again.

[@rebootweb]

Had a conversation just last night about this. In the UK genre specific radio are not that old. This meant that daytime radio played all styles on music and exposed listeners to lots of new music. This in return made the UK charts very varied. Now because of streaming and algorithms people don't get that exposure and don't come across other music they may love. But this is also true in other areas of live, such as job sites. Algorithms filter out applicants without the "right" qualifications that if the employer was to speak to they could find they other skills or attributes that make them perfect for the job, and even help the company expand.

[@braunarsch]

i prefer listening to music on my walkman than listening to music on my phone. less distractions, less irritation from ads. just your own curated playlist

[@T00M3R]

Thanks algorithm (ironic) for putting this OG in front of me today. Dope video bro. Earned a sub 💪🏼

[@mark_verbos]

I love your channel. I am a music producer for the last 30 years. I think something happened when we stopped having to fight to find new music, we stopped having to wait for something we love, we stopped awakening when we meet someone who knows about the music we love. In a lot of ways the internet has empowered us to learn about everything, but it ruined our ability to take ownership or identity in anything. When buying music in a store, we had to make decisions and then live with them. When recording music we had to make decisions, hopefully artistic ones, and live with them. You are right, now the "content consumption" is not the only thing that AI and algorithms control, the "content creation" is an assembly line as well. That content factory is knocking out widgets that are more and more narrowed down and focused on success, leaving any creativity, risk or passion to die on the roadside. Stay passionate about music. Stay passionate about digging. Turn off, tune out and live.

[@entosthia]

Seeing The Awakening which is one of my favorite albums get mentioned is beautiful

[@Jdilla76]

Man, I really dug this video. Don't get me wrong I love your other videos dissecting artists and songs. I just appreciated you vlogging this experience, trip, and introspective discovery. Great video. Make more videos like this one.

[@marcmardu]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="121">2:01</a> DO YOU REALLY WANNA BE IN THE BUSINESS? love this one

[@benreiter7218]

Great storytelling, man! Did you produce the music too? What a vibe! I really enjoyed that!