The key component of getting your tracks to mp3 is downloading some software called TuneClone which you can get here($35 = £20) bargin imo. Basically how it works is that it will create a virtual cd drive, you then tell Itunes to burn the virtual cd of tracks, it then “burns” them to the virtual drive and converts them to mp3 all sorted.

1. Get yourself a copy of TuneClone download and install
2. Launch TuneClone click settings and adjust the output file names to which ever format your prefer, adjust the bitrate click ok.
   
3. Crack open Itunes create a playlist containing all the tracks you want to convert, make sure all the check boxes are ticked
   
4. Click Burn to Disc button (bottom right – on Itunes 8 )
5. Select the virtual drive from the cd drive dropdown make sure you check audio cd and include CD Text finally click Burn
   
6. Itunes and TuneClone will do their thing and you will have mp3 versions of your tracks to use anywhere
   

Once Itunes stops its burn process TuneClone kicks in and begins the conversion to mp3 once this is done the process is complete. The other thing to note is that if Tuneclone doesn’t pick up the track names and artists you can ‘tag’ the track in the TuneClone library by dragging the file from Itunes to Tuneclone where it says “Track Info”.

The result is a happy me as I tried various places Amazon, Napster, 7digital and Itunes was far far superior music catolgue wise. It had everything I was after and it gets to a point where buying cd’s is silly as you have most of the tracks so all you want is to add the odd track here and there. Now I have mp3 versions it just makes life a hell of alot easier.

If you look at it like this £20 gets you 25 songs which you want to listen to with no fillers like most albums…downloading makes sense?

Earlier today I wanted to split my latest/first recorded mix into separate mp3 files from the hour long mix I created and audacity did the trick. By placing labels in the relevant positions throughout the file you can then do export multiple and it does the rest also allowing for you to add the id tag info for each track on export – brilliant!!

You can also do a whole heap of other stuff with it fade/remove noise/adjust volumes/effects etc etc all this for free. Audacity rocks!

Download it here

The possession that I would least likely to be without for a day/week would be my trusty Ipod. Sods law now states that it will give up the ghost very soon!

Anyhow this thing has done me proud for nearly two years now – no issues at all I feel it deserves some praise.

The iPod in question is the Nano 4GB think 4th generation and its been amazing I dread to think how many hours of listening I have gotten out of it. It has been on two holidays and various other locations around the U.K. I find that taking an iPod on a holiday just allows you to switch off in a way you don’t normally get – iPod + holiday makes for great decision making in my opinion! It has also kept me company on my travels to and from work for 2 years 15 minutes x2 equals alot of listening time (routine now involves getting “wired” for the walk to/from work). I really do wish I had stats to show minutes listened to, I predict it would be alot!!! Basically anywhere I go the iPod goes with me. I just could not live without it!!

This lead me on to the next thought – When this one does eventually pass it will be a sad day yes but what do I replace it with…. New style Nano probably 8GB or do I go the whole hog and get the classic 120GB and just use it to hold my whole library think I’m going to go with the later.

Until that day comes I salute Apple for creating this reliable companion!!

It took me a while to into this but it’s now had a fair few rotations on my iPod. It’s got a totally different feel to anything else released by Kano before I just think this is down to the whole 140bpm thing but I do like it – atleast it’s a different approach to making an album.

It’s definatley a good thing to hear davinche (massive fan) back on production duties (I like it/Don’t come around here). For me this is definitely top of Kano’s catalogue of releases wasn’t overally keen on London Town. Not too sure its going to suit everyone’s tastes if there into the Nite Nite’s/This is the girl… but for mine its spot on!

It’s definatley a good thing to hear davinche (massive fan) back on production duties (I like it/Don’t come around here). For me this is definitely top of Kano’s catalogue of releases wasn’t overally keen on London Town. Not too sure its going to suit everyone’s tastes if there into the Nite Nite’s/This is the girl… but for mine its spot on!

Stand out tracks

• These MC’s
• I Like It
• Off License
• Don’t come around here

Overall: 9/10

140 Grime Street Blog

I don’t think it’s as good as the first but still enjoyable all the same again a lot of collaborations (Lemar, Leo, Coco, Darren B, Akon) really loving “Look After My Girl” with Darren B expecting big things from him whenever his album drops nice and soulful feel to this track its good to see Lemar and Sway collaborating.

The only let down for me is I’m not too sure about his signing to Konvick. I guess it’s a good thing for the U.K to get more representation across the pond but just feels like this collaboration (Silver & Gold ft Akon) sees Sway moving away from his roots on the U.K scene to the standard American commercial flow you’d expect from some of their biggest exports – can still see this being a big club track though.

Overall however there isn’t a bad track on this album, I find “Say it twice” very clever lyrically. Jason waste is also very funny if you know me then you will understand why I can relate to this track!

Stand out tracks

• Special Place
• Say it twice
• Jason Waste

Overall: 7/10

Sway (myspace)