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sodascouts
06-15-2007, 01:56 AM
Some folks have been asking me how to download concerts using the bit torrent system. I've been doing it for years and I've found it's a goldmine for anyone who collects unreleased live shows. While it sounds complicated, once you get it going you'll never regret it!

While a site like Brian's BitTorrent FAQ and Guide (http://dessent.net/btfaq/) gives you the in-depth explanations, I'll try to communicate some basics.

What is BitTorrent?

The idea of the BitTorrent is to facilitate the transfer of large, high-quality, and/or multiple files from one user to another. It is not like Napster or sites like that because instead of files being transferred singly from beginning to end, little bits and pieces of the files are passed around by multiple users until all of the users have the whole. If enough users are sharing and you have high-speed internet, you can get a full, high-quality concert in a matter of hours.

Downloading torrents

STEP ONE: Getting a BitTorrent "Client"
In order to download a torrent, the first thing you have to do is download what is called a "BitTorrent client." You may ask, "What the heck is that?" It is a program that allows you to hook up with other users. You can download one for free. I personally use Azureus (http://azureus.sourceforge.net/) because I find it the most user-friendly. Many people also like BitTornado (http://bittornado.com/) or its cousin ABC BitTorrent (http://pingpong-abc.sourceforge.net/). A list of clients can be found on Wikipedia's page on BitTorrent clients (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitTorrent_client).

STEP TWO: Finding a BitTorrent "tracking website"
OK, so you've got your "client" - now where do you go to find all those concerts you want to download? You go to a website that links to torrent files, also called a "torrent tracking website." IMHO, The most useful for collectors of live shows is DimeADozen (http://www.dimeadozen.org). Some groups such as U2 have tracker websites dedicated solely to them. While that is not the case with the Eagles, DimeADozen (http://www.dimeadozen.org) has a good amount of Eagles stuff nonetheless. It is also good because it only facilitates the transfer of unreleased and live material. You don't have to worry about stealing music, because nothing on there is commercially available. That is not always the case, however. Many other tracker sites have been shut down for transferring copyrighted material, much like Napster.

STEP THREE: Downloading the "torrent file" itself
The "torrent file" is actually a very small file that does NOT hold the music; it simply hooks you up with the music files. Therefore, if you click on a link that says "Eagles - Berkeley 1973" on the tracker and choose "save file to disk", the little file will download in seconds. It's only once you open this little torrent file that you are connected to the actual music files. When you open the little torrent file, your client (such as Azureus) will recognize it and ask you where you want to save the show. Once you choose a destination, the bits and the pieces of the files will start downloading on to your hardrive. You are downloading from anyone who is currently hooked up to the tracker and has those files. In turn, they are downloading from you. Which brings us to the next topic...

Uploading torrents - sharing is good!

As I've said, BitTorrents use bits and pieces from as many people as possible to facilitate the quick transfer of files. That means it is VERY IMPORTANT for each user to not only download, but to upload as well.

Uploading is done automatically when you start to download a file. You don't even have to tell it to do so. Many people wonder, "How do I share when I don't have anything?" Simply leave open the BitTorrent client even after you're finished downloading the show. Eventually, enough people will have downloaded from YOU to make it even.

You can monitor how much you've downloaded vs. how much you've uploaded through your "share ratio." The goal is to have a share ratio over 1 - meaning that you've uploaded just as much as you've downloaded. Some sites such as DimeADozen (http://www.dimeadozen.org) limit the downloading of those who have not allowed sufficient uploading after they've downloaded - say, they've downloaded 500 megs and only uploaded 10 megs. Until that user has uploaded more, they will be limited. The way to change that is to simply share more by leaving your program running after you've finished downloading.

When you are downloading a torrent, you are a "leecher." Once you have fully downloaded a show and let your program remain open for others, you are a "seeder."

If you are a collector like me and have some rarities you'd like to share through BitTorrent, you can also make a torrent file and upload it. I've done so a few times. However, that's a bit more complicated, so I'll save that for another post.

Some cautions:
1) Once the full shows are downloaded, they will take up a lot of room. Make sure you have enough room on your hard drive for what you are downloading.
2) Downloading shows can take hours, sometimes days. It will slow down your computer unless you use the settings to limit the bandwidth that is being used by the client.
3) You will sometimes download files that are in an unusual form such as .flac or .shn. These are high-quality compressed files. You can convert them to .wav if you download a music converter. There are many free ones; I use dBpoweramp (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm).
4) You cannot play the files before they are fully downloaded, and once downloaded, you cannot modify them or else other people will not be able to get them from you.
5) The shows up there today might not be up there tomorrow. The shows only remain available as long as there is someone hooked up to the tracker seeding them. If you want it, get it - but don't try to download more than four at a time. That slows everything down.
6) If you're impatient, wait until there are several seeders before downloading. That way, there are lots of people to gather bits from, not just one person, which means you'll get it faster.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Brooke
06-15-2007, 10:27 AM
Thanks for that Soda. Do you know if it's Mac friendly?

glenneaglesfan
06-15-2007, 01:07 PM
Thanks for that, Soda. If it slows down the computer I think my family would lynch me as we have four computers networked, but it sounds an interesting project if I ever get time on my own. Two questions:

Can you part download a concert and then log on again to get the rest of it?

What is the average size of a downloaded concert? (My hard disk is filling up since I got the new camera and I may have to invest in an external hard drive).

sodascouts
06-15-2007, 05:42 PM
Thanks for that Soda. Do you know if it's Mac friendly?

Yes, as far as I know.

sodascouts
06-15-2007, 05:50 PM
Thanks for that, Soda. If it slows down the computer I think my family would lynch me as we have four computers networked, but it sounds an interesting project if I ever get time on my own.

If you cap your download speed at about 20 kb/s and your upload speed at about 5 kb/s, it shouldn't slow down your network that much. It will take you longer to download and upload, obviously, but if you're patient it'll work out. I often take off the caps when I go to sleep so it can run full-blast at night when I'm not using the computer, then put the cap back on when I do. That speeds up the process.


Can you part download a concert and then log on again to get the rest of it?

Yes, as long as the concert's available. That's usually a minimum of two weeks, depending on interest. Some shows have been up for months because of the level of interest.


What is the average size of a downloaded concert? (My hard disk is filling up since I got the new camera and I may have to invest in an external hard drive).

Since the shows vary in length, so does the size. A two-hour show is usually 500 megs or so. DVDs are also available; they are usually 4 gigs per disc. I invested in an external hard drive because of the amount of trading I do, but most people simply burn them off and then only keep the shows on their hard drive until they reach a 1/1 ratio on uploading and downloading. You can tell when you've done that using your "client."

glenneaglesfan
06-16-2007, 09:54 AM
Thanks, Soda. I may give it a try.