I’ve always been the type that tries to efficiently tackle problems, but I’ve had even more focus on optimization in 2017 while at work as well as in finances. One of my latest optimization efforts was an update on something that’s been going on for as long as I’ve been driving: recompiling the music setlist for my car’s 6-CD changer.
What’s a CD again?
For readers who might not be aware: a Compact Disc (CD) is a round plastic object with fine micro-grooves etched onto one side. A CD player rotates this disc in a tray while it optically reads and interprets the micro-grooves peaks and valleys as data, and an attached speaker system plays back this data as music to listen to.
The major difference between a CD and more modern DVD’s and Blu-Rays, is the amount of data that can be stored on any one plastic saucer. And to add to this picture, many CD players require music to be stored as an “audio CD” instead of an ordinary “data CD”.
What this all boils down to is that each CD can store roughly 80 minutes of music. My car’s 6-CD changer can play back 480 minutes of music. If we assume on average each song is 4 minutes long, that’s a cap of 120 songs to listen to every 8 hours of driving.
I’m a music glut. I would estimate my entire music collection is closer to a magnitude of 12,000 songs instead of 120 songs. Many of you readers probably have my number beat another 100-fold.
Could you cut down your music collection to 1% or 480 minutes and listen to that on repeat for your (driving) lifetime?
This was the question I’ve been asking and answering myself for many years now. And every year I think I’ve tried and answered this question, I’ve always seen this answer change the next year. And the next year. And maybe after discovering something new or going to a new concert, my answer changes yet again. Did my mood or outlook on life change? Well then that’s another (usually cyclical) change in my answer.
Some songs and music artists have stuck around through the ebbs and flows of my auditory desires. Some have come and gone, from once being single-song-repeat-worthy to never-again-heard.
Some people have recommended that I just change out my 6-CD changer to something that can play data discs or an MP3 player which could store all of my music collection plus more. Sure, cutting down to 480 minutes of music is a tough task for a music glut like myself. Sure, my music sometimes skips for a few seconds when I drive over an especially deep pothole. Sure, the process of burning 6 read-only CD’s each year usually means I have to discard my previous 6-pack.
But my answer each and every time, to everyone that have asked and may ask in the future, is still a big NO THANK YOU.
Some people see limitations; I see refinement.
Some people think that I am missing out; I know that I have been granted something beautiful.
The 6-CD changer is an opportunity for self-discovery.
There is a saying in the culinary world along the lines like: “Show me what you eat and I’ll show you what you are.” As representative as food can be, I think music can be even more defining. While food satisfies physical hunger, music the spirit sate. People can live without music, sure, but are they really Living?
The process of cutting down to 6-CD’s-worth of music is like cutting out extraneous niceties in your life and instead refocusing on what makes you most happy. We can have anything we want, we just can’t have everything we want. What’s true in economic terms seems also true in musical terms.
Along with the final products, the value gained through this optimization process are at least six-fold:
- Project and time management skills when making sure you meet the constraints of your stakeholders: yourself, the CD’s, and the CD player.
- A discerning auditory palate when selecting live performances based on how they’re executed at different venues on different dates on different tours during different periods of a musical artist’s career.
- Exposure to and experience of the hard work put in by artists who have exerted themselves while perfecting their craft, especially as they sing their hearts out at their Last Live.
- Technical computer skills in trimming down file durations while adding non-obtrusive fades to intros and outros of clips, all with an attention to detail when timestamping songs in long concert files so that you can extract “just enough” song.
- An overall appreciation of humanity’s control over locomotion by rotating a plastic disc at between 200-500 rpm while rotating your vehicle’s tires at up to 1100-1200 rpm.
- And an improved ability to drive smoothly, as if you couldn’t let water spill out of a cup in your cup holder, so that you don’t cause your CD player to skip and stutter while you sing along to the chorus of your favorite anthems.
Oh how beautiful you are, my 6-CD changer!
So let’s make more space and time to focus on what makes us most happy. That is my goal, in this Single Player Life, in all aspects of life to optimize. So please don’t try to take away my 6-CD changer. These 6 CD’s are disc images of who I am (as of May 2017, and somewhat tailored to “drivable” music). Each CD could be the soundtrack to an arc of my Audial Novel life. Listen to them, and you will have a window into Six Degrees From My Soul.
I’ll show you mine; will you show me yours?
My 6-CD Changer (2017)
Six Degrees From My SoulCD Music Artists Thema 1 FAKE?, Supercar A Journey into Sound 2 capsule, REOL Flash Back to Back 3 Perfume Perfume World 4 Otsuka Ai What Comes After And 5 μ’s Music Forever 6 Hiroyuki Sawano Unlimited Vocal Works (Following links are as close as I could quickly find available in public. Maybe I’ll upload my actual files and share sometime.)
| (CD1) A Journey into Sound Selection of live performances from two of my favorite J-Rock bands: FAKE? and Supercar. |
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| Artist | Song Title | Concert | Song Duration |
| FAKE? | Classic | Final Shibuya-AX Live | 0:04:17 |
| FAKE? | Everglow | Final Zepp Tokyo Live | 0:04:13 |
| FAKE? | Further Away | Final Zepp Tokyo Live | 0:03:09 |
| FAKE? | Snow | Final Shibuya-AX Live | 0:05:27 |
| FAKE? | Here We Go | Final Shibuya-AX Live | 0:05:41 |
| FAKE? | Praise | Final Shibuya-AX Live | 0:05:53 |
| FAKE? | Dreamcatcher | Final Shibuya-AX Live | 0:03:56 |
| FAKE? | Someday | Final Shibuya-AX Live | 0:03:29 |
| FAKE? | Taste Maximum | Final Shibuya-AX Live | 0:04:10 |
| Supercar | White Surf style 5. | Last Live | 0:04:04 |
| Supercar | FAIR WAY | Last Live | 0:04:22 |
| Supercar | YUMEGIWA LAST BOY | Last Live | 0:05:00 |
| Supercar | cream soda | Last Live | 0:03:24 |
| Supercar | Hello | Last Live | 0:03:32 |
| Supercar | Free Your Soul | Last Live | 0:04:30 |
| Supercar | STORYWRITER | Last Live | 0:03:34 |
| Supercar | Karma | Last Live | 0:10:52 |
| 1:19:33 | |||
| (CD2) Flash Back to Back Selection of songs from my favorite electronic composer Yasutaka Nakata and his music through capsule, as well as a more recent addition to my electronic palate in REOL. |
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| Artist | Song Title | Album / Single | Song Duration |
| capsule | Flash Back | FLASH BACK | 0:04:40 |
| capsule | World of Fantasy | WORLD OF FANTASY | 0:06:11 |
| capsule | Starry Sky | Sugarless Girl | 0:05:40 |
| capsule | Lounge Designers Killer | Capsule Remix | 0:04:08 |
| capsule | swing 54321 | phony phonic | 0:03:57 |
| capsule | edit | More! More! More! | 0:06:00 |
| capsule | Player | Player | 0:07:30 |
| capsule | All The Way | STEREO WORXXX | 0:05:14 |
| capsule | White as Snow | WAVE RUNNER | 0:04:11 |
| capsule | Control | CAPS LOCK | 0:04:36 |
| REOL | Hibikase | No title- | 0:04:11 |
| REOL | Assymmetry | No title- | 0:04:16 |
| REOL | Give Me a Break Stop Now | SIGMA | 0:03:42 |
| REOL | Yoyoi Konkon | SIGMA | 0:04:18 |
| REOL | Chiru Chiru | SIGMA | 0:03:18 |
| REOL | Okochama Sensou | Gokusaishoku ~Koku Hen~ | 0:03:33 |
| REOL | Flash Back | Gokusaishoku ~Irodori Hen~ | 0:04:19 |
| 1:19:44 | |||
| (CD3) Perfume World Selection of songs from my favorite electro-pop dancing trio and music group of all: Perfume. |
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| Artist | Song Title | Album / Single | Song Duration |
| Perfume | Enter the Sphere | LEVEL3 | 0:03:36 |
| Perfume | Party Maker | LEVEL3 | 0:07:21 |
| Perfume | Spending All My Time | LEVEL3 | 0:04:02 |
| Perfume | computer city | Perfume Complete Best | 0:04:45 |
| Perfume | electroworld | Perfume Complete Best | 0:04:20 |
| Perfume | Polyrhythm | Polyrhythm | 0:03:40 |
| Perfume | GAME | GAME | 0:05:06 |
| Perfume | Take off | Triangle | 0:00:49 |
| Perfume | Dream Fighter | Triangle | 0:04:53 |
| Perfume | edge | Triangle | 0:08:43 |
| Perfume | GLITTER | JPN | 0:05:41 |
| Perfume | FAKE IT | Nee | 0:04:10 |
| Perfume | Navigate | COSMIC EXPLORER | 0:01:19 |
| Perfume | Cosmic Explorer | COSMIC EXPLORER | 0:05:22 |
| Perfume | STORY | COSMIC EXPLORER | 0:05:44 |
| Perfume | FLASH | COSMIC EXPLORER | 0:04:34 |
| Perfume | STAR TRAIN | COSMIC EXPLORER | 0:04:42 |
| 1:18:47 | |||
| (CD4) What Comes After And Selection of live performances from my favorite solo vocalist and songstress: Otsuka Ai. |
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| Artist | Song Title | Concert | Song Duration |
| Otsuka Ai | I’m Lonely | Love Tricky Tour | 0:06:35 |
| Otsuka Ai | Yumekui | Love Tricky Tour | 0:04:52 |
| Otsuka Ai | Laugh | Love Tricky Tour | 0:04:37 |
| Otsuka Ai | Affair | Love Tricky Tour | 0:03:49 |
| Otsuka Ai | Haneari Tamago | Love Tricky Tour | 0:05:16 |
| Otsuka Ai | Is | Love Tricky Tour | 0:05:37 |
| Otsuka Ai | 5:09am | Love Tricky Tour | 0:04:15 |
| Otsuka Ai | Sakuranbo | Love Tricky Tour | 0:03:18 |
| Otsuka Ai | Mirai taxi | Love Tricky Tour | 0:04:20 |
| Otsuka Ai | Time machine | Love Tricky Tour | 0:05:15 |
| Otsuka Ai | End and and ~10000~hearts | Love Tricky Tour | 0:09:00 |
| Otsuka Ai | Kumuriuta | Love is Born 2015 | 0:05:23 |
| Otsuka Ai | Daisuki da yo | Love is Born 2006 | 0:04:37 |
| Otsuka Ai | Renai Shashin | Love is Born 2006 | 0:04:55 |
| Otsuka Ai | I Love xxx | Love is Born 2010 | 0:07:57 |
| 1:19:46 | |||
| (CD5) Music Forever Selection of live performances from my favorite 9-member school-idol / voice actress group: μ’s. |
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| Artist | Song Title | Concert | Song Duration |
| μ’s | Bokura wa Ima no Naka de | μ’s – 3rd Love Live | 0:05:37 |
| μ’s | Bokura no Live kimi to no Life | μ’s – 3rd Love Live | 0:05:22 |
| μ’s | Sore wa Bokutachi no Kiseki | μ’s – 5th Love Live, Day 1 | 0:04:10 |
| HonoKotoUmi | Susume Tomorrow | μ’s – 6th Love Live, Day 1 | 0:02:06 |
| HonoKotoUmi | Start: Dash! | μ’s – 3rd Love Live | 0:03:03 |
| KotoPana | Suki desu ga Suki desu ka | μ’s – 5th Love Live, Day 2 | 0:04:47 |
| NicoRinPana | After School Navigators | μ’s – 2nd Love Live | 0:04:51 |
| NicoRinPana | Listen to My Heart | μ’s – 2nd Love Live | 0:04:34 |
| BiBi | Psychic Fire | μ’s – 6th Love Live, Day 2 | 0:03:39 |
| μ’s | Wonderful Rush | μ’s – 3rd Love Live | 0:04:34 |
| μ’s | Natsuiro egao de 1,2 jump | μ’s – 3rd Love Live | 0:04:28 |
| μ’s | Loneliest Baby | μ’s – 4th Love Live, Day 1 | 0:05:09 |
| μ’s | Kaguya no Shiro de Odoritai | μ’s – 4th Love Live, Day 1 | 0:04:46 |
| μ’s | Mermaid Festa Vol 1 | μ’s – 4th Love Live, Day 2 | 0:03:57 |
| μ’s | No Brand Girls | μ’s – 4th Love Live, Day 2 | 0:04:57 |
| μ’s | Snow Halation | μ’s – 6th Love Live, Day 2 | 0:04:18 |
| μ’s | Donna Toki mo Zutto | μ’s – 6th Love Live, Day 2 | 0:04:36 |
| μ’s | Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari | μ’s – 6th Love Live, Day 2 | 0:04:52 |
| 1:19:46 | |||
| (CD6) Unlimited Vocal Works Selection of songs from one my favorite composers for original soundtracks: Hiroyuki Sawano. |
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| Artist | Song Title | Source Soundtrack For: | Song Duration |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (egoist) | Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress | Koutetsujou no Kabaneri | 0:01:31 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Aimer) | Through My Blood <AM> | Koutetsujou no Kabaneri | 0:04:04 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Aimer) | ninelie <cry-v> | Koutetsujou no Kabaneri | 0:05:06 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Kalafina) | heavenly blue ~TV size~ | Aldnoah Zero | 0:01:31 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (mizuki) | A/Z | Aldnoah Zero | 0:05:17 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Kobayashi Mika) | Keep on keeping on | Aldnoah Zero | 0:03:51 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (mizuki) | aLIEz | Aldnoah Zero | 0:04:28 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Kobayashi Mika) | BRE@TH//LESS | Aldnoah Zero | 0:04:01 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano | &Z (TV Size) | Aldnoah Zero | 0:01:33 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Amamiya Sora) | Harmonious -Short Ver.- | Aldnoah Zero | 0:01:31 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Aimer) | Song of .. | Aldnoah Zero | 0:04:19 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Kobayashi Mika) | Grey to Blue | Mare | 0:04:13 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (mpi) | The Reluctant Heroes | Shingeki no Kyojin | 0:04:25 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Aimee Blackschleger) | No differences | Aldnoah Zero | 0:04:37 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Aimee Blackschleger) | DOA | Shingeki no Kyojin | 0:03:26 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Kobayashi Mika) | Bauklotze | Shingeki no Kyojin | 0:03:56 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (mpi & CASG) | Call your name | Shingeki no Kyojin | 0:04:28 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (gemie) | X.U. (TV size) | Owari no Seraph | 0:01:32 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Kobayashi Mika) | ThreeFiveNineFourε | 3594ε | 0:04:04 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Kobayashi Mika) | Before my body is dry | Kill la Kill | 0:04:06 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Cyua) | Blumenkranz | Kill la Kill | 0:04:18 |
| Hiroyuki Sawano (Kobayashi Mika) | BIOS-D | Guilty Crown | 0:02:35 |
| 1:18:52 | |||
Single Player Life 