I just wondered how folks here manage to store their collections? I have a Library with one entire wall - top to bottom - with shelving to accommodate them. I know some collectors who just stack them in piles in a closet!

So how about it - how do you store yours?

My collection is nearly breaching the 1100 mark... yeah, I know! Not your 4000 (wowza)! But I'm only 21! I store my CD's in simple CD racks you can find at most electronic outlets (like Best Buy)... I tend to aim for the "nicer" ones, though I'd prefer a *real* shelving system. But hey, poor college student = Best Buy solutions. My current living situation (sq footage) doesn't accomodate spacious storage systems anyway. Though, I must say that 3/4's of my collection remain back home in Dallas, TX.

I suppose when I start makin' the BIG BUCKS and gain my financial freedom (lol!), I'll invest in something more "oooh ahhh".

All ranked A - Z in shelves I built myself

Justin you bad man, sort it out

They're ordered alphabetically by composer.

Dan

Moviemusic composers are orderd alphabetical and with Jerry, James Horner and the others I have after the year of its release, but with John Williams I have it alphabetical, don´t ask me why, guess it is better to have The Fury regular next to THE FURY DE.

Philipp

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jeron:
Mine are grouped by composer

---

Really?? Well, your Los Angeles collection seemed to be grouped by record label.... nice, pretty colors......

I've also inputted and catalogued my discs in an excel spreadsheet.

And I'm now currently transferring all of my discs to MP3 format for when I get my new iPod in February. I can't wait to take my entire John Williams collection on the road with me in an MP3 player that's the size of a deck of cards!!!

Actually, we should all take a picture of ourselves with our collections and upload them to this thread. Let's see what you REALLY have!!! Almost like what this guy did. http://stud.sprog.asb.dk/jm61986/ Love the dude's sweater!!!

Anyway, that's it from me.

-Erik-

And yet it's about less than 400 CDs.

For me good "Presentation" is the point in storing CDs - for years I've been planning the strategy and it seems to work, judging from the visitors in my apartment.

As for how I store them, I use the IKEA Billy Bookcases with the Observator shelves that double the shelf space.

Go here to see the bookcases: http://www.ikea-usa.com/product_presentation/subcat.asp?id=410,6012,411,468&pageSetUp=410,0,0

They come in various veneers and are much cheaper than when I first bought them 3 years ago.

I've got lighting on the top of each shelf unit and they take up 2 whole walls. The corner unit has my personal pictures, etc. and one smaller bookcase stores video cassettes. Otherwise it is mostly CDs.

I highly recommend these if you have the wall space.

The CDs are alphabetical by composer and then by title. Compliations and song soundtracks are at the end and then I have my classical, instrumental and vocals CDs after that.

One day I'll have to take a picture to share.

And I keep about two hundred of the best condition jewel cases boxed up just in case I ever want to (god forbid) sell some CDs.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Audacity:
So what I did, and what Justin chastises me for, was take all the contents out of the jewel cases.

---

Justin's not the only one... Goodness gracious, Aaron! Those wallets scratch the discs! Wisen up!

242 Original score/soundtrack CDs (that includes commerical releases and promos)
59 CD-Rs (that includes the many compilations I've made for myself and a few things I've copied from the library; the number of "unmentionables" isn't very high; this includes music of all kinds, not just scores)
15 film music compilation (this number always surprises me when I look at it... it seems like I should have a lot more)
78 classical CDs (this is my most rapidly expanding section of music right now)
42 miscellaneous CDs (this includes any original CDs in my possession that are in a style other than soundtracks and classical)

Right now half my collection is on a rack alphabetized by composer, and the other half is sitting in stacks and piles in various places around my room and the basement. Once I get my new CD shelves (which I have sneaking suspicions may be a Christmas present), I will break my collection down into the sections you see above, and then categorize the scores by composer. Classical will be categorized by composer, or, in the case of various composers, by featured artist or ensemble. Compilations I organize by featured artist or (if no featured artist exists) by subject.

And you can still use your budget as an excuse. Even if you were hired for a job on your birthday, you don't get paid the first day!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bond1965:
As for how I store them, I use the IKEA Billy Bookcases with the Observator shelves that double the shelf space.

---

All pretty much organized by composer. Themes of miscellaneous scores I have all together except those all by one composer they are kept with their CDs.

My collection goes back to 1962 and I am a patient buyer. I buy a lot of bargains and used stuff and runs in spurts in buying.

Anyway I keep my CD's on CD racks but on the metal ones not those whimpy cheap plastic ones. Although I've run out of room so the CD's have been spreading over onto the bookshelf. Soon....they'll be everywhere!!!!

I need to get a new CD rack.

I forgot to state my own method of collection. I go alphabetical by composer surname, & then chronological within that composer's career. Compilation albums / TV projects / miscellaneous go first.

Then all general compilation albums are in a separate section, as are TV collections, song collections & uncategorizable stuff!

I lament the loss of the vinyl collection I once had (sold to go travelling). But considering how much space these CDs take up, I dread to think what sort of storage nightmares vinyl collectors must have today!

Thanks everyone.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jared Cowing:
I feel inferior! My count says 21 CDs.

---

I can remember when I had two CDs.

Now I have 986 score CDs, plus 109 compilations. The score discs are shelved in title order, in order of the first title on the CD (so BATTLE/CONQUEST goes under C, even though it's only the BATTLE portions I listen to). If a CD has three films or more represented on it, it's a compilation, unless it's something like HIGHLANDER 1/2/3 or MISSING IN ACTION 1/2/3. The compilation discs are all stacked in no order elsewhere.

I've logged all these onto an Excel spreadsheet which I update every time I get new CDs.

quote:

---

Originally posted by James:
As long as you get the full enjoyment out of those 21, it doesn't matter that you don't have 500 more of them.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jared Cowing:
I feel inferior!
My count says 21 CDs. My excuse is youth (16 years old- been buying for a couple years now), and a typical young person's low budget. I run on holiday money and mowing lawns. : /
But as of today (birthday today) I'm old enough to get a job, so that excuse is no longer valid.

[Message edited by Jared Cowing on 11-19-2002]

---

I have 24 soundtracks, I'm also 16! I started collecting about a year ago, but my passion for film music exists since I saw "The little Mermaid" one of the first movies I saw. I don't feel bad though; my parents have a huge collection of classical music, which is sometimes as intense as film music.

The good thing is that I am always being amazed by great scores I had not listened to before. It's like discovering the middle earth on your garden... Magical!

It seems like an overwhelming task to get all the soundtracks you want though!

Well Anyways...

I haven't done a headcount yet.. but I think I have about 400 CDs, 30 video games (A combination of Dreamcast, Playstation 2 & 1, and computer games), and about 190 DVDs.

I figure since they are all on some kind of digital disc format they can be included as CDs ha...

Well.. I organize them thusly...
CDs and dreamcast/PS1 games take up 2 CD spindles. Soundtracks are stored seperately from my rock, classic rock, and whatever other crap I happen to bump into along my journey. PS2 games are all wedged between my VCR and center channel speaker on top of the entertainment system. All my DVDs are stored in a giant multimedia shelf, box sets stored seperately. I've also got some soundtracks on the top shelf of my bookshelf near the DVDs.

All the CDs though, are just empty cases. The actual discs are stored in CD folders for easier access.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jeron:
[B] <BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>

Justin's not the only one... Goodness gracious, Aaron! Those wallets scratch the discs! Wisen up!

---

I have been using Case Logic sleeves for years and have never had them scratch my discs.

quote:

---

Originally posted by AaronR1074:
Well heck, Jeron's last thread got me going all reply crazy he.. must be the sweetness of typing away in this little white box with the mesmerizing pale blue margians that I so missed

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jared Cowing:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by James:
[b]As long as you get the full enjoyment out of those 21, it doesn't matter that you don't have 500 more of them.<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE>
True... having fewer CDs makes me really listen to them more carefully than I would if I got so many so often. I appreciate all the smaller cues that a lot of other people pass by... mostly because they've heard similar lines on 20 other CDs while for me its always seems something new and original. I think that's why I get attached to some scores that everyone else really doesn't consider anything special.[/B]

---

I like what you said here Jared, it reminds me of when I was a 15 year old just getting into film music and I had about 10 albums, I knew every nuance, note, track, off by heart and I played what little I had to death, this is not the case anymore, I've got far too much, sometimes I can't see the wood for the trees when trying to decide what to put on, it seems I'm so busy keeping up with the latest releases at times that I haven't got time to truly digest it...good or bad that's the way it is!

Just for the hell of it, here is those 10 albums I was (AM) so familiar with...

Goldfinger
Jaws (first album bought on films release)
The Lion In Winter
The Good The Bad The Ugly
A Fistful Of Dollars/A Few Dollars More
The Magnificent Seven
The Big Country
You Only Live Twice
Planet Of THe Apes
The Omen