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Post by _ on Feb 10, 2017 17:41:38 GMT -6
Which do you prefer and why?
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Post by exo on Feb 10, 2017 18:14:41 GMT -6
Both, for different reasons.
Digital is fine for convenience. That's how I listen, it takes up no physical space, blah blah blah yadda yadda.
Physical these days is sorta like a trophy. For the 25 an up crowd, going to the store and actually buying CD's, tapes or LP's was the way we did it. It was almost a rite of passage to go to the mall and hit Camelot Music or Musicland or Coconuts (insert preferred chain here), and buy "your" first CD or tape as a teen. Some of us still need that thrill of struggling with the cellophane and the sticker seal and holding that actual booklet/insert while reading lyrics and credits. "Putting out an album" has always involved physical product for us, and at the end, there was an actual physical representation of that accomplishment. That's just NOT something that can be replaced or replicated with digital product.
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Post by nocturnaliridescence on Feb 10, 2017 20:58:06 GMT -6
Physical / CDs. Because with digital releases, you can just [usually illegally] get them for free. But with packaging, artwork, lyrics booklets, etc it's stuff you actually have to pay for.
Now,
I say that hahahahahaha
Even though all of my music is only available digitally right now
Well, anyway
Objectively speaking, I guess digital releases are better because there are no production costs, they waste fewer resources, and when you pay for digital stuff, it's pretty much just a direct donation to the band and/or label in question, instead of expecting something in return, as would be the case with a CD or something.
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Post by _ on Feb 12, 2017 5:07:28 GMT -6
I feel very similarly to Exo and NI. Additionally, I think sometimes the physical CD can be an extension of the album experience and sometimes artists can put a lot of thought/effort & art into the packaging/layout/etc. I can feel more engaged to a particular project.
ALSO, I realize that this thread fits into the "Format Discussion" thread. *blows Horn of Gondor for Admin help*
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 7:24:39 GMT -6
ALSO, I realize that this thread fits into the "Format Discussion" thread. *blows Horn of Gondor for Admin help* lol That other thread is so old, it's not really a problem that we have this new one.
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Post by Thomas Eversole on Feb 13, 2017 10:44:22 GMT -6
ALSO, I realize that this thread fits into the "Format Discussion" thread. *blows Horn of Gondor for Admin help* lol That other thread is so old, it's not really a problem that we have this new one. I love to necrothread so I would have revived the past, but I agree with CW - no issues whatsoever with a new thread with the same topic that died years ago. LOL As for the topic, I prefer digital myself. I would be a pain swapping discs with the library I've acquired over the years, however, I can honestly say that I appreciated "a release" more when CDs were my medium. The digital format has done a great job at making me musically ADD, where I can listen to one track here, listen to a rift there, next band please. I kind of wish I didn't listen to music that way. CDs, I was more apt to listen to something front to back and get the entire presentation the artist intended. That made the music listening experience worth more. Plus, there's a certain level of excitement with "Its here!" and the rituals of unwrapping it like a present and that first time it makes its way to be played. With digital, its like waking up on Christmas with all the presents already unwrapped and in front of you with a no frills excitement click of the mouse. I know this sounds like I want to have my cake and eat it too, but the TL;DR version is: I prefer the convenience of the digital format, but I miss the yearning, the mystery and presentation that was from CDs and cassettes.
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Post by blake on Feb 13, 2017 11:44:44 GMT -6
I used to prefer physical media but recently over the past few years I just got tired of all the space in my office being taken up by CDs, so I have been selling my CDs and keeping only the digital copy.
When it comes to releasing music I think I prefer digital all the way. I've already been down the road twice on physical media and I'm still in debt over it. I will never again release a physical CD because if they don't sell your just out the money
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Post by barabbas on Feb 18, 2017 10:57:40 GMT -6
I tend to prefer whichever I can get for the better price. However, all things being equal, I would go for a physical release over a digital one. If for some reason I stop liking metal, then I'd at least be able to sell my collection. I try to focus on the music, rather than collecting. That's hard for me, but I probably spend too much money on music as it is.
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Post by _ on Feb 19, 2017 22:01:42 GMT -6
As for the topic, I prefer digital myself. I would be a pain swapping discs with the library I've acquired over the years, however, I can honestly say that I appreciated "a release" more when CDs were my medium. The digital format has done a great job at making me musically ADD, where I can listen to one track here, listen to a rift there, next band please. I kind of wish I didn't listen to music that way. CDs, I was more apt to listen to something front to back and get the entire presentation the artist intended. That made the music listening experience worth more. Plus, there's a certain level of excitement with "Its here!" and the rituals of unwrapping it like a present and that first time it makes its way to be played. With digital, its like waking up on Christmas with all the presents already unwrapped and in front of you with a no frills excitement click of the mouse. Yep! When it comes to releasing music I think I prefer digital all the way. I've already been down the road twice on physical media and I'm still in debt over it. I will never again release a physical CD because if they don't sell your just out the money That make sense. However, all things being equal, I would go for a physical release over a digital one. If for some reason I stop liking metal, then I'd at least be able to sell my collection. I try to focus on the music, rather than collecting. That's hard for me, but I probably spend too much money on music as it is. Yep! I probably spend too much money on music as it is. And extra yep for me.
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Post by Charles on Feb 26, 2017 19:57:35 GMT -6
I am old school and prefer physical products. I am no fool however and see that digital product is taking over. If I had it my way, we would all still be on vinyl and cassettes. Nothing can replace those memories of finally getting my hands on a release, tearing off the wrapping, reading the linear notes, thanks list, lyrics...looking at the artwork, etc... while listening to an entire record start to finish.
But, I understand that we must adapt to changing times. But the topic was, "What do you prefer". My preference is physical media.
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Post by nocturnaliridescence on Feb 26, 2017 21:25:20 GMT -6
I think I'd be more partial to vinyl if I actually owned a record player. Compared to CDs, vinyl records are gigantic, and I suppose it makes it feel like I'm getting more for my money? However, with CDs, the artwork is protected inside the case, while with records, the cover art doesn't have that protection. Also, with CDs, all the music is on one side of the disc, while with vinyl, you have to flip it over. I'm aware all this is extremely petty by the way, lol, but it's relevant to the thread.
I find the layout of cassettes to be interesting. It's so needlessly abstract, but I like that somehow. They're also smaller, which makes storage more practical than with records, but it also means the artwork is tinier. Part of me wishes more bands would release posters of their artwork, but part of me is also glad they don't, because I honestly don't need the temptation to spend more money on things I don't ultimately need. I would also probably be more partial to cassettes if I actually owned a cassette player.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2017 21:36:44 GMT -6
I think I'd be more partial to vinyl if I actually owned a record player. I would also probably be more partial to cassettes if I actually owned a cassette player. Same. I own a few cassettes, but in every case, I also own the album digitally so I can still listen to it. I own one vinyl album because I had previously bought the album digitally and I loved it so much that I wanted a physical copy. I thought it'd be cool to own a vinyl record, so I bought one.
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Post by drawnsword on Feb 27, 2017 16:09:57 GMT -6
I have never stopped playing and buying cassettes since 1982. Tapes decks have proved more reliable than CD players over the years also. Free mp3's and digital albums hardly get listened too by me. Vinyl's, CD's, CDr's and Cassettes and DVD'S and even video tapes(i pick them up for the kids for 50 cents each and find the other odd cool thing too.
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Post by _ on Mar 2, 2017 22:45:20 GMT -6
Shipping is also a thing. I'm currently deciding on a purchase from Montreal, which is not too far from me. I definitely went digital on a recent purchase from a London-based label.
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Post by _ on Jan 26, 2018 2:01:20 GMT -6
I've thought about this question a number of times since the last post. I think I prefer physical CDs when it's either from a band I adore or when the packaging/artwork is beautiful or well-made. Often that latter bit comes from the record label -- whether or not they put out quality stuff. For example, Constellation Records (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) always has great packaging and they note the specifications on their website ... probably the folks who write about the packaging (even on bandcamp, for example) are a good bet for having quality packaging. Here's a cool list of the best packaging of last year's albums, including one where you literally had to break the case in order to get to the CD (or something like that): acloserlisten.com/2017/12/11/acl-2017-the-years-best-packaging/. Other than that, digital is probably my way to go.
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Post by avjr on Jan 26, 2018 10:26:17 GMT -6
I like both. 🙂
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Post by jazzhead on Jan 26, 2018 22:39:42 GMT -6
For me the biggest determining factor is sound quality. I buy both digital and CDs, but certain music/bands demand the full audio experience. Granted, an mp3 at 320 is pretty darn close to CD sound on your average stereo system, but I like to dig in to the mix and really hear the little dynamic details that are so often lost with mp3s. The audio experience is as significant to me as the packaging, lyrics, liner notes, etc. Lo-fi stuff definitely has its place and brings its own atmosphere, so digital is perfect for that, but for a band/artist that works hard to create a detailed, dynamic soundscape, then CD is my choice.
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Post by exo on Jan 26, 2018 23:17:19 GMT -6
Couple new thoughts after roughly a year.......almost every single CD I've bought this year came from a band's merch table. The only time I buy CD's anymore are if I'm at a show, or it's a band I personally know members of. I do almost ALL of my listening from my phone these days, the size and convenience factor of digital files just can't be beat.
The CD's I DO buy really ARE trophies for me at this point.
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Post by _ on Jun 6, 2018 9:12:24 GMT -6
exo those are dope thoughts. I like that idea of having CD's as trophies and/or a representation of some meaningful experience or relationship. A new thought for me in the recent months ... a few years ago* I think I started buying digital for music I wanted but which I didn't suppose would be super important to me in the longterm, and I bought CDs for music that I wanted to 'have' and be able to return to again and again (not trusting that digital files will not suddenly go up in smoke with a computer/company crash or some such). In short, I bought CDs for music that was more important to me. This had an unexpected consequence because I started using my phone for listening to music in the car and while walking and during the rare times I'd work on a task without a computer in front of me ... this is all in contrast to how I did it nonrecently (there must be some word for that), which was via iPod. Well, that stopped functioning. So instead of having easy access to all the CDs I imported to my iTunes, I had access to the Amazon Music app (I buy my digital music often through them). SO: turns out this was largely rap and a few worship albums, and almost zero percent metal. So that's what I started to listen to way more often. It kind of unfolded like this inconspicuously. Hmm. Gotta find a way to have better access to the metal albums and other important nonmetal music (e.g., stuff from Constellation Records, stuff from Erased Tapes) when I'm on the go. WOW that could've been way shorter and clear.
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Post by exo on Jun 6, 2018 16:25:28 GMT -6
Ironically, I literally like maybe 90 minutes ago purchased CD copies of a few decade old metalcore gems missing from my collection (Demon Hunter, Hadte the Day, Nodes of Ranvier) for 99 cents apiece from a flea market booth. Sadly, my new car doesn’t have a CD player, so i’ll Have to wait till I rip them to MP3 to listen.....
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Post by Borndead on Jun 14, 2018 18:07:53 GMT -6
These days when I buy physical music it´s 99.8% vinyl, of albums I already love. Cd´s I almost don´t buy anymore (some special ones here and there), because it´s much easier to open up bandcamp and listen to albums there in decent quality. Both have their place in my heart
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Post by Deepfriar on Jun 14, 2018 18:36:23 GMT -6
If physical (CD) is available, I buy it every time. Reason: I'm a collector (of Christian metal, especially of the extreme variety). If there's no physical copy, I'll buy digital. If it's a must-have rare release and a physical copy is nowhere to be found, I might consider buying digital... the problem is, the more rare the release the more my desire to own the physical copy lol. I will even purposefully avoid buying digital so I can't listen to it unless I diligently hunt down a physical copy.
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Post by _ on Jun 17, 2018 22:08:22 GMT -6
Today I listened to a handful of great albums because I was looking for a CD (to sell) and so I was thumbing through albums. I wouldn't've listened to these albums today if I saw the digital files in my iTunes.
Another point for physical.
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