Do you still buy CD's?

[geoangus]

Let me preface:

I was REAL late to the MP3 party; actually just got my first player a month ago. But as I begin to load music on to it, I wonder, do people even buy cd's now? I picked up what I thought was a bargain on The Band's greatest hits through i-tunes, but I have now "hard copy" as it were. Can I expect that this is now how I'll continue to build my music library?

[GuitarBrent]

Unfortunately, I think CDs are endangered with no new hard copy on the horizon. I still buy CDs for the sound quality over mp3s, but I love my IPOD, since most of my listening these days has been relegated to the car. At home on my nice tube stereo, it's CDs all the way. Gone are the days that people cared about artwork, pics of the band, that kind of stuff. It's seems to be here today and gone tomorrow, so much like the music industry itself anymore.

[Guitar55]

Yes I do. I want to have a "full quality" version of the music I buy and I want to choose my compression rate. Some day digital music players will have much greater capacities and I will re-rip my CDs accordingly.

That being said... I occassionally download new music as well.

[DC1]

I use aiff or wav files only (no compression) on my iPod and you can't download those.

At least not in any reasonable amount of time...

dc

[derekd]

Yes, frequently.

[Bryan T]

My favorite way to buy is vinyl with a digital download.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

yes. why yes, I do .... :knitting

[thornie]

Sadly no. I purchase all my music on amazon mp3, or itunes.

It's a shame really... I feel an essential part of the music listening experience is absent when all you have is the mp3. Appreciating the the cover art, reading the liner notes, looking at the pictures of the artists for me is all part of the experience. I used to love reading which member of the band wrote which song, what studio they recorded at, who was the engineer, etc. I'm sure you can just look all this info up on the internet with some success but it's not the same.

I've noticed itunes is trying to fill that void by offering "enhanced" versions of certain albums, which basically animate the booklet/album art on your screen. I think that's a step in the right direction and hope more artists and musicians utilize this feature to the fullest.

On another note... I can't tell you how annoyed I get when I'm on the subway and peek at peoples iPod's only to see that default grey placeholder icon substituting for the album art. Folks, it's easy to get the album art! Itunes even has a menu option that downloads and applies the album art FOR YOU. No excuses! Appreciate the music you listen to, and understand that a song is much more than something you downloaded for free off of limewire.

[MudPies]

Yes, but only from local bands and only at their gigs. Otherwise I'll Amazon/CDBaby/iTunes the MP3s or download legal live shows in FLAC format.

[KRosser]

Yes. I don't own an iPod.

[rob2001]

I have yet to download an MP3 of a song or a band.

[nnick]

My favorite way to buy is vinyl with a digital download.

Same here but I will buy the cd if vinyl is not available.

[BluesForDan]

Yes. I don't own an iPod.

+1 Players get lost, stolen, break, etc. I want physical backup, and the sound quality. Until there are mp3 players with a minimum of CD quality, not the top of its capability, but a MINIMUM of cd quality, i will not accept one. I do not, and will not, be downloading anything that is not at least CD quality.

So, yes, i do still buy CDs. If there comes a day when there is no physical hard copy available, then I guess I'll never own any new music again. Frankly, I can't see that ever happening.

Heck, I'm actually going back to vinyl these days.

[mcp]

Yes, my iPod only has music that I own the CDs of. I do not download music. My iPod use is limited to when travelling out of town or country.

I actually buy more LPs than CDs though. I want good quality sound over convenience or anything else.

[Bulldog]

I buy vinyl for pretty much everything.

[Bryan T]

Yes. I don't own an iPod.

Really? I love mine. I load it up with either a random selection of albums or random tracks and I get to rediscover a lot of music.

[FlyingDutchman]

I buy cd's at my local music store, rip them to my laptop in apple lossless and then trade the cd in for a store credit. Sometimes its half or a bit less than the original purchase price. Makes things a bit cheaper for me in the end and it also keeps the local record store rolling with new and used cd sales..

[MudPies]

Um, I don't understand the demand for a player with CD Quality as the minimum option. All the decent players will play WAVE or their own lossless format.

[Bryan T]

I buy cd's at my local music store, rip them to my laptop in apple lossless and then trade the cd in for a store credit. Sometimes its half or a bit less than the original purchase price. Makes things a bit cheaper for me in the end and it also keeps the local record store rolling with new and used cd sales..

:facepalm

[fataxeman]

I bought 15 Sunday at the Atlanta Record and c.d. show held every 8-9 weeks. Being late to the digital music game (I was wearing a Sheffield Labs "Stop Digital Madness" around '83/'84 when c.d.'s first came out), I now have an iPOD and love it.

That said, the once forbidden Apple is partially responsible for me rarely playing my c.d.'s (probably numbering 1800-2000 titles) and even more rarely playing my vinyl (over 1500 titles). Playing a c.d. through a dac (digital to analog converter) or playing iTunes off a p.c. through the same dac....not much difference.

Playing vinyl versus anything else...BIG difference. If nothing else, an old fart like me needs something big like an album cover to gaze upon without having to break out the grandpa glasses. I miss the time when the latest release by XYZ artist was anticipated for weeks or months. Now music is almost too accessible (don't get me started on the general quality of the "music")...it's almost like reaching in to a big bag for one more chip.

To me the difference in sound quality is often astonishing...and if you can't guess, yes, vinyl is the clear winner in my opinion. More information coming off the record is the number 1 difference between vinyl and anything else but that's another subject best discussed on an audio forum such as Audiogon.

If you want to see an old-timer's eyes light up, take a record jacket to a concert to get it signed.

[DC1]

Until there are mp3 players with a minimum of CD quality, not the top of its capability, but a MINIMUM of cd quality, i will not accept one. I do not, and will not, be downloading anything that is not at least CD quality.

The current iPods will import full CD files with zero compression. And as a bonus, you can turn off CD error correction if you have a really pristine CD to import and that sounds even better. No SACD or other hi res formats, but those aren't necessary to get great sound.

My iPod Classic sounds fab with aiff files and I build studios and systems for a living.

dc

[Doug H]

The current iPods will import full CD files with zero compression. And as a bonus, you can turn off CD error correction if you have a really pristine CD to import and that sounds even better. No SACD or other hi res formats, but those aren't necessary to get great sound.

My iPod Classic sounds fab with aiff files and I build studios and systems for a living.

dc

Sounds cool! Didn't know they did that now. Wonder if the iPhone works the same way?

[KRosser]

Really? I love mine. I load it up with either a random selection of albums or random tracks and I get to rediscover a lot of music.

I used to love mine, before it was stolen...

[DC1]

I bought 15 Sunday at the Atlanta Record and c.d. show held every 8-9 weeks. Being late to the digital music game (I was wearing a Sheffield Labs "Stop Digital Madness" around '83/'84 when c.d.'s first came out), I now have an iPOD and love it.

That said, the once forbidden Apple is partially responsible for me rarely playing my c.d.'s (probably numbering 1800-2000 titles) and even more rarely playing my vinyl (over 1500 titles). Playing a c.d. through a dac (digital to analog converter) or playing iTunes off a p.c. through the same dac....not much difference.

Playing vinyl versus anything else...BIG difference. If nothing else, an old fart like me needs something big like an album cover to gaze upon without having to break out the grandpa glasses. I miss the time when the latest release by XYZ artist was anticipated for weeks or months. Now music is almost too accessible (don't get me started on the general quality of the "music")...it's almost like reaching in to a big bag for one more chip.

To me the difference in sound quality is often astonishing...and if you can't guess, yes, vinyl is the clear winner in my opinion. More information coming off the record is the number 1 difference between vinyl and anything else but that's another subject best discussed on an audio forum such as Audiogon.

If you want to see an old-timer's eyes light up, take a record jacket to a concert to get it signed.

I miss the big record jackets!


BTW, there was much really crappy sounding vinyl around in the late 70s, and CD's can sound great. It's who made them, not the medium.

Today, the vinyl market has very high standards for fidelity and they sound a lot better than the mass market CD's, but then the mass market seems to have no minimum standard for decent sound, does it?

dc

[DC1]

Sounds cool! Didn't know they did that now. Wonder if the iPhone works the same way?

If it will do video, it will do uncompressed audio. However, you will go through storage space like crazy. A CD is around .75 of a gigabyte, so my iPod Classic 80g only does 110 or so albums instead of a gazillion. I don't mind at all and it sound terrific.

dc

[Bryan T]

I used to love mine, before it was stolen...

Oh, well there's that. :(

[anxiousmofo]

I do most of the time. I like the options inherent in multiple formats. I also feel like I actually purchased something if there is a physical aspect.

[Bryan T]

Today, the vinyl market has very high standards for fidelity and they sound a lot better than the mass market CD's, but then the mass market seems to have no minimum standard for decent sound, does it?

dc

Few seem to have standards for sound these days. I've gotten some terrible vinyl pressings (including Radiohead, who I thought would pay better attention). Most of the modern rock albums I've bought over the last few years are unlistenable after a few songs on CD or download. As a music lover, it sucks.

[DC1]

Few seem to have standards for sound these days. I've gotten some terrible vinyl pressings (including Radiohead, who I thought would pay better attention). Most of the modern rock albums I've bought over the last few years are unlistenable after a few songs on CD or download. As a music lover, it sucks.

Indeed.

The only CD's I have bought in a while are classical where the standards in performance, musical quality, and recording, are generally really high, and I got the new Mute Math record which is great music and the sound is at least decent.

dc

[Atomic Punk]

Yes I do. I want to have a "full quality" version of the music I buy and I want to choose my compression rate. Some day digital music players will have much greater capacities and I will re-rip my CDs accordingly.

That being said... I occassionally download new music as well.

This. What he said.

[cooljuk]

I still buy CDs, usually from Amazon, but I anxiously await the day I can download my albums in a lossless format.

I don't understand why the consumer world is so slow to adopt lossless. Who cares about a 45 second download for a song versus a 30 second download. When hard drives are in excess of 1TB and people are frequently downloading massive HD video files, why are we still screwing around with mp3 format lossy audio files? ...because most consumers don't care enough to warrant a change, I guess?

So ya, I buy vinyl, CDs, and lossless downloads when they are (rarely) available.

[78deluxe]

CD > FLAC (store CD away in a box that might not be played again).

The idea of buying lossy music doesn't sit well with me.

[cooljuk]

Sounds cool! Didn't know they did that now. Wonder if the iPhone works the same way?

yep. iphone can play back wav aiff or ale. all lossless. you can get a REAL line-level output from the dock connector too and bypass the headphone circuitry.

I'd still like to see a S/PDIF output though.

[DC1]

yep. iphone can play back wav aiff or ale. all lossless. you can get a REAL line-level output from the dock connector too and bypass the headphone circuitry.

I'd still like to see a S/PDIF output though.

You and me both brother!



dc

[cooljuk]

I would just like to say I'm glad to be surrounded by others who won't tolerate mp3s for a change.

I'm usually the lone wolf on this side of that discussion. If that makes me a corksniffer, than consider my nose red with wine tannins.

[cooljuk]

I should also mention that the iphone can play back 24 bit wav or aiff files. I use that feature when critiquing mixdowns of my own work.

[lfio710]

Its a mix for me. I'll buy the CD when its something I'm really excited for. The last CDs I bought were the new John Mayer and Norah Jones CDs, and Wilco the Album before that.

[DC1]

I should also mention that the iphone can play back 24 bit wav or aiff files. I use that feature when critiquing mixdowns of my own work.

I didn't know that. Cool.

thanks


dc

[skillet]

I still buy CDs; I usually rip them to FLAC format for home listening and then I'll rip them to MP3 for listening on my iPod in the truck, at work or at the gym.

I really wish more companies would offer FLAC or WAV downloads; if they did, I'd be in favor of buying digital versions of music.

[michael30]

Yes. I bought three Hawkwind CD:s on Amazon today. :dude

[DC1]

I still buy CDs; I usually rip them to FLAC format for home listening and then I'll rip them to MP3 for listening on my iPod in the truck, at work or at the gym.

I really wish more companies would offer FLAC or WAV downloads; if they did, I'd be in favor of buying digital versions of music.

Then mebbe we could get fiber to the house!


dc

[Frater B]

Yes, just bought the new Tom Waits on CD.

__

[Dyingsea]

People are always amazed when I bring up the sonic difference between mp3's and cd's. They have no idea and are seemingly stuck in the ipod world. I'll always buy cd's over mp3's.

[R13D]

I have yet to download an MP3 of a song or a band.
Same here.

[KRosser]

Yes, just bought the new Tom Waits on CD.

__

HOLD THE PHONE!!!!

New Tom Waits....?

(*races to amazon.com*.....)

[StompBoxBlues]

I still do. I like the sound better than Mp3's, and I like the hard copy, I like the booklet. I'm old.

[RonH]

Nope I don't. I buy from iTunes and have not bought a cd in a long, long time. I like being able to carry my entire cd collection around with me and I don't hear much of a difference between the cd and iTunes.

[gdomeier]

yes, I do.

[Flyin' Brian]

Rarely. My iTunes are on my laptop....my iPod is a backup as it hold all of my iTunes and I have the files backed up on a separate hard drive.

[oslo]

My favorite way to buy is vinyl with a digital download.

Is it common to get a digital copy with Vinyl? never had en record player as I was born late into the game, but I really want one. But the only thing is that I usually listen to music on my iPod or on my mac, so vinyl requires that I have to buy an extra CD or download it on the side. But if I get a digital good quality copy with it, then it's not really big deal.

But to the original question. Yes. I do buy CD's. latest was John Mayer's battle studies. But music now a days I usually get pretty tired of pretty quickly. Sometimes I feel like the it is not worth buying. Lot of CDs in my collection that I've listened to for a little while, and then gotten tired of it, and then they just stand on my shelf taking up space and dust. Not really a fan of the CD concept either. their way to fragile. The plastic on the cover always end up cracking or it breaks in the hinges, and the CDs get scratched up and just blæh.... I don't get any feeling quality from it at all. Only reason I buy the CDs is to support the artist if I really like what the/he/she is doing. Hoping to switch to vinyl. Get a much cooler vibe from them.

[78deluxe]

I should also mention that the iphone can play back 24 bit wav or aiff files. I use that feature when critiquing mixdowns of my own work.

I don't have an iphone, but I would be SHOCKED if the internal converters are of sufficient quality for that to even matter.

[geoangus]

I should have asked a second question regarding age of respondents. I'd bet the older you are, the less likely to buy mp3s, but just a guess.

[Bryan T]

Is it common to get a digital copy with Vinyl?

It is becoming more common. A lot of the independent labels seem to be getting into it. Check out the packaging at your local record store and you'll see which records are coming with downloads.

[Shnook]

I'll start by saying this...I still listen to vinyl. I cannot stand downloading music. I think it's a PITA and sounds like crap. Just tonight I bought 2 Alvin Youngblood Hart CD's. :D

[NuSkoolTone]

Not really. Once you accumulate enough stuff, you start to realize how much space all those CD's take up. In today's world they're kinda a PITA IMO.

I understand what guys are saying about MP3's, though there are a LOT of ways to make an MP3 file and some ways sound MUCH better than others. You do it right, and sometimes the difference to CD is marginal at best. Also consider MP3 is a "portable" format. You go and listen to it in your car. Between road, wind, and traffic noise I challenge about anyone to hear the difference between a correctly made MP3 and a CD. Not to mention few Car stereos have the fidelity to reveal much!

[Luke]

Once in a while. Most music has always been purchased by those under 22 years of age, and those people today are from the download generation.

I'm 40 and buy MP3s and cut them to CD normally, thus I only have to buy the few songs I want.

[Scott Peterson]

Yes, though not as much. I am more apt to download them (LEGALLY) now than buy the CD.

[440gtx6pak]

I don't trust any music long term, that uses DRM. Besides, I like having the CD's for better than mp3 sound at home. Many times on Amazon, 3rd party sellers have the CD's for less than what it costs to buy the download anyway. I rip the CD's and keep an extra backup. My 120gb player has 22,000 "legal" songs on it. LOL. When I can, I buy analog records, for the best sound.

[Ian Anderson]

For lifetime music, I have to have a hard copy. I will go after the vinyl, or a good quality CD. Then I'll rip it to the iPod. Music I feel I will not have around too long, I will buy online and download. I don't really care where or how, I just want it and its disposeable music that I can't afford the real estate on my record shelf for.

90% of my listening is at the shop or in my car, so for that I use the ipod. At home, in the office I enjoy listening to records, or watching concert DVDs which I have a ton of. I actually used to buy alot more DVDs than recored or CDs. Unfortunatly every decent record store in town either sucks now or is closed so I buy alot less. I am probably down 80% since Tower closed. It was my ritual for years to go there once a week.

[parker]

I always buy the cd/vinyl, if it's not available I will download it.... but prefer the cd always!

[Bryan T]

Unfortunatly every decent record store in town either sucks now or is closed so I buy alot less. I am probably down 80% since Tower closed. It was my ritual for years to go there once a week.

That's how it is up here, too. The few shops worth going to are a serious commitment in time/traffic. I really miss wandering around record shops and picking up things that look interesting. I kind of do the same thing at the library, but the music isn't mine to keep, so I don't value it the same way.

[apple crisp]

I buy CD's, love to have the visual and tactile experience in addition to high sound quality. Also, in most cases, I like to have the album, not just the song. If it's only the song I need, I might download it, but if I really like it, I'll buy the album in CD form.

Latest album purchased: Bon Iver, For Emma Forever Ago.

[xntrick]

yes, but only when i've listened to the mp3's first..if it sucks they get deleted, i am tired of owning cd's that only get 1 or 2 plays...

[v-verb]

I still buy CD's.

[Big Boss Man]

I always try to buy CDs if they are available. I prefer the sound quality. I do load everything into iTunes though and listen through my computer or iPod. Recently I had to go the mp3 route on a couple of albums that were discontinued by the manufacturer in the CD format. It definitely seems like the CD's days could be numbered.

[cooljuk]

I don't have an iphone, but I would be SHOCKED if the internal converters are of sufficient quality for that to even matter.

I've played back the same tracks in 16bit and 24bit to A/B and there is a noticeable difference. One would never notice without A/B'ing but since I mixdown in 24 bit anyway, it saves me a step of bouncing again or converting and I get a little higher quality result. Cheap converters are getting better in recent years. Bypassing the headphone circuitry with a dock line-out cable really makes much more difference than bit depth though.

[cooljuk]

I should have asked a second question regarding age of respondents. I'd bet the older you are, the less likely to buy mp3s, but just a guess.

I'm 31. no mp3s here.

[cooljuk]

I understand what guys are saying about MP3's, though there are a LOT of ways to make an MP3 file and some ways sound MUCH better than others. You do it right, and sometimes the difference to CD is marginal at best.

Yes, different codecs, settings, readers, oversampling and I'm sure a host of other things all play a roll in the quality of a mp3, but why convert to a format that unarguably degrades the quality at all just in an effort to save a few MB? If you're hurting for space, I would suggest an upgrade, not degrading the quality of music. Just my point of view.


Also consider MP3 is a "portable" format. You go and listen to it in your car. Between road, wind, and traffic noise I challenge about anyone to hear the difference between a correctly made MP3 and a CD. Not to mention few Car stereos have the fidelity to reveal much!

I disagree, myself. I think most people, with most stock stereos in cars made in the last 6 or so years would be able to tell the difference between a well made 320k mp3 and a CD or wav on the road. If you A/B one after the other, it'll be very obvious. I find the effects of mp3 format most noticeable in the lower treble frequencies and upper mids. Listen to something with a nice crisply clean recorded hi-hat as an mp3 and you get a washy swishy sloshy hi-hat.

I may be doing this though: :horse

Audio science and the consumer market seem to prove that although the average person can tell the difference... they don't care. It's just not a priority to people. They want fast and easy access and quantity over quality.

[Somniferous]

Yes I do, just bought the new Norah Jones (I have yet to listen to it though). I like to know that if my computer decides to crash I can still listen to music in the time it takes me to get it fixed.

I will on occasion download some stuff from iTunes if I can't find the CD locally, or if I'm in a rush to listen to an album. I feel that multiple formats should be availible to download (aac, lossless, to full aiff/wav maybe 24 bit) and all at the same price, charging people more to get decent quality is BS.

[cooljuk]

I will on occasion download some stuff from iTunes if I can't find the CD locally, or if I'm in a rush to listen to an album. I feel that multiple formats should be availible to download (aac, lossless, to full aiff/wav maybe 24 bit) and all at the same price, charging people more to get decent quality is BS.


I kinda like the idea of purchasing "the rights to the media" then paying a surcharge for physical media. So say you buy an album - you can download it in any format you like for the base price. If you also/instead want a CD or vinyl copy, you pay a surcharge to cover the cost of materials and manufacture and shipping. Like another $2-4 for a CD or $5-10 for vinyl depending on how many discs it fits on. In the same regard, once you own the rights to the material, you could order replacement CDs or vinyl (or whatever the future format is) if they get damaged for the same cost as the original surcharge.

I wonder if that idea could fly?

[stratzrus]

Yes. I don't own an iPod.Same here. I almost never listen to any thing in the MP3 format.

All of my music is on CDs except for sets mixed by DJs that are posted on their sites. I have downloaded all of two so far.

I figure if I don't support the artists whose music I like, who will support my work?

Silly maybe, but that's how I look at it.

I almost was run over by a tram in Amsterdam while listening to my portable CD player a decade ago. That was the end of me going walkabout with headphones on.

[NuSkoolTone]

Yes, different codecs, settings, readers, oversampling and I'm sure a host of other things all play a roll in the quality of a mp3, but why convert to a format that unarguably degrades the quality at all just in an effort to save a few MB? If you're hurting for space, I would suggest an upgrade, not degrading the quality of music. Just my point of view.




I disagree, myself. I think most people, with most stock stereos in cars made in the last 6 or so years would be able to tell the difference between a well made 320k mp3 and a CD or wav on the road. If you A/B one after the other, it'll be very obvious. I find the effects of mp3 format most noticeable in the lower treble frequencies and upper mids. Listen to something with a nice crisply clean recorded hi-hat as an mp3 and you get a washy swishy sloshy hi-hat.

I may be doing this though: :horse

Audio science and the consumer market seem to prove that although the average person can tell the difference... they don't care. It's just not a priority to people. They want fast and easy access and quantity over quality.

Overall I agree. I'd say we'll see a shift away from MP3s for home use (Like music libraries on a server), but will be a long time for portable devices. The idea of taking an entire music collection with you on a USB stick is still more appealing than just some favorite songs for most people. When cars start supporting removable hard drives, I'd bet a lot of people will chuck the MP3s and go to lossless. Until then it's just too convenient.

Still disagree about distinguishing a properly done MP3 on the road. Unless the high-hat your talking about is practically solo'd and your cranking your system. Even then most car stereos start to distort and the difference goes out the window again anyway...

[pickslide]

Just bought a CD yesterday.

[harryjmic]

The I-Pod will rot the brain. Cd's for me.