Everyone ready for USB-stick albums?

[supseudonymous]

Actually if it meant they were in some lossless format or something it might be okay...

Maybe a few years off into the future. Also they would have to come in some sort of modified cassette-sized case that still includes art, lyrics, notes, etc.

 

[supseudonymous]

I wonder what it would be like if you were FYE and they started taking used USB drives. At least it would be easier to check if shit worked rather than having it as a CD. You'd only really need to check to see if the USB drive stopped responding.

FSCK IT!

 

[Melodeath]

One of my audio professors keeps saying CDs will be gone within 2-3 years.

...and obviously he means CDs as a viable medium, not CDs actually disintegrating.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

 

[mutantllama]

One of my audio professors keeps saying CDs will be gone within 2-3 years.

...and obviously he means CDs as a viable medium, not CDs actually disintegrating.

I heard this about 2-3 years ago from one of my teachers. I still see cds.

 

[Melodeath]

Yeah. I didn't mean to imply I believe him. In fact, I have little to no faith in anything he says.

 

[waif]

I think we're the biggest supporters but we still have a long way to go.

Which way do you think we'll be going?

 

[Orion Crystal Ice]

probably up our own asses somewhere

 

[waif]

While that was a joke I could see that happening i.e. the metal underground retracts until it becomes similar to what V has described of the harsh noise scene - the bands are the fans, or at least the paying ones.

 

[XSASweet]

I think it could be good, not for actual releases, but for bonus stuff that you can't include on a CD:

high quality picture of cover art
music video in decent quality
stuff about how the album was made
bonus songs, possibly?

 

[waif]

Because it's true, you could never put that stuff on a bonus dvd the way bands do with pretty much every album.

 

[Satanstoenail]

Yeah. And stuff like streaming live songs from gigs can be done through the band or broadcaster's website. I really can't see any benefits from this technology that don't already exist. It just seems like more "smaller is better" technological gadgetry bollocks that will devalue the entire band/album format just that little bit more.

 

[SentinelSlain]

A flash memory based music format could be better than CDs but I don't want just low bitrate MP3s put on a tiny usb disk and sold for the same price as a CD.

 

[Dak]

Price is another issue. I am pretty sure it's cheaper to make CDs than USB sticks. How is this going to improve profitability?

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Memory is becoming cheaper by the day, really, and CDs aren't all THAT cheap to make outside of the actual piece of circular plastic. You have to pay to print the booklet, etc. also. I bet a case could be made.

 

[challenge_everything]

It's such a pity that CDs were the medium of choice to replace vinyl and cassette. Who ever thought that the best way to save digital information was to scratch that information on an exterior surface where the slightest additional scratch can make the whole thing unplayable? I for one wouldn't opt for USB albums over having an actual album with the art and everything, but as a format itself, flash memory is far more logical.

 

[The Ozzman]

At least the CDs have other practical uses though (coasters), amirite?

 

[Dak]

A little time + knife and Ninja Stars.

 

[arg]

yeah at least USBs wont get scratched

 

[The Ozzman]

yeah at least USBs wont get scratched

They can stop being recognized in the USB port though.