Feeling left behind in a download world

[TCProgger]

I still prefer physical media, like I'm sure most of us here do, and I'm finding it increasingly frustrating when I'm faced with awesome albums that bands are only offering digitally, while CD copies aren't easy (or impossible) to come by. I know one day I'll have to start making the transition, if only a bit, but I'm not happy about it.

Anyone else as annoyed by this as I am, or am I clinging just a bit too hard on CD-only?

 

[lasercd]

I haven't found too many "awesome" albums which are download only. From my experience if something is of high quality it will find a home on some physical medium, either cd or vinyl (or both).

 

[TCProgger]

I think in some cases it can also depend on where a band is at in their career, or what kind of resources they have available, are they still more underground, etc. What got me thinking about this particularly now is a band I just came across called Mississippi Bones, which has a similar sound to Clutch. Some killer hard rock with that Southern/Blues bent and a lot of eclectic lyrical imagery. On their Bandcamp and CD Baby, the albums are only digital. Amazon does have CDs, although their most recent one is currently out of stock.

And then sometimes it's just a decision on the band's/artist's part not to release something physically. I've had contact with Sean Thompson of Odd Logic and their last album was download-only with no plans for a physical release, for financial reasons. I expressed my disappointment, which he understood, but it is what it is.

 

[lasercd]

I live with all formats - CD, vinyl, and download. Generally speaking my strong preference is to own something in a physical format. I genuinely do not enjoy the experience of listening to files. I get bored right away. I have a fairly sophisticated digital scheme. I rip or download files on to a server which ultimately finds its way to my DAC. The user interface is a program called Audirvana Plus. There are lots of others. The interface is a bit clunky and I just sit passively with thousands of tracks at my fingertips giving me ADD. I rarely listen to an album all the way through - I'm constantly jumping all over the place. If I put on a CD I listen to a large chunk of it, if not all. If I put on an album I listen to, at minimum, an entire side.

As a rule I won't buy a reissue of an old album as a download. I'll source original vinyl or CD. If something is a new release and its available in a hi-res format I'll buy the download vs. buying the CD. I'd rather have 24 bit instead of 16 bit. Depending on what it is I might prefer to buy the vinyl version if its available. Typically the record has been cut from the hi-res files and its a more enjoyable experience.

YMMV

 

[TCProgger]

I just live with CD, and I rip all my discs to computer so I can carry stuff around into the outside world with my iPod. I've been interested in also getting vinyl, but that's something finances have so far prohibited.

The only area I've completely gone download-only has been with the audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions, mainly since they've had so much varied output I've been interested in as well as serious lack of space issues I already have from physical music, movie, and book collections.

 

[Terry L]

No CD , no purchase.

I recently moved, so I know about having space issues. Before we had movers take our furniture & boxed items. I moved my media collection, by myself. It took 14 days, moving three or four boxes a day, to move 3,000 DVDs and 1500 CDs-(and a few hundred video tapes). Had I boxed all that for movers, we would've had 60 more boxes, on top pf what we already had. I was re-using the same boxes and stacking everything in closets. It worked

 

[Neoman]

No CD , no purchase.

Same here. I do not like vinyl or downloads.

 

[Sir Exar Kun]

I recently moved, so I know about having space issues. Before we had movers take our furniture & boxed items. I moved my media collection, by myself. It took 14 days, moving three or four boxes a day, to move 3,000 DVDs and 1500 CDs-(and a few hundred video tapes). Had I boxed all that for movers, we would've had 60 more boxes, on top pf what we already had. I was re-using the same boxes and stacking everything in closets. It worked

When we moved from Detroit to Columbus, I did the same thing.... I was so concerned about loss or damage on my (then) ~1500 disc collection that I transported it all myself. China, crystal, electronics (aside from home PC) all went with the movers, but I'll be damned if they were touching my music.

It was pretty funny to see how much lower my Trail Blazer sat with all that weight in the back end of it.

 

[Terry L]

" I'll be damned if they were touching my music. "

I know the feeling. Even though I moved them alone, I still had one casualty :-(
A variety CD I bought in the 80's "Rising Metal" was somehow destroyed, case and disc.

Sorry for hijacking this thread TCProgger.

 

[lasercd]

I'll never move because the thought of packing and moving our inventory + personal collection of vinyl and cds is beyond my comprehension.

 

[TCProgger]

Sorry for hijacking this thread TCProgger.

No problem, Terry!

I can't imagine ever moving my collections either (yes, plural - books and DVDs/Blu-rays as well as music). I once packed all of my Doctor Who books to take with us when we had to evacuate for a hurricane, but I had a lot less stuff back in those days.

I doubt I'd ever move anyway. I live in my grandparents house, which they left to me. Already spent some money renovating it. Not gonna move now.