Metal (or any genre) cds vs. downloading

Hi, just registered after lurking awhile. Since you guys seem to be a nice bunch, I decided to join.

Perhaps you've discussed this in older threads....

But what are your thoughts on downloading music vs. buying cds?

I feel like a dinosaur....but I still want the cd and artwork. To me, it's a big part of collecting music. (I still have a number lps and 45s too)

welcome, you'll find that most peeps here are cd & vinyl collectors as well. most of us prefer the physical releases.

I prefer owning a physical product, owning an album as a download only, I do not feel I own a thing, except a 'file' not very exciting and I prefer to hold it in my hands, open up the booklet etc.

I guess that makes me a dinosaur but I just can't get into owning my music in a digital format.

Sinistar wrote:

Hi, just registered after lurking awhile. Since you guys seem to be a nice bunch, I decided to join.

Perhaps you've discussed this in older threads....

But what are your thoughts on downloading music vs. buying cds?

I feel like a dinosaur....but I still want the cd and artwork. To me, it's a big part of collecting music. (I still have a number lps and 45s too)

I prefer to own the cd. I like the art and seeing how a band presents their material. Downloading leaves me kinda cold when I have done it...

Physical copy for me, for the same reason Manny mentioned. I don't feel like I "own it".

But I will download if a band I like offers a free track, or for iTunes exclusive singles like Alice Cooper's "Keepin' Halloween Alive" and Buckcherry's "Christmas Is Here" and whenever Amazon tells me I have a $1 MP3 credit.

There are a number of albums I would love to own that are OOP or just rare and expensive that can easily be downloaded off iTunes at a decent price (or even for free if you do a simple Google search) but I still wait for the real thing.

I get those $1 mp3 credit things from Amazon. I don't know what to do with them!!

Like most here I'd rather have the physical copy.I never download.I guess Im old school,but I would rather have the artwork in front of me and read through all the lyrics and liner notes.

I love the convenience of having 300000 songs at my fingertips. But, all but about 5 songs, I actually dl'd from my original discs.

CD's all the way.

Good. Glad I'm not alone.

CDs. I don't waste my time with downloads. If I own the CD, I can put it on my Ipod just as easy and I actually own something of tangible value.

manny wrote:

I prefer owning a physical product, owning an album as a download only, I do not feel I own a thing, except a 'file' not very exciting and I prefer to hold it in my hands, open up the booklet etc.

I guess that makes me a dinosaur but I just can't get into owning my music in a digital format.

Same here. Add to that that I work with computers day in and day out. And I know how tempermental they can be. In one stroke of the keyboard, everything could be lost forever. Having the physical cd is all the back-up I need.

It's a generational/age thing too. Much in the same way my grandparents feared new technology, like the VCR which they unplugged whenever it wasn't being used ("it heats-up and could catch fire"), I have a general mistrust for computers. I don't think I could ever trust my music collection to a hard drive.

Generational thing, yea.

I tell ya these kids today...amazes me how many of them have no problem with illegal downloading. My coworker's daughter just blew $400 on a tattoo, but doesn't pay a dime for her music.

(not to be judgmental or anything)

Yea, I'm not even going to get into "illegal vs. paid downloads". I want a physical copy with artwork. Period.

I am with the physical copy crowd here. I need it. And if I can get a limited edition/know they are still available I need that too (with the caveat that said edition includes additional music).

Sinistar wrote:

I get those $1 mp3 credit things from Amazon. I don't know what to do with them!!

Use them!!!! What I do with them is use them to buy songs where I don't have an interest in owning the whole album. Maybe a single I like, or a Christmas song or '80s pop, some alternative stuff, whatever. Or you could use them to sample new bands/albums you're not sure about yet.

Metal Misfit wrote:

Sinistar wrote:

I get those $1 mp3 credit things from Amazon. I don't know what to do with them!!

Use them!!!! What I do with them is use them to buy songs where I don't have an interest in owning the whole album. Maybe a single I like, or a Christmas song or '80s pop, some alternative stuff, whatever. Or you could use them to sample new bands/albums you're not sure about yet.

ok...I'll look into it. I'm so backward with that sort of thing.

I'm going to go to my account and see if I can find how much credit I have.

CDs but I will download on rare occasions (though I'll feel bad about it-unless it's some radio hit, I consider that in the public domain).

The temptaion is strong though when your income is limited.

If it ain't CD then it's crap.

Fat Freddy wrote:

If it ain't CD then it's crap.

I prefer to own a physical copy of the album.

ultmetal wrote:

CDs. I don't waste my time with downloads. If I own the CD, I can put it on my Ipod just as easy and I actually own something of tangible value.

This

I love owning the whole album but I will say, I can get more music by downloading and on my budget that's a big deal. I itemize. Some are must buy albums and some i'm willing to download. Mostly it's still buying the album but........

Oh, I will dowload the Running Wild albums from Amazon (and any other hard to find albums) due to the ridiculous prices they command.

I buy about 3-4 cds a month and download about the same. For some reason, I also burn everything i download and make covers and cd inlay cards for them.