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Of course, I'm from a generation where I'm used to owning music, to build a collection. However, I am also always forward looking, be it in music or technology.
By now, I never actually listen to music from CDs anymore, except to check out something. If I get a new CD, I turn it into ALAC files, where they are distributed via NAS to my home stereo system, or I convert them to AACs for my car or otherwise on the go. Nevertheless, I still actually buy CDs rather than downloads. Basically for three reasons:
1. Availability. Of course, many of the expanded specialty labels soundtrack titles are not available as digital download, so there if one wants to own them, there is no other option.
2. Price. I think it's the labels and the dying CD business. They don't know what to do, and so they jam pack their super releases into generously packed sets which they sell for really low bucks, or they just budget price their recordings. I remember a time when Naxos classical CDs were the budget choice, but no longer, their prices remain relatively stable. But the big labels, they sell their CDs high price, and then, after short while, for low budget prices.
Just as a recent example, I see the (lossless or high-res) downloads for Maurizio Pollini's Chopin recordings priced between 11 to 12 Euros per CD, whereas I got the CD set of 9 recordings for less than 30 Euros. That's quite a difference in price! So that's a good reason to buy CDs and not downloads.
3. Booklets. I still enjoy booklets. Especially if they are as well done as the ones from Labels such as FSM, Intrada, LaLaLand, etc, jam packed with interesting information.
But it should just be a matter of time until CDs are no longer cheaper and booklets are distributed digitally and the rest of the stuff is available as download. Some Varèse Sarabande, Intrada, or Quartet releases already are. So that may well be the time when my CD buying times will be done. Especially since as far as film scores are concerned, most of the soundtracks I ever wanted are already released and in my collection.
So I was wondering:
Do you still buy CDs?
If yes, why, what are the reasons. Do you see the day coming when you no longer buy physical media (in the near or far future)?
If no, why not? If you ever did, when did you stop. What do you do instead.
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For me 2019 has been a rather lackluster year so far. I've only bought one title. (LLL's Superman)
That's what I notice, too. I still buy CDs, but rather sporadically. And it's getting to be less. I have bought a few soundtracks this year (and more other stuff, like classical or jazz), but most of the film music stuff I ever want(ed) I already have, so it's just here and there discovering some new stuff, or getting possibly interesting back catalogue scores I did not get the first time around, like CHATO'S LAND.
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I typically only buy CDs these days if I can't get the music digitally, so that means mostly soundtracks. Otherwise I'm streaming (including my own CD uploads on Apple Music, numbering in the thousands, for crissakes). I also buy the occasional Bandcamp digital download of electronic music, to support the artists.
Digital downloads are losing sales faster than CDs (because those consumers are converting more quickly to streaming). I wonder if there will come a day downloads go away and it's mostly streaming plus niche products (like vinyl and soundtrack CDs).
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Yes, I still buy CDs, and (used) vinyl. If I buy a download it's because it's not available on physical, and I always burn it to CD so I can put it on the shelf.
I can't see I will ever stop doing physical.
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Posted: |
Jul 10, 2019 - 2:29 PM
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By: |
Rameau
(Member)
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Yup, I love 'em & am still buying them, but hardly buying any soundtracks now. This year I've only bought Francis Lai's, I'll Never Forget What's 'is Name CD (Quartet), & my next purchase will be the Tadlow Hammer set, but after that, who knows. I can only think of a couple of soundtracks I really want: Francis Lai's Hello-Goodbye, the Rozsa Conducts Rozsa albums & Williams, The Towering Inferno, so maybe nothing else this year.
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Posted: |
Jul 10, 2019 - 4:42 PM
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By: |
Dana Wilcox
(Member)
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I'm with Nicolai on a number of points, particularly the booklets and the relative absence of quality film music available for download. I loved the big art on LPs but hated the inevitable scratches, warps etc. that vinyl is prone to, and prayed throughout my childhood for someone to invent a format for music which was permanent and didn't scratch up. With reasonable care and other than a few quality control issues, CDs are indeed the answer to my childhood prayer. Even with that, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that my nerdy little niche interest in film music would be so well "fed" by the proliferation of film score releases that we have seen in the past 25 years or so, and all on CD. All (or most) of the music I ever wanted to own, and in a format that is relatively permanent -- yup, that's a winner for me! My computer may crash at any time, but I'll still have my music.
Another aspect of the CD vs. digital download business that is big for me: When I plunk down my bucks, sorry, but I just have to "get something" in return! Digital downloads are really *nothing*, just a collection of 0s and 1s stored on a computer, whereas I get art, information and that little plastic disc full of music when I buy a CD: in other words, *something*. (I don't buy Kindle books either, gotta have real books I can fill up a shelf with, thumb through without turning on an electronic device, and even swat the occasional crawling insect with if I need to.) Bottom line, I'm on board with CDs for as long as I can get them.
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I buy CDs even when I already have a score on cdr.
Recent examples:
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THE AVENGERS
TWILIGHT ZONE 85
DAMNATION ALLEY..
I hafta have the CD and booklet or its not as satisfying.
Brm
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One other thing is having them on a shelf with other scores.
Sometimes you forget a particular score but as you peruse your shelves you notice it, remember it, and play it.
Like in a library!
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I find it interesting here that some actually make CDRs of their downloads/files and print covers to sort them into their collection. Just to have something "physical".
The CDs I collected over the years certainly have something autobiographical about them. Of many, I remember the exact time and location where I got them. However, I don't have any more shelf space (and I mean both that I have no space on my CD shelves and practically no space for more shelves :-) ), so I keep some CDs packed in drawers and boxes... I would actually buy more downloads, but as it is right now, the reasons I mentioned above still keep me buying more CDs.
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TG, reminds me of the times I put a CD in the player...and it wouldn't play. Or a VHS tape was eaten by the player. Etc.
All technologies fail from time to time, physical or digital. The error rate across all formats has seemed pretty consistent to me over the decades. Except vinyl and VHS. They sucked.
As to browsing the library, I do it all the time on Apple Music. I don't have to read sideways, and I can tap once to play.
You can have similar experiences digitally and physically. You don't have to want to do it, but you can.
Digital booklets are another matter, of course. Those are few and far between.
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I store CDs VERTICALLY.
So, I don't hafta read " sideways"!
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I store CDs VERTICALLY.
So, I don't hafta read " sideways"!
Plus, you can play Jenga with them - or better yet, Bash!
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I find it interesting here that some actually make CDRs of their downloads/files and print covers to sort them into their collection. Just to have something "physical"
Well, I don't print covers...
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