[Jt]

People were bitching about CDs on that Bardo Pond thread and it got me wondering...

How do people buy their music here? Favourite/preferred format? Do you even BUY music?

Generally speaking, I guess, I'm asking your format of choice here. Let's dance...

EDIT: Poll attached for your pleasure.

[jon boy]

i always used to get the vinyl, well i still do but so many bands or musicians i am into now only release stuff on cd so i generally get them these days.

[Jt]

I download now and then to check stuff out prior to buying it, but...

Unless it's OOP/never reissed, I always gun for CDs. I'm liking the new SACD stuff some of the majors are experimenting with nowadays. Sounds immense.

That said, I've got a small vinyl stack (why don't they reissue Fond by the fucking Fire Engines?!).

[lucyrulesok]

I voted CDs simply because they are what I have the most of and what I mostly go for. I don't know why though, because vinyl is much more aesthetically pleasing, and a nicer format in general, but I just don't seem to buy that much of it... most of my vinyl purchases happen when I find something really good in the second hand shop.

[Savage Clone]

If an album isn't available on wax cylinder, I go for LPs.

[jon boy]

oh also should say download as well.

[luxinterior]

I think I'd rather buy movies than any sort of music thing. Even though I've listened to my favorite CDs way more often than I've watched my favorite movies. It's probably because I like watching movies with my family. And that's how I justify DVD purchases, because I feel like I'm not just making the purchase for myself. I don't listen to music with them or anything like that. I haven't bought music in a while. I don't have the money for it. I do download, but I don't have a filesharing program of any kind. I turn to mp3 blogs and that sort of thing. It's just not as important to me to own everything as it was at one point. Even if I did have the money, I think I'd rather spend it on art supplies or something like that.

[Rob Instigator]

I have bought my music in whatever format was the cheapest at the time. I bought vinyl from 82 until around 86, then i started buying cassettes because I got a fly boombox for christmas. I bougth cassettes, especially when the CD came in and people were selling off their old cassettes. I could find ALL the fucking bad ass music on used cassette at sound exchange in Houston.
The cassettes were bulky though.
When I got a proper CD player I began buying the CD's, even though they were NOT cheap, and still are not cheap. I fucking HATE CD's. they break, the jewel box breaks easily as all fuck, they scratch easier than vinyl. respecially the old CD players that actually made contact with the CD to use the laser, those wold scratch while playing! when CD's came out they fed us so much hyperbole bullshit about them, how they woudl never scratch, how they would last forever. fuck that shit.

sometime around 1994-95 I got a turntable, and started buying used vinyl.
In the last 4 years I have bought mainly vinyl. I purchase CD's but only if I cannot fuind them on vinyl, or if they are used CD's.

I used Napster when it first came out and downloaded a ton of shit and it all sounded so crappy.

I am way too into the packaging and the presentation of an album to love downloading.

Vinyl for me.

[something]

i dont mind downloading but i liek to have the album case and read the liner notes cuz im a dork like that

[Jt]

Same... I like the feel. I kind of want it both ways, though. I'm hoping that if CDs don't die, SACDs will make it big and they'll start being more creative with the packaging... I bought the Rac-oo-oon album last year and the packaging was really swish cardboard. I like the whole mini-gatefold stuff a lot of the independents have started doing. The best packaging ev0r CD-wise was this Savage Republic album. The band had all signed and it was gold letter-pressed and shit... I didn't pay anything extra, either.

[whorefrost]

I dislike downloads. CDs are okay but completely inferior to vinyl in my eyes. An extensive record collection is something to be treasured. I love the way they look, the way they sound. CDs are more tolerable if they are in one of those cardboard style case things but the sound quality is still too sterile. Also, CDs are too damned loud. I love the way you can crank vinyl louder without it becoming a nausea inducing digital squall. Have also recently started a collection of subterranean noise cassettes which is working out quite well for me.

[Jt]

I know, I know... that harsh digital compression dogshit. Apparently Mobile Fidelity CDs sound way better; they're careful with the compression and stuff. I've never heard one on high-end equipment, though.

Goo was out on that label for a while if I recall correctly...

[Savage Clone]

Originally Posted by Jt

I know, I know... that harsh digital compression dogshit. Apparently Mobile Fidelity CDs sound way better; they're careful with the compression and stuff. I've never heard one on high-end equipment, though.

Yeah, but their LPs sound like god.
Unfortunately, the LPs they choose to give the "Mobile Fidelity treatment" to are usually godawful and I don't know why they "rate."
When I was working for the record store I sold the MFSL box edition of Cat Stevens' "Tea For The Tillerman" for $149.00.
Why, God, why?

[Jt]

*Yusuf Islam, now please. Lol... I suppose I'm thinking about the long haul here with the CD preference. At the end of a lifetime I'd wager the LP collection would be in more of a fubar state than the dude keeping his CDs. That's really all it's down to. Plus CDs for me are cheaper, sound *almost* as good and are more convenient (no problem throwing them on to the PC/jukebox/iPod).

EDIT: And I get you Keg. I only have a few "collectible" CDs... like this Plimsouls album that went out of print as soon as it was pressed and sells for $40 or so now.

[Savage Clone]

Originally Posted by Kegmama

I tend to buy more cds, but collect more vinyl.
Does that make any sense?!

So you are a CD consumer and a vinyl collector.

[Savage Clone]

Originally Posted by Jt

*Yusuf Islam, now please. Lol... I suppose I'm thinking about the long haul here with the CD preference. At the end of a lifetime I'd wager the LP collection would be in more of a fubar state than the dude keeping his CDs.

What?
Digital data begins to break down after 50 years or so; well cared-for vinyl lasts pretty much indefinitely.

[Jt]

If I'd played the Blast First DDN 12" as much as I've played the CD I think it'd be (total) trashed by now.

[Cantankerous]

i don't think i've purchased a CD since i was in middle school. i just dumped all of my CDs in the back of the record store where i work about a month ago and i feel free.

[Savage Clone]

Depends on your equipment and how you handle the media.
I have a lot of LPs that I have played an awful lot of times that still sound perfectly clean.

[Jt]

I guess, but they're more fragile, y'know? CDs seem more robust - take 'em to your friend's place, no problem. With vinyl you're worrying about the sleeve getting ruined, making sure you don't bend it, scuff the corners... I mean it's more of an effort.