Digital Music

[S2M]

Do you think there will ever come a time where all music is available as a digital download - and there will be no more CDs?

Also, as an aside, how far into the future before the internet is so vast and inclusive that we no longer have to leave our homes?

[Abitaman]

I don't know, I like the cds, but I am finding a lot of the older music that are on cds sound better on digital downloads. I joine dRhapsody a couple of months ago, and can not belive the sound quality. But for now will be keeping cds, since my vechiles do not have digital palyers in them.

[Ehwmatt]

I don't know, I like the cds, but I am finding a lot of the older music that are on cds sound better on digital downloads. I joine dRhapsody a couple of months ago, and can not belive the sound quality. But for now will be keeping cds, since my vechiles do not have digital palyers in them.

I still think all things being equal, a "hard copy" of the music will always sound better... I notice a big difference when I take a modern day well-produced CD and listen to it on my iPod or in MP3 form vs. listening to it from the disc.

[S2M]

I don't know, I like the cds, but I am finding a lot of the older music that are on cds sound better on digital downloads. I joine dRhapsody a couple of months ago, and can not belive the sound quality. But for now will be keeping cds, since my vechiles do not have digital palyers in them.

I still think all things being equal, a "hard copy" of the music will always sound better... I notice a big difference when I take a modern day well-produced CD and listen to it on my iPod or in MP3 form vs. listening to it from the disc.

All in all, I think music will quickly move to all digital. And even though it is easy to pirate ALL forms of music media, artists just make more money if they don't have to pay extras like booklets, jewel cases....etc. Now I know the Walmart deals have bands pocketing more green, but people still have to leave their house to buy the CD.....All things being equal i think consumers would rather have it at their fingertips. And with more cars being iphone ready - having a CD just doesn't have that same cache' that it once had. The only thing I would miss, and it isn't that much of a big deal is the lyrics from the booklet. I'm no audiophile. I couldn't care less about lossless media. Unless you are the anal retentive audiophile, who cares if something is at a 320 bitrate, or 192. ALTHOUGH, I have noticed quite the sound difference at bitrates well below 100. I admit it. But 128 v. 160 v. 192 v 256 v 320....no discernable difference that *I* can hear....but 'they' tell you there is....

[StoneCold]

We're creatures of habit so I can't see some form of physical media disappearing. Maybe it'll go to USB drives like the Beatles are releasing but I doubt it.

Funny, these days, even a cd collection seems bulky but its nice not having to bother with playlists. Just keep your favorite cds in the player and press play.

[Sarah]

I still think all things being equal, a "hard copy" of the music will always sound better... I notice a big difference when I take a modern day well-produced CD and listen to it on my iPod or in MP3 form vs. listening to it from the disc.

Generally that depends on the quality of the rip, though. A FLAC file will sound as good as your CD.

[brywool]

As long as the digital includes the artwork for the CD, I'm cool with it.
I DON'T think that MP3 is the way to go. There's too much loss to the sound.
Seems that there are better formats out there for it that don't have any digital loss.

I AM hoping that record companies quit compressing the sound so bad that the dynamics of the recordings go away. They did that to the Beatles remasters and while they are punchy, they're not as dynamic overall.

[bluejeangirl76]

how far into the future before the internet is so vast and inclusive that we no longer have to leave our homes?

About 5 years ago.

[Ehwmatt]

I still think all things being equal, a "hard copy" of the music will always sound better... I notice a big difference when I take a modern day well-produced CD and listen to it on my iPod or in MP3 form vs. listening to it from the disc.

Generally that depends on the quality of the rip, though. A FLAC file will sound as good as your CD.

They are much bigger though in terms of size though, correct? They also aren't super user-friendly like MP3s are.

[Sarah]

I still think all things being equal, a "hard copy" of the music will always sound better... I notice a big difference when I take a modern day well-produced CD and listen to it on my iPod or in MP3 form vs. listening to it from the disc.

Generally that depends on the quality of the rip, though. A FLAC file will sound as good as your CD.

They are much bigger though in terms of size though, correct? They also aren't super user-friendly like MP3s are.

Yes, but it's not like you could fit more than 20 songs on a CD either. They'll keep making bigger iPods.

Also, if you're not a super audio nerd, high quality MP3s should sound just fine, too.

[Ehwmatt]

I still think all things being equal, a "hard copy" of the music will always sound better... I notice a big difference when I take a modern day well-produced CD and listen to it on my iPod or in MP3 form vs. listening to it from the disc.

Generally that depends on the quality of the rip, though. A FLAC file will sound as good as your CD.

They are much bigger though in terms of size though, correct? They also aren't super user-friendly like MP3s are.

Yes, but it's not like you could fit more than 20 songs on a CD either. They'll keep making bigger iPods.

Also, if you're not a super audio nerd, high quality MP3s should sound just fine, too.

I don't notice anything too different listening to 192 MP3s on their own. It's just when I go from listening to a bunch of MP3s to listening to a CD... I just hear more warmth (and ven more so with vinyl). I'm no audiophile, but I feel it. It's kinda like guitar amp/cab/FX modelers - they've come a long way and are way better than they used to be, but there's still a warmth you get from a good tube amp that even the best modeler can't match yet. It's not something you hear so much as you feel.

[journeyrock]

I don't know, I like the cds, but I am finding a lot of the older music that are on cds sound better on digital downloads. I joine dRhapsody a couple of months ago, and can not belive the sound quality. But for now will be keeping cds, since my vechiles do not have digital palyers in them.

I still think all things being equal, a "hard copy" of the music will always sound better... I notice a big difference when I take a modern day well-produced CD and listen to it on my iPod or in MP3 form vs. listening to it from the disc.

All in all, I think music will quickly move to all digital. And even though it is easy to pirate ALL forms of music media, artists just make more money if they don't have to pay extras like booklets, jewel cases....etc. Now I know the Walmart deals have bands pocketing more green, but people still have to leave their house to buy the CD.....All things being equal i think consumers would rather have it at their fingertips. And with more cars being iphone ready - having a CD just doesn't have that same cache' that it once had. The only thing I would miss, and it isn't that much of a big deal is the lyrics from the booklet. I'm no audiophile. I couldn't care less about lossless media. Unless you are the anal retentive audiophile, who cares if something is at a 320 bitrate, or 192. ALTHOUGH, I have noticed quite the sound difference at bitrates well below 100. I admit it. But 128 v. 160 v. 192 v 256 v 320....no discernable difference that *I* can hear....but 'they' tell you there is....

My understanding is that the record labels make more money on digital downloads. I heard the artists don't make much at all on them.

[SunshineTwilight]

I'm currently enrolled in a course at Berklee College of Music called ' The Future of Music and the Music Business', where the topic of digital music is the main discussion.

Thought you all might find this 'lesson' both interesting and relevent.

http://akamai.www.berkleemusic.com/asse ... _water.pdf

.

[Abitaman]

Good read