Have digital downloads affected the way you listen to music?

[Rman]

I would say I started downloading music around 2000.  It was my freshman year of college, which provided me with high speed internet access--I had 56k at home--and Napster was at its peak.  Since that time the way I listen to music has changed dramatically.  I no longer listen to full albums, just a song here and there.  But it saddens, in a sense, since most of my albums just collect dust and I rarely listen full albums anymore.  I'm too lazy to rip them too.

Some of favorite albums. 
Buena Vista Social Club Soundtrack-Buena Vista Social Club
Thriller-Michael Jackson
What's Going On-Marvin Gaye
Four Sider-Sergio Mendez
Beastie Boys-License to Ill
Best of Sade-Sade
Dookie-Green Day

[Mr. Gundam]

Nope. I still buy everything on CD and vinyl at local record stores.

[Powerslave]

This is me dude. I never listen to albums. I've got folders full of random artists and genres. I'm not one of those guys who hear a song by a band and then proceed downloading their entire discography only to get bored of them within weeks.

[Rman]

I think I might go back to buying physical copies.  In my ideal world everything would be DD. XBMC has spoiled me silly in this regard.  I just hate having to change discs.  One thing I do love of about physical copies is the sense of security they provide.  I had a botched OS update that crashed my drive.  And like a distinguished mentally-challenged fellow I did not backup anything.  Lost tons of music.  Music I purchased online I was able to get back, though.

[border]

I don't listen to full albums, but I never really listened to full albums in the first place.  I can only think of maybe 1-2 albums where I'd want to listen to every track, and not just skip straight through to my favorites.

Legal digital downloads are straight-up awful, at this point.  Same price as physical media, less quality.

[TVC15]

I don't pay for music anymore unless I am at a show.  I tried to do the buy on iTunes thing, but that wasn't working out for a number of reasons.  Sometimes I buy classical music.  Classical got me to purchase CDs for the first time in years.  Once you buy classical and see how cheap most of it is, you feel bad for the poor saps that are still buying overpriced pop recordings.

[Rman]

I don't listen to full albums, but I never really listened to full albums in the first place.  I can only think of maybe 1-2 albums where I'd want to listen to every track, and not just skip straight through to my favorites.

Legal digital downloads are straight-up awful, at this point.  Same price as physical media, less quality.

I honestly could never tell the difference between 128kbs and 256kbs?

[Powerslave]

Isn't 'digital' downloads kinda redundant? I've never heard of analog downloads 

[Rman]

I don't pay for music anymore unless I am at a show.  I tried to do the buy on iTunes thing, but that wasn't working out for a number of reasons.  Sometimes I buy classical music.  Classical got me to purchase CDs for the first time in years.  Once you buy classical and see how cheap most of it is, you feel bad for the poor saps that are still buying overpriced pop recordings.

I did iTunes for a bit.  I'm tired of their DRM, though.  Amazon has non-DRM'ed songs at 256kbs for those who care.

[border]

I honestly could never tell the difference between 128kbs and 256kbs?

I probably couldn't either, but if I'm paying full price for something I'd at least like it to be archival quality.  If you are going to cut corners to save money on bandwidth, then pass those savings on to me.

The DRM is really the bigger problem for me......it looks like the recording industry is slowly stepping away from it, though it will probably be 5 years before the MPAA gets their head out of their ass.

[TVC15]

I don't pay for music anymore unless I am at a show.  I tried to do the buy on iTunes thing, but that wasn't working out for a number of reasons.  Sometimes I buy classical music.  Classical got me to purchase CDs for the first time in years.  Once you buy classical and see how cheap most of it is, you feel bad for the poor saps that are still buying overpriced pop recordings.

I did iTunes for a bit.  I'm tired of their DRM, though.  Amazon has non-DRM'ed songs at 256kbs for those who care.

Same here.  I can remove the DRM. . .but why bother?  Amazon has a similar selection of mp3s, at higher quality, the same price, and no DRM.

iTunes was great when it started, but it's been murdered on most fronts by this point.

[CajoleJuice]

I've listened to a lot more music than I would have otherwise.

I'm the guy Powerslave is not. I download entire discographies when I'm interested in a band.

[hyp]

i still buy CDs and vinyl.  but i have no problem with digital downloads if that's your thing.  in fact, digital downloads are a godsend for some really rare/indie music.

[Powerslave]

I try to digest songs in portions. That way you can have fun with a band for a longer time.

[Rman]

I don't pay for music anymore unless I am at a show.  I tried to do the buy on iTunes thing, but that wasn't working out for a number of reasons.  Sometimes I buy classical music.  Classical got me to purchase CDs for the first time in years.  Once you buy classical and see how cheap most of it is, you feel bad for the poor saps that are still buying overpriced pop recordings.

I did iTunes for a bit.  I'm tired of their DRM, though.  Amazon has non-DRM'ed songs at 256kbs for those who care.

Same here.  I can remove the DRM. . .but why bother?  Amazon has a similar selection of mp3s, at higher quality, the same price, and no DRM.

iTunes was great when it started, but it's been murdered on most fronts by this point.

The only problem is that the ITMS has a much better interface and is more intuitive for most than Amazon's website.  I know people who still use the ITMS for that reason alone.

[hyp]

another approach i have with downloads is that i still burn audio CDs of albums and listen to them in my car.  at least this way i can absorb an artist for days, weeks, months, keeping them in rotation and getting the best listening experience possible.  if the music doesn't grab me right away, i just dump it and burn another.

[TVC15]

I don't pay for music anymore unless I am at a show.  I tried to do the buy on iTunes thing, but that wasn't working out for a number of reasons.  Sometimes I buy classical music.  Classical got me to purchase CDs for the first time in years.  Once you buy classical and see how cheap most of it is, you feel bad for the poor saps that are still buying overpriced pop recordings.

I did iTunes for a bit.  I'm tired of their DRM, though.  Amazon has non-DRM'ed songs at 256kbs for those who care.

Same here.  I can remove the DRM. . .but why bother?  Amazon has a similar selection of mp3s, at higher quality, the same price, and no DRM.

iTunes was great when it started, but it's been murdered on most fronts by this point.

The only problem is that the ITMS has a much better interface and is more intuitive for most than Amazon's website.  I know people who still use the ITMS for that reason alone.

I'm willing to deal with Amazon's webpage if it means I get DRM-less mp3s at twice the quality of iTunes at the same price.

[tiesto]

I buy mix albums from my DJs of choice, but I download a shit-ton of singles off SoulSeek or whatnot, and a lot of mixes/podcasts I can find online. I will occasionally buy music from beatport if I want a high-quality version of a fairly hard to find song that I'd want to use for my own mixes.

[Rman]

I don't pay for music anymore unless I am at a show.  I tried to do the buy on iTunes thing, but that wasn't working out for a number of reasons.  Sometimes I buy classical music.  Classical got me to purchase CDs for the first time in years.  Once you buy classical and see how cheap most of it is, you feel bad for the poor saps that are still buying overpriced pop recordings.

I did iTunes for a bit.  I'm tired of their DRM, though.  Amazon has non-DRM'ed songs at 256kbs for those who care.

Same here.  I can remove the DRM. . .but why bother?  Amazon has a similar selection of mp3s, at higher quality, the same price, and no DRM.

iTunes was great when it started, but it's been murdered on most fronts by this point.

The only problem is that the ITMS has a much better interface and is more intuitive for most than Amazon's website.  I know people who still use the ITMS for that reason alone.

I'm willing to deal with Amazon's webpage if it means I get DRM-less mp3s at twice the quality of iTunes at the same price.

Yeah, I know people like us would not mind dealing with it.  I just feel that a lot of people are sleeping at Amazon's music downloads.  They have the ITMS beat, but no one seems to notice.

[hyp]

and with the built in itunes store on the iphone and ipods, amazon will continue to be insignificant.  people tend to value convenience more than anything.

[Eric P]

i wish wax poetics would get their downloads store up and running

was supposed to be out in december

edit: and now bumped to the nebulous "2008"

[TVC15]

and with the built in itunes store on the iphone and ipods, amazon will continue to be insignificant.  people tend to value convenience more than anything.

I think that unless Apple ups their game, the media will turn on them this year.  NBC and Fox, with Hulu, are showing that the iTunes TV model isn't the best it can be, and several digital music retailers are also offering things significantly better than iTunes.  It's only a matter of time before people and the media start to notice.

Apple created the industry and set the trends, but they are behind the times, now.  Those of us on the vanguard of nerdery can plainly see this, and our common sense will trickle down to the internet dirties eventually.  Unless Apple changes the game.

[hyp]

I think that unless Apple ups their game, the media will turn on them this year.  NBC and Fox, with Hulu, are showing that the iTunes TV model isn't the best it can be, and several digital music retailers are also offering things significantly better than iTunes.  It's only a matter of time before people and the media start to notice.

Apple created the industry and set the trends, but they are behind the times, now.  Those of us on the vanguard of nerdery can plainly see this, and our common sense will trickle down to the internet dirties eventually.  Unless Apple changes the game.

i wholeheartedly agree.  but i can't help but feel that this won't happen soon enough.

[TVC15]

I think that unless Apple ups their game, the media will turn on them this year.  NBC and Fox, with Hulu, are showing that the iTunes TV model isn't the best it can be, and several digital music retailers are also offering things significantly better than iTunes.  It's only a matter of time before people and the media start to notice.

Apple created the industry and set the trends, but they are behind the times, now.  Those of us on the vanguard of nerdery can plainly see this, and our common sense will trickle down to the internet dirties eventually.  Unless Apple changes the game.

i wholeheartedly agree.  but i can't help but feel that this won't happen soon enough.

I think Apple has a year's worth of time on their side.  I think it depends on when Hulu finally officially launches.  When the curtain is pulled back and people see that their TV model is shit, I think media outlets will take the opportunity to recognize that their music model is also unsatisfactory, at best.

[border]

What's impressing you about Hulu.com?  I've only been on it a couple weeks but it doesn't seem too hot.  The quality is better than YouTube, but on my system a lot of the videos seem to have framerate/smoothness problems after they've been running for a few minutes.  Granted my system is a few years old, but a P4 2.53 Ghz system shouldn't be choking on Flash videos.

[hyp]

my wife got into the hulu beta... i may just have to check it out tonight.  i've noticed you mentioning it a lot.

[TVC15]

What's impressing you about Hulu.com?  I've only been on it a couple weeks but it doesn't seem too hot.  The quality is better than YouTube, but on my system a lot of the videos seem to have framerate/smoothness problems after they've been running for a few minutes.  Granted my system is a few years old, but a P4 2.53 Ghz system shouldn't be choking on Flash videos.

I'm impressed about everything.  NBC has made a lot of right decisions, and they seem to understand that convenience, quality, and a robust selection will win them fans.  They have hand-picked a lot of internet nerdlinger-quality content.  They seem to understand that treating their customers like criminals isn't going to fly with a successful service (the reason why downloads aren't available--they are having problems deciding what is fair).  I frankly haven't seen anything to not be impressed by. 


Also I can watch Conan every day now!

[border]

You're supposed to be able to download stuff off of Hulu, eventually?  That's cool.

I guess the performance issues were mostly what's bugging the hell out of me.  You probably don't have the same problems since you have newer uber-PCs.  I was assuming this was going to be a big hurdle for the site until I realized YouTube's popularity.  I guess if people will spend hours watching grainy low-rez videos, they'll spend hours watching hi-rez videos with a bunch of dropped frames.  I watched probably half a season of Doctor Who on Stage6, and it had better quality and better performance than Hulu or YouTube though.  I guess Flash just has its bloat and limitations.

I have never seen 30 Rock before and I'm looking forward to working my way through the second season on Hulu.com, just so I can say I've given the whole thing a fair test drive.

[TVC15]

Yeah, they are trying to find a happy medium between DRM and freedom on DLs.  I heard they wanted to do expiration dates on files (because they want you to buy the DVDs if you want to keep a copy of the show), but I don't think that sort of tech flies with all portable video players (one of their goals is to not be restrictive.  They want you to be able to play videos on iPods and Zens and Zunes or whatever).

I don't exactly have a direct contact, and I haven't talked to my friend that works at NBC since like November, so the entire strategy could have changed by now.  I like that I can embed the videos on my blog, and anyone (in the US) can watch them, regardless of whether they are a member or not.

[border]

Hmmmmmm what is better -- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S3 or 30 Rock S2?

[Eric P]

hulu is very impressive though as stated previously the quality isn't the greatest, but it doesn't really need to be for me.

[TVC15]

Hmmmmmm what is better -- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S3 or 30 Rock S2?

30 Rock.  I only think a few of the S3 Philadelphia eps are that good, and I love the first two seasons.  

S3 of Sunny, check out:

The Gang Gets Invincible (not one of my favorites, but a lot of people seem to like this episode in particular)
The Aluminum Monster vs. Fatty McGoo
Sweet Dee's Dating A distinguished mentally-challenged Person
Mac Is A Serial Killer

Actually, I don't think I have seen the episodes after Serial Killer.  They could all be gold for what I know.

And for what it's worth, the show is never that bad, it's just not as good as it was.  Just like season 2, it is incredibly focused on being wacky, and too often (or at least more often than season 2) it crosses the line from wacky to distinguished mentally-challenged, and not in a good way.

If you are bored and stoned, I am sure you will find all the S3 eps hilarious.  I think I was just bummed because I watched it immediately after season season 2, and it was largely disappointing in comparison.

hulu is very impressive though as stated previously the quality isn't the greatest, but it doesn't really need to be for me.

Same here.  I don't give a crap about TV quality.  if it's a show I like, I'll end up buying it on DVD (or HD) anyway.

Also, Hulu and MS did announce that Hulu is going to take advantage of Silverlight.  I wouldn't be surprised if a little more quality is put into the Silverlight shit, since it is in MS's best interest to get people hooked on that.

[Eric P]

what's silverlight?

nvm:  googling.

and malcom mcdowell just got bent over and savagely caned in this film.

[Phoenix Dark]

Before I began downloading I "digested" music much better. At that time you would buy an album and listen to it for a long period of time before branching off to tons of other stuff - or at least I would. Often I would listen to at most a couple albums for months and then move on to something else. Now I might binge on an album for a week then move to something else. It's so easy to download albums lol

In terms of some of my favorite albums...

Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
Axis: Bold as Love - Jimi Hendrix
Master of Puppets - Metallica
Illmatic - Nas
Superunknown - Soundgarden

[TVC15]

WHAT FILM

Also, Hulu does have a streaming HD section (720p) but they only have movie trailers there, and it doesn't stream as smoothly a lot of the time:

http://www.hulu.com/hd

I guess that is just an experiment for now.

[border]

So is Hulu currently running on Silverlight or Flash?  I'm assuming Flash, since I don't remember installing a Silverlight plugin.

Have you been subjected to that stupid Royal Carribbean Cruise ad?  Apparently the edited version of "Lust for Life" was still too jarring and offensive, so now they're using some corny muzak version without Iggy Pop's vocals.

[Eric P]

If...

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[

[close]

[TVC15]

So is Hulu currently running on Silverlight or Flash?  I'm assuming Flash, since I don't remember installing a Silverlight plugin.

Have you been subjected to that stupid Royal Carribbean Cruise ad?  Apparently the edited version of "Lust for Life" was still too jarring and offensive, so now they're using some corny muzak version without Iggy Pop's vocals.

Right now it's all on Flash.  I think the announcement was something along the lines of it will use Silverlight once the next version of it is out, which is sometime reasonably soon, though I don't really follow that.

Also, Comcast just launched Fancast ( http://www.fancast.com/full_episodes) the other day which is offering shows from CBS, NBC, and Fox, though it doesn't have the full selection of Hulu shit, and the quality appears a bit worse.  Anyone can use that though.

Like I said, Apple's TV services are going to be dead in the water if they don't do anything.

[Eric P]

.

Also, Comcast just launched Fancast ( http://www.fancast.com/full_episodes) the other day which is offering shows from CBS, NBC, and Fox, though it doesn't have the full selection of Hulu shit, and the quality appears a bit worse.  Anyone can use that though.

the video is quite small for something i can expand on hulu (i tested bob newheart show)

[TVC15]

I didn't really mess around with Fancast yet.  That just launched a day or two ago.

[Eric P]

I didn't really mess around with Fancast yet.  That just launched a day or two ago.

it was also cobranded with hulu so i'm guessing it's the same source but the front end locks the quality of the video?  the viewing window (which you can't seem to expand) is set to 16:9 (roughly).

but if you're platform agnostic, then it should be just as fine.

[TVC15]

I didn't really mess around with Fancast yet.  That just launched a day or two ago.

it was also cobranded with hulu so i'm guessing it's the same source but the front end locks the quality of the video?  the viewing window (which you can't seem to expand) is set to 16:9 (roughly).

Yeah, watching a 30 Rock episode in both side by side, they appear to be using the same source video, but it looks more aliased in the Fancast version.  Maybe their rendering technology isn't quite as good?

Oh well, either way, two really spiffy services that ensure there will ALWAYS be plenty of free TV to watch.  It's a good time to be a TV fan.

Which is weird, what with the writer's strike, heh.  Conan is like, better than he usually is.  Useless award shows are getting canceled.  American Gladiators was the most successful television debut this season.  And the current season of television shows blew ass anyway.  The writer's guild is looking kinda inessential at this point, at least from the POV of a network executive.  Why pay for a shitty third season of Heroes when they can bring back Rollergames with BETTER RATINGS.  And it would be cheaper, too.

[Madrun Badrun]

Whiteman buy Wagner's Faust Overture on amazon and upload it to your server so I can listen to it!

I can't download it anywhere and amazon's download service hates Canadians   :'(

[Eel O'Brian]

I hope all this leads to some classic TV being available again.  I want to see every existing episode of The Jack Benny Show, Burns and Allen, and a lot of other 1950s shows which are never shown on cable anymore

[TVC15]

Whiteman buy Wagner's Faust Overture on amazon and upload it to your server so I can listen to it!

I can't download it anywhere and amazon's download service hates Canadians   :'(

I'll do it next week.  Remind me.  Did you get the Bach off my server?

I hope all this leads to some classic TV being available again.  I want to see every existing episode of The Jack Benny Show, Burns and Allen, and a lot of other 1950s shows which are never shown on cable anymore

Fuck that garbage.  You can watch AIRWOLF on Hulu.

[Madrun Badrun]

The Bach composed on some electronic gismo thing?  Yes I did.

I didn't like it though.  Sorry.

[border]

Why pay for a shitty third season of Heroes when they can bring back Rollergames with BETTER RATINGS.  And it would be cheaper, too.

I forgot about Rollergames! 

**Fingers crossed for a Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling revival**

[TVC15]

The Bach composed on some electronic gismo thing?  Yes I did.

I didn't like it though.  Sorry.

No no, that was a Wendy Carlos song.  I uploaded an album of his string compositions and the "hidden chorales."  Lemme find a link.

http://indarktrees.com/pics/books/Bach_Morimur/

[Eel O'Brian]

Fuck that garbage.  You can watch AIRWOLF on Hulu.

...

[Eric P]

i am having trouble getting into the newer communities.

meh.  i'll just wait it out for now.

[Madrun Badrun]

The Bach composed on some electronic gismo thing?  Yes I did.

I didn't like it though.  Sorry.

No no, that was a Wendy Carlos song.  I uploaded an album of his string compositions and the "hidden chorales."  Lemme find a link.

http://indarktrees.com/pics/books/Bach_Morimur/

Listening now, while I download Dvorak's 9th...and Naruto 151-200...I think I have a problem.

[ToxicAdam]

I don't even download anymore. I have all the music I want.. and now, for new stuff, I just log into Youtube and listen to it there.

[BlueTsunami]

It definitely allows me to sample music I would have never bought if I had to spend $14 on a CD back in the 90's. I used to stay with shit I knew I was fine with (Techno, World Music, Rock) but I've moved beyond that and I actively listen to other stuff.

[DJ_Tet]

Wendy Carlos doing Bach 

[TVC15]

I don't even download anymore. I have all the music I want.. and now, for new stuff, I just log into Youtube and listen to it there.

Look at the silly conservative, happy with what he has despite it likely being completely inadequate.  I bet he only has the complete Scorpions discography or something.

[Phoenix Dark]

Wendy Carlos doing Bach 

The sexual connotations o my!