Poll: Buying Music: Digital download or CD's?

[The DSM]

Hey all.

Today I went into town and got a new CD in Limited Edition (Blind Guardian, At The Edge Of Time If anyone cares) And got back home and started burning it.

When I got back me and my Friends started talking about which is better he downloads.

I just wanted to know what all you do to get music, assuming you get it by paying, dont mention piracy please.

I buy C.D's I like having the solid copy with me, also I like the free lyrics book, really nice artwork and other little extras.

Which do you prefer?

Edit: Added a Vinyl option, didnt know it was that popular anymore, but its your choice.

 

[no oneder]

I do still enjoy buying a CD. It's one of the last pre-2003 indie pleasures I have. But I use iTunes mostly.

I also buy vinyls and cassettes whenever I see them.

 

[TheXRatedDodo]

I occasionally buy CD's if the packaging's nice (can't stand jewel cases) or if it's a limited pressing of something obscure, or if it's not available on vinyl, but other than that, I download stuff illegally and try and buy as much of it on vinyl as I possibly can. It doesn't clear my conscience completely, but enough for me to not feel like a complete and utter asshole, so that's good enough for me.

But anyway, WHERE IS THE VINYL OPTION?!

 

[Freetux]

I buy cd's so that I can have flac rips, I'm a giant nerd when its comes to music quality and most digital download sites offer terrible quality.

 

[no oneder]

I occasionally buy CD's if the packaging's nice (can't stand jewel cases) or if it's a limited pressing of something obscure, or if it's not available on vinyl, but other than that, I download stuff illegally and try and buy as much of it on vinyl as I possibly can. It doesn't clear my conscience completely, but enough for me to not feel like a complete and utter asshole, so that's good enough for me.

But anyway, WHERE IS THE VINYL OPTION?!

I also want a vinyl option.

 

[Rubberbandninja]

I buy CDs, because I like being able to tell my cds apart without reading my sloppy sharpie handwriting.

And the jacket booklets sometimes have neat stuff in them, like pics of the band or hidden download stuff on their website.

 

[TheXRatedDodo]

I buy cd's so that I can have flac rips, I'm a giant nerd when its comes to music quality and most digital download sites offer terrible quality.

Nice to see another person on The Escapist unwilling to compromise on the quality of his rips!

Try and get a what.cd account. You can do an interview on their irc channel if you read up on some info that they link you to. Well worth it. Flacs of basically anything you can think of.

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

From an aesthetic standpoint? I much prefer the physical medium, for the reasons you listed. But from a fiscal standpoint, I invariably end up going with digital - the price disparity is just too stark, made even more so when you factor in that most of the music I'm looking to purchase is a European import. Certain albums, which I picked up for about $8, would have cost me $40+ if I'd bought them in CD format. That's obviously an extreme example, but even regular releases generally available in the US still retail for about twice what the digital copy costs if not more than twice the price.

And since I was going to rip it and burn a copy to use anyways (no sense wearing out the original source disc), it just makes far more sense to use digital downloads when I'm acquiring new music.

 

[Queen Michael]

I buy CDs. But not that often, only when Bruce Springsteen, P!nk or Tori Amos has something new out.

 

[TheComedown]

CD's usually get at least one every week or two, nothing like tearing off 3 layers of plastic and that new cd smell.

 

[TheXRatedDodo]

"Wearing out" a CD is a lie.
You just gotta take good care of them and they won't get worn out. Keep them clean, keep your fingerprints off the disk, and don't let them get scratched by keeping them either in the player or in the case and your cd's will live FOREVER.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I buy CDs and vinyls. There's just something about having a physical copy that's different... the only time I buy on iTunes is if I only like one or two songs or I can't find the CD anywhere else.

 

[Klepa]

My roommate's a bit of a crazy lunatic collector. He buys all sorts of special editions stuff, vinyls, those cardboard packs for CDs, etc. I think he has three different versions of Mastodon's Leviathan, a vinyl, a cardboard thing, and some collector thing.

I just listen to what he buys, our taste in music is nearly identical. If he doesn't have something I want, I go and get it myself. I prefer CD's I think. For the rare occasion when I buy music, I prefer something I can hold in my hand. I don't mind Digital copies of games, though.

 

[Guest_Star]

Still have a couple of hunnerd CD's lying about, but besides some indie releases bought directly from promising bands, I haven't actually bought any in the last year'n a harf.
Cuz... Spotify Premium!
Since I'm connected to the internets the 24-7 anyways, why bother with the physical media?
Play on demand!

 

[enzilewulf]

CD's. Take anywhere and always good for the car. Well thats how I see it.

 

[Freetux]

Nice to see another person on The Escapist unwilling to compromise on the quality of his rips!

Try and get a what.cd account. You can do an interview on their irc channel if you read up on some info that they link you to. Well worth it. Flacs of basically anything you can think of.

I joined last week and instantly made a mess in my pants.

 

[Amphoteric]

You can get albums for much cheaper than if you bought every song on the internet.

 

[Dok Zombie]

I'll buy CD's as long as I have the money to, and certain bands I will always get their newest whether I can afford it or not.

Although I've been hitting torrents of full discography's while I've been a broke ass student, with the intention of buying the best stuff at a later date.

 

[skips]

If I'm going to pay for music, I'll only buy on vinyl.