Are Compact Discs going out of fashion?

SIX PACK

Hi im just looking for other people's views on this topic. Has the age of the Cd run it course im referring mainly to music.
I know most Movies/Games are mainly purchased on Compact disc...

For me personally i never bought a music cd in 2 yrs + . . . I usually download any songs i want now from youtube etc & put it on my iphone. Or if i want movies i save them on external hard drive.
So im just curious do other people here still buy Cd's to get their music ?

Also do you think compact disc's will be a thing of the past in 5 yrs time :rolleyes: ?

ReacherCreature

Don't know if they're going out of fashion as some places still charge fairly big for them in my experiences. If they were going I'd imagine stores would be selling them cheaply.

mikemac

I get my music from itunes these days

And any cd I do have I ripped onto the imac and just put it aside

Come to think of it I have many cds and no cd player. Well the computer and xbox I suppose

smokedeels

SIX PACK wrote: »

Hi im just looking for other people's views on this topic. Has the age of the Cd run it course im referring mainly to music.
I know most Movies/Games are mainly purchased on Compact disc...

For me personally i never bought a music cd in 2 yrs + . . . I usually download any songs i want now from youtube etc & put it on my iphone. Or if i want movies i save them on external hard drive.
So im just curious do other people here still buy Cd's to get their music ?

Also do you think compact disc's will be a thing of the past in 5 yrs time :rolleyes: ?

That's illegal and rendering independent music stores, labels and bands "a thing of the past". You need to have some sense of worth and fairness and pay for music.

CD/Vinyl/Future psychical mediums/ won't go extinct because playing youtube-rips from mobile phones won't - for everyone - usurp the desire for high-fidelity, album art and the experience of digging for records.

Irish Guitarist

I used to tape songs off the radio when I was a kid, which I suppose was the eighties version of downloading MP3s. Whenever I got money for Christmas or my birthday though I would spend it on tapes or records. When I got my first job I spent a fortune on CDs (I would have preferred records but this was the early nineties when vinyl was becoming harder to get).

I think anyone that truly loves music will always buy CDs or vinyl when they can. You can't beat lying back and listening to a great album on a decent stereo through decent headphones. You can't beat being able to read the liner notes of a CD either. Personally I can't understand why anyone would choose to listen to music on an MP3 player or a phone rather than on a stereo.

I don't buy many CDs nowadays but that's because I have pretty much everything I want. If I do hear a good song that I want I'll buy the CD rather than download it (legally or illegally). The only music I download is music that I can't find on CD.

TimeToShine

smokedeels wrote: »

That's illegal and rendering independent music stores, labels and bands "a thing of the past". You need to have some sense of worth and fairness and pay for music.

.

Oh smokedeels, you so funny!

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Maybe I'm old fashioned but if I'm handing over money I want something physical in exchange.

I would sometimes download music in a somewhat questionable manner, but when I have money I'll usually buy the album anyway.

I know people back up their computers and that these days, but there's always the risk of losing all your music if you don't have hard copies.

SIX PACK

Ah shur even porn is illegal in Ireland but we still watch it buy it. Cd's are great to listen to until they get scratched & start Skipping which is a real Head wrecker especially if your a Disc jockey :mad:,
I do buy some music off various sites. Id say in ten years time all media wil be stored on SD (secure digital) 16GB or Micro SD cards which can range up to 8GB... i cant get over how something so small can hold such a vast amount of information... & best of all you dont have to worry about them getting scratched.
But you might Misplace them because of their size

John

SIX PACK wrote: »

Cd's are great to listen to until they get scratched & start Skipping which is a real Head wrecker especially if your a Disc jockey :mad:,

I don't understand how people scratch CDs. Open case, put in player, listen to album, take out and put back in case. Move on to next CD.

I've been buying CDs for about 20 years now and have two scratched CDs out of about 3000. One of those I scratched myself and the other came back looking like somebody had used sandpaper on it after lending it to a friend. I used to DJ and I used to do college radio so would always have them with me but once you treat them right they should last for aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages.

To be honest, I'm always going to buy physical formats because I like that feeling of having an album and knowing that when my iPod dies that my music is still safe. I still buy tapes for feck's sake! That being said, the PS3 is awesome for download-only releases. Just load them up on it and play through that set up. As more and more entertainment technology moves towards wireless internet technology and more online outlets offer high fidelity recordings (as far as I know, only bandcamp offers lossless files), then you'll see a major shift away from CDs.

MrStuffins

I love music. I have a massive CD collection and spend over half of my waking life listening to music..........................

but i haven't bought a CD in about 3 years and i can't see myself ever buying another CD unless it's from a band i know or a local band who haven't got their stuff available on iTunes.

My iPod is where it's at these days.

Mindkiller

Whenever I do buy music, I only buy CDs. I don't see the value in buying DRM-addled, low bitrate crap.

smokedeels

TimeToShine wrote: »

Oh smokedeels, you so funny!

Mindkiller

Malice

SIX PACK wrote: »

even porn is illegal in Ireland

It is?

rcaz

Why would you worry about fashion with respect to something like this?

If you do all your listening with downloads and rips, with low bitrates and poor equipment, you're missing out on tons of the enjoyment and experience. Your problem, not compact discs'.

Cicero

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

I used to tape songs off the radio when I was a kid, which I suppose was the eighties version of downloading MP3s. Whenever I got money for Christmas or my birthday though I would spend it on tapes or records. When I got my first job I spent a fortune on CDs (I would have preferred records but this was the early nineties when vinyl was becoming harder to get).

I think anyone that truly loves music will always buy CDs or vinyl when they can. You can't beat lying back and listening to a great album on a decent stereo through decent headphones. You can't beat being able to read the liner notes of a CD either. Personally I can't understand why anyone would choose to listen to music on an MP3 player or a phone rather than on a stereo.

I don't buy many CDs nowadays but that's because I have pretty much everything I want. If I do hear a good song that I want I'll buy the CD rather than download it (legally or illegally). The only music I download is music that I can't find on CD.

^^^^pretty much what he said....have all the music I want...I'll just buy the rest if I want it, but it's rare I buy anything these days as I have a good collection....I think the big thing now is what your sound system looks like- that will dictate the medium- if you have a good stereo, then it's CD's- if ure into ipods/ docking station/ using PC to play music etc, then it's probably downloadable music....CD's will probably be here for the next 10 years, but remember, records did eventually go.....along with 35 mm camera film and the telephone box...:)

John

Cicero wrote: »

records did eventually go

No they didn't, they dropped for a while but are now going pretty strong. Tower Records vastly expanded their vinyl range recently due to consumer demand. A lot of band and labels are including free download vouchers with LPs so you get a copy for ipod and your turntable.

MrStuffins

John wrote: »

No they didn't, they dropped for a while but are now going pretty strong. Tower Records vastly expanded their vinyl range recently due to consumer demand. A lot of band and labels are including free download vouchers with LPs so you get a copy for ipod and your turntable.

although CDs were the norm and now Digital Music has and is increasingly becoming the norm........... you seriously can't beat the sound of a record!

John

To be honest, I think you can. I've a sizeable vinyl collection but it tends to be stuff that is either only available on LP, has different material/mix to the CD or by a band I'm bananas about. I like the aesthetic of an LP, I like the sleeve, I like looking at it as it spins but I think CDs are a better format for listening. There's no surface noise, there's no degradation, harder to scratch, easier to maintain, there's no messing about with needles and I don't believe in analogue warmth or other voodoo (however, that is not to say that I don't believe in loss of information in digital formats, it is just so negligible in CDs to be practically non-existant).

rcaz

What about the ritual of putting on a record, John? Taking the time to route the stereo properly, start the motor, drop the needle carefully, walk away without making the turntable skip, all the effort that goes into setting up an LP for playing. You can just hit play on a CD and have it ready in seconds. I always feel like you have to earn your music with an LP.

John

As I said, I like the whole aesthetic experience but I think in pure audio terms, CDs are superior.

Cicero

El Pr0n wrote: »

What about the ritual of putting on a record, John? Taking the time to route the stereo properly, start the motor, drop the needle carefully, walk away without making the turntable skip, all the effort that goes into setting up an LP for playing. You can just hit play on a CD and have it ready in seconds. I always feel like you have to earn your music with an LP.

not only that...the ritual of flicking through all those big 12 inch albums in a record store before selecting the one you wanted...remember them..record stores?...bringing the album home under your arm in a big Golden Discs/Dolphin Records bag...the excitement of removing the album for the first time from it's dust cover......:)

In terms of audio though, I think the playing experience is only as good as the system you use....I've had crap CD players and great record players....I think for quality, the CD wins hands down on a decent system...but it can never replace the unique pleasure of what you describe above...

rcaz

Cicero wrote: »

In terms of audio though, I think the playing experience is only as good as the system you use....I've had crap CD players and great record players....I think for quality, the CD wins hands down on a decent system...but it can never replace the unique pleasure of what you describe above...

Gonna have to disagree with you there, on players of the same standard, into the same system, I'd always go with vinyl. The groove on a vinyl is a physical representation of exactly how the speakers move. A CD is a digital approximation of how the speakers should move. Maybe a negligible loss in detail, but by definition, a loss in detail.

If people are complaining about surface noise, take care of your vinyl, store them in anti-static sleeves and away from dust, and keep your stylus clean.

Jamie Starr

When I was a kid and I started buying tapes, I always looked forward to reading the inlay, looking at the art-work, I'd even read the credits! It was the same when CDs came out: the first one I ever got was Daft Punk's Discovery when it came out- it had a great inlay with cool pictures, and a Daft Punk Fan Club card. I liked the physical thing.

From time to time now I do download albums- mostly ones I can't get on CD, or I'm not sure about paying for- even then, I still miss the real CD. I never buy from iTunes for that same reason- there's no artwork included, no lyrics, no fold out poster!

On Friday I bought a CD for €18, when I could have got it a lot cheaper on iTunes (with bonus material), just because I wanted the thing. Maybe it's silly, but I don't think I'll ever become a digital music buyer. Is does rankle with me that the music distribution biz is going that way though.

MickShamrock

Yes. Music is all digital these days.

blastman

I was around at the beginning of MP3. I worked for a company that made one of the first hardware MP3 players. I was on the original Napster and I thought it was brilliant.

And yet I still refuse to buy downloads. I still want the CD or the record. I don't think people appreciate how fragile computer memory and discs are compared to CDs or even vinyl. I hate DRM and jumping through hoops to play something I paid for. I do acquire music under dubious circumstances, but if I didn't, I wouldn't buy it anyway, so it's not a lost sale despite what the record companies would have you believe. If I like something, I'll buy it even if I got it for free.

I love MP3s, but I'll always get the music I really want in physical format. If there's a downside to MP3, it is that it has made music much more about quantity rather than quality, as we seek ever greater amounts to filll ever larger hard discs. Hype 'em up, bleed 'em dry and discard seeems to be the career path these days.

palethinboy

If vinyl was cheaper i wouldn't buy any CD's.

mp3's are crap & i would not pay for them

seamus

John wrote: »

I don't understand how people scratch CDs. Open case, put in player, listen to album, take out and put back in case. Move on to next CD.

Typically it went like this:
Take CD out and insert into player.
Listen.
Put CD case back in rack/under coffee table/under stacks of paper.
Leave for 3 days.
Take another CD out. Open player to find previous CD in player.
Can't find CD case. Throw naked CD on top of the CD player.
Insert new CD. Listen.

etc etc.

Yes, CDs will eventually go the way of the Dodo. Well, maybe moreso the way of the vinyl. Vinyl might be "going strong", but when compared against digital growth it's a tiny market. Bricks 'n mortar shops are stocking more vinyl now because they can't stock MP3 and they may as well do their best to revenue gather.

There's a proper collapse on the way for CD sales. The problem at the moment is that digital "Hi-Fi" has not been properly embraced by the manufacturers; They're all still focussing on personal media players. So while a CD I bought ten years ago at the time I could play it on my discman, or my computer, or my DVD player or on the sterio in the house, when I buy an MP3 player today, I can only play it on my MP3 player and on my computer. To play it on any other device requires irritating steps.

So bridging this gap is what will sound the death knell of the CD. If someone builds a single storage place for your digital music which allows you to play it to your computer, stereo, TV, whatever, with minimal fuss and without breaking the bank, then that's it. At present if I want a stereo which natively plays digital music from any source, I'm looking at the guts of €100, minimum. I can buy a CD/radio stereo from Lidl for €20. Even though the digital item is massively cheaper and simpler to manufacture.

But that day is coming. You buy a tiny stereo for your kitchen for €15 - nothing more than a pair of speakers a couple of buttons - it automatically picks up your digital library via WiFi and plays away.
In the sitting room next door, you've spent €500 on a huge stereo with all the bells and whistles - a 14" touchscreen on the front with searches and album flows and so forth - and it too connects to your home's digital library and plays the same music.

alois

the simple act of associating your favourite music with something tangible will never lose its brilliance, the authentic cd will continue to be produced but in MUCH smaller numbers and might even increase in price imho

enfant terrible

El Pr0n wrote: »

Why would you worry about fashion with respect to something like this?

If you do all your listening with downloads and rips, with low bitrates and poor equipment, you're missing out on tons of the enjoyment and experience. Your problem, not compact discs'.

You can download the entire CD bit for bit if you want quality.

Think most CD's are about 400MB's.

Mindkiller

I have never seen iTunes or the likes sell losseless music though and even procuring it by spurious means can be a challenge.

Plus, it's a pain getting iPods to recognise FLAC. Have to convert to Apples silly proprietary format

topper75

Can you foresee a day when an artist after a gig takes a tenner off you to dock your ipod at his ipod to get his/her album?

I can't.

There is something special about really enjoying a gig and getting to talk to the artist afterwards and buy their CD. You will treasure in a way that no MP3 can compare to.

Nononolan

El Pr0n wrote: »

Why would you worry about fashion with respect to something like this?

If you do all your listening with downloads and rips, with low bitrates and poor equipment, you're missing out on tons of the enjoyment and experience. Your problem, not compact discs'.

Most people are oblivious to the quality difference between cd and compressed downloads. With lossless codecs in place theres even more reason to download online. Its no coincidence that a load of independent and chain record shops are closing down with the advent of download culture.

I like the argument that you never physically own the album but it doesnt matter to most people...me included.

SIX PACK

topper75 wrote: »

Can you foresee a day when an artist after a gig takes a tenner off you to dock your ipod at his ipod to get his/her album?

I can't.

There is something special about really enjoying a gig and getting to talk to the artist afterwards and buy their CD. You will treasure in a way that no MP3 can compare to.

Fair point...

Carl.Gustav

CD sales have fallen big time year after year for the last 10 years, that trend isn't going to change, the medium is dieing, it may not die completely but it is heading towards being a very niche market.

Primary reason being they cost a lot of money and you can get the same product for free online, that is unbeatable competition.

Some people will continue to buy because they think it is the honest thing, other's because they want to own a physical product, others because they think the sound quality is better from a cd but they are in the small minority.

US music sales in 1999 were 15 billion dollars, in 2009 that figure was 6.3 billion.

As for me if HMV opened their doors and said everything is free take what you want I wouldn't take anything, it's just dust collecting junk.
I'll take the digital product.

rcaz

Carl.Gustav wrote: »

Primary reason being they cost a lot of money and you can get the same product for free online, that is unbeatable competition.

You're not comparing two options on a market there, you're comparing legal and illegal practices, which isn't a valid argument here. People don't argue about pubs closing down by saying you can steal cans in an off license.

Carl.Gustav

El Pr0n wrote: »

You're not comparing two options on a market there, you're comparing legal and illegal practices, which isn't a valid argument here. People don't argue about pubs closing down by saying you can steal cans in an off license.

I'm not arguing about whether it's right or wrong, I'm just saying people aren't buying cd's anymore because they can download for free with no repercussions, I don't think anybody would disagree with that.

rcaz

Carl.Gustav wrote: »

I'm not arguing about whether it's right or wrong, I'm just saying people aren't buying cd's anymore because they can download for free with no repercussions, I don't think anybody would disagree with that.

There are repercussions, just not everyone gets them. It's not like everybody who ever steals something physical gets caught, people get away with all types of crimes all the time. Still not fair comparisons.

Carl.Gustav

El Pr0n wrote: »

There are repercussions, just not everyone gets them. It's not like everybody who ever steals something physical gets caught, people get away with all types of crimes all the time. Still not fair comparisons.

I don't understand your point, heinous crime or not it is the reason CD sales have fallen dramatically over the last 10 years.

Do you think it should just be ignored and everybody just scratches their head wondering where all the sales went.

PulsW

El Pr0n wrote: »

People don't argue about pubs closing down by saying you can steal cans in an off license.

The reason that the music industry isn't making as much money is because of illegal downloading, and that makes the comparison valid. If we lived in some sort of Orwellian 1984 world where everyone got caught downloading music, the music industry would see a substantial increase in sales.

cashback

Glad I'm not the only one who still buys CDs. As has been said I don't see the point of paying the same price for a download as for a CD when I can just rip the CD onto my laptop straight away and still have the physical object.

Plus I like to support bands by buying the album, especially as most of them wouldn't be stadium fillers.