I bought a CD yesterday...

Note - this was also posted on my website (sig). Go there if you want to see the links in this post - I'm too lazy to translate them to FuseTalk format.

I bought a CD yesterday.

Not too big of a deal, is it? Oh yeah it is. My big jump into lossless audio reminded me of how good CDs sound, and I realized that I miss having an actual music product in my hand, as opposed to a file on my computer.

The CD I bought was The Used's self-titled album. I was careful about it, though.

In my own personal vendetta against the recording industry, I made sure to buy the CD from a private seller, in an effort to not support the industry. I went to half.com, scouted out the best price/feedback ratio, and picked up a brand-new, shrinkwrapped copy of the CD for only $10.49 shipped ($13.99 at Best Buy). All that, and none of my purchase will go to the RIAA.

Sure, I'd love to support the artist (and I'm sorry that I'm not supporting them by purchasing the album - they're a good band) - but I find it more satisfying to own the CD while not supporting the recording industry. It's not that I hate the concept of the recording industry - hell, the UAW plays a part in pretty much every car I've ever driven, and I have no problem with it - it's that I hate their tactics.

The latest news from the RIAA outlines some of their recent practices. In one lawsuit, the recording industry sued a user who had only eight songs shared from his computer. Sure, that user was doing something very illegal in offering pirated material online. But if the RIAA is hoping to bring listeners back to purchasing CDs, they're failing - miserably. The threat of being sued doesn't make people like you - it makes them seek out ways to destroy you.

I've decided to purchase CDs again. I'll be purchasing more and more CDs as the summer wanes, and I'll be sure to be on the lookout for new and interesting bands from whom I can broaden my musical horizons. But, under no circumstances will I purchase new CDs from a retailer. I will not give kickbacks to an industry which has alienated me with idle threats and gestapo tactics. I'll do everything in my power to pursue a legal way to enjoy music while, at the same time, bypassing the RIAA. It's a challenge, but it's doable.

And to me, the term 'gestapo' has a deep-rooted, serious meaning.

 

[PCMarine]

Text

 

[Pepsi90919]

the used's CD is heavily compressed and has no dynamic range. if he thinks CD's like that sounds good he needs a slap in the face.

 

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
the used's CD is heavily compressed and has no dynamic range. if he thinks CD's like that sounds good he needs a slap in the face.

Thanks for telling me that BEFORE I bought it!!!

 

[aphex]

I only buy cd's from Half.com recently.... All have been perfect & new...

 

Originally posted by: aphex
I only buy cd's from Half.com recently.... All have been perfect & new...

It's great - I haven't gotten the CD yet, but I'm happy with the process so far.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
the used's CD is heavily compressed and has no dynamic range. if he thinks CD's like that sounds good he needs a slap in the face.

Thanks for telling me that BEFORE I bought it!!!

it's really my only reason for not buying cd's nowadays. i download an MP3 first, analyze the waveform and then make a choice whether or not to download it.

a post by me on another board

 

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
the used's CD is heavily compressed and has no dynamic range. if he thinks CD's like that sounds good he needs a slap in the face.

Thanks for telling me that BEFORE I bought it!!!

it's really my only reason for not buying cd's nowadays. i download an MP3 first, analyze the waveform and then make a choice whether or not to download it.

a post by me on another board

Wow, you shop around more than I do - what program do you use to analyze the waveform? And how indicative of the CD quality is an mp3 file? What I'm wondering is what if the user is a total idiot and used a horrible encoding scheme/program?

 

[SludgeFactory]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
it's really my only reason for not buying cd's nowadays. i download an MP3 first, analyze the waveform and then make a choice whether or not to download it.

I have been guilty of doing the same thing. Ironic that the record industry can't even treat it's honest customers decently.

As someone with 300+ albums, and someone who tries to come up with reasons to actually continue buying them, modern mastering has just completely soured me on new releases. When the source is a solid block of white noise and sounds like sh!t, a little MP3 compression doesn't make a bit of difference. The fatigue from listening to this garbage is unbelieveable.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: SludgeFactory

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
it's really my only reason for not buying cd's nowadays. i download an MP3 first, analyze the waveform and then make a choice whether or not to download it.

I have been guilty of doing the same thing. Ironic that the record industry can't even treat it's honest customers decently.

As someone with 300+ albums, and someone who tries to come up with reasons to actually continue buying them, modern mastering has just completely soured me on new releases. When the source is a solid block of white noise and sounds like sh!t, a little MP3 compression doesn't make a bit of difference. The fatigue from listening to this garbage is unbelieveable.

exactly. this is also why i am now listening to CD's that are remastered from 60's - early 90's recordings. usually then they're not screwed around with too much.

there are very few alternative/rock records that you can buy nowadays that are mastered properly. it's all about sell sell sell.

Text

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
the used's CD is heavily compressed and has no dynamic range. if he thinks CD's like that sounds good he needs a slap in the face.

Thanks for telling me that BEFORE I bought it!!!

it's really my only reason for not buying cd's nowadays. i download an MP3 first, analyze the waveform and then make a choice whether or not to download it.

a post by me on another board

Wow, you shop around more than I do - what program do you use to analyze the waveform? And how indicative of the CD quality is an mp3 file? What I'm wondering is what if the user is a total idiot and used a horrible encoding scheme/program?

there's shareware that can do it somewhat decently. i first used AudioEdit Deluxe, but once the 15 day thing expired i started using Cool Edit 2000. All you need is a program that lets you load mp3/wave files and zoom in and playback, basic stuff. it hurts to see all of the 'flatlines' on the 0dB line sometimes, square waves pretty much. :|


as far as how indicative the quality is, you can get a pretty good idea, from my experience. when in doubt you can always borrow it from a friend and rip a couple tracks, it doesn't take much.

 

[Wuffsunie]

I've been buying used CDs for years, mainly because I'm cheap but now to screw over the likes of the RIAA as well. I actually asked one of the guys at one of my fav places whether they have to pay anything to the recording companies, he says no. I figure you might as well buy used, because depending on the album, by the time it finally shows up in places like that you'll know whether it's really something you'd want or not

I have bought hardly any new music in YEARS, mainly because it was all $hit. Maybe 4-5 albums since 2K, and I only got them new because they were obscure albums and there was no way I'd see them used any time soon.

I haven't use Half.com outside of books I can't find anywhere else for the simple reason that the utter pricks wouldn't ship outside the US. I see that they know acknowledge we're part of this continent and will actually ship here. Perhaps I'll use them more, now.

Edit: Well, I WAS going to use it. Then I had their shipping and handling taxes jack what would otherwise have been a $5 deal up to $15. No way in hell I'm doing business with them now!

-- Jack