Why download MP3s?

OK_Sauce

Why is downloading music so popular? Is it just a cultural thing? I remember when CDs first came out they were hailed as the ultimate in quality and convenience. They pretty much were. The first CD I bought was Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms". I couldn't beleive how clear it was. Apart from a few innovations that didn't really become mainstream, DVD-Audio & HDCD spring to mind, the audio quality of a CD hasn't been bettered. Why then does downloading MP3s, etc. seem to be the norm. After all you can buy a CD and rip it on your PC anyway. I like having a physical copy of the music I own. Cost wise CD prices have dropped dramatically so it can't be a price thing surely? Even my own kids and their mates download their music. I've asked them why but they don't really have an answer!!

lee634

1. Price - IS normally cheaper maybe not a lot but still cheaper
2. Convenience - Why go to the shops and buy a CD when you can buy with just a couple of clicks.
3. Why buy a CD when all your going to do is rip it to your computer anyway

OK_Sauce

I guess the two main reasons I buy CDs, apart from having the physical copy, are I spend a couple of hours a day commuting in my car so I use the car's CD player a lot. If I do have any music on the computer - stuff the kids have downloaded, if I like it, I'd burn it to CD anyway. I do own an MP3 player so I do copy my CDs to the PC anyway to put them onto that, so either way they'll always end up on the PC.

**I do realise I'm in the minority here!!:rotfl:

Sput2001

Other considerations:

Space; with downloads you don't need to worry about where you're going to store 100s of CD cases.

Also, downloading allows yuo to pick and choose the tracks you want. Why buy a 15-track album if you only like 3 or 4 of them?

Despite this, I still buy pretty well everything on CD, for multiple reasons.

Moneymaker

I download AAC (lossless) from iTunes, not MP3.
I download MP3 files from other sites to determine whether I like the music. If I do, I download it from iTunes or buy the CD.

But, actually, I'm so old that I can't hear high frequencies anyway so 64kbps MP3 sounds just fine!

[Deleted User]

Unfortunately, illegally sourced music is often of better quality and easier to do what you want with in comparison to the legal alternative, which until those responsible for controlling it realise, there'll never be a significant change in attitude.

[Deleted User]

I own > 100 CDs.. and that was before downloadable music came along. I have no space for them and have thrown out all the boxes.. they're just disks in a folder now.

My downloaded music takes up no space.

If I want one song from an album, i can buy it for 65-95p .. i don't need to buy the whole album.

I can transfer my entire music collection and play it in my car without risk of scratching or damaging it.

CDs are dead. long live downloads

Reggie_Rebel

You are assuming people pay for downloading music.

Remove that assumption and there is your reason

DCFC79

I dont think cd's are dead, they will still be around as not everyone will have suitable internet connection to download or would prefer to have the physical copy

savemoney

I think CDs are better tbh. You cant rip the cd to mp3 and better quality if you so wish sometimes from certain online places, p2p etc.

I mainly play mp3's I rip good quality to the pc as I have a good sound system say 320kbps, dont have a hifi anymore (well I do but dont have any where to store it now). I then rip at a lower rate to mp3 player say 192kbps

OK_Sauce

It's quite obvious that CDs are less popular now. I went into my local Zavvi store recently. The CD section was tiny. DVDs accounted for a good two thirds of the racks!

As to them getting scratched etc. I do wonder why they were never invented with some sort of caddy like the mini discs had. That said, I tend to rip them losslessly to the PC as soon as I get them so if they do get damaged I can replace them easily.