buying mp3 online

[Ronstang]

The actual CD is usually cheaper than the mp3 version of the album. Make your own damn mp3s and have a lossless copy too? Why is this so hard to grasp. I still buy tons of CDs.

 

[mnewsham]

I would very much like to know what VPN gets you access to superHD Netflix.

Private internet access, the east coast servers don't but midwest and west coast servers sure do.

 

[biostud]

The actual CD is usually cheaper than the mp3 version of the album. Make your own damn mp3s and have a lossless copy too? Why is this so hard to grasp. I still buy tons of CDs.

As I said in another post, the price in Denmark is $24...

 

[Slew Foot]

just rip the mp3 off youtube

 

[biostud]

just rip the mp3 off youtube

Because the sound quality is awesome on youtube, and that is the easiest way to get a full album without paying for it

 

[phucheneh]

The cost of a CD in Denmark is: $24

If it makes you feel better: buy used CD's off of US eBay. Tell the seller to throw them away. Torrent music. Win win.*

(*actually, both you and the artist lose. But you've avoided piracy...flawed system is flawed.)

 

[John Connor]

OP, how can you use Amazon with a VPN yet use a credit card and address in Denmark? Pitty that Europe has such shitty web services. I buy MP3's off Amazon all the time if I want quality, but sometimes I'll go to beemp3.com and grab something which can be only 128 bit.

 

[colonelciller]

OP, how can you use Amazon with a VPN yet use a credit card and address in Denmark? Pitty that Europe has such shitty web services. I buy MP3's off Amazon all the time if I want quality, but sometimes I'll go to beemp3.com and grab something which can be only 128 bit.

the idiotic regional content restrictions are on the "supposed" location of the downloading computer... the location of the credit card doesn't nessarily need to matter, and Amazon has a vested interest in 'not caring' so long as they satisfy the regional content restrictions.

 

[John Connor]

Hmm..

 

[mnewsham]

Ahhh finally, got the new daft punk in 24-bit 88.2kHz.

 

[mnewsham]

the idiotic regional content restrictions are on the "supposed" location of the downloading computer... the location of the credit card doesn't nessarily need to matter, and Amazon has a vested interest in 'not caring' so long as they satisfy the regional content restrictions.

yup, I bought a copy of random access memories from a french website as they had the best quality files, but i needed to be in france to buy it as the files weren't available for US users, logged into french server, reloaded the site, worked fine. My CC didn't matter, just the IP address.

 

[biostud]

OP, how can you use Amazon with a VPN yet use a credit card and address in Denmark? Pitty that Europe has such shitty web services. I buy MP3's off Amazon all the time if I want quality, but sometimes I'll go to beemp3.com and grab something which can be only 128 bit.

First I bought gift certificates to my self while having a fake billing address in US connected to my credit card (and had a VPN tunnel to US). Then used the gift card to buy the mp3. But I think I can skip the gift card step.

 

[SP33Demon]

Then just download it. What difference does it make? I don't give a shit about record store owners. I care about the artists, and if they aren't getting money either way, why should I inconvenience myself, and reduce the money in my wallet?

1) Download =! lossless. If you know of a lossless format that someone can d/l cheaper than a used CD, inform us of this tidbit.
2) The artist was already paid for the CD.
3) The buyer takes on risk by buying used, hence why #2 does not happen again. If record companies were so concerned about it, they would have started a used CD certification business that sells for less than retail. They didn't find it worth the time nor not enough profit.
4) The music license is allowed to change hands.

 

[lxskllr]

1) Download =! lossless. If you know of a lossless format that someone can d/l cheaper than a used CD, inform us of this tidbit.
2) The artist was already paid for the CD.
3) The buyer takes on risk by buying used, hence why #2 does not happen again. If record companies were so concerned about it, they would have started a used CD certification business that sells for less than retail. They didn't find it worth the time nor not enough profit.
4) The music license is allowed to change hands.

1 flac and ape files aren't difficult to find

2 So what? I support works I appreciate. I give artists(and software devs) money as a token of appreciation. The fact that they got 20¢ from a previous sale doesn't factor into my decision.

3 Goes back to 2. Supporting capitalism isn't my goal. A record store doesn't provide value to me. I can browse and download from my chair, and I'm not interested in physical media. I have a shit ton of records, cds, and tapes taking up room, and I don't listen to them because the form factor is inconvenient.

4 I'm not interested in the record company's licenses. They can write anything they want. I won't be honoring them. I also won't be giving them money as much as practical. If I pay, it's going to the artist, not the company.

 

[Arkaign]

Lxykllr, I agree with much of your sentiment, but #3 makes me a little sad. (physical media, not the record store, which are doomed for the most part anyway).

 

[lxskllr]

Lxykllr, I agree with much of your sentiment, but #3 makes me a little sad. (physical media, not the record store, which are doomed for the most part anyway).

I hear ya, but things really changed for me on the shift from vinyl to cd. While the sound quality and convenience made a 10 fold jump, the art of packaging made a 10 fold drop. Looking at a tiny cd booklet just isn't the same as a well made album cover. The question comes down to why you're really buying. While having something nice to look as is cool, it doesn't do anything for the ears which is my primary reason for buying music. After moving my music collection a few times, I just don't feel like dealing with it anymore. Also, I like hitting a button on the computer and picking anything I want to hear. If one song leads to another, it's trivial to shift. I don't have to go in the closet, and hunt down the song I want; Cleaning the surface, and defuzzing the needle on the way in the case of vinyl.

I don't mean to completely shit on record stores. The one thing they do well is spread a lot of "stuff" everywhere. I've gotten some great music(also some real trash) by buying based on album art and song title, not knowing a thing about the band. It also gives the feeling of a treasure hunt, and the thrill of discovery. In the end though, I prefer the convenience of digital discovery. You lose the tactile sensation, but the convenience, and sheer variety outweighs the losses of the physical world.

 

[alangrift]

Get Spotify or whatever streaming service they offer in your region.

 

[biostud]

Get Spotify or whatever streaming service they offer in your region.

Been there, but the selection in my taste of music is very limited.

 

[alangrift]

Been there, but the selection in my taste of music is very limited.

I'm sure one of the streaming services would have covered your taste, all of them cover different niches.

Also don't you get iTunes there?

A USA VPN is definitely a good way to go, and there are many useful things you can do with it.

 

[biostud]

I'm sure one of the streaming services would have covered your taste, all of them cover different niches.

Also don't you get iTunes there?

A USA VPN is definitely a good way to go, and there are many useful things you can do with it.

iTunes doesn't support streaming in Denmark.

And atm there's only two good services: Spotify and Wimp.

 

[biostud]

....bah some songs are not even 256kbps but low rate vbr.....

Buy + FLAC/320kbps mp3 downloads it is...

 

[JM Aggie08]

Buy the sheet music and play it yourself. Grab hold of your European roots.

 

[biostud]

Buy the sheet music and play it yourself. Grab hold of your European roots.

And make a youtube channel while I'm doing it

 

[SP33Demon]

1 flac and ape files aren't difficult to find

2 So what? I support works I appreciate. I give artists(and software devs) money as a token of appreciation. The fact that they got 20¢ from a previous sale doesn't factor into my decision.

3 Goes back to 2. Supporting capitalism isn't my goal. A record store doesn't provide value to me. I can browse and download from my chair, and I'm not interested in physical media. I have a shit ton of records, cds, and tapes taking up room, and I don't listen to them because the form factor is inconvenient.

4 I'm not interested in the record company's licenses. They can write anything they want. I won't be honoring them. I also won't be giving them money as much as practical. If I pay, it's going to the artist, not the company.

1. If they weren't difficult to find, then this thread wouldn't have been created. Show me where I can buy music in such formats with the artist still getting paid.
2. Feel free to donate to the artist if you buy a used CD and lambaste anyone who doesn't.
3. Your post above contradicts "A record store doesn't provide value to me." Clearly, it has:

I've gotten some great music(also some real trash) by buying based on album art and song title, not knowing a thing about the band. It also gives the feeling of a treasure hunt, and the thrill of discovery.

4. So you won't honor a record company's license to intellectual property, but are pissed that artists aren't compensated on used CD's? Last I checked, it was the record company that got the artist paid in the first place (unless they're indie). You seem to only favor the artist but forget that somebody had to distribute their music so you could listen to it. Someone had to give them the startup money they needed for a studio, equipment, etc.

 

[lxskllr]

1. If they weren't difficult to find, then this thread wouldn't have been created. Show me where I can buy music in such formats with the artist still getting paid.
2. Feel free to donate to the artist if you buy a used CD and lambaste anyone who doesn't.
3. Your post above contradicts "A record store doesn't provide value to me." Clearly, it has:
4. So you won't honor a record company's license to intellectual property, but are pissed that artists aren't compensated on used CD's? Last I checked, it was the record company that got the artist paid in the first place (unless they're indie). You seem to only favor the artist but forget that somebody had to distribute their music so you could listen to it. Someone had to give them the startup money they needed for a studio, equipment, etc.

1 OP wants to support the arts he listens to. Hitting up TPB isn't the full path to doing that. There needs to be a better infrastructure in place to get money to the people who deserve it. Today, you can buy a Tshirt, go to concerts, or send cash in the mail. In the future, there should be a registry artists can submit their names to, and a donate button is ubiquitous on all devices and music players. You can then anonymously donate to artists you want to support. Bitcoin is an excellent start to that system.

2 I do, hence my replies in this thread ;^)

3 It only seems contradictory to people only capable of B&W thought. There's damned little in the world that's 100% good/bad. It's a sliding scale, and the record shop needle is hovering around 1 on the scale.

4 Yea, what would we do without the benevolent record companies that generously take 100% of the profits of the first few records a band makes? If the band lasts long enough, they can get a better contract. Most don't last long enough. That exploitative model was bad enough back in the day when you had to suck any dick you could to get heard. Today? Yea, right.