Paul Cantrell
Cranky ol’ techie opinion: the model where you buy the music, download the music, and own the data was — and still is — the best model for creating a personal music library.
Not streaming. Not LPs. Downloadable high-quality digital.
PSA: The iTunes Store still exists. As does Bandcamp…for now. And they’re lossless and DRM-free.
(Re this rom @48kRAM:)
https://oldbytes.space/@48kRAM/111247925740746509
Paul Cantrell
I treat streaming services a bit lit broadcast radio: if I want to sample something new, or just listen to what has my ear right now, I’ll stream it.
But if I want something in my library, if I want to know that I can hear it in the future and have it continue to be a part of my life, I download it. Better sound quality, it won’t disappear, and the artist gets paid.
Paul Cantrell
@ossobuffo @48kRAM
There’s a lot to be said for that. The downsides are (1) physical waste and (2) a lot of downloadable audio these days is better than CD quality, and sometimes better mastered to boot. But I do love liner notes.
Daniel Johnson
@inthehands @48kRAM My preferred way is to buy the CD, then rip it myself at my preferred bitrate. That way I have an archival copy, liner notes, and a top-quality digital product.
Paul Cantrell
@KeithAmmann
iTunes and Bandcamp are both DRM-free.
Keith Ammann @ PAX Unplugged
@inthehands Download it AND BURN IT. Because DRM means that one day you may own the file but find yourself unable to play it.
Paul Cantrell
In case anyone was wondering why I said “not LPs:”
I love the ritual of record players. I love the sense of preciousness that comes from a large, fragile physical artifact. I love the liner notes. I LOVE the cover art.
But in addition to being fragile and impossible to back up, they do not — contrary to popular belief — have inherently better audio quality. Thread on that here:
Paul Cantrell
@luca_lichen
Well, yeah, if you leave your whole library on an iPod…but that’s sort of missing the point.
The point of owning the data is that you can •back it up•. (And even syncing between devices and forward copying to upgrades serves that purpose, even if you don’t have a proper backup strategy.)
luca
I was one of those people, wondering why you said that.
but I must say, if we're talking about fragility of the medium, I'll stand my LPs against my friends (now-deceased) iPod any day of the week.
🤗
Paul Cantrell
@luca_lichen
Oh my! Yes, I’d understood correctly — but am still relieved to hear it!
luca
oh, that's a good point.
I was just checking back in to clarify that her iPod (not my friend) deceased.
Paul Cantrell
@KeithAmmann
It’s been DRM-free for •14 years•. Checking old purchases is good advice. Burning everything now just in case is…not.
Keith Ammann @ PAX Unplugged
@inthehands iTunes hasn't always been DRM-free. I have a lot of .M4P files in my iTunes folder that I can't convert to any other format and will never be able to play using anything except iTunes.
I can burn 'em to a CD, though.
Paul Cantrell
@KeithAmmann
Time is a lie
Keith Ammann @ PAX Unplugged
@inthehands Dang, has it been that long? 👴🏻
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