Free MP3s with Vinyl Purchase

[Riff Magnum]

I think getting back into vinyl is gonna cause me to eventually faze out my cd's and leave me with listening to records when i'm home and just using my ipod when i'm out and about. At the same time i wanna be able to have everything i buy on vinyl on my ipod, but i'm not too keen on buying the same music twice and definitely not too excited to buy the hardware/software necessary to transfer all my vinyl to mp3's. I noticed a lot, but not all, bands/musicians are giving a coupon with the purchase of their record for the mp3 version of the album or including a promo/cd-r version of the material along with the purchase.

I hate to say it, but if i spend $40 on the new 180g White Stripes vinyl and they don't include a free mp3 or cd version along with it, i'll probably have to resort to some other, less scrupulous, method of getting the digital version and since i've already dropped 40 clams into the bands pocket i honestly don't think i should feel too bad about it.

What say you?

[Riff Magnum]

Hmmm, i see views, but no replies. Is this subject too fraught with ready made conflict?
I must say, in advance, that as a musician who has recorded several albums that downloading music does not really bother me, even though i still do it as a very last resort.
I view it in a similar fashion as free samples at a grocery store. Sure, the homer simpson's of the world will take advantage and never intend to make a purchase, but you might secure several lifelong (paying) customers in the process and that's probably more than you would've had if the samples had never been given in the first place.

[CasualKiller]

Not an issue to me, I can't enjoy MP3's or CD's anymore. Closest I come to digital is ripping my vinyl to FLAC and streaming it to my HT. Even then it's only on rare occasions where either a lack of time or just laziness is involved.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Hi Riff!

I think the thread topic is an interesting one, but then you expanded a bit more on the questionable downloads. I don't have a comment on that.

Regarding the inclusion of MP3 codes when buying new Vinyl....I think its a wonderful idea. It's also a good marketing technique and perhaps a reason why vinyl sales are seeing a resurgence. I've used the codes on every one of my new vinyls, at least those that I opened (still have about 40 sealed LP's).

Would I buy fresh vinyl if it didn't have those free MP3 codes? Absolutely. It's not a deterrent for me, it's only a bonus.

John

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Closest I come to digital is ripping my vinyl to FLAC and streaming it to my HT.

That's a valid approach, actually! Vinyl ripped to apple lossless and played back on nice headphones doesn't sound half bad.

[FreddieFerric]

I think it's a lousy idea myself. MP3 is the bane of the universe, the most god-aweful, lame excuse for storage expediency ever invented, audiophile anti-matter. In short, it sucks!

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by Gremal

That's a valid approach, actually! Vinyl ripped to apple lossless and played back on nice headphones doesn't sound half bad.

I agree on the decent sound. Several of my friends have transferred all of their records to digital, but it still seems very cumbersome and an unnecessary expense.

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

I think it's a lousy idea myself. MP3 is the bane of the universe, the most god-aweful, lame excuse for storage expediency ever invented, audiophile anti-matter. In short, it sucks!

Good lord!! Mp3's sound fine through crappy systems/earbuds/stock car stereo's. Those systems don't have the frequency extension for you to notice the MP3's missing frequencies to begin with.
How do you listen to music when you're not at home? Do you buy everything twice (vinyl and CD)?

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by John72953

Hi Riff!

I think the thread topic is an interesting one, but then you expanded a bit more on the questionable downloads. I don't have a comment on that.

Regarding the inclusion of MP3 codes when buying new Vinyl....I think its a wonderful idea. It's also a good marketing technique and perhaps a reason why vinyl sales are seeing a resurgence. I've used the codes on every one of my new vinyls, at least those that I opened (still have about 40 sealed LP's).

Would I buy fresh vinyl if it didn't have those free MP3 codes? Absolutely. It's not a deterrent for me, it's only a bonus.

John

So you're getting codes with almost all your new purchases? I only saw stickers advertising the codes inclusion on about 1/10th of the new releases, but i suppose at this point in the game people might just expect it and the record companies don't feel the need to advertise it anymore.

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

I agree on the decent sound. Several of my friends have transferred all of their records to digital, but it still seems very cumbersome and an unnecessary expense.



Good lord!! Mp3's sound fine through crappy systems/earbuds/stock car stereo's. Those systems don't have the frequency extension for you to notice the MP3's missing frequencies to begin with.
How do you listen to music when you're not at home? Do you buy everything twice (vinyl and CD)?

I typically don't listen to music when I'm not at home. Usually just talk radio in my car, but even then the radio stays turned off most of the time. And I am totally out of the buying music twice business. Haven't bought a CD in months now.

Something you should know Riff, in the last couple of months I've bought about 4000 original pressing vinyl records. I still have alot of sorting out ahead of me.

[joe1515]

I understand your point, if anything I think the vinyl should come with a copy of the cd. I buy both the vinyl and the cd version of the bands I like. I would much rather have a copy of the cd than just the mp3 files. I don't listen to cd's ever I only use them to upload my music into Itunes, or I will listen to them If I am unable to find a copy on vinyl.


Joe

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

So you're getting codes with almost all your new purchases? I only saw stickers advertising the codes inclusion on about 1/10th of the new releases, but i suppose at this point in the game people might just expect it and the record companies don't feel the need to advertise it anymore.

Hi Riff!

No. I guess the answer could be misleading. I meant I've used all the ones that came with the codes. I would guess it still represents between 25-40% of the new vinyl I have bought so far.

John

[richteer]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

I think it's a lousy idea myself. MP3 is the bane of the universe, the most god-aweful, lame excuse for storage expediency ever invented, audiophile anti-matter. In short, it sucks!

I couldn't agree more! A couple of records I've bought recently (Mark Knopfler's last album, Kill to Get Crimson, comes to mind) included a CD copy in the package. That to me is a far better idea than some crappy MP3 version.

[btf1980]

Why not do a needledrop?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

I think it's a lousy idea myself. MP3 is the bane of the universe, the most god-aweful, lame excuse for storage expediency ever invented, audiophile anti-matter. In short, it sucks!

Originally Posted by richteer

I couldn't agree more! A couple of records I've bought recently (Mark Knopfler's last album, Kill to Get Crimson, comes to mind) included a CD copy in the package. That to me is a far better idea than some crappy MP3 version.

While I agree with both of you regarding the crap sound that MP3 is, I still think it's a handy thing. I don't listen to MP3 very often, but in the middle of the night while I'm on the computer, I can put on my headphones and at least listen to some tunes. I'm not looking for quality at that point, just some music.

John

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by John72953

While I agree with both of you regarding the crap sound that MP3 is, I still think it's a handy thing. I don't listen to MP3 very often, but in the middle of the night while I'm on the computer, I can put on my headphones and at least listen to some tunes. I'm not looking for quality at that point, just some music.

John

Hi John,

Why not slip a CD into the computer disc player and listen through headphones. I would venture a guess that the CD on the computer would sound better than an MP3.

Rich

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

Hi John,

Why not slip a CD into the computer disc player and listen through headphones. I would venture a guess that the CD on the computer would sound better than an MP3.

Rich

Hey Rich,

It would no question, but I don't have every LP on CD. So sometimes one compromizes. It's not a huge deal. Especially at 3am or when I'm sitting in the park on a sunny day.

Don't worry boys.....I'm not treading over the waters into digital downloads!

John

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by John72953

Hey Rich,

It would no question, but I don't have every LP on CD. So sometimes one compromizes. It's not a huge deal. Especially at 3am or when I'm sitting in the park on a sunny day.

Don't worry boys.....I'm not treading over the waters into digital downloads!

John

You should tread waters into digital. You can needledrop your LPs into hi-rez files (24/96). It will sound better than the CD guaranteed. Or if you have CDs, just rip them into Apple Lossless or FLAC. It will be the same quality as the CD. There really is no need for mp3 or CD in this day and age.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by John72953

Hey Rich,

It would no question, but I don't have every LP on CD. So sometimes one compromizes. It's not a huge deal. Especially at 3am or when I'm sitting in the park on a sunny day.

Don't worry boys.....I'm not treading over the waters into digital downloads!

John

No problem John. I straddle both sides of the analog/digital fence at this point. I love my analog. But at this point, with what we have done with my system, I am amazed at the digital performance from my CD, SACD, and DVD-A discs; it is that good and often approaching and in some instances may surpass the vinyl. But my system is anything but the norm at this point. Also, I have some recordings on vinyl, some on CD, some on SACD, some on DVD-A and some on multiple source discs.

Rich

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by btf1980

You should tread waters into digital. You can needledrop your LPs into hi-rez files (24/96). It will sound better than the CD guaranteed. Or if you have CDs, just rip them into Apple Lossless or FLAC. It will be the same quality as the CD. There really is no need for mp3 or CD in this day and age.

I understand that, and I have the ability to do so and have done so for years, but that's not the point in my opinion.

I think it's really convenient for most consumers to have the MP3 included as a free download, and I've been honest enough to say that I've used it. Like I said earlier, at 3am I don't give a shit about hi-rez music. If I did, I'd bring my laptop into my LR and listen with headphones through my system. I just wanna have my coffee, do my thing and have a little background music.

John

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by John72953

I understand that, and I have the ability to do so and have done so for years, but that's not the point in my opinion.

I think it's really convenient for most consumers to have the MP3 included as a free download, and I've been honest enough to say that I've used it. Like I said earlier, at 3am I don't give a shit about hi-rez music. If I did, I'd bring my laptop into my LR and listen with headphones through my system. I just wanna have my coffee, do my thing and have a little background music.

John

Point well taken, but eh - you drink coffee at 3am?