Formats
Nov 25, 2017 22:37:42 GMT -5
Post by thekeeper on Nov 25, 2017 22:37:42 GMT -5
[I wrote out such a long post and then accidentally closed the tab, but I'll write everything out again, I guess..]
I've been thinking about formats recently due to a few albums that were given new tape re-releases, so I've been weighing on whether I want the tape version of the CD versions of them. I'm curious as to what other people's format preferences are. Do you have a preferred format? Are there artists you'll only buy in one format? What drives your decision, price, presentation, or something else? Is there a format you don't buy?
Thoughts of mine on the main four formats:
Tape - I think tapes are the most charming physical format. Their size makes for easy storage and makes them cheaper, which is great if you buy a lot of music. I hear people praise their portability a lot, but I don't take my tapes with me anywhere. I used to play tapes in my truck all the time, but I haven't owned a car for about four years. The majority of tapes I have are tape-only releases, but a lot were also available on CD or vinyl as well. I'll opt for the tape version for a few reasons: the tape looks better, the tape is more readily available for purchase, it's not a release I want to listen to all the time on my mp3 player (if it doesn't come with a digital download like buying one on bandcamp gives you) unless I want to take the rip it and cut the songs into respective tracks. I do like the analog style listening experience of having to deliberately put a tape in and have the j-card to look at/read, but really you can do that with CDs as well if you put it in a CD player or don't mess around on the computer while you listen to it. The only things I don't like about tapes is that you often get less to look at with a j-card then a CD booklet or vinyl sleeve and insert. Sometimes the shelf-life of magnet tapes worries me, but I keep mine pretty well so I'm sure they'll last at least 20 years without a problem. I do wish tapes had digital downloads more often so I don't have to rip them if that's the only way to get a digital copy.
CD - I'm sure most of us grew up listening to CDs the most. CDs actually have for nostalgia attributed to them for me than tapes do, but that's never really a factor in my purchasing choices. I'll opt for a CD if the release is something I'll definitely want a digital copy of, and sometimes I'll go for the CD if it doesn't cost much more than the tape (I see tapes for $8 sometimes when the CD is $10). CDs have a pretty definitive feel to them for me, the same as some feel vinyl has. While digipacks are the most common CD packaging now, and I do think they look wonderful, especially multiple paneled releases, if you tear them, that's it. Jewel cases can be easily replaced. A5's are nice as well, I guess they'd be the 'vinyl of CDs' or something. I'm often hesitant in buying older used tapes since the magnet tape can be audibly degraded, but CDs are much easier to judge in terms of playback by looking at the disc in a record store. More record stores are carrying tapes, but if you're out buying music, you're going to find way more CDs and records than tapes, by far.
Vinyl - I hardly ever go for vinyl. I only have about 20 records currently, though I've owned many more (sold most at this point). If something is only available on vinyl, I'll get the vinyl, but I rarely choose vinyl over other physical formats. There has to be something that I'm missing out on if I don't have the vinyl version, but even then it has to be something really worth it and not just like a lame poster or something, like the interview zine that came with the recent Golden Dawn/Apeiron split LP re-issue (I actually have the CD as well which came out like a month later). Sometimes I'll buy the vinyl version if it's a really important release for me, but that's still fairly uncommon. The larger art is nice, but records still cost like twice as much as CDs, so 'big art' isn't worth it to me. A lot of people laud the sound of vinyl, but I think what draws most is the feeling of a complete release. LPs are easily the most definitive feeling format. Maybe the cost, size, and restrictions of vinyl make that immersive experience come out at the top for most, but for me, if I really want that 'sit down' analog experience, tapes can do that, and if I want larger art or whatever, CDs do fine. I don't not like vinyl, but I do think it's overvalued.
Digital - Hard to have opinions on digital. Everyone likes to have digital copies of things. I very rarely buy the digital version of something if a physical version is available. There's hardly ever a release I want just ever so slightly that I'll opt for the digital version over the CD or tape. If something is digital only, then of course I'll buy the digital. For larger label releases on Bandcamp, sometimes the digital version of something can be like $7 while the CD is $12 or so; in that case, I'll fork over the extra $5 for a CD and I can rip it for a perfect digital copy anyway.
If anyone is wondering what releases I'm stuck on, Tiamat's Clouds, Wildhoney, and The Astral Sleep recently got tape re-issues, but I'm not sure if I'd rather have them on CD. The tapes look great, but those albums are huge, so CDs might be the better way to go. The tapes are just cheaper and look really kool. Also, there's a boxset of the first five Therion albums on tape I'm weighing against CDs. And reissues of first four Pestilence albums. And Manilla Road's Crystal Logic. Labels need to give me a break.
I've been thinking about formats recently due to a few albums that were given new tape re-releases, so I've been weighing on whether I want the tape version of the CD versions of them. I'm curious as to what other people's format preferences are. Do you have a preferred format? Are there artists you'll only buy in one format? What drives your decision, price, presentation, or something else? Is there a format you don't buy?
Thoughts of mine on the main four formats:
Tape - I think tapes are the most charming physical format. Their size makes for easy storage and makes them cheaper, which is great if you buy a lot of music. I hear people praise their portability a lot, but I don't take my tapes with me anywhere. I used to play tapes in my truck all the time, but I haven't owned a car for about four years. The majority of tapes I have are tape-only releases, but a lot were also available on CD or vinyl as well. I'll opt for the tape version for a few reasons: the tape looks better, the tape is more readily available for purchase, it's not a release I want to listen to all the time on my mp3 player (if it doesn't come with a digital download like buying one on bandcamp gives you) unless I want to take the rip it and cut the songs into respective tracks. I do like the analog style listening experience of having to deliberately put a tape in and have the j-card to look at/read, but really you can do that with CDs as well if you put it in a CD player or don't mess around on the computer while you listen to it. The only things I don't like about tapes is that you often get less to look at with a j-card then a CD booklet or vinyl sleeve and insert. Sometimes the shelf-life of magnet tapes worries me, but I keep mine pretty well so I'm sure they'll last at least 20 years without a problem. I do wish tapes had digital downloads more often so I don't have to rip them if that's the only way to get a digital copy.
CD - I'm sure most of us grew up listening to CDs the most. CDs actually have for nostalgia attributed to them for me than tapes do, but that's never really a factor in my purchasing choices. I'll opt for a CD if the release is something I'll definitely want a digital copy of, and sometimes I'll go for the CD if it doesn't cost much more than the tape (I see tapes for $8 sometimes when the CD is $10). CDs have a pretty definitive feel to them for me, the same as some feel vinyl has. While digipacks are the most common CD packaging now, and I do think they look wonderful, especially multiple paneled releases, if you tear them, that's it. Jewel cases can be easily replaced. A5's are nice as well, I guess they'd be the 'vinyl of CDs' or something. I'm often hesitant in buying older used tapes since the magnet tape can be audibly degraded, but CDs are much easier to judge in terms of playback by looking at the disc in a record store. More record stores are carrying tapes, but if you're out buying music, you're going to find way more CDs and records than tapes, by far.
Vinyl - I hardly ever go for vinyl. I only have about 20 records currently, though I've owned many more (sold most at this point). If something is only available on vinyl, I'll get the vinyl, but I rarely choose vinyl over other physical formats. There has to be something that I'm missing out on if I don't have the vinyl version, but even then it has to be something really worth it and not just like a lame poster or something, like the interview zine that came with the recent Golden Dawn/Apeiron split LP re-issue (I actually have the CD as well which came out like a month later). Sometimes I'll buy the vinyl version if it's a really important release for me, but that's still fairly uncommon. The larger art is nice, but records still cost like twice as much as CDs, so 'big art' isn't worth it to me. A lot of people laud the sound of vinyl, but I think what draws most is the feeling of a complete release. LPs are easily the most definitive feeling format. Maybe the cost, size, and restrictions of vinyl make that immersive experience come out at the top for most, but for me, if I really want that 'sit down' analog experience, tapes can do that, and if I want larger art or whatever, CDs do fine. I don't not like vinyl, but I do think it's overvalued.
Digital - Hard to have opinions on digital. Everyone likes to have digital copies of things. I very rarely buy the digital version of something if a physical version is available. There's hardly ever a release I want just ever so slightly that I'll opt for the digital version over the CD or tape. If something is digital only, then of course I'll buy the digital. For larger label releases on Bandcamp, sometimes the digital version of something can be like $7 while the CD is $12 or so; in that case, I'll fork over the extra $5 for a CD and I can rip it for a perfect digital copy anyway.
If anyone is wondering what releases I'm stuck on, Tiamat's Clouds, Wildhoney, and The Astral Sleep recently got tape re-issues, but I'm not sure if I'd rather have them on CD. The tapes look great, but those albums are huge, so CDs might be the better way to go. The tapes are just cheaper and look really kool. Also, there's a boxset of the first five Therion albums on tape I'm weighing against CDs. And reissues of first four Pestilence albums. And Manilla Road's Crystal Logic. Labels need to give me a break.