Torrenting Music

[octAvia]

Torrents, the latest fad in P2P downloading. Torrents make lfe much easier for who dont like spending money.
BUT, are they good for the music industry? People would say no, but i dont think so. Torrents and P2P downloads make it easier to access good music. It takes thousands of dollars to amass a good collection of music but only an internet connection to get torrents.

Just wanted some opinions on wether its good or bad for the industry.

[Permanent Solution]

Torrents, the latest fad in P2P downloading. Torrents make lfe much easier for who dont like spending money.
BUT, are they good for the music industry? People would say no, but i dont think so. Torrents and P2P downloads make it easier to access good music. It takes thousands of dollars to amass a good collection of music but only an internet connection to get torrents.

Just wanted some opinions on wether its good or bad for the industry.

I think you don't understand capitalism.

[BoboTheRagingHobo]

It can have positive and negative effects on the big time and small time industries...all depends on how you look at it though.

[Africa]

Music should be free.

[i am the robots]

You shouldn't be free... darkie.

[Africa]

Wtf?

[Permanent Solution]

Music should be free.

But it can't be in a non-communistic society, unless it is socially funded.

[Huber]

I look at it this way:

Most people who download music also buy albums that they think are worth buying or whenever they have the cash. All the other music they download would never be heard, and the artist would never have gained a fan.

Does it hurt? It goes both ways. There are people who refuse to buy music and just download. This hurts, however the amount of fans gained for artists due to music they hear through downloading is also a positive because chances are almost all of that music wouldn't have been heard otherwise.

[Africa]

I don't even buy the albums I think are worth buying :p

[Permanent Solution]

I look at it this way:

Most people who download music also buy albums that they think are worth buying or whenever they have the cash. All the other music they download would never be heard, and the artist would never have gained a fan.

Does it hurt? It goes both ways. There are people who refuse to buy music and just download. This hurts, however the amount of fans gained for artists due to music they hear through downloading is also a positive because chances are almost all of that music wouldn't have been heard otherwise.

The problem is more and more young people are refusing to ever buy music.

[blueyxd]

If a band is any good, they'll pull a big crowd to a gig and make lots of money that way.

[Africa]

TBH music has to be supported with money, buy the album, give the artist money, artist makes more albums. I should be buying my music, I don't have the money to spend on it, someday I will buy my collection when I have money in an act of repentance. The only complaint I have about the industry is the influx and dominance of crap music and I can't figure out if it's perpetuated by the distributers or the consumers :/

[Anglachel]

Torrents, the latest fad in P2P downloading. Torrents make lfe much easier for who dont like spending money.

Torrents are not P2P, are they?

[madeyadams]

WHY is this thread even existing right now?

god wtf. im gonna kill whoever starts the next gay *** downloading music threads.

[Anglachel]

WHY is this thread even existing right now?

god wtf. im gonna kill whoever starts the next gay *** downloading music threads.
Hes a nub.

Hippies are peaceful madey. Calm down >:-(

[Huber]

The problem is more and more young people are refusing to ever buy music.

I don't even buy the albums I think are worth buying :p


:mad: How unfortunate...

[sonicst0rm]

i buy like 1-2 albums a month... one problem is, most albums are too hard/impossible to find in music stores here. So then I order off Amazon. If all else fails, torrent.

I only have about 10-12 artists I buy music from every time they release an album or whatever... and I have hundreds on my computer, mostly music I wouldn't spend a cent on.

Downloading is easy, though... it helped me discover 'good' music, and I'm one of those people that it got me into it so much that I really enjoy buying CDs. I will never buy off iTunes, because the quality is crap (128k aac). Way overpriced for that IMO. I also spend a lot of money on my audio setups (headphones, dacs, sound cards, amps) for prime listening :D

Who the hell would spend $20 on a mediocre album?

[Shattered_Future]

Torrenting is useful sometimes. You can download something that you haven't or wouldn't normally hear. If you like it, you can try to go out and buy it. If not, you get rid of it.

What I don't like (ok, I actually LOVE when people do this, but it's a kick in the nuts for the artist) is when somebody puts an entire discography of an artist on the internet for people to download. That just seems downright low (even though I kinda just downloaded a discography a few days ago...)

[Thasis]

I'm a mass downloader of sorts. I have somewhere neer 16,000 songs, and I download on average a gig or two a day of music. So I'll never be able to buy all of the albums I download in my life time. However, the few albums that I manage to find of TOP NOTCH QUALITY I will buy. It's not realy hurting the industry though. Yah I'm listening to music for free that I would normally be paid for, but it's not like I'm going to buy that much music anyways so they're not loosing a customer. Like I said though, I buy the albums that I realy like, just I'll never be able to buy as many albums as I download.

[Nostalgia]

I'm a mass downloader of sorts. I have somewhere neer 16,000 songs, and I download on average a gig or two a day of music.

Dude, that's way too much.

[ChickenMcFicken]

I find out about most bands I wouldn't normally listen to through rhapsody. I've been streaming tunes from them for like 3 or maybe 4 years. I go out and buy stuff I like and can find (and afford, of course). If I was to download a whole album I can't see myself buying it. That being said, I love going to record stores (mostly Rasputin for me) and looking for everything I can think of then buying what I wanna spend money on (1-3 albums usually).

[pate]

I have like 17,500 songs, but it's been accumulated over the course of a few years. I download like 15 albums a week, and listen to 90% of them within a week.

And I definitely plan on buying albums worthy of the money, when I get a regular income.

[randomthought9]

Well I mean it helps lesser known bands, because it gets more people to go to their shows.

[GenuineImitation]

I download off the Daily Upload and I trade over AIM. I have about 22 Gigs of music and its still growing, but if I like it, I will buy the album. Over the past 3 years, I have bought close to 300 actual cds. So I normally buy a vast majority of what I download, unless I think its mediocre.

If I never downloaded, I would have never heard of bands like Sahg, Ayreon, Kalmah, Dark Tranquility, UneXpect and Orphaned Land, just to name a few.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

I prefer using Soulseek and albumbase.com rather than torrents, although I would try get an oink invite if I had more bandwidth.

[octAvia]

jesus christ you guys have a lot of music...i have like 2000 at the most but im new to torrenting so

but yeah i agree with mostly everyone who thinks torrents and P2P are a good idea poor broke people like me need music and the internet is great place to get it

and for future reference torrents are technically P2P because you connect to another computer and down load material from it only difference is you connect to more than one peer and thus get fast downloads

[Perhaps Crickets]

jesus christ you guys have a lot of music...i have like 2000 at the most but im new to torrenting so

but yeah i agree with mostly everyone who thinks torrents and P2P are a good idea poor broke people like me need music and the internet is great place to get it

and for future reference torrents are technically P2P because you connect to another computer and down load material from it only difference is you connect to more than one peer and thus get fast downloads

Torrents are not p2p. You idiot.

p2p refers to a network in which users can trade files. It's a central (server/network) type function, so to speak.

Torrent downloads are completed in the following the steps given below:

There are two elements of a say, Linux distro torrent download. (Linux is open source, legal, etc)

Torrent file
Torrent client

Mmmkay, so the Linux guru grabs the torrent file off of his or her favorite search engine, then loads it into his or her download client.

It will contact, communicate and sync with the SEEDS and LEECHES of that Linux distro.

Here is why it's different!

If you're downloading a knoppix torrent, it is separate from a say, unbuntu or other torrent.

The tracker syncs the peers of that specific torrent, not a universal network of all users, ala say, Limewire.


oh, and buy your CDs, you lazy bum

[PinkFreud]

I have like 17,500 songs, but it's been accumulated over the course of a few years. I download like 15 albums a week, and listen to 90% of them within a week.

And I definitely plan on buying albums worthy of the money, when I get a regular income.
22,166. I win.

I'm slowly replacing my MP3s with the actual CDs though. When I worked at Border's, I spent about 3,000 dollars over a year and a half which is a lot when you consider the fact that I haven't ever had 2,000 dollars to my name at one time.

[PsychoTronn]

torrentz good. napster bad.

[Amit]

over 45,000 songs yay i win

[GenuineImitation]

oh, and buy your CDs, you lazy bum

:lol: & Dylan

Last time I checked, you told me you never bought a cd in your life.

[Perhaps Crickets]

:lol: & Dylan

Last time I checked, you told me you never bought a cd in your life.

Nein! I have over 50 sitting right next to me. :)

[GenuineImitation]

Nein! I have over 50 sitting right next to me. :)

Nice. When did you start buying albums?

[Perhaps Crickets]

Nice. When did you start buying albums?

Always have picked 'em up in doses.

Plus Xmas money and **** like that.

[Spiritofmosa]

what are labels for anyway? money shld be going to the bands and they should earn money through their own effort

[Perhaps Crickets]

what are labels for anyway? money shld be going to the bands and they should earn money through their own effort

Yes, I agree; however, the labels need their share of cash! Or else, they won't be in business in the first place.

[Nostalgia]

I believe the main reason is because the bands don't like dealing with the financial situations. It's (probably) the same case for baseball players with their agents.

[Perhaps Crickets]

I believe the main reason is because the bands don't like dealing with the financial situations. It's (probably) the same case for baseball players with their agents.

Every product has its administrative function. A label makes sales through superior production capabilities, marketing, of utmost importance, distribution.

[ArtVandelay]

I download a lot of music from torrents, but because of downloading music I have found a lot of bands I really like. My favourite bands right now I have found by downloading torrents. And if I have the money, I will buy their cd.

[loathed]

Yes, way too much...but honestly, i download music as well, and if i like what i hear, i buy the album. i dont see anything wrong with that...

p.s...general discussion or something please..

[Luc214]

I look at it this way:

Most people who download music also buy albums that they think are worth buying or whenever they have the cash. All the other music they download would never be heard, and the artist would never have gained a fan.

Does it hurt? It goes both ways. There are people who refuse to buy music and just download. This hurts, however the amount of fans gained for artists due to music they hear through downloading is also a positive because chances are almost all of that music wouldn't have been heard otherwise.

I'm one of those people.

[sonicst0rm]

Now that I've discovered all of my favorite artists through downloading... I now buy their new releases instead of downloading any new stuff that comes out. Mind you this is only like 10-12 artists I would spend any money on.

It's pretty dumb to buy an album that you've already downloaded (unless you want higher quality). I've only done that twice with Opeth and Porcupine Tree though.

[Thasis]

I will buy albums I've already downloaded simply to support the band. But I prefer to get newer releases. The only bands I havn't gotten into through downloading is Godsmack and Marilyn Manson.

[Permanent Solution]

It's pretty dumb to buy an album that you've already downloaded (unless you want higher quality). I've only done that twice with Opeth and Porcupine Tree though.

Unless you want to support the artists you like so they continue to make music.

[Cocaine]

Most musicians don't make enough money from album sales to actually support themselves. Downloading exposes you to the bands, so you can buy their merch and go to their shows, which is where they make their real money.

The big Catch-22, as someone already pointed out, is that bands need labels to survive, and labels need money. For labels to make money, you have to buy CDs.

In short, I have a downloading habit, but I'm a recovering compulsive CD-purchaser.

[Permanent Solution]

Yeah, unfortunately when a band gets kicked from their label for low sales, they can't go "but look at how many people illegally downloaded it!" Just doesn't work that way.

[ChickenMcFicken]

So are there like 2 people on the whole forum who don't download?

[Crickets Hail The Goat]

So are there like 2 people on the whole forum who don't download?

*The internet

[Apocalypticon]

So are there like 2 people on the whole forum who don't download?

The people who don't download aren't on the internet they're at work trying to make enough money to buy enough albums to actually have a good collection. Either that or they only listen to like 5 bands or they are spoiled brats.

[Jude]

It's pretty dumb to buy an album that you've already downloaded (unless you want higher quality). I've only done that twice with Opeth and Porcupine Tree though.

Or unless you like owning CDs. I've done that with those two bands and others as well.

[Crickets Hail The Goat]

Owning cds > dl CDs

If I buy an album, I can rip it at 320 VBR; if I dl an album, it's stuck in crappy 192 bit rate. That sounds just cheap and gay when your computer is run through a stereo.

[ChickenMcFicken]

The people who don't download aren't on the internet they're at work trying to make enough money to buy enough albums to actually have a good collection. Either that or they only listen to like 5 bands or they are spoiled brats.

That's funny, cuz I'm none of those. I workED, but don't right now. Work~8 hours a day, being on the internet doesnt take much time. I definitely listen to more than 5 bands. Good collection could be a lot of things. I have more CDs than a lot of kids I know, less than some, too. More records than most :) but I definitely dont have ridiculous amounts (in the 10+ of thousands). I've spent several hundo on music, probably over a grand if you count players, etc, but CDs arent THAT expensive. I've gotten some great used CDs from Amoeba and Rasputin for just a few bucks (<5) and have gotten tons for <12. There are much more expensive things to be spending money on

[blueyxd]

320 VBR

orly?:smash:

[Crickets Hail The Goat]

orly?:smash:

Ya rly! :thumb:

[Apocalyptic Raids]

If I buy an album, I can rip it at 320 VBR; if I dl an album, it's stuck in crappy 192 bit rate. That sounds just cheap and gay when your computer is run through a stereo.
Any mp3 (or similar lossy format) will sound "cheap and gay" compared to a CD.

[GenuineImitation]

I pretty much buy every album I download, unless Im not to crazy about it. Then I delete it. Maybe keep a song or two at most.

I like buying cds for three reasons.

1) I like to know Im supporting the band and music in general. If I was in a band, I would like to know people are buying and enjoying my album.

2) My mom has a huge record collection. Everything from the Beatles of Michael Jackson. I hope to have a massive collection someday as well. It fairly large already, buts its still going.

3) The cover work is an art form of itself. I also enjoy reading the linear notes and lyrics in the book if they are available.

[niobium]

there's nothing gay about 192 thats what i rip my albums at when i extract them after i buy them

320 is needlessly large

[Crickets Hail The Goat]

there's nothing gay about 192 thats what i rip my albums at when i extract them after i buy them

320 is needlessly large

Nah, it's significantly better than 192. That is for damn sure.

Plus, with a 160GB HD, size isn't an issue.

[Amit]

lol go do an abx test and then prepare to get embarrassed :-X

[blueyxd]

Crickets: Why don't you just use flac or ape if you are going through a good sound system and don't really care about size?

I rip in VBR (Lame V2) which is roughly equal to 192 kbps rips in size, but much better in quality (by the inherent VBR efficiency) .

[Kage]

Nah, it's significantly better than 192. That is for damn sure.

Plus, with a 160GB HD, size isn't an issue.

lol I rip at 162 with a 250 GB HD and size is a huge issue.

[Crickets Hail The Goat]

lol I rip at 162 with a 250 GB HD and size is a huge issue.

Then you have a massive library. :p

[niobium]

Nah, it's significantly better than 192. That is for damn sure.

Plus, with a 160GB HD, size isn't an issue.yeah so not all of us have HDs that large. mine is 80.

and don't fool yourself there's a a big audible difference between 192 and 320 vbr because there is not. it's only noticeable on frequency testers. besides, they fill up your mp3 players quicker, amirite?

[Crickets Hail The Goat]

yeah so not all of us have HDs that large. mine is 80.

and don't fool yourself there's a a big audible difference between 192 and 320 vbr because there is not. it's only noticeable on frequency testers. besides, they fill up your mp3 players quicker, amirite?

I don't even have, nor use an mp3 device. So that doesn't matter.

I personally notice a difference. I am running my computer into my stereo. Not just cheap computer speakers, though.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Personally, I don't think the difference great enough for me to sacrifice more space.

[Crickets Hail The Goat]

Personally, I don't think the difference great enough for me to sacrifice more space.

Again, if space is not an issue. Then it doesn't matter.

I love how this thread has turned into an argument regarding disc space.

[Amit]

Nah, it's significantly better than 192. That is for damn sure.

Plus, with a 160GB HD, size isn't an issue.

i have 2 250's and size is still an issue

you just don't listen to a lot of music gg

[PinkFreud]

Amit, you have a freakishly large library though. I used to think I had one of the biggest on the site. :(

I was all proud and shiii.