Napster downloads now 192k

[Hi Ho]

I have been a Napster subscriber for about a year now. I pay $15 a month and I can download all the music I want and put it on my ZenMicro Photo.

My one complaint has been that the songs were encoded at only 128k WMA. While 128k WMA sounds quite a bit better than the comparable MP3 file (in my opinion), it was still a bit lacking.

Now I see that virtually all songs are downloaded as 192k WMA. I must say that it is impressive. It is damn near identical to the CD. I have done blind comparisons between CD's and the 192k Napster files and I couldn't tell the difference.

Now the only real reason for me to go out and buy a CD is if it's not available for download, but the number of those that are not is shrinking daily.

 

[Hi Ho]

Wow, I thought there would surely be more interest in better quality music downloads finally coming around.

 

[westcott]

A poll would be interesting. to see if there is a correlation between the popularity of MP3 music or other compressed format music vs. age.

 

[gellor]

Hopefully this will spark some competition among the various music stores for higher quality music. *cough*iTunes!*cough*

That's been the main thing preventing me from downloading more songs. I'll be happy the day we can download good quality digital audio and high-resolution video from online stores.

 

[ebrius]

Hopefully this will spark some competition among the various music stores for higher quality music. *cough*iTunes!*cough*

That's been the main thing preventing me from downloading more songs. I'll be happy the day we can download good quality digital audio and high-resolution video from online stores.

I agree, I don't plan to pay for downloaded music until they start using a loseless codec or something just as good

 

[Hi Ho]

I challenge you to do a blind comparison between 192k WMA and a WAV file of the same song on good equipment and tell me you can hear a difference.

 

[Sheep]

I have this to say about DLing music:

MEH.

In canada, its not that big of a deal. Everyone downloads, and if they like the band, they buy the CD. DLing is also a good way to find new music.

SheepStar

 

[ebrius]

I agree, I don't plan to pay for downloaded music until they start using a loseless codec or something just as good

I challenge you to do a blind comparison between 192k WMA and a WAV file of the same song on good equipment and tell me you can hear a difference.

The key phrase was pay for downloaded music, why should I pay for something I can download for free? Once napster starts offering something I can't get from DC++ or eDonkey, then I'll start using them

 

[Hi Ho]

The key phrase was pay for downloaded music, why should I pay for something I can download for free? Once napster starts offering something I can't get from DC++ or eDonkey, then I'll start using them

Because downloading for free is stealing and is one of the main reasons we are having all of these copyright battles today. Do you go into the grocery store and take a bunch of food without paying for it?

 

[gellor]

Because downloading for free is stealing and is one of the main reasons we are having all of these copyright battles today. Do you go into the grocery store and take a bunch of food without paying for it?

...its called "Sampling!" (Best done at a higher-end grocery store...or by rap artists)

 

[Hi Ho]

Downloading songs and not buying the CD or downloading legally is stealing. It is no different than walking into a music store and shoplifting the CD's.

 

[Sheep]

Downloading songs and not buying the CD or downloading legally is stealing. It is no different than walking into a music store and shoplifting the CD's.

GAD ZOOKS, your right! Lets take all our police, fire, and security forces and track down these 13 year old thief's!

Screw pedophiles and rapists, rich musicians are loosing some money, which they didn't really deserve because they are all sellout bastards, because kids are downloading.

Nothing boils my blood like rich musicians loosing money, which they could make up for by writing better music, and having more concerts, because of children, that are actually interested in their music.

/rant.

SheepStar(YES I'm aware of the horrid grammar.)

 

[Hi Ho]

Let me make something clear here. I despise how most "musicians" today get rich with little to no talent (most don't even play an instrument). I despise the RIAA. I despise the music industry in general.

However, stealing is stealing. There is no other way to put it.

 

[Sheep]

Let me make something clear here. I despise how most "musicians" today get rich with little to no talent (most don't even play an instrument). I despise the RIAA. I despise the music industry in general.

However, stealing is stealing. There is no other way to put it.

Look at it this way.

Small band: Glad people even care enough about their music to download it.

Big band: Pissed off because they are loosing money.

Doesn't seem so bad now, does it?

SheepStar

 

[MDS]

Here we go again with the downloading issue. It is stealing - period.

I love the argument that says 'the band should make better music' and because it sucks I feel justified in stealing it. Now how can you reconcile that? You feel the music sucks and yet you download it anyway! If you are sure you only like one or two songs, then buy it legally through iTunes or one of the dozens of other music services.

Yes, music is poor today compared to my generation. You know how you deal with that? You vote with your wallet and don't buy it.

I also despise the 'rich' musician argument. They are not all rich! The record companies rob the musicians blind. Only bands that make it 10 or more years see any real wealth and those types of bands are few and far between nowadays. Read and learn about how the industry really works - the information is out there.

 

[racquetman]

I'm with MDS and Hi Ho on this one. Sheep, you need to rethink your argument.

The corporations that sell you their electronics are rich beyond belief, but you don't break into an electronic store to steal a DVD player. The markup on food items is huge, but I doubt you steal fruit at the supermarket. If the artists are so filthy rich, why don't you rip off CDs from the local music store? Aren't you saying that's OK to do because they are so rich? Is it because you don't have the balls to try a heist? No, it's because there are consequences to the physical act of stealing and those consequences are perceptually a lot more real than thieving some bits of data. But make no mistake, they are one in the same.

If you really want to take a stand against greedy music labels or artists, then don't buy their music. But don't try to justify stealing with a half-*** argument that they deserve to be ripped off. All you are doing is making the rest of us suffer with higher music prices and more copy protection issues. You are also setting a bad example for any impressionable people that peruse this forum.

As MDS said, it's not the artists that are getting rich (although there are some), it's the greedy music labels that make all the money. They (the music corporations) know that they are needed for their studios, and their mass copying and distribution, and their promotional skills, and the up front money to get a music project done. So they can demand whatever they want from the artists and for the most part the artists have to give in. Personally I hope the power of the internet puts all the studios out of business, because I hate greedy corporations. If the artists could get us their music directly and take out the middle man, it would be a win, win situation for the artists and the consumers.

 

[Sheep]

I don't DL music I don't like. I ONLY DL music so I can get to know the artist.

If I like it, I will buy it.

If I don't like it, I will delete it.

Plus, it takes about 6 weeks to get a CD. The bands I like are not mass produced. I can't just walk down to a music store and find their CD. So, in that time, I listen to the DL'd music and find more songs I like, then when the CD gets here, I will like the band even more.

If musicians want money, they can sell out. If they want fans, they can write good music or hold more concerts IE: Work Harder.

Edit: Corporations? You sound like Team America.

SheepStar

 

[Hanse18]

Why even bother arguing about this? Everyone already has a position, and no one is really going to change their opinion on the ethics of the illegal downloading issue (that is what is being discussed here, ethics, right?).

I Completely agree with Sheep, and actually everyone else i bet, that it is sad to see what the music industry has become in this era, at least the popular stuff thats get the radio airtime. How many artists are out there anymore like the Grateful Dead, that allowed anyone to tape their concerts for free, and said that the more people that got exposed to their music, the better? I have downloaded songs that i shouldn't have, but I'm not going to stand here and try to justify my actions. I have done it in the past because i wasn't sure I liked the artist and I wanted to hear some stuff I can't hear on the radio, or older cd's (like early 90's) from obscure bands that are hard to find on shelves now. I also have an itunes account, and if I am only interested in one song, i always buy it legally. For some reason i enjoy certain rap songs, kind of randomly, so i always just purchase those instead of having to deal with an entire album of racism and sexism.

There is no good excuse for stealing music. Yeah, lots of artists are rich, but alot of them aren't, and either way, it's their job! Yes, they might make 100 times more than the average person, but when you boil it all down, stealing a cd from an artist is no different than going to a farm and stealing all of a farmer's produce. Maybe that's not the best analogy, but i think it gets the point across.

 

[Sheep]

There is no good excuse for stealing music. Yeah, lots of artists are rich, but alot of them aren't, and either way, it's their job! Yes, they might make 100 times more than the average person, but when you boil it all down, stealing a cd from an artist is no different than going to a farm and stealing all of a farmer's produce. Maybe that's not the best analogy, but i think it gets the point across.

Its O.K. while it IS stealing (don't get me wrong), its not their only form of income.

Remember, I only DL to get to know the artist, if I like, I buy. If I dislike, I delete. I only have 80gigs, and games take up most of it, so hanging on to crappy music is not a priority for me.

SheepStar