[SoundGame]

I, as well as some others, refuse to play the download game. I would rather have a record on a fine player than rely on the poor quality of cheap computers . For me the redbook formula works very well . Things have gotten pretty fine in the cd world during the last ten years. I think that is why Bryston held off for so long in producing their bcd-1. Higher rez is good but like, in digital photography, it's not always the number of megapixels but how well they're processed that gives the clearest images. It's sad that we are led my marketing hype. Do what's best for you and be happy....

Well said.  A fine cdp with fine cd source material can still provide a very satisfying sonic experience.  That said, just like all things audio and something I'm very greatful for, there is always a constant evolution with greater benefits..

[FullRangeMan]

I would add that the fate of each HD is being damaged.

[Anonamemouse]

I, as well as some others, refuse to play the download game. I would rather have a record on a fine player than rely on the poor quality of cheap computers . For me the redbook formula works very well . Things have gotten pretty fine in the cd world during the last ten years. I think that is why Bryston held off for so long in producing their bcd-1. Higher rez is good but like, in digital photography, it's not always the number of megapixels but how well they're processed that gives the clearest images. It's sad that we are led my marketing hype. Do what's best for you and be happy....

Seconded in a major way.

[jaxwired]

I do see early warning signs of the demise of the CD.  Occassionally the smaller indie recordings are only available as download.  It's still fairly rare though.  I've never bought a download.  I own every recording on CD. 

As long as people are still buying CDs, they will still be made and sold IMO.  Cassette tapes were absolete after the CD but it probably took another 20 years for them to die off completely.  Only the complete lack of demand killed it off. 

If you were a record company exec do you think you would stop making CDs and risk a giant dip in sales?  Why?  What would be the up side?   It's not like they are losing money on them.  When the demand becomes so low that they acually do lose money on them, then they will stop.  That's a very long way off. 

[FullRangeMan]

I do see early warning signs of the demise of the CD.  Occassionally the smaller indie recordings are only available as download.  It's still fairly rare though.  I've never bought a download.  I own every recording on CD. 

As long as people are still buying CDs, they will still be made and sold IMO.  Cassette tapes were absolete after the CD but it probably took another 20 years for them to die off completely.  Only the complete lack of demand killed it off. 

If you were a record company exec do you think you would stop making CDs and risk a giant dip in sales?  Why?  What would be the up side?   It's not like they are losing money on them.  When the demand becomes so low that they acually do lose money on them, then they will stop.  That's a very long way off.

As long as people are still buying CDs, they will still be made and sold IMO.
This make sense.

[SoundGame]

As long as people are still buying CDs, they will still be made and sold IMO.
This make sense.

Yes and NO.  Only as long as the demand justifies the continued investment in resources.  If demand keeps shrinking as it has been - mass market CD production will most definitely stop.  Just like vinyl though, there may be some specialty manufacturers that keep producing but expect prices to be higher on them.

[Stu Pitt]

I would add that the fate of each HD is being damaged.

The same can be said for CD players and even CDs.  Everything breaks eventually.

[FullRangeMan]

The same can be said for CD players and even CDs.  Everything breaks eventually.

Seems CD rotten or mould is a slow process, and it can be clean. I mean said HDs can be lost fast, at a blink, in this case all the HD is lost.
Afew years ago I work with some DLT tapes, would be useful for backup, but only 600Gb per tape.

[sfraser]

Seems CD rotten or mould is a slow process, and it can be clean. I mean said HDs can be lost fast, at a blink, in this case all the HD is lost.
Afew years ago I work with some DLT tapes, would be useful for backup, but only 600Gb per tape.

Your absolutely correct, but up until recently 2TB external HD's were around $100 . A 2TB drive will hold a couple thousand CD's (FLAC) . Buy two, 2nd one as a backup, and  backup your music once a month and keep the backup offsite at work etc. Toss both of them out  every 2 years (in 2 years they will be $50 ea). Let's face it a lot of people on this page spend way more on cables every couple of years.

Cheers,

Scott

[FullRangeMan]

Your absolutely correct, but up until recently 2TB external HD's were around $100 . A 2TB drive will hold a couple thousand CD's (FLAC) . Buy two, 2nd one as a backup, and  backup your music once a month and keep the backup offsite at work etc. Toss both of them out  every 2 years (in 2 years they will be $50 ea). Let's face it a lot of people on this page spend way more on cables every couple of years.

Cheers,

Scott

I unaware the current prices, so with these low prices seems the backup issue is solved;
Thanks

[sfraser]

I unaware the current prices, so with these low prices seems the backup issue is solved;
Thanks

Well, actually the prices recently jumped up  do to the floods in Asia . They should drop back down again in a few months.

[spinner]

  So this means that even external hard drives aren't all that good a storage medium?

[sfraser]

  So this means that even external hard drives aren't all that good a storage medium?

No not at all, external hard drives are great storage mediums. Currently they are not quite as cost effective as they were 3 months ago due to actual/perceived supply and demand issues. Worst case, what was a $100 external drive would temporarily  now cost... lets say..$150.

Cheers,

[spinner]

 So they are a stable means of long term storage compared to any form of cd-r.. ect.?

[sfraser]

So they are a stable means of long term storage compared to any form of cd-r.. ect.?

External drives are internal drives (PC internal) mounted in a portable case/power supply. The fact that they are portable has it's pro's and cons. Pro's are obvious, con's would be more prone to damage, dropping etc vs a internal HD. A general rule of thumb for hard drives is "it's not a question of if it will fail...but when it will fail.

Buy two, backup everything, and keep the backup  offsite from the 1st one. Replace both every 2 yr's to be  "real" safe.

[BrysTony]

External drives are internal drives (PC internal) mounted in a portable case/power supply. The fact that they are portable has it's pro's and cons. Pro's are obvious, con's would be more prone to damage, dropping etc vs a internal HD. A general rule of thumb for hard drives is "it's not a question of if it will fail...but when it will fail.

Buy two, backup everything, and keep the backup  offsite from the 1st one. Replace both every 2 yr's to be  "real" safe.

I agree with everything you said.  Backup is essential.  I suspect that the time is coming that the various "cloud" services will be a good way to provide that backup protection.  For example, Apple's iCloud service currently will back up iTunes music and make it available to iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc.  I think that it is currently limited to mp3 but hopefully higher resolution files will replace mp3 in the future.

Tony

[sfraser]

I heard itunes does not actually back up your music, they just identify the content  you locally have stored,  and actually use there own massive music library?