CDs Anonymous

[Ferretfancy]

An interesting question. It may well happen that some other medium will appear, perhaps in solid form or just as digital information, but it's worth remembering that it's still possible to play cylinders and there are still pleasures to be had from 78s

Music recording and film both began at about the same time, and later came the arrival of LP and the invention of sound cinema. Both were very rapid market developments, and to me remain the biggest breakthroughs. CD is the descendant of one, and perhaps colour film of the other. They both continue to be refined, but this doesn't stop people enjoying silent movies or 78s. There will always be designers and engineers who can build the necessary equipment.

In the end, the integrity of the music making, or the strength of the narrative is the most important consideration, and that can still shine through imperfect reproduction

[Ian]

I think it’s worth making a distinction between the ‘format’ and the delivery/storage medium. ‘Downloads’ aren’t a fundamentally different format to CDs - it’s all digital and that’s the crucial thing. The delivery/storage medium is interchangeable as it is for any digital computer information - discs (of whatever type) memory stick, hard disc - whatever new storage product might be developed.

A new ‘format’ would have to be something other than digital - something non-computer based.

[VodkaDilc]

Will downloads take over, or is some other "physical" medium hovering?

For me there will always need to be something physical to collect, put on shelves and look at. Isn't collecting a basic human urge? A collection of downloads will never be a substitute (for those of an older generation.)

As for the younger lot...............their outlook on such things is so different - so transient, everything completely ephemeral (and I mean this as an observation, not a criticism) - that the collection side might not be important. ("I've got 12,000 songs on my iPad, but I'll probably delete them all next year; it is unlikely that I'd still enjoy them in a couple of years.")

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If downloads were to take over, my addiction would be cured instantly.

[VodkaDilc]

If downloads were to take over, my addiction would be cured instantly.

But, as we have seen with 78s and vinyl, the millions of CDs in existence would not disappear. Unless we have a sudden outbreak of CD-rot, we could play our CDs until the end of our days.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

But, as we have seen with 78s and vinyl, the millions of CDs in existence would not disappear. Unless we have a sudden outbreak of CD-rot, we could play our CDs until the end of our days.

But there would be no new ones to buy, only 2nd hand CDs. Then I would be able to listen to the ones I already have,

[hafod]

Unless we have a sudden outbreak of CD-rot, we could play our CDs until the end of our days.

That's my plan - augmented by the 3000 or so LPs I have.

[VodkaDilc]

That's my plan - augmented by the 3000 or so LPs I have.

And I'm sure the hi-fi manufacturers will see that there is still a healthy market and continue making the equipment. (Unlike cassette players, which seem to have disappeared, even though many of us have hundreds of cassettes, many of them - surely the major advantage of the medium - of live, often amateur, performances.)

[Panjandrum]

And I'm sure the hi-fi manufacturers will see that there is still a healthy market and continue making the equipment. (Unlike cassette players, which seem to have disappeared, even though many of us have hundreds of cassettes, many of them - surely the major advantage of the medium - of live, often amateur, performances.)

I'm with you on this Voddy. Over the years I have looked to replace pre-recorded cassettes with CDs as and when they were released. Inevitably, one or two favourites slipped through the net and I am dreading the day when I will no longer be able to listen to them. The answer, I guess, is that one should look to rip one's cassettes to MP3 format while one's tape deck is still functional.

[vinteuil]

For me there will always need to be something physical to collect, put on shelves and look at. Isn't collecting a basic human urge? A collection of downloads will never be a substitute (for those of an older generation.)

As for the younger lot...............their outlook on such things is so different - so transient, everything completely ephemeral (and I mean this as an observation, not a criticism) - that the collection side might not be important. ("I've got 12,000 songs on my iPad, but I'll probably delete them all next year; it is unlikely that I'd still enjoy them in a couple of years.")

Yes - I think 'people like us' will turn out to have been an historically high point in collected cultural stuff - we have enormously more than our parents did, of books and of course CDs - not least thro' the wonders of amazon and similar - and the next generation will I think keep more of their 'stuff' on kindles, i-players, out there in the cloud...

We are the cohort of the groaning bookshelves and tottering CD towers

[Ian]

For me there will always need to be something physical to collect, put on shelves and look at. Isn't collecting a basic human urge? A collection of downloads will never be a substitute (for those of an older generation.)

All digital files (including audio files that have been downloaded) need to be stored on a physical medium - but why restrict the medium to audio cd? Why not data Cd, DVD, Blu ray, hard disc - they can all be collected.

[cloughie]

All digital files (including audio files that have been downloaded) need to be stored on a physical medium - but why restrict the medium to audio cd? Why not data Cd, DVD, Blu ray, hard disc - they can all be collected.

The memory stick for the car is handy.

[cloughie]

Yes - I think 'people like us' will turn out to have been an historically high point in collected cultural stuff - we have enormously more than our parents did, of books and of course CDs - not least thro' the wonders of amazon and similar - and the next generation will I think keep more of their 'stuff' on kindles, i-players, out there in the cloud...

We are the cohort of the groaning bookshelves and tottering CD towers

We are the obsessive but happy cohort of the groaning bookshelves and tottering CD towers

[cloughie]

I'm with you on this Voddy. Over the years I have looked to replace pre-recorded cassettes with CDs as and when they were released. Inevitably, one or two favourites slipped through the net and I am dreading the day when I will no longer be able to listen to them. The answer, I guess, is that one should look to rip one's cassettes to MP3 format while one's tape deck is still functional.

[cloughie]

And I'm sure the hi-fi manufacturers will see that there is still a healthy market and continue making the equipment. (Unlike cassette players, which seem to have disappeared, even though many of us have hundreds of cassettes, many of them - surely the major advantage of the medium - of live, often amateur, performances.)

I still think that with the demise of MC and non-take-up of MD there is currently a need for a cheap user-friendly instant recording machine. Incidentally there is also a hole in the market for a cheap DAB digibox to convert all our FM radios.