Death of the Compact Disc

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

It very much depends on how one does it. 

[A24 4,322]

Never had a problem with CDs either but I only touch the edges. 
 

[1977 1,743]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

>shrug< I've never had any problems

 

You should lok at them under a light, you might get a fright. Even "soft" cloths cause scratching. I've learnt this the hard way.

 

1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said:

It very much depends on how one does it. 

 

Not really. The highly polished surface of an optical media disc is extremely susceptible to scratches. Even Blu-ray discs aren't immune, although their "protective" coatings are a bit more resilient than CDs and DVDs.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

41 minutes ago, JTWfan77 said:

Not really. The highly polished surface of an optical media disc is extremely suceptible to scratches. 

 

I agree that CDs are extremely susceptible to scratches. However, through trials and errors, I've found a way to do the cleaning that usually doesn't leave any visible scratches.

[1977 1,743]

18 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I've found a way to do the cleaning that usually doesn't leave any visible scratches.

 

You should patent it and package it and slap it on a plastic lunchbox and sell it!

 

 

*bangs hand on table*

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

14 hours ago, JTWfan77 said:

 

You should patent it and sell it

 

I'll give it to you for free.

 

1. Soak the CD under running water, not much warmer than body temperature.
2. Spray on cleaning solution for glasses (a mild detergent).
3. Mechanically wash the CD by moving your finger radially outwards. Clean, wet skin doesn't leave scratches.
4. Rinse the CD under running water, not much warmer than body temperature.
5. Shake the CD to get rid of most of the water.
6. Remove the remaining water drops from the CD. Do not wipe! Instead, use a piece of dry soft cotton cloth or paper tissue that doesn't leave residues (like Torky if you have that brand) and lightly press it onto the CD surface. The water will be quickly absorbed.
7. If there's still some stains left, you can use a soft, lightly moisturized cotton cloth, and wipe radially. However, wiping with a cloth always has the risk of creating small scratches, but it's better than wiping with a paper tissue.

[Wojo 2,453]

I might try this with a DVD that I'm trying to rip to have in my Plex library. I have tried every optical drive and software available to me, but it won't rip. Plays fine, just won't rip. 

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

2 hours ago, AC1 said:

Never had a problem with CDs either but I only touch the edges. 
 

 

Is that you, Alex?

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I welcome the death of physical media, but only as long as the digital media I buy involves me taking ownership of the actual files to do what I wish with.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

What about noisy watermarks?

 

3 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

I welcome the death of physical media

 

That's not a nice thing to say. 

[A24 4,322]

10 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

That's not a nice thing to say. 

 

 

Not only is it not nice, as a music fan, I also don't understand why one would wish LPs or CDs to die. 

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

It's the little omen inside Stu that pops out now and then.

[Jay 37,249]

You Should Listen to CDs - If vinyl is for hipsters and streaming is for everyone else, maybe the forgotten format is for you.

[Richard Penna 3,662]

That article has some valid points, but even though we're losing the CD, we don't lose the digital album and associated purchasing decisions.

 

When I discover a new album and initially only like one or two tracks, there's always a part of me that wants to like the rest of the album, and there's a commercially released library album for which I'm going through that exact process right now. I end up doing what the author suggests - digging away at those other tracks and trying to tune my mind into liking them more.

 

My last post in here generally was a decade ago, and really my stance is the same - CDs are a highly inefficient and limiting format by which to distribute music, which collectors love because it gives them something pretty to look at. I just don't care about any of that any more.

 

Hence the 'No CD = no sale' brigade at FSM does my head in.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,488]

On 10/11/2011 at 5:50 AM, Grace Under Pressure said:

explain what is the difference between 5.1 music, and 2.0 music in 3 sentences.

One has 5 channels of music.

One has 2 channels of music.

Sorted 

[bruce marshall 1,314]

On 13/10/2020 at 10:53 PM, AC1 said:

 

 

Not only is it not nice, as a music fan, I also don't understand why one would wish LPs or CDs to die. 

Consider the source.....

[A24 4,322]

8 hours ago, Richard Penna said:

CDs are a highly inefficient and limiting format by which to distribute music, which collectors love because it gives them something pretty to look at. I just don't care about any of that any more.

 

 

Are you sure you're not talking about vinyl?

[Arpy 4,145]

10 hours ago, Richard Penna said:

That article has some valid points, but even though we're losing the CD, we don't lose the digital album and associated purchasing decisions.

 

When I discover a new album and initially only like one or two tracks, there's always a part of me that wants to like the rest of the album, and there's a commercially released library album for which I'm going through that exact process right now. I end up doing what the author suggests - digging away at those other tracks and trying to tune my mind into liking them more.

 

My last post in here generally was a decade ago, and really my stance is the same - CDs are a highly inefficient and limiting format by which to distribute music, which collectors love because it gives them something pretty to look at. I just don't care about any of that any more.

 

Hence the 'No CD = no sale' brigade at FSM does my head in.

 

Vinyl is more inefficient - more upkeep and is essentially damaged with every play. I understand the convenience which comes with a digital release, but I'm very much of the mind that you don't have the same sense of ownership as you would a physical album (CD, Cassette, Vinyl etc.). For many people that's important.

 

I think services like Spotify have seriously damaged the experience of listening to albums, and listening to score albums where the music represents a narrative. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Arpy 4,145]

** one last thing to add:

 

Spotify, iTunes etc. don't have nearly a comprehensive digital archive as one would hope in the all-digital future, many scores and albums of other genres are not present. I own many CDs that contain such music and that's pretty much the only way to hear it.

[bollemanneke 3,334]

I'm actually buying CDs again, but only albums I really, really love. One okay track is fine, but otherwise I don't buy it physically.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

I prefer all the tracks to be at least OK.

[A24 4,322]

2 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

I'm actually buying CDs again, but only albums I really, really love. One okay track is fine, but otherwise I don't buy it physically.

 

Me too. And I don't have to really love them. Just nice is already enough. 

[Richard Penna 3,662]

11 hours ago, AC1 said:

 

Are you sure you're not talking about vinyl?

 

Well Vinyl obviously gives you the huge cover art, but no, I'm talking about CDs and particularly the elaborate boxes, booklets, etc.

 

10 hours ago, Arpy said:

I think services like Spotify have seriously damaged the experience of listening to albums, and listening to score albums where the music represents a narrative. 

 

I'd massively disagree with that - you're still listening to the album and getting a narrative; you just don't need to wait for it and no one has to pay to press any plastic discs.

[rough cut 1,714]

Vinyl albums outsold CDs in US for first time in 30 years in 2021 (NME)

 

and

 

1 Out of Every 3 Albums Sold in the US in 2021 Were Vinyl LPs (Billboard)

[Jay 37,249]

Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee yet, but how can both those things be true?  If vinyl outsold CDs, wouldn't that mean 2 out of 3 albums sold were vinyl?

 

Or is the first saying vinyl outsold CD by dollar amount, not units?

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

What about digital albums?

[Jay 37,249]

That's not what we're discussing right now

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

Well, the title of the second article says nothing about being constrained to physical albums.

[Jay 37,249]

Ahhh, you're right!  I get it now - I knew I hadn't had enough coffee yet!

 

Here's more info

 

"Vinyl album sales comprised 38.3% of all album sales (physical and digital formats combined) in the U.S. in 2021 (41.72 million of 108.98 million)"

 

https://www.celebnation.com/news_feed/1-out-of-every-3-albums-sold-in-the-us-in-2021-were-vinyl-lps/

[A24 4,322]

I'm glad JWFaners aren't falling for the vinyl hype.

[Jay 37,249]

Some people here love vinyl!

 

I do not.

[A24 4,322]

Vinyl isn't ideal for classical or orchestral work because of the compression (lack of dynamics). Also, you need a perfectly set up turntable before you even come close to CD. 

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

Also interesting, digital album sales were the third-most popular format in 2021 for album purchases, and the segment fell 23.9% in 2021 to 26.19 million (down from 34.42 million in 2020).

[Brundlefly 2,385]

45 minutes ago, AC1 said:

Vinyl isn't ideal for classical or orchestral work because of the compression (lack of dynamics). Also, you need a perfectly set up turntable before you even come close to CD. 

It's interesting that many people nowadays chose between vinyls which have the sonic disadvantages you described and streaming services which mostly offer inferior digital sound files. The CD which is the objectively best sounding source is somehow skipped.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

Some people are against CDs because it's made of plastic.

 

Probably the same people who are against meat.

[A24 4,322]

Theoretically the best format is SA-CD (DSD).

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

What about bluray audio?

[A24 4,322]

2 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

What about bluray audio?

 

Blu-ray is still PCM. DSD is superior to PCM, which is a technology of more than 40 years old. 

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

It's just a different way of encoding the signal.

[Ricard 2,242]

20 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Some people are against CDs because it's made of plastic.

 

Probably the same people who are against meat.

 

Uncompressed digital files for me, and vinyl for the artwork and physical experience ("reinvented" editions excluded). CDs look and feel cheap.

 

And I also skip meat, but for entirely different reasons.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

Agreed about the artwork of vinyl. But I think a digital file feels cheaper than a CD.

[Richard Penna 3,662]

I guess it does because you're not physically receiving anything but you're also correct that you're also not asking for a box of plastic to be shipped across the planet.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

I love shipping stuff across the planet.

[A24 4,322]

26 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

It's just a different way of encoding the signal.

 

Different and superior.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

Well, it requires better hardware to take advantage of.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,488]

37 minutes ago, Ricard said:

And I also skip meat, but for entirely different reasons.

I hear you, bro'. Ever tried to insert a slice of smoked back into a CD player? Fucking hell.

[Jurassic Shark 12,008]

CDs will get a major comeback when they figure out how to make it from bacon.

[Arpy 4,145]

CDs will make a comeback when the same vinylites recognise the hipster potential of a fragile jewel case and a booklet with pretty pictures in it.

[Manakin Skywalker 4,889]

VHS will make it's comeback within the next few years. You heard it here first folks!

[Positivatee 327]

I hope so. I have a TON of old home movies that I would like to convert to digital. I have a working VCR hooked up to my desktop via converter box and USB, but it would be nice to have a backup. 

 

There is a company building new VCRs with hdmi out, but they are ridiculously expensive. Goodwills and Salvation Army are the best place so far.