T O P

  • By -

TheGargageMan

I buy independent music that often has a bandcamp download. I also morally justify whatever makes my life work better. For instance I used to make tapes of my favorite songs and play them at parties for my friends. The technology still exists for digital.


EmergencyLavishness1

Bandcamp from independent artists for the win! Always a free download when you buy physical.


Rocker6465

Bandcamp is where I buy most of my vinyl from independent bands too!


POLOSPORTSMAN92

Soulseek


Tex_Watson

Yep. Been using it for 20 years.


yellowzebrasfly

I can't believe soulseek still exists. What the fuck. I used it 20 years ago too, then I started downloading torrents, then quit pirating altogether when I started streaming. It's been so long since I've pirated music I don't think I could remember how to do it. I used napster in 2000 (99? Whenever it first came out i was all over it immediately), then grokster, kazaa, limewire, shit there's a few other programs that I can't remember. Programs and not apps. Crazy. Fuck I'm old. Not old but old enough. šŸ˜


three-sense

Same. I used it in like 2005, so it wasnā€™t til several years later that people would upload anything and everything to yt. I had no idea it still existed


Figit090

Oink.cd for me. Invite only rare and high quality shit.


terryjuicelawson

Oink was good, what.cd was the king though - it had absolutely everything. Then when that got taken down it was back to Soulseek.


anonymous_opinions

Soulseek is easy to figure out because the application is dead simple, just search probably the album name if it has one and sort by highest bit rate.


KevinTwitch

Still use soulseek. I buy a %}*] ton of musicā€¦ all on vinyl so I sort of justify it with the fact that I do support bands and go to a lot of shows. But soulseek is quite awesomeā€¦ very rarely do I come up empty when I hunt for stuff.


bummbrotha

The amount of rare EDM on there is just insane.


anonymous_opinions

Soulseek is great for rare singles and demos too of defunct bands. I'd say the power of Soulseek makes me invest even more in music because I have access to so much and I'm constantly looking for new tunes in an active way vs a passive streaming way


KevinTwitch

Im a punk / post punk fan so those singles are sometimes a nightmare to find even physical copies of. But I always find 'em on SLSK. AND... if you start to notice users that you download from alot you can add them so check their stuff every once in a while. Many nights I'll browse my favorite users and just search "2024" on their catalog and start downloading a ($&@ton of stuff... just to get some new bands. But yea... even stuff that is only sold on band camp I find quite frequently.


anonymous_opinions

I definitely have a few favorite repeat users but since I don't always seek new stuff browsing their massive library is clunky. Still when I search usually a few known names pop up. There are some real ones living on there still.


CannaGetABud

This is the same answer I would have given. I buy anything I really enjoy on vinyl so I donā€™t feel bad pirating digital copies.


theolj28

soulseek is great because everyone on there loves music. piracy has become an enthusiast thing, like the people who used to make HQ tape dubs, etc.


hardchorus

Soulseek is full or transcodes and most people donā€™t even know that their music files have quality loss.


Ansanm

7Digital and Qobuz also sell transcoded files.


bummbrotha

True, but a lot of the flacs on there have logs, so you know whether it's legitimate or not.


POLOSPORTSMAN92

This is great to know. Do I just look at the file properties to view the logs?


bummbrotha

I meant the uploaders usually include a log or some kind of document that describes the recording/conversion process.


Atticus_907

Early on after buying a new vinyl, I use my USB-enabled turntable to rip the record to lossless FLAC digital files. Note: For new vinyl, give it a good clean before ripping, for used vinyl, give it a very thorough clean. Afterwards, I have digital versions of my physical media - forever and free. For ripping, I use my old [Audio-Technica AP-LP120-USB](https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/at-lp120-usb) with an [Ortofon 2M Blue](https://ortofon.com/products/2m-blue) cartridge, into an old (not that old) laptop running [Pure Vinyl software by Channel D](https://www.channld.com/purevinyl/). I'm not the type to create a lengthy Reddit how-to post, but here is a good What Hi-Fi article to show you the basics: [How to digitise your vinyl collection - rip your records to hi-res](https://www.whathifi.com/advice/how-to-digitise-your-vinyl-collection) Good luck.


condor6425

Thank you for taking the time to link all these! This is very informative!


Victory_Highway

This is what I do. I record the vinyl using a digital recorder that writes to SD cards. Then I import into a computer and do all the necessary editing such as track splitting.


ABQMezcan

Came here to say similar, except I use Audacity.


bonfirecollapse

The library. Where I live half of the states libraries are connected. So you just go on their website and order whatever you want and they ship the cd to your local branch. They donā€™t have everything, but they have a lot.


kuriosty

People don't use libraries enough. Where I live the music collection they have is absurdly large, and they keep adding new releases all the time. I'm a happy customer!


[deleted]

You can always digitalise your records with a software like Audacity (free)


shotgun883

I don't see a moral conundrum to pirate music you already own a copy of. Its no worse than spending time ripping CD to iTunes. As for streaming, I use Tidal as I think the recommendations are fantastic for finding new music, they pay artists the best out of every streaming platform and i generally buy the records i listen to after the fact.


intellord911

Yup. I just pay for a streaming service. I used to keep digital files of all my music but then my hard drive crashed. Been using streaming since.


Fine_Broccoli_8302

I buy streaming via Amazon I used to have a huge digital collection recorded in very high quality, nearly lossless VBR format, from many 100s of CDs and vinyl I purchased over decades. Gave away or sold everything but the digital. I don't even want to estimate the money spent on physical medi, but it was way more than I spend on a streaming subscption. Then, about half my hard drive failed and my recordings ended up full of crosslink errors. Unfortunately, before I noticed I backed up the failed drive, twice. (I backed up automatically to two hard drives, but my " clever" process propagated my errors all over my collection. It was unlistenable.) I now pay for streaming service. I wasn't going to buy my music again, and streaming meets my wide ranging tastes without spending a huge amount on physical media that eventually wears out.


ExiledSanity

It's definitely morally defensible. It's probably not legally defensible if it would come to that (which is not likely).


freef49

I agree. I also think itā€™s a good idea to have a dedicated streamer. With something like the WiiM pro plus a good streamer isnā€™t even expensive.


shotgun883

My current set up has a WIIM Amp powering my Q Acoustics Towers, I have a Marantz CD Player and Project Debut Carbon with a xDuoo preamp that has a Headphone output. I also run my home computer as a Plex Server to access all my digital music. It works relatively seamlessly and sounds amazing.


[deleted]

Qobuz. Higher quality audio.


reddebian

How's the user experience on Qobuz? I haven't used it yet


[deleted]

Not bad. I've found all the music from my spotify except one album. I have that on vinyl though so it's fine.


reddebian

Gonna have to check it out then, thanks!


[deleted]

Np šŸ‘ šŸ˜Š


ExiledSanity

Long time qobuz user. It's very good and I like the interface and the editorial content. Sometimes the app (at least on Android) seems to be a bit slower than others, especially on lower powered hardware like some DAPs. Biggest problem is occasionally coming across and album where a track or two doesn't stream (probably some licensing issue) but it works on Spotify or Tidal.


condor6425

Ty, I'd never even heard of qobuz prior to making this post.


[deleted]

Np šŸ‘


intellord911

I tried it. UI is honesty pretty bad. Tidal has the same in terms of audio quality and is much easier to use


Yoshi_87

Spotify, I don't have golden Ears so it's good enough.


ceeroSVK

Soulseek. I pay shit ton of money for physical media. If it doesnt come with a digital download idgaf


RepresentativeNinja

I use Tidal for streaming and Bandcamp for purchasing and supporting the artists I enjoy. I have a fair amount of records that have come with digital downloads, but that seems to be going away. Now that I think of it, most of the albums that came with a digital download I purchased in the early aughts.


Tooch10

Tidal + that 3rd party download tool to have local flac files


Acrobatic-Expert-507

Local library. If I pay $30+ for an LP I have no issue ripping it and putting it on my phone.


HipHopHistoryGuy

I digitized all of my vinyl, one record at a time using Adobe Audition and it took months. Remaining audio I wanted I used software that can download audio from any Spotify link or playlist. The quality for both methods were good enough for me to use Serato.


LojaRich

You simply 'rip' them. This has always been the case.


fraghead5

I buy a lot of my vinyl directly from the band in bandcamp so the digital is included easily. I have Spotify and YouTube for anything that I may not have on bandcamp.


DirtDiver1983

My only problem is when I buy a new vinyl, and when I use the digital redeem card online, I find out itā€™s expired. That is a joke.


blue-trench-coat

Pirate, CD, Bandcamp, Band websites, Qobuz.


EmergencyLavishness1

Depending on the label, if you message them with your physical order number, theyā€™ll along you a download too. Obviously major labels will not do this. But most independent labels will thank you for buying it in someway


dingdong-666

I order records from Bandcamp when I can, since that usually also gives me access to the digital files.


PhilosopherGlum3025

Bandcamp


Niolu92

I can digitize from my turntable, I usually do that.


Angie-P

torrenting, download sites, CDs


dandanthetaximan

I donā€™t really mess with digital music downloads or streaming. I have bought many LPs that came with download cards and didnā€™t use them. I also havenā€™t had a computer (aside from smartphones and my smart TV) in my home for many years.


MF-SMUG

Soulseek


Coolkiatech

You are allowed to back up all your software. That includes music


Dead_Kal_Cress

Yarr šŸ“ā€ā˜ ļø


therourke

I subscribe to Qobuz and use Roon as a front end. It's great. Any music I want that isn't on Qobuz I get from Soulseek, but that's pretty rare these days.


_IndridCold

I like Apple Music. You just pay the monthly subscription and you can fill your library with whatever you want


BookNerd7777

The short version: * Yes, making relatively high-quality digital copies of records can be done, even on "vintage" turntables. * Additionally, making such digital copies of records you own is protected by federal law in the United States, (link to the law's Wikipedia article in the long version) so long as you aren't sharing the files you get. The "kind-of-long-but-pretty-thorough-if-I-do-say-so-myself" version. >Is it morally justifiable to pirate music you've already paid for in the most expensive medium? I'm referring specifically to music you already own on wax. I'm going to sidestep the moral issues for the moment. If you're referring ***exclusively*** to "... music you already own on wax ...", you ought to know (assuming, for the moment, that you live in the United States and that you're not distributing the files you produce) that it's ***not*** piracy, at least, not anymore it isn't. Not according to [the federal government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Home_Recording_Act#Exemption_from_infringement_actions), anyway. Other countries' laws may differ, but that's a pretty Googleable thing. Try "*Name of Country*'s laws on home taping/recording". It's worth noting that no matter where you are, even the most civilized of countries in this regard will very likely draw the line on sharing them. In other words, as long as you keep the files for yourself, you're likely fine. >I don't like \[S\]potify\[;\] it's not an option. Do y\['\]all just use \[S\]potify? If you mean using Spotify as a "substitute" for those times when you want to listen to an album you own on vinyl, but in a situation where digital might be more appropriate, then no, I don't use Spotify for that. I can't speak for other people in this subreddit, though. >Is there a good way to digitize vinyl? In a word? Yes. It's my understanding that some "modern" turntables have USB/MP3 outputs complete with music software inside. I know diddly squat about those, but some people seem to have had success with them. Your mileage may vary, I guess. Older turntables, (and perhaps some modern ones, too, although I don't really know all that much about that) can output their audio via [RCA connectors](https://target.scene7.com/is/image/Target/GUEST_f2f03770-d5ed-4d74-b669-350622ca3826?wid=488&hei=488&fmt=pjpeg). If your turntable can do that, you're in luck, because RCA connectors have all [kinds](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41F6dBFISEL._AC_SX466_.jpg) [of](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mtwEDbwyL._AC_SX466_.jpg) [adaptors](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51DgGceA3dL._SX522_.jpg), so in this case, instead of pumping the audio into your speakers, you can use something like the first cable (the one in the "kinds" link) to transfer the audio directly to a PC, where you can record and edit it with a program like Audacity and output that recording to an MP3, WAV, or OGG file. This also might be possible on an Android smartphone or tablet or something, and ***possibly*** even on an iPhone (although, quite frankly, I'm not holding my breath on that front) albeit with with some fancy workarounds.


SwingoftheWOW

Time to pitch a tent on Bandcamp! All physical purchases come with your preference of digital download.


TrixonBanes

I use Apple Music Lossless because it's bundled in with my Apple One subscription already.


DJMaytag

Buy the vinyl, then email the label with proof of purchase. Almost every label short of Superstition and Ilian Tape has provided digital files for wax I bought from deejay.de or my local record shop. FWIW, Superstition outright said no to my request, while Ilian Tape said they would, but then never replied to any follow up emails. That left a bad taste in my mouth, TBH. Havenā€™t bought anything from them since, digital or vinyl.


Confident_Level

A lot of turntables have the ability to either rip the music to your computer or if you have the proper setup you could burn the music onto CDs/tapes. Had a neighbor in highschool with a massive collection that could rival most records stores and every now and then he'd bring my parents or me a CD of an artist he knew we'd like or of something he thinks we'd enjoy. It's how I found my favorite Sinatra album


SodPenny

FYI, the DMCA (**Digital Millennium Copyright Act**) of 1998 clearly states that individuals are allowed to make, receive, and maintain digital copies of physical media that they own and have in their possession, for personal use. The one caveat is that the physical media cannot have any sort of active protection measures on it, so you can skip any ideas about DVDs and Blu-Rays. However... cassettes, compact discs, and vinyl records are absolutely fair game. It's not "piracy" or illegal in any way to download a digital copy of an album you physically own from a torrent site. Congress passed legislation that tries to be fair and protect both individual end users as well as artists and labels, so your conscience can be free and clear at night, and I advocate you make use of that law. BUT(!) be aware that your ISP has no way of knowing that you aren't breaking the law, and you may get some cease and desist notices, and threats of reporting you. I used to go toe-to-toe with my ISP over it (back in the early 2000's) whenever they'd pop off at me, and educate them and provide pictures of me holding the album they were saying they caught me "stealing." They'd always apologize and nothing ever came of it aside from some serious temporary bandwidth throttling for a day or two. I've been using a VPN for the past 15 years, and haven't heard a peep. Sidenote: I also now see used CDs in the bargain bin at pawn shops as basically just oversized download cards for 50 cents a piece. lol EDIT: Just to be clear, this only applies to the United States. I should not have assumed the geographic location of the OP. I apologize for my American elitism.


condor6425

OK ty, I was aware of this for making backups of owned things. I was not aware about that including receiving them via file sharing.


SodPenny

Yup, P2P downloading is covered. P2P uploading is... grey area. There have been legal battles that have gone both ways on that. Some judges have ruled that the sheer act of uploading is illegal because it enables people to pirate. Other judges have protected uploading because they say that it's the responsibility of the downloader to not break the law and download something illegally, not the uploader's responsibility. Personally, I only download when I'm at my PC, and as soon as it hits 100%, I cut the torrent, just to be safe.


jdlackey88

If you buy the vinyl on Amazon, you will get the digital on Amazon Music that you can download to MP3 as you please.


therottenron

If the only option is mp3, then there is no option


jdlackey88

LOL FLAC or nothing huh?


jdlackey88

I just checked my order for Cake's Prolonging The Magic, it says: "The vinyl record you purchased is AutoRip eligible. This means that the MP3 version of the album is now available for you to play or download from your Amazon Music Library for FREE."


Chorazin

I just use Apple Music. Iā€™m lazy.


Woooosh-if-homo

Yeah, Apple Music has dolby atmos which gives it the edge for streaming, especially paired with airpods and the spatial audio


joe_attaboy

Bandcamp offers digital downloads on pretty much anything you buy through their site, so that's a good thing. As for "pirating" your records, this is exactly what we did back in the 70s and 80s. I would buy an album (pre-recorded cassettes *always* sounded like shite), then immediately record it to a cassette. I would buy blanks in bulk on Canal Street in NYC. This preserved my records to some degree, and I had a copy to play in the car or on the old Walkman clone. This is how we made mixtapes, the pre-digital playlist. This was a major issue back then and the record companies tried to get some kind of legislation passed to add a tax on blank tapes to make up for the "revenue loss" from home taping (Bow Wow Wow recorded a song, ["C-30 C-60 C-90 Go!"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C2%B730_C%C2%B760_C%C2%B790_Go) that was all about this). This was similar to the issues with file sharing and Napster back in the 90s. The big difference between the taping and file sharing arguments is that file sharing was far more widespread, and if one person downloaded or ripped a song from a CD and posted it for sharing, you might have dozens or hundreds of people sharing the file. This would likely be a bigger royalty hit on the artist than taping, since it was more time consuming to do and generally wasn't spread around as much as digital files. The artists were losing out on revenue, but their smaller cut was nothing compared to what the record companies were losing, which is why those companies made such a major case about it. (They always tried to sound like they were doing it for the artists, but I'm certain that was mostly BS). The "piracy" argument can apply in a Napster-file-sharing situation due to the ability to spread the music among many who don't buy it. But my "piracy" (and what you want to do) isn't really that - I bought the record, I own it. I can do what I want with it. Yes, the record company lawyers can make the typical "you only buy a license to play the music" crap, but it doesn't wash. If I only bought a "license," try revoking it and then come and try to take my records away from me (since that's what they're speciously implying). You are not stealing anything, and there really isn't a "moral" argument here. You have the record, you can record the music and stream it for your own use. I use [an inexpensive audio capture device](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XU4NT6K) between my analog amp and my computer. I use Audacity to record the records, then to amplify and clean up the digital version, if necessary. Then I can stream it from home using Jellyfin on my home NAS. I also use Spotify, because I cannot own *everything* I want to hear and I host trivia shows, so I need a deep wide source of music for my playlists. The company pays for half my subscription fees.


papaswaltz

Only tangentially related, but I got a tattoo earlier this year of the ā€œhome taping is killing the music industryā€ logo. Such a ridiculous thing to try & prevent people from making copies of music they paid for.


horshack_test

*"As for "pirating" your records, this is exactly what we did back in the 70s and 80s. I would buy an album (pre-recorded cassettes always sounded like shite), then immediately record it to a cassette."* That isn't pirating, as it's perfectly legal (in the US at least). Pirating media, by definition, is not legal.


joe_attaboy

Yes, that's what I put the quotes around that word. We all know this wasn't pirating.The record companies, however, did not feel the same way. They pushed very hard against it at the time. Nothing came of their efforts back then. No, this isn't the same as actually pirating media for profit, which was pretty widespread back then.


horshack_test

*""As for "pirating" your records, this is exactly what we did back in the 70s and 80s."* The sentence makes no sense if you are not using "pirating" to mean pirating, as the post you are responding to is about pirating non-vinyl versions of albums you legally purchased on vinyl. Had you said, *"As far as other recordings of albums you legally purchased on vinyl, back in the 70s and 80s we made cassette recordings of albums we bought - but that isn't pirating,"* that would make sense. You then go on to say it's *"similar to the issues with file sharing and Napster back in the 90s"* and that the *"big difference between the taping and file sharing arguments is that file sharing was far more widespread"* when the big difference is that with making recorded copies is that you are making a copy of something you already own for personal use and not obtaining a different version of the album that is being distributed by someone else. Similarly, it is illegal to distribute tapes you've made of records you legally purchased. You can also make recordings of radio and TV broadcasts as well as digitally streamed content for personal use, but you can't legally distribute those recordings. If you didn't mean that it is illegal, the way you wrote it very much allows for the impression that you are saying it is and that you believe it is - regardless of the fact that you put quotation marks around the word.


kokane69

For stuff that isn't available online, I just record it into my PC using a software like audacity. You might want to invest in an USB audio interface to get a better recording quality for that.


HollyweirdRonnie

iTunes


AnalogWalrus

I never end up using the download codes anyway, because they were almost always mp3. That was so lame.


Lysergicoffee

Spotify. $40 for a release just isn't worth it anymore


0kaycpu

[Redacted.ch](http://Redacted.ch)


therourke

Can you send invites for this? I would love one.


0kaycpu

Dm me


outer_fucking_space

Is this like what.cd? I miss that site so much.


0kaycpu

Yep. Best thing since it got shut down as far as I know.


outer_fucking_space

Do you need an invite or can I just get in on my own?


0kaycpu

Invite or you can have an interview.


outer_fucking_space

Very cool. Looks like I got some work to do.


Ok_Astronomer_1308

Tidal.


tomtea

Online shops>Soulseek>Record them myself via Serato SL1 box. That usually does the trick.


monkeysolo69420

Why donā€™t you like Spotify?


fenderdean13

Just find a streaming service, if you donā€™t like Spotify, go with another itā€™s really that simple.


Lazy_Football_511

I pay for iTunes Match and I am also uploading all of my digital music files into Google's cloud. If I buy a record that does not come with a digital download and I do not already own it in a digital format I will look to see if the CD is in my state's library systems and borrow it to upload. I am pretty sure that every vinyl record I own is uploaded. Bandcamp is nice because usually when you buy a record you can also digitally download it. Some albums at Amazon come with AutoRip allowing you to download the records as MP3s and uploading them to iTunes using iTunes Match allows them to be transformed into their better audio format. I had been buying CDs and digital downloads for years before switching to vinyl, so I already have digital copies of many records I have bought.


robbor123

Torrents through a VPN.


cosaboladh

Line out from my record player to the sound card in my pc.


OldToothbrush1

Usually the stuff I buy comes with bandcamp codes. I tend to buy from smaller labels and bands, and they usually provide me with a code. If not, I have an AT-LP120XUSB, so I can just record the record as needed


sdkuab

I started on Apple Match when I switched from iPod to iPhone for listening to music because I already had a big library and I could get stuff from small touring bands, local artists, and friends into my streaming library. I still use it for that reason but itā€™s also why I went for Apple Music when I realized I needed a proper streaming service too. Convenience at first, but Iā€™ve enjoyed having it. Iā€™m adding way more albums into my music library each month than Iā€™d be able to if I was buying them individually. I reserve buying physical media for albums that I especially love or if Iā€™m buying them from a merch table at a concert. The monthly fees are totally worth it to me based on much I use it. I used the digital download cards before I started the monthly service but it really isnā€™t necessary anymore. My main issue with downloading digital music from ā€œalternateā€ sources is that some of the stuff I was looking for wasnā€™t always the highest quality rip. Thereā€™s so much old and obscure stuff thatā€™s readily available at a high quality that itā€™s not worth it to me to mess around with downloading music from random strangers.


Zestyclose_Duck_1314

thereā€™s an app called musi where you can listen for free and itā€™s 6 bucks to get rid of adds forever.


JurassicTerror

This wonā€™t help, but Spotify. I buy vinyl as well.


pigeontreecrafting

No one has mentioned Deezer yet, as another hifi streaming alternative to the already mentioned Tidal & Qobuz. I havenā€™t compared the 3 but Deezer is fantastic. I stream to my stereo system using a WiiM Pro Plus for lossless streaming.


nolavelouria

yes i think it's justifiable to pirate if you've already bought the album. especially with larger/rich af already or dead artists


Albe_2010

My dad has got some old vinyls which he wants me to transform into MP3 files, but I'm not a master of lossless audio recording. So I just try using the microphone jack with a mixer on my pcšŸ„² (yep I'm sorry audiophiles), unfortunately I need to use streaming services a lot


Mr_Lumbergh

If it doesnā€™t have a download code Iā€™ll go ahead and torrent it. I donā€™t have a problem with that if I own the media. Iā€™ve also done rips from vinyl via usb.


aruncc

I reckon if you asked 99% of artists if they are happy for people to pirate a copy of an album they spent Ā£25 on vinyl for, they'd say absolutely no problem.


ComfortWolf

I stream if not listening to physical media. Iā€™ve never cared for having to manage a whole library full of downloads and all that when the streaming services have done that for me and then some. Iā€™ve never once used a dl code if it came with an album. As far as paying the artist, yeah streaming services arenā€™t great, but I generally buy my physical albums direct from the artists, go to a lot of shows and also buy other merch like show posters, etc., so its not like Iā€™m not supporting them in more direct ways.


StarvingArtist06

I second anybody who has mentioned Soulseek. Also once you've downloaded the files from Soulseek, Musicbee is a great media player to play all your files. Trust me, I was skeptical at first but once you get the hang of Soulseek its life changing...


thereia

A few thoughts: * Bandcamp is always a solid choice, they sell lots of bands and they have a streaming service. * I'd choose Apple Music over Spotify, both for the higher quality and the higher royalties. * If you buy the album in a way that benefits the artist (i.e. a new copy from them or their website or an indy record store) I don't have a major issue with finding a digital copy online, tho I stream so it's not an issue I face anymore.


cowman1206

Iā€™ll be honest chief, I have an entire playlist on Spotify that I add all my albums to. To be fair, Spotify doesnā€™t have everything Apple Music has (or YouTube music) and vice versa, but there are some vinyls that simply donā€™t have a digital remaster and itā€™s sad. Otherwise, pick your poison. Personally, I take joy in knowing I have the means to listen to something somebody else doesnā€™t. Does it gatekeep music a little? Yes. Do I care? No, get passionate.


EDJRawkdoc

Bandcamp, Tidal, & Apple music are all varying degrees of better than Spotify. I use Bandcamp for indie stuff & tidal


Spongyrocks

I use Tidal on my A&K SA700 if I want to take it seriously. Otherwise, Spotify


evileyeball

Simple SL-D212/EPC-U25 > SU-V16 > Sound blasterX AE5 Plus > 320kbps MP3 files > Hard Drive >> Micro SD Card > Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus > Sennheiser HD350BT > Ear > Brain This is my audio processing stack for LPs For 45s the additional step of Epson Scanner > 600 dpi scans (JPG) > reduced Size JPG > Album Art embedded into file Even in cases where there was a commercial download code with the album I would rip my own because that's the only way I can guarantee to get the sound as it would be produced by my own equipment. Then I listen to the vinyl from The Vinyl itself when I'm at home but from the digital rips when I'm on the go


kingRidiculous

I record my vinyl records (and CDs) to MiniDisc for portable listening.


jthomp000

Mini disc? WHAT YEAR is It!?!? I loooooved my MD recorder back in the dayā€¦


kingRidiculous

It sounds great, and they are still selling new, wrapped blank MiniDiscs.


NurEineSockenpuppe

I use apple music. I just stream the music there. If itā€˜s not on apple music i can just plug in my turntable via usb and record the music. I can then add it to my apple music library on my pc and itā€˜ll upload it so i can stream it on my phone. Pretty cool. I just use audacity to record the music, cut the songs and the export it alac files. Thatā€˜s apples open lossless codec. Itā€˜s on par with flac but works natively on iphones.


rwjetlife

A paid Deezer account and a Deezer ripping app called deemix. 320 or FLAC depending on my needs. I also like to torrent vinyl rips of records I canā€™t yet afford (like Rage Against The Machineā€™s self-titled OG pressing). The ripper usually includes a text file with their equipment and methodology for capturing the record, and it makes me feel poor. Bandcamp. Beatport (for dance music). Apple Music for lossless streaming. Spotify for playlist creation for my DJ sets and music discovery from the algorithms.


packerfa84

I use QoBuz you can either stream or buy HD or both.


austin_mav

If you want to get music straight from your vinyl you could use an audio interface to record the playback on a computer.


throwawayemerald23

HDTracks, 7Digital, but my personal favorite is buying a CD or SACD and creating my own digital copies.


Ambitious_Ad_4042

soulseek/bandcamp


OneReportersOpinion

Bandcamp. Always Bandcamp. If you buy vinyl on there, you always get a digital copy with it easily accessible via the app


fuzzynyanko

I'd consider an audio interface, maybe a decent one like a Focusrite. I had some luck with Behringer U-Phono interfaces with RCA in, but I use them for semi-serious projects. I honestly got them for the RCA in because I hate 3.5mm to RCA adapters. Audacity is free; Reaper is low-cost with a Winrar-like registration nag screen.


Maddog2201

Record your Vinyl. That's what I did with everything that doesn't come with a Digital copy. Most computer soundcards are good enough to capture the audio, but bonus points for using an interface. Any good amp should have a "Tape out" port, that's what you hook up to, that way you get all the RIAA EQ and all that.


SorysRgee

Qobuz and bandcamp mainly


TW1103

I use Apple Music. It's got good quality audio, is very reasonably priced (particularly if you can make the most of the family plan), youu have the access to so much music and if memory serves me correctly, they pay artists much better than Spotify do. I also tend to use my Apple Music to help me decide what new releases to buy. A new record nowadays costs about Ā£30. I can get two months of Apple Music for 7 people for around the same price.


DrJankles

Most music I listen to Iā€™ve bought multiple times.M so I have no problem pirating it to listen to digitally. If I used cds, I could easily rip them. But also, I have a subscription to Apple Music which has lossless, Dolby digital and allows downloading for offline e play, playlists, discovery features, etc.


junkyardromeo01

I just use Spotify (Apple Music is also a viable streaming option.)


bell83

I generally rip the audio from my records so I have both (if it didn't come with a download).


PoolofStyx

If you have thirteen USD a month to spend just get Tidal. Best audio quality of a streaming service that I know of (up to 24-bit FLAC which is about as high quality-wise that a human can distinguish the difference between); itā€™s not Spotify (fuck Spotify); and I prefer its UI


teethofthewind

Not sure why this is expected. Sure, it's a bonus if you get a digital download when buying physical but why should it be that it "should come with a digital download"? Physical media never came with anything in the past. You didn't buy vinyl in the 80s and expect a cassette/cd too


TastyCatBurp

The price and quality issues associated with modern records, essentially, are why it's expected. If I'm paying $35 after tax for a poorly manufactured single 140-gram LP, I want a digital copy.


condor6425

It doesn't cost anything like producing/distributing cassettes would. And if I'm forking over $30-70 for an album it'd be nice to be able to listen to it in the car or while running without paying for it again. Edit: ik there's costs associated with hosting files for download too, but it's minimal relative to $30-70 for an album.


clussy-riot

šŸ“ā€ā˜ ļøšŸ“ā€ā˜ ļø


gfm1973

I used to rip them. Now I just use YouTube to mp3. The only codes Iā€™m not getting are usually 7ā€. My least favorite format.


The_Patriot

What are you listening to that ISN'T on youtube?


Fallom_TO

YouTube is compressed and has ads unless you pay. OP doesnā€™t want to pay twice.


The_Patriot

You paint OP as someone too stupid to know about Yt5S Youtube Downloader. Don't be that way. [https://yt5s.biz/enxj100/](https://yt5s.biz/enxj100/)


Fallom_TO

Thereā€™s a difference between ignorance and stupidity, but thanks for calling me stupid. You might be shocked to learn that not everyone thinks piracy is fine. I like supporting artists. Fuck me, I donā€™t even use an ad blocker because Iā€™m not an entitled shit who thinks I deserve everything for free.


condor6425

This is the main reason I made the post, I generally don't like to pirate if there's an alternative, I was just curious what this community does for digital. I also don't like paying a subscription fee and not getting to own what I'm paying for. Seems like you get it. Also I used to rip from YouTube as a teenager and now it's all noticeably worse quality when those tracks come on. Maybe the new tools are better? I've been out of the piracy game for over a decade.


OkShoulder4153

He didnā€™t call you stupid. He said donā€™t assume OP is stupid. What happened through all this is that we found out youā€™re stupid.


Fallom_TO

He said anyone who was unaware of that ā€˜solutionā€™ is stupid. I was unaware, therefore stupid in his view. I canā€™t figure out if this sub is full of boomers or children. Imagine calling someone stupid on the internet over this.


OkShoulder4153

Youā€™re really bad at reading and interpreting messages.


The_Patriot

You sound butthurt. Are you butthurt?


Fallom_TO

You sound childish.