Re: Brian Eno about recorded music

[Revfever <revfever@ubergadget.com>]

> One thing to keep in mind is archiving which generally requires a  
> phisical medium that is relativly permanant. That's why we can  
> still hear Edison's voice.

How about Edison as a ring tone? Or, maybe the voice of Alexander  
Graham Bell be more appropriate? :-)

However, even though I am a LONG time admirer of Eno (and still very  
much am), I do not completely agree with what he says here. (And with  
what Per says, as well. Sorry. :-))
Physical media for music may be "dying" in general, and in the (gag!)  
"industry", but it will still be with us in it's various forms for  
many years to come. In the last few years,
there has also been a noticeable revival in interest in vinyl  
records, both new and used, and even a wee tiny one in cassettes.  
And, there are more turntables
(and accessories) being manufactured again than what was done in the  
last 10-15 years, or so. Now of course, none of these physical medias  
will ever come even close
to their former positions and stature in the music "industry", but at  
least records have made a bit of a "comeback", and there must be some  
reasons for that.
These types of things just do not "happen" for no real reason.  (see  
at least one reason later below...)

As for the various physical medias for music, there is obviously  
still a very big interest in all of them, since records, both new and  
used, are still selling like hot cakes,
both in kool indy record shops, and online. I also witness this with  
the numbers of regular sales of LPs and 7"s on my ebay site (going  
good for about 10 years now),
along with even *cassettes* (both very rare and not so rare) and even  
*8 track carts* and *reel tapes*!
(No kidding. A LOT of people. of all ages, still look for and  
purchase all of these formats.)

As for records, here in the Portland, Oregon area alone , there are  
around *20*, if not more, RECORD stores and it appears that most (or  
all?) of them continue to do good business,
or at least good enough to keep the doors open, and especially during  
one of the *worst* economic times in decades. (With "thanks" to that  
a-hole Bush and the Rethuglicans!)

And, as for those who think that an all digital world is the only way  
to be and go, well they should be grateful that those "old" physical  
medias still exist since there is a near infinite number of great,  
rare (and not so rare, but still not in digital format) and  
incredible musics that can *no longer be found except* via those same  
"outdated" medias, but can of course,
also be transferred into the digital realm, which is something I do  
all of the time and on a regular basis, for both my own personal use  
in iTunes (or whatever)  and also to share for
free ( I NEVER SELL dubs of anything!) to friends, and sometimes  
others in money-free trades.  And, the newer LPs (and?) that come out  
also serve as LONG lasting "storage units"
or "back ups"  (or "physical holders") for musics of all kinds. Don't  
write all of these things off yet, or at least not so quickly.

Also, it seems to me that someone runs the risk of *losing* a *lot*  
(or even *all*!) of their vast collection of great music by keeping  
it all only on an ipod or computer, etc, should
something really bad happen to any of those.  But of course, they  
likely could retrieve most, or even all of it back again, but it  
*would take a LONG time* of looking, searching,
to do so.  As for me, I believe and use ALL ways and means to have  
music, all the way from many LPs and 7"s and 10"s, to cassettes, to  
reel tapes, and yes, even some *8 tracks*,
and also streaming, mp3s, or whatever. (still don't have an ipod yet.  
Maybe one day...?)  If I am simply able to just HEAR something at  
all , then I'm HAPPY!
I have also never believed in limiting my options with just about   
anything, especially the experience of music. And as for "how"  
something sounds? I'm not picky.
I can easily enjoy some scratchy old LP on my turntable, just as much  
as the cleanest, "purest" 16-24 (and?) bit rate recorded music, and  
everything else in between.

But also, in "defense" of the all-digital-world of music folks , one  
*reality* is that *not everyone* can have or afford to have a *place*  
that they *live in* that can also accommodate
the storage area necessary for having whatever numbers of the  
physical formats (especially if someone is a music *fanatic* like  
Moi!) , and I can certainly sympathize with that
situation that a lot of folks unavoidably find themselves in, and /  
or folks who, by the very nature of how they make their living, have  
to relocate on a frequent basis.
Lucky for me, I am not in  either of those situations, but do  
understand what many others may be dealing with, and if all-digital,  
etc, is only what they have, then so be it.
But, do not say or mandate that this is the "only" way it has to be,  
or even will be. Personally, the idea of an "all digital world" with  
anything / everything, besides music, and more especially if forced /  
mandated, kind of kreeps me out.  But, maybe that's just me....? :-)  
(but I  am also not some "Luddite", either.)

Also, as far as making CDs being "stupid" as someone on the list  
said, he and anyone else who thinks that way should take a look at  
the still ongoing success (about 10 years now)
of a business such as CD Baby  (also here in Portland) which still  
continues to expand and sell their stock of those "stupid" CDs, along  
with also digital downloads, of course.
(these CDB folks ain't "stupid". :-))  My own CDs still continue to  
sell there, along with DDLs of course, and the same goes for a LOT of  
other musical artists that signed up with CDB.
( Disclaimer: I do not work for CDB, but do like their service.)

And in closing, around 2 or so years ago, I read a report about the  
new growth in popularity of LPs (both "old" and new) among a range of  
ages of teenagers and young
20-somethings adults. The answer that MOST of them gave for WHY they,  
those who have grown up surrounded by and with computers ipods, mp3s,  
and even CDs,
liked that "old"  format of vinyl was that those records "sounded  
much better" (verbatim)  than anything else they had heard. No  
kidding. That is what they said.

Now of course, there can be a big and LOOONG debate over "how" or  
"why" something sounds better over something else, and I *ain't*  
going *there*. So if that comes up,
then I'm staying out of that argument, because I honestly just do not  
care. I just wanted to share what I had read about with a lot of  
"today's" kids and the resurgence in
popularity of vinyl that they have apparently helped to bring about. :-)

Cheers,
Rev. Fever
Portland, OR