Radiohead's 'Experiment'

[Dubversion]

You're not actually going to address my points about sound quality, premium pricing policies and DRM, are you?

I thought I had to some extent although I admit i don't have a guide to the different pricing structures and DRM rules of all the different online stores.

My basic, and fairly simple, point is that - bearing in mind the nature of Radiohead fans, who probably are more likely to crave sound quality etc, due to the nature of the music the band make - are likely to want to have the album at a higher quality than 160bit. Radiohead COULD have provided this (doesn't matter that other providers don't, i'm talking about what Radiohead COULD) which would mean that somebody could choose a digital download over an album and not sacrifice sound quality. THis would have been an interesting way of meeting the challenges of the new media, and something I'd expect Radiohead to do.

In MY OPINION - calmly and reasonably expressed - I think they've chickened out to some extent by hedging their bets and releasing a lower quality version than they could have chosen to (their choices here being the issue, not what i-Tunes or whoever do ).

 

[Dubversion]

FAVE bands."

Anyway, about the points I've raised....

which i was answering whilst doing other things, thanks

 

[editor]

My basic, and fairly simple, point is that - bearing in mind the nature of Radiohead fans, who probably are more likely to crave sound quality etc, due to the nature of the music the band make - are likely to want to have the album at a higher quality than 160bit.

I'm not entirely sure that's a valid point, you know.

Why do you think CD sales are plummeting and low quality MP3 downloads are soaring?

 

[Dubversion]

I'm not entirely sure that's a valid point, you know.

Why do you think CD sales are plummeting and low quality MP3 downloads are soaring?

And yet sales for bands like Radiohead are probably constant. That tells its own story.

 

[Ned Pointsman]

I wouldn't know 160 from 192 from my elbow. I'll download it and think it's very nice of them

I can, just (and not in that pretentious CAMRA sort of way, I have trouble distinguishing between anything after 192k) the real difference seems to kick in at 192, surprised they didn't release it at that.

 

[mauvais]

You're not the only one:

I tried putting them on random and trying to identify which was which, using a decent soundcard and a pair of Grado SR80s. However my test was ruined by the fact I got the 128kbps one about 95% of the time

 

[editor]

And yet sales for bands like Radiohead are probably constant. That tells its own story.

How on earth can you claim that?

The CD hasn't even been released yet and the last one was five years ago!!

 

[trashpony]

I can, just (and not in that pretentious CAMRA sort of way, I have trouble distinguishing between anything after 192k) the real difference seems to kick in at 192, surprised they didn't release it at that.

I reckon by the time you reach your late 30s/early 40s and you've been in the mosh pits at loads of gigs, your hearing's pretty much buggered

It'll be like those people who try and tell the difference between Evian and tap water when they're chilled

 

[editor]

I tried putting them on random and trying to identify which was which, using a decent soundcard and a pair of Grado SR80s. However my test was ruined by the fact I got the 128kbps one about 95% of the time

I can just about tell the difference when listening through my Grados (but not on my reasonably expensive PC system), but if I wasn't actively listening out for flaws I'd be hard pressed to tell any difference at all.

I'd get is straight away on my mo'fo' hi-fi though but - truth be told - I mainly listen on a mini hi -fi and my PC these days.

 

[mauvais]

I can just about tell the difference when listening through my Grados (but not on my reasonably expensive PC system), but if I wasn't actively listening out for flaws I'd be hard pressed to tell any difference at all.

I'd get is straight away on my mo'fo' hi-fi though but - truth be told - I mainly listen on a mini hi -fi and my PC these days.

Try it - do the REM test on random repeat and blindly skip tracks. I can't tell. I don't buy this as representative but it's interesting.

 

[Orang Utan]

The production on that album is amazing

 

[obanite]

Paid 15 squid because I've pirated all their other music and I like their stuff.

 

[clandestino]

What do you mean 45p? Have I missed something?

 

[rollinder]

that was the card transaction fee I think

 

[clandestino]

but i didn't have to enter my card details. i typed in 0.00p, and that was that. it gave me a link and i downloaded it.

 

[rollinder]

ah - so that trick did work
but if you'd entered 1p they would have asked for yourr card details and added the fee I guess

 

[clandestino]

i'm just trying to work out if i've bought anything from radiohead before - tickets maybe? - meaning they'd still have my card details on file. but even if they did, it's my old card details. so either way, i paid nothing for it.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Perhaps the CD is going to be released in a shyte quality £1.99 format, mediocre quality £4.99 format, standard quality £9.99 format and super new RH deluxe quality £99.99 format (for which you need a new dedicated Radiohead player to fully appreciate).

I think it's a good idea. Poor people get poor quality - rich people get super rich quality. The world has never been fair, and you can bet if this ever really happened some obsessed nuts would buy a box set of nicely presented CD's of various sound quality.

I've never bought a Radiohead album. Doubt very much if I'll waste 45p on something that used to come free on the cover of Smash Hits

 

[rollinder]

There were people on moneysavingexpert claiming they'd preordered it for free by putting in 0.00p and eithe not being asked for card details or putting made up ones in
wonder if there downloads actually went through - will have to go back and look

 

[Kanda]

I'm going for Banana's. To put in my curry.

 

[clandestino]

I did it tonight, so maybe they changed it.

 

[lostexpectation]

how many people brought or 'got' thom yorke album? and are going to get this one?

 

[clandestino]

i'm talking about radiohead on urban while i'm playing scrabble on facebook. i am teh nerd.

 

[sleaterkinney]

I'm going to buy the cd because I miss the artwork and stuff, but I hardly ever buy cds any more.

 

[Firky]

I downloaded it for free from w.a.s.t.e (contacts ) and I shall be buying it when I have some money because I am a fan boi and I do like the album but it is by far from their best. It sounds better REALLY FUCKING LOUD BTW!

 

[Firky]

Oh and I think you can pay 0p for it if you enter 0p - it does not debit your card for the 45p

 

[Crispy]

It sounds better REALLY FUCKING LOUD BTW!

What doesn't
I'll crank it up on the headphones on the way to work tomorrow. The basslines do sound very nice and clean, so yeah, should be good

 

[rollinder]

it's got us all talking about it and giving them free publicity so I think it's suceeded

 

[Firky]

There's loads of layers to it (as they do), kids laughing etc.

I'll go into more detail tomorrow when am not so shtoned!

 

[Firky]

it's got us all talking about it and giving them free publicity so I think it's suceeded

To be fair I only need an excuse to talk about them and I'm on for hours