Kazaa?

[Arno van der Heijden]

I used to use Kazaa too, but not anymore since I discovered Soulseek. It's much better. You can add your favourite users to a list and people often share whole cd's instead of single songs. A lot of good music can be found, not only popular hits like on Kazaa. Some people share hundreds of cd's...  :twisted:

Check it out:
www.slsk.org

[blabj]

well, if were gonna tell people where to bootleg, then theres no finer place than a chatroom on mirc, called tmdmoviez. but you have to be really fast. its like reading one of the screens of the matrix, its  :twisted:  :twisted:  :twisted:  INSANE!! :twisted:  :twisted:  :twisted:
yes....
callum

[onboard]

With an achingly slow dial-up I'm happy to just surf the 'net, let alone download any "real" content.

                              ----legal disclaimer----

The thoughts, opinions, statements, references, etc. expressed above in no way, shape, or form imply or indicate any affiliation, connection, etc. with Real Networks Inc. or it's subsidiaries.
                               
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                                         :wink:

[javacody]

If you want to support an artist, buy a t-shirt and/or go to a show. If you want to support record companies, buy a cd. I mostly download stuff by people who are dead or stuff that is more than 20 years old. Hey, I wouldn't mind sending the royalty owner their nickel and/or the band their dollar, but the rest of the money for music goes to unscrupulous businessmen who honestly care nothing for the music they are selling.

[Hal]

i totally agree with java-cody.  If you wanna support an artist, the best way is to download his music, and then hand him a $10 bill at the next show.  Most make less than fity cent on a CD sale...

That still doesn't justify downloading though.  The thing that justifies it for me, is that I wouldn't buy the CD if I couldn't download it.  Rather buy a guitar effect or something.  I would probably simply not listen to it, or find some1 with it to burn or rip.

[Mike Burgundy]

I don't use Kazaa, but I do use others.

it has been said, but (and I'm not making amends here, I MEAN it):
the main thing to remember is:
There's a couple of criteria, but then it's inevitable. Not negotiable. It's just the right thing to do.
Criteria:
1)if you really enjoy something, and
2)theyre still alive (and
3)not a small band milked by a huge corporation - I kid you not, most get squat)
then: BUY THE FRIGGIN ALBUM AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN FIND.
They deserve it.
(end rant)
What these services have changed for me is not the money I spend on CD's has not changed (or at least not negatively - read on) but the way I buy and enjoy new CD's - and records, as in vinyl, for that matter.
I used to occasionally buy a *very* disappointing album based on one song, or an artist's rep. Hey, I even have a Hendrix conga-and-whisky-laden bootleg around that is truly apalling. Sorry Jimi. This, I'm sure he would agree, was never intended to come out on record. It was a test, a brainwave, an experiment, but no more. I bought it though. Because it was Hendrix.
That now doesn't happen any more - I only and exclusively buy records i *like* and that, get this, has led to me buying *more*!!! This is simply because I no longer fear the CD-you-didn-t-want-to-have-after-all, the Britney-in-a-LedZep-box experience It's not possible anymore.

Now, I know I'm a music-nut, but I still can't help thinking "what the h#@$ are these record companies complaining about?" at least, as far as music is concerned, not Britney, backstreet punks or whatever.

*edit: if a band is so small you suspect they might not be seeing any money from record-sales, go to a gig and buy all their merchandise. I know of a band with a 3-year, 2-album deal who survive on merch*

(apologies to fans of aforementioned top-40 hitsters )

PS question:
What about controlling your own copyrights and royalties? Here in the Netherlands there's an organisation controlling all of this (and legally helping a band if theyre stiffed, etc) but their rules are also rediculous. Okay, they DO help, advise, and assist, but a registered band is not even allowed to publish songs on the internet themselves. Not even a shitty rehearsalroom recording. 30-second clips are *just* ok. Long live Buma/Stemra.
What's this like in other countries?

[Muldoer]

Yeah, but bit torrent are slower than Kazaa.

Maybe, but Bit torrent is used by trading communities and is not restricted to any file type. If you want to download mp3s of live shows on kazaa, then do so, but please, dont trade it out as the genuine article.

I personnally believe that mp3s suck, because of the frequency cut off. I do however download music, but only to discover new bands and musical styles. I very often end up in a music store buying the records of the music I downloaded.

[Mike Burgundy]

I personnally believe that mp3s suck, because of the frequency cut off.

Okay, most MP3's sound less than optimal. BUT:
1) frequency cutoff is only an issue (compared to CD) on rather low sampling rates (<128)
2)there's a difference in encoders. a REAL difference. As far as I'm concerned Fraunhofer (II) is best so far, very natural sound.
3) a lot of people participated recently in a blind A/B test, and actually *preferred* certain MP3's to CD. This was mostly because on some encoders, 128k streams accentuate highs and lows, producing a kind of "loudness" effect whic\h is more dramatic. So:
4) to a lot of people (including recording engineers, producers and engineers) some MP3's actually have a sound they prefer over CD. However, a more accurate 196k stream was rejected, if I remember correctly.
If you want, I'll see if I can find the survey, but googling for it will probably do.
hih
Mike (who's still slightly bummed about mp3 being "better" but does heartedly acknowledge the importance of first impressions, subjective experience and personal opinion)

[Hal]

mike-if it could only be that easy.  I'm living on the $600 i made as a camp counselor this summer.  I make some money occationally tutoring chem, but still...I don't have time for a job or anything.  When I grow up I'll buy CDs.  Until then, its filesharing for me.

[Mike Burgundy]

Hal:
I *am* a student. I work for tuition payments, and devote most of my income to music after basic requirements. Right now I'm not buying anything on account of building and having built speaker cabs, but still.
It's tough, lot of hours, but possible. The only problem is I get wired to the point I'm still posting here at this hour (quarter to two, at night) b'cause I can't sleep.

[jimbob]

Im too embarressed to admit how many gigs i have dwnloaded since the beginning of Kazaa..Too many..I have no guilt either..Some would say I shld--or so i been told--owell..I use kazaalite now..better..Oh tmdmovies is awsome! I still buy a lot of cd's (boxes & boxes) of my fav's where i want better quality and support my fav new band buy buying thier album example..(Damageplan!) Dimebag's (from Pantera) new band! But old Eagles, AC/DC, ect...and a ton more incl a few songs of bands ive never heard of just to see if i like them enough to purch the cd. I think the real thieves are the record labels screwing everyone for sooooo many years with outragous prices..Im glad it took Kazaa and others to force these labels into reconsider compitition, pricing, technology changes and quality.. This is just my opinion though--so, to those who dont agree..remember--just 1 persons opinion is all.

[Boofhead]

I've stayed away from anything like Kazaa.

However... about two days ago I decided I would take a look at it.

Some people might interested in a program call Kazaa Diet which is a "Condom" protection againt the spyware and adware that the free Kazaa installs.

I haven't installed any software yet.  If anyone has some tips on what software to use,  usage tips, pitfalls etc  I would be grateful .

[smoguzbenjamin]

Mike, if you can't sleep because you're overworked, you need a break buddy

[Muldoer]

I personnally believe that mp3s suck, because of the frequency cut off.

Okay, most MP3's sound less than optimal. BUT:
1) frequency cutoff is only an issue (compared to CD) on rather low sampling rates (<128)

Mike (who's still slightly bummed about mp3 being "better" but does heartedly acknowledge the importance of first impressions, subjective experience and personal opinion)

Actually all mp3 encoding results in a frequency cutoff beyond 16kHz. I trade concerts and sincerely do hear a difference between CD and mp3 sounds. As I stated earlier, if you want to download mp3 concerts, do so, but dont trade it out as the genuine article, since the quality is diminished in relation to the source tape. Beh it is personnal preference...It just so happens that I cant stand crappily encoded mp3s

Here's some good reading on the matter:
http://www.geocities.com/cfr707/mp3.htm

[Mike Burgundy]

point taken, but - and this *is* a serious question - do you hear a difference due to a 16kHz cutoff or something else (this needs a different thread if we really want to continue this, in which case I will also bring in casette tapes)

[Andy]

I have 120 gigabytes of mp3's.  I ripped all of my cd's and put them on my pc.  I don't use kazaa cause of the crap associated with it.  I think music should be cheap, not free.  I think the prices they charge at stores are ridiculous.  Expeciially when there are only a song or two that you bought it for.

If anyone's interested, I might be setting up an ftp server here and anyone who wants, we can "backup" each other's songs