Dude! Joe's Jottings, Mostly Junk

So, Pixar/Disney have decided that Up's soundtrack won't be released as a CD, but only as a download.  They are doing both major options, mp3 through Amazon (8.99, 256m variable rate) and ac4 through iTunes Plus (still DRM free - 9.99 and includes 7 min video interview).

So my options are

1. Amazon, 'cause mp3 means I don't have to do any further conversions
2. iTunes, 'cause the sound quality may be a little better (when the cd is made for the car and home stereo), I get the extras, but I have to convert to mp3 to be portable (losing a bit more, but not really noticeable 'cause i'm not looking for perfection from my creative zens.
   
3. in a fit of protest, don't bother getting it
4. in a fit of "saving money after spending a lot on a vacation", don't bother getting it
5. in a fit of protest, download the mp3 version illegally from a sharing service

I'm kinda only half-joking about #5, of course, but for the last 3 in general?

I am all for high-quality mp3s becoming the norm for archival releases, releases where the demand for pressing and printing a million items only to sell 2,000 (but needing to stock copies in a million stores).  I'm also in favor of mp3s for "official live bootleg" purposes, a-la Marillion  and King Crimson, since again, it saves the band money on printing/pressing/shipping, and given the recording sources, it ain't gonna get much worse going through one layer of compression.

I have bought the iTunes for 20,000 Leagues and The Black Hole, classic (ancient) Disney movies that I am first to admit have a very limited audience for their scores.

I would certainly rather companies start taking FLAC or APE seriously (lossless compression, like wrapping a .wav file in .zip - it'll only cut the space in half to a quarter, rather than 10%, but burning a cd from it loses nothing), the way that DGMLive does.  In particular, I think the classical and film music would would benefit from more people learning what quality they can keep when paying that little bit more for these formats, especially as it costs the hosting site next to nothing to carry them in addition to the compressed mp3s for the less audio-particular ears.

But for a brand new score to a brand new, and #1 for the weekend, movie, I am seriously annoyed at the idea of having to get it only in a compromised, compressed form.

with the start of a new 14 week session by the ED, i've started up the fitness posts again.  if you didn't see one just before this one, but would like to be on the list to help me stick to it (I've added many already on the 14weeker, based on their FB membership), simply reply here.