Most bands offer the odd mp3 download on their website. It may not be the entire back catalogue, but I think most bands see the merit in offering a few full length streaming (or downloadable) tracks to tempt the first time listener. Not only is this more legitimate, but it also allows you to read the band's biog, check out their full discography and maybe even join a forum such as this and chat to like-minded people (or puerile idiots in the case of Blabbermouth.net!).

Furthermore, it offers a taste without spoiling the whole surprise!

Just my opinion of course, but I reckon this helps the band much more than getting their entire back catalogue off Torrent because you're getting the full experience of what that band is about.

In DTB terms, if someone came to this site as a newbie to DTB, I think they'd be amazed by how articulate and generally down-right pleasant everyone is with each other. It really is a unique place on the internet and reflects the band's positivity completely.

It's an odd slant on the argument (and a bit gay!!!!), but I don't think you get the full DTB experience without seeing just how nice the band and fellow fans are. You'd be a fool NOT to want to be a part of this!!!

In DTB terms, if someone came to this site as a newbie to DTB, I think they'd be amazed by how articulate and generally down-right pleasant everyone is with each other. It really is a unique place on the internet and reflects the band's positivity completely.

It's an odd slant on the argument (and a bit gay!!!!), but I don't think you get the full DTB experience without seeing just how nice the band and fellow fans are. You'd be a fool NOT to want to be a part of this!!!

I quite agree with this. Does that make me gay? I came here about a year ago and was completely impressed.

In DTB terms, if someone came to this site as a newbie to DTB, I think they'd be amazed by how articulate and generally down-right pleasant everyone is with each other. It really is a unique place on the internet and reflects the band's positivity completely.

It's an odd slant on the argument (and a bit gay!!!!), but I don't think you get the full DTB experience without seeing just how nice the band and fellow fans are. You'd be a fool NOT to want to be a part of this!!!

I completely agree on that. I was really pleasantly surprised when I first got here. Every other forum I'd been on had a very violent, hostile atmisphere to it, whereas this is a very nice, friendly community.
*group hug*

And with the band members posting here, Tracy answering EVERY question we can thing of... That gives the fans the feeling that they know the band personally which is really cool. And others will never understand why I want to buy a Synchestra sweater from HDR, just for the personal touches like Christmas cards and stuff like that.

well in mi case is almost nesesari to download.
i live in a third world country (dominican republic) and its very hard or nearly imposible to get dev's material in any music store and if you do find it it wil cost you an arm and a leg to buy.

This is by far one of the best messegeboards on the Internet (check out the SYL boards if you haven't, they're just like this here at HDF!). I love this place a lot!

Also check out http://www.rvpdrums.com , Ryan's website and awesome forum. Ryan is Devs drummer in the DTB.

i couldn't resist waiting for alien to come out and i downloaded it, and that is also how i found out about SYL in teh first place but let me say i am the proud owner of every SYL album, and almost every DT album, so im sitll supporting the band. however in a recent post devin had said personally to not download it (i think he did at least... dont qoute me on it) so i think im going to tie myself in a dark room and try to resist, although its going to have to be strong rope

I personally think music downloading is one of the best things to happen to the music industry. It's interesting that they have done very little to adapt to what I can perceive as a change in their business model. Without certain file-sharing programs, a helluva a lot of music that I have bought would've never been purchased because of the difficulty of finding good music.

That said I would have never heard of DTB without file-sharing. Before I actually bought the albums, I heard Ocean Machine and I was hooked, and thus I special ordered the album (this was before my time with HDR).

I personally would like to see downloadable content for purchase at HDR much like they do it at other sites like http://www.Chromakey.com

I paid 8.95 per album for a well encoded ~200 kbs MP3 version of the album. While this may not be an option for a lot of audiophiles, I think if you were to offer it, it may stifle illegal downloads done for the convenience factor. Just my two cents.

It would take an act of god to keep me from hearing the new stuff, I will buy it however.

The question then becomes; d/l or not d/l?

With all the great words and exitement i'm not sure I will be able to resist . . .

I got the last 2 SYL albums in advance and I think it kind of spoiled it for me. I have such strong feelings about DTB and Synchestra that I will wait and make the first listen a real concentrated event. It's also 30th of Jan so I won't have to endure too long.

My plan: Go to the beach of the frozen lake Saimaa on that evening, sit near the warmth of a fire, awe at the nature,forests,nightsky and fill my ears with the unique experience that is Devin and his latest sure-to-be masterpiece Synchestra. Full attack of all senses completely immersed in the CD!!!

There will be a report.

Dude, I wish I could experience what you'll hopefully experience !

Go to the beach of the frozen lake Saimaa on that evening, sit near the warmth of a fire, awe at the nature,forests,nightsky and fill my ears with the unique experience that is Devin and his latest sure-to-be masterpiece Synchestra. Full attack of all senses completely immersed in the CD!!!

That would be the perfect way to get into this album !

Now..... I'm gonna' give you all MY OPINION on downloading.....

As far as downloading goes..... I'm not a fan for several reasons, lot's are obvious from me being a musician as well. It would totally be awsome if you bought Synchestra, when it comes out. If you do download a leak before it's out, I'm cool with it as long as you support the artist (buy the album) when the album is released. Leak's do have the odd positive note......like if any of you gave a friend a copy of Synchestra, who has never heard it or DTB before, if they like it, chances are they'll buy the album and come see us live. I know it has a couple positive points but the negatives do out-weigh the positives.

I'm the first to admit that I download leaks sometimes. For example, I had "Catch 33" by Meshuggah, way before it was officially released, but when it was released, I bought the album the day it was released to support the artist.

This is just my point of view. I feel strongly about it though. We do work really hard in the DTB and are not even close to making huge, great money from it, we're working hard to get to a higher status. Downloading does'nt stop us from putting out the best album we can for you guys but it can suck for us as an artist, financially, and if the money ain't there down the road.....there will probably be no money for the DTB to make records.....that's the way it is in this industry whether we like it or not or whether you, the fans, like it or not.

The greatest thing that does'nt worry me at all, is the fact that we have very supportive DTB fans. For this reason alone, I'm not really worried about the future of this band as we grow and our fanbase grow's with us !

Just my two cents on the topic....

RVP

Thankyou very much for giving us your opinion on this. its nice to know what the actual musicians who played on the album, feel on this subject

It's truly hard to wait when one is such a huge fan but i already know that it will definately be worth it. All of you guys are amazing musicians and you put your hearts into the music, the least we can do is support the cause by making sure we buy Synchestra when it comes out

once i like a band, no way would i download a song, ill just wait till i have the cash to go out and buy the next album i want from them. only reason i d/l a few tracks is to sample the band, and from there if its good, down to the cd store or amazon it is! but i couldnt d/l DTB if i tried, this cd is going to be mindblowing, ill wait to hear it on my stereo thanks

I'm sorry, but isn't there a lot of hypocrisy going on in this thread?
Or, maybe not hypocrisy, but ... if you look at the poll, there are some people(a lot of people) out there who will download it when it leaks. I sure as hell know I will.
Haha, i just wanted to say that... I support music by listening to it. Not buying it. It's all love...

[Tracy]

I'm sorry, but isn't there a lot of hypocrisy going on in this thread?
Or, maybe not hypocrisy, but ... if you look at the poll, there are some people(a lot of people) out there who will download it when it leaks. I sure as hell know I will.
Haha, i just wanted to say that... I support music by listening to it. Not buying it. It's all love...

There are a lot of other factors that downloading effects that people don't even realise. One is when a band is trying to further themselves, everyone they approach will check the "Soundscan". This is a service that tracks album sales. If a band is looking for a distributor, the company checks the soundscan. Band is looking to tour, promoter checks the soundscan. Whether that band gets the contract, the tour, what they are paid for that tour all depends on the soundscan. Downloads do not apply to this. People can be flippant about it all they want but downloading is making things EXTREMELY difficult for bands to operate.

Want to share a file or two? Sure. But "I support music by listening to it. Not buying it. It's all love" is crap. It's disrespectful and offensive. We bust our asses for 12 years making music and and you think it's okay that we're not compensated? Here's an idea... How about you go to work every day, overtime, for 12 years and let your boss only pay you half your salary.

I don't understand people who post to say that they dl music and don't care about the artist...
Buy a fucking T-shirt!

There are a lot of other factors that downloading effects that people don't even realise. One is when a band is trying to further themselves, everyone they approach will check the "Soundscan". This is a service that tracks album sales. If a band is looking for a distributor, the company checks the soundscan. Band is looking to tour, promoter checks the soundscan. Whether that band gets the contract, the tour, what they are paid for that tour all depends on the soundscan. Downloads do not apply to this. People can be flippant about it all they want but downloading is making things EXTREMELY difficult for bands to operate.

Want to share a file or two? Sure. But "I support music by listening to it. Not buying it. It's all love" is crap. It's disrespectful and offensive. We bust our asses for 12 years making music and and you think it's okay that we're not compensated? Here's an idea... How about you go to work every day, overtime, for 12 years and let your boss only pay you half your salary.

Amen!

Music is art. Art is not work
Haha. I do have a hard time supporting artists who bitch about downloading though. Most of the make a decent living. I don´t think Devin is living under a newspaper on the sidewalks. Perspective, perspective. He´s a genuis. He´ll survive...
I just think it´s so naive to buy stuff you don´t need to buy. I realize it´s a problem. A problem that's very hard to solve. If records were lying around everywhere on the ground(all over the place, not just on a specific place on earth). Would you not pick them up and take them home? It´sThe internet is weird. Stuff is free, and...who in their right mind don´t take advantage of free stuff? I just think it's naive...that's all.
That said - I have nothing but respect for Devin and his genuis. I just think maybe, if he and I would trade lives, he would download my music. That's just the way it is...People(most of them, myself included) don't pay for stuff that they can get it for free.
"Buy a fucking T-shirt!" If i could download one, I fuckin would.