Why I Use Cracks, one mans illegal tomfoolery Options

[Guest1]

THE TRUTH: I have read much about downloading music illegally and all the reasons of rhyme behind it. The usual justification from people out there is that 89 pence is to much for something I would spend about 150 hours making. Or its record labels make to much money so Im taking the music they release. Interestingly on places like Gearslutz which is filled with people who talk a good game but in actual fact have never made a record or made a living from music in their lives ALWAYS come out in support of illegally downloading music ALWAYS attacking labels as if they are the devil incarnate. WHy is that? Bitterness, that's what it is. Music equipment forums are filled with people who self loath the very thing they are supposed to be in to. Its as simple as they never got signed by anyone so they have become bitter over the years and thats when you see those types supporting the right to illegally download. And there are many of them, in fact I see forums mostly populated by those types. And think about it, what musician would ever support illegally downloads if that is what they do for a living. Oh, hold on there are musicians who support illegal downloading such as Radiohead...Surprise Surprise!! A bunch of wealthy millionaires who if they never sold another record in their lives wouldnt make any difference to them. And, they like the other big acts who support the illegal downloading of music make huge amounts from touring these days. NOW, DO ANY OF THESE SELFISH B"TARDS give one single thought as to the message they put out specifically in how it affects musicians like me. Answer NO!



Just a few years ago I used to be able to make a living as a musician/writer/producer in the dance scene. I was never a touring artist or DJ so my entire income was based around my releases. I didnt sell a lot but I did have some success and always seemed to do OK on licensing. I was able to make a modest living and as long as I could do the thing I loved I wasnt to bothered about making big money.

Things started to go pear shaped around 2003. My income had been dropping since 2000 as vinyl began to decline and by 2003 I was lucky to see a couple of hundred pounds per month from sales of my vinyl records because sales across the board in vinyl had dropped massively for everyone. In 2004 with vinyl a memory I embarked on a digital release only method which it has to be these days. That has not been successful at all. My digital only sales have been as low as 30 downloads and today average around 100 if Im lucky. HOWEVER, every one of my low selling releases over the last five years has found its way on to file sharing sites, sometimes before the promo run has finished. But doesnt that get your name around more and hence you will sell more. NO NO NO NO, that is not how it works and thats a lie put out by habitual frenzy downloaders.

So what was the cause of my downfall. Put simply its the idea that music should be free, or is free. Downloads did affect my income for sure but there is more to it than that and its go a lot to do with how people now percieve the idea of actually buying music. I see comments on a national newspaper today (online) about illegal downloading Almost every single comment is in support of downloading music illegally and there are many comments who state music should be free and then there is the usual rubbish about 89 pence being far to much for one song. YET, they think nothing fo spending 100 pounds on a night out which is what you do spend in the UK in any city on a Friday night. But 89 pence, oh noIm not paying that, what a rip off! This is just your regular buying public. Of course it doesnt help when the owner of Spotify says this with a big fat grin on his face "We believe all music should be totally free". Oh yes another agendaist who thinks only of his own bank balance. What on earth gives that idiot the right to suggest all music should be free!! Idiot!

Now, your thinking my music must be rubbish? But on the contrary Im complimented, still get great reviews and if I say so my slef there is nothing shoddy about my music

So your waiting for my reason why I use cracks-------Isnt it obvious?

I simply cannot afford the money these days for plugins and thats my reason. If I made a living from music these days I would buy all my software. I did used to and even at one point owned a 28,000 pound Pro tools rig which included about 6k worth of plugins (back in 2002). I clearly remember paying 650 pounds for the Sony Oxford TDm version. But when I think of that now I must say that is daylight robbery and I would never pay such sums on a plugin again for an EQ plugin.

I dint suggest for one second what Im doing is any justification for downloading cracks, im just saying it like it is

For those who are angry with me I may be able to make you feel better. My PC is literally riddled with viruses, trojans, worms, and some of them have been pretty dangerous to my system. I constantly have to do maintenance every couple of days and be very careful about what I do. Ive seen key loggers that have somehow been added to plugins DLL file so while they work fine you could be constantly sending info over the net without realising it and they are very difficult to spot as there isnt one single virus software app out there that could detect something like a key logger added to a VST plugin. Over the last few years I have had to become quite knowledgeable on viruses. But some are just impossible to get rid of so I have to live with them. Of course I dont like that at all but its either that or no plugins and who knows I may be able to get back to a situation where I can actually make money from my craft. But until then I dont have any other option.


Ok, thats all I have to say.