It's December 15the already and Cliché, our first album, is already for sale!The following are answers to many questions you might come up with in this respect (we have already thought of many and have done all in our reach to answer them not only with words, but preemptively with actions).
1. I want the album as a digital download. Where can I buy it?
You can get it at Portaldisc or at our Online Store, depending on your audio (see questions 8, 9 and 10) and payment needs (see questions 6 and 7).
2. I want the album in physical format. Where can I buy it?
You may buy it at our Online Store or wait until it arrives in stores in Chile and abroad, in a few more weeks time.
3. I want the album in physical format but I live terribly far away. How can I manage to get it all the way here?
Our Online Store delivers to the entire world (including the most far-away corners of Chile) via Correos Chile. This is the most inexpensive and trustworthy way of sending it we could find, plus it offers pretty much everything a courier service can offer for just a fraction of the price. Believe us when we say that we really, really researched this. The only problem is that, due to customs restrictions, we currently cannot ship to Argentina. Unfortunately, in Argentina they do not let any material through that is subject to copyright, including CDs and DVDs. We insist that this is not Correos Chile's problem, but Argentinean Customs'. We will keep our eyes peeled to any progress or oportunity that could lead to a different way of sending out copies to our Argentine brothers and sisters.
4. Well, thanks for nothing. I happen to live in Argentina...
Fortunately, we are working with CNR, one of the best distributing companies in Chile, which has offices (under different names) in many countries of the world, including Argentina. We have let them know about this problem and we agree in how much of a priority releasing the album in regular music stores in Argentina is.
5. Oh, so in Argentina you can get it at stores, and in the rest of the world we must pay humongous shipping fees... Why, Dear God, Why???
Actually, in our Online Store we have managed to sell the album for a price so low, that, including shipping fees and all (which invariably amount to US$ 7.30), the final price you will pay will probably be lower than the one you would have to pay at a music store.
Once again, CNR are excellent distributors and will do everything in their reach so that the album will be in a music store near you ASAP.
6. I do not have a credit card because I am underage / banks are horrible / I don't believe in plasic money / I cut it in two last week to avoid unnecessary Christmas shopping / etc., etc. How can I still pay for the album?
If you are in Chile,Portaldisc offers many alternatives to credit card use, thinking of cases like yours. If you are outside of Chile, mail us at theplugin@thepluginmusic.com and we might be able to make it work!
7. I don't have any money, sorry! Gimme?
Sure thing! Both Corny and One Step Ahead are free to download from our Online Store. Merry Christmas!
8. I don't want the full album. Can I buy only some tracks from Cliché?
Of course! At our Online Store you can download tracks one-by-one for just 1 dollar. You just go right to the Store's page for Cliché, go almost all the way down to where the tracklist is, run your mouse over the title of the song you want to purchase, and click the text that will appear saying "Download".
9. Why would I want to buy your album if I can hear the whole thing at your Online Store?
For us, as a band, what is important is not that people BUY the album, but that people LISTEN TO and ENJOY our songs. If listening to the album on your computer, having the Online Store open on your browser, is enough for you to enjoy it, we really don't think it's necessary for you to buy it. Really. No hard feelings... quite to the contrary.
What you pay for when you download an online album is the comfort of owning the songs and being able to carry them around in your flashdrive, mp3 player, iPod, CDs, etc.
The other detail is that the online previews at the store are 128 kpbs mp3s, which, in order to allow for quick listening from most any computer, have sacrificed a good amount of quality, especially reducing lower and higher frequencies in each song. On the other hand, the downloadable album is in excellent quality (whichever format or store you choose).
Finally, we must insist on the fact that, by buying this album, you are supporting independent musical initiatives, and allowing for more new bands with more interesting proposals to appear in the future, all while specifically helping with the development of this project we call The Plugin.
10. At your Online Store you are offering audio formats that I don't know. What do they have that mp3s don't?
First off, the mp3 we are offering for download is a 320 kbps mp3 (same goes for Portaldisc). This is the best mp3 quality that currently exists, so, generally speaking, it's already an excellent option to just go and download the album in mp3.
The other options are for those who particularly dislike the format, or for any reason want a format that doesn't sacrifice one bit of quality. But the whole deal is especially thought to offer variety, and to have everyone in mind.
The FLAC format is a lossless one, which means it does not lose quality in the conversion process. It's basically the same thing we hear when we finish mastering the song, it can even sound a little bit better than the CD. The down side is that it is not recognized by most media players, including iTunes (which also implies that you won't be able to listen to it on an iPod). Now, if you have a program that can losslessly convert it back into WAV, you can burn it onto a CD and have grade-A audio!
The situation with ALAC is similar to FLAC: excellent quality, low compatibility.
Ogg Vorbis is sort of an alternative to mp3 and AAC, with the difference that Ogg is completely free and open-sourced. In quality, it is a bit inferior to the 320 mp3, but superior to the 128 mp3 you can hear in the preview section.
The VBR mp3 stands for Variable BitRate, and we do not recommend it. To tell you the truth, if you want an mp3, air on the safe side and get the 320 mp3.
Now, if you want to throw the album right into an iPod, the friendliest format is AAC, also known as m4a. It is iTunes's own format and its quality is similar to that of the Ogg Vorbis.
11. Alright, then: you are selling your album at Portaldisc and your Online Store. Which one is more convenient for me?
It all depends on your specific needs.
In short, Portaldisc is a really respectable site which supports Chilean music in a way few initiatives have, plus it offers a wider array of payment possibilities if you are in Chile. Now, if what you want is the physical album, or you have a soft spot for more advanced formats, you might be better off getting the stuff at our Online Store.
In long, here's a comparative table which should help you decide.
12. I want the physical album and I'm getting it at your Online Store. How long will it take to get here?
From the moment your payment clears, it can take up to three days for us to drop it at the post office, though it will probably be less time. Once we leave it there, you'll be notified. As of this notification, the album should take anywhere between 5 and 8 days to reach any spot in Chile, or anywhere between 10 and 20 days to get anywhere in the world (except for Argentina, see questions 3 and 4).
13. And do you really expect for me to wait for all that time?
Nope, we're not sadists like that. This is why, when you purchase your CD, you immediately get access to the digital download, without any further steps or payments.
14. There are two physical packages at your Online Store. What's the difference between Cliché (Digipak) and Cliché (Deluxe Pack)? Should I care about the fact that it comes in Digipak?
First off, Digipak is that carboardy box where less-mainstreamy albums tend to come. We like it A LOT MORE than Jewel Case, which has tended to be the standard since the 1980s. Achieving the feat of getting the album to come out in Digipak was one of our mini-battles. Nonetheless, nobody can assure that any future edition will not come in Jewel Case, for reasons that escape our reach. Therefore, if you want to have the album just as it was conceived in our minds, we believe it is better that you have this one, the Digipak version.
The item "Cliché (Digipak)" is simply the album in the format we just explained. As a bonus, you can get it giftwrapped, just choosing this option within the menu that reads "¿papel de regalo? / giftwrapped?" in the chechout menu.
The item "Cliché (Deluxe Pack)" includes the CD in Digipak, a super-limited-edition DVD (which includes the videos for Corny, Sin Disfraz, and One Step Ahead), and the possibility of Rodrigo and Ignacio signing and dedicating the CD to you personally, so no one CD is like the other. Also, you can get it giftwrapped, all this within the menu reading "detalles / details" within the checkout menu.
15. Will you be selling the CD at your shows?
Yup. Same price as at the page (US$ 10.5 or $5,000 chilean pesos).
16. Is Cliché a good Christmas present?
Yes. It is the best present ever. Whoever receives Cliché as a gift will never ever stop thanking you.
