Vinyl record sales jump 52% in 2014

[Maban]

I think a better poll would be "Who is annoyed by the analog versus digital debate?" Why can't we just say that under ideal circumstances for either format they both sound good enough that the human ear won't give a damn which one it is?

 

[R-T-B]

I think a better poll would be "Who is annoyed by the analog versus digital debate?" Why can't we just say that under ideal circumstances for either format they both sound good enough that the human ear won't give a damn which one it is?

This is a true comment. But the benefit of digital is more than one play to a listener being ok, it's 1:1 reproduction of the quality of sound. Using an analog as a master today is not only bad practice, but dangerous to the copies longevity and the entire large scale reproduction run.

 

[micropage7]

back to title, one reason that makes it booming maybe at some points vinyl is different, you may have thousands of cd and its all the same but vinyl is different and it feels pretty personal

 

[AphexDreamer]

I can't personally attest but I hear from others that it has a more organic sound (analog) as opposed to lossless (digital).

I doubt for most it would matter. I take it more and more people are DJing? I can't really see why there would be so much of a boost.

 

[HammerON]

For the people who are into old audio media

Wow - 8 track audio solution. Nothing to do with vinyl...

 

[R-T-B]

Wow - 8 track audio solution. Nothing to do with vinyl...

It's analog. Otherwise, spot on. I thought it was an odd choice too.

Lets have another vaguely related factoid: I actually own both two hand crank phonographs (one of them a diamond disc player, yes), a modern record player, and both an 8-track and reel to reel. I'm sorta an expert on weird analog things (ie, not good ones). Early records weren't made of vynyl, but rather a composite with the consistency of Bakelite and in Mr. Edisons case, a cardboard core. The idea behind the cardboard core was to resist breaking, but instead it got most of his "rich mans trash" records burned during the great depression because they made excellent firewood substitute. This makes them amongst the rarest records to collect (unless considering cylinders, of course).

 

[repman244]

Hahahaha the most laughable thing about Vinyl is that most of it is made from digital recordings these days. In the olden days music was master recorded in analog thus you got full analog quality on a Vinyl.
I have a Garrard turntable with a decent head but i hardly use it, i just prefer to have mediamonkey on my pc play in the background because i can store a gazillion FLAC files.

That is true however if you compare the dynamic range of the recording from a vinyl and the CD the vinyl is always superior (however if the recording is crap it will sound crap and even more crap on a CD).
You probably heard about loudness wars but that doesn't work on vinyl because you wouldn't even be able to play a very compressed vinyl.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Wow - 8 track audio solution. Nothing to do with vinyl...

Ok so we are all agreed then ,,..i am right.


Joke.

We are all right and we have managed to debate this in a mature fashion.

Good God.....I actually own some records. Aaaaaaaaand they are.on vinyl.


@Aquinus i hope these arent too loud for you.

And to conclude my involvement in this debate

 

[nexus_a]

Depends on the source. Nowadays all records are mastered in digital format so what's the point of vinyl? They might even be mastered from a CD source...
http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/29-vinyl-records-and-digital-audio/
Also mentioned in the article: bass reproduction on vinyls might be inaccurate, which is why people feel vinyls sound warmer.

 

[repman244]

Depends on the source. Nowadays all records are mastered in digital format so what's the point of vinyl? They might even be mastered from a CD source...
http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/29-vinyl-records-and-digital-audio/
Also mentioned in the article: bass reproduction on vinyls might be inaccurate, which is why people feel vinyls sound warmer.

Like I said before it's not exactly the same, even if they are mastered from a CD (yes it still sounds bad compared to a true vinyl master) but the dynamic range is not the same.

 

[R-T-B]

I don't think any sane studio would master from a vinyl. Heck, even back in the old days they didn't. They used an acid and metal printer press sorta thing that burned the grooves in irrc. Today if you get a good vinyl, it's almost certainly due to it being from a GOOD uncompressed digital master. No ones going to bother with the other process anymore.

 

[qubit]

There is a demand for vinyl. They will make vinyl because they want money. Most people who buy vinyl do not care about how it was produced just want the vinyl for some reason.

Spoiler: Stupider comments

What is next? Film rolls, VHS!? Because you know: Analog is "better", damage prone, degrades over time and other things.

Well, the next Bond movie is being shot on film instead of digitally like the last few. Allegedly, it improves the look of the film, but I call BS. Perhaps it's just cheaper or something.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Allegedly, it improves the look of the film,



Oh no !

@qubit stop doing this to me !

 

[qubit]

Allegedly, it improves the look of the film,



Oh no !

@qubit stop doing this to me !

Wassup? I read that in a news article, it's not me saying it. You see I call BS on it.

Also, I gave you a comprehensive reply about digital audio a few posts up, with helpful links, but not heard back from you. Do you still think it damages your hearing after all that discussion we've had about it?

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

No No No

you get me all wrong. I enjoyed our last discusion.


They probably are shooting the next Bond on film.
It will be because of quality without a doubt. ,in my humble opinion.

OR...before we have another "discussion" the human eyes perception of quality, whether that be colour depth, contrast or the quality of black.

Allegedly, it improves the look of the film, but I call BS. Perhaps it's just cheaper or something.

You are saying you think it is cheaper or something.

It isnt cheaper, by a large margin. I will provide links if you like or you could gooooogle it.

Most film makers would rather use film but the comparitive cost is prohibitive.
Even something as simple as transporting the film at the end of the day for processing and storage.

What is this something of which you speak.?

 

[Aquinus]

Do you really think that the media a recording is copied to is more important than the process used to record the audio in the first place? I don't think this discussion can happen without taking in account how audio recording has changed over the years. Audio is being created digitally so to me, it only makes sense to provide a digital copy. I've heard some 96 and 192Khz FLAC and it sounds great, but I'm sure the only reason it sounds great is because the hardware recording it was good and it was recorded at a higher sampling rate than the copy I got it at. So, I think there are a lot of factors that go into good sounding audio. From the method it was recorded all the way to the DAC that reproduces it, vinyl is just one of those steps to audio reproduction. It's like a bottleneck on a computer, you can make one component super fast, but that won't make any difference if everything else is super slow.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Do you really think that the media a recording is copied to is more important than the process used to record the audio in the first place? I don't think this discussion can happen without taking in account how audio recording has changed over the years. Audio is being created digitally so to me, it only makes sense to provide a digital copy. I've heard some 96 and 192Khz FLAC and it sounds great, but I'm sure the only reason it sounds great is because the hardware recording it was good and it was recorded at a higher sampling rate than the copy I got it at. So, I think there are a lot of factors that go into good sounding audio. From the method it was recorded all the way to the DAC that reproduces it, vinyl is just one of those steps to audio reproduction. It's like a bottleneck on a computer, you can make one component super fast, but that won't make any difference if everything else is super slow.

i agree with everything you just said and i think that it is more in keeping with the tone of this thread....................... Vinyl versus CD

the media a recording is copied to is more important than the process used to record the audio in the first place?

And that is the key to it. Nowadays.

Parts of vinyl process were digitised over time and some would say resulting in a loss of quality.
Nowadays all of the process is digitised, from the instruments used, the recording process, the storage method and the playback method and the means of delivery whether it be by headphones or digital speakers.

It's like a bottleneck on a computer, you can make one component super fast, but that won't make any difference if everything else is super slow.

that statement has no bearing at all in this.


@qubit i didnt see the links, i have reread your posts and found them now. Thanks

 

[RCoon]

As a secondary job (besides reviewing as a tertiary job!), I print media for a record label (Jehu & Chinaman). However said record label produces cassette tapes. Apparently they're all the rage these days, although their audio quality is not exactly renowned. I got a free limited run cassette from a band I quite liked who were signed under the record label last year. Pretty sure it was the second ever produced, so who knows, might be worth something in a while:

As for records, you don't necessarily need a big set up to enjoy a record. Although you're sacrificing audio quality for novelty in this case You can buy cheap chinese copies of this for a few dollars, but if you buy one with quality components it can cost a pretty penny. Parents bought me this puppy years ago when there were no cheap chinese copies, and it still works to this day!
(Yes, it drives around the record while playing it)

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

I have vinyl from 40 years ago that still work
I have cassettes from 30 years ago that still work.
I have cds i was given for xmas.......already fucked.


And remember retro is cool.

 

[Lopez0101]

Sounds like you need to take better care of your CDs...

I have some FLACs recorded from vinyl that sound very nice, but I also have FLACs that seem to be from a different source than the .mp3's of the same album and those FLACs sound just as good, just without the background noise of vinyl.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Well, I am sure if you treat your CDs with the same care they would work for many years as well.

I can remember seeing a tv programme when they first came out with a guy smearing jam all over one, they were meant to be indestructible.

 

[Frederik S]

Why sampling rates beyond 44.1 kHz is nonsense: http://xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html

If we assume the same master is used a CD provides much higher fidelity than vinyl. The tonality imperfections of vinyl can easily be added via an EQ and a filter if you like the popping sound. FLAC played back from any half decent PC can be somewhat better than even a high-end CD player due to lower jitter.

When people mention dynamic range as an issue please be aware you get 96 dB with normal 16 bit material. High dynamic range in a recording is 30, the only reason I can see for having more is to reduce issues with ill constructed software volume controllers.

 

[Frick]

I'm of the opinion good digital (uncompressed from the studio for instance with high bitrate) will clobber any analog system. There is no reason why it shouldn't.

At that point I'm pretty sure no one can tell the difference without measurements.

I just know classical music makes awesome vinyls, at least to me. Music is so much more than bitrates and sampling rates and whatever.

 

[Lopez0101]

they were meant to be indestructible.

How many times has marketing said that about any product. Smearing jam and wiping it off is different than throwing the CD in a pile of other CDs or the back of your car.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3940669.stm

this was from 2004 and they have degraded since then as well i suppose.