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Sony plans to make vinyl records again

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Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#231

Post by thebokehwokeh2 »

nocman wrote: post #213
bcrescimanno wrote: post #144

As someone who started collecting vinyl about 3 years ago, it's about the difference between passive and active involvement in music. So much of our music consumption these days is a largely passive activity. We have music in our headphones while we work. We have music on in our cars while we drive. We have music on in the background of social events. While modern digital formats have given us true ubiquity of music…

While I can understand the nostalgia of playing music on a record player (many of us had lots of records when we were younger), and how that experience could be different for you, perhaps in a very pleasant way, I find the idea that the experience of using one medium over another somehow makes you more "serious" about the music (or more engaged with the music, or whatever else you want to call it) is laughable. You c…

While I get your point, I too understand what OP is saying.

As someone who considers himself a big music guy, at least once upon a time, I'm simply no longer as invested as I once was when listening to CD's or vinyl as I am now when listening to albums or singles on Spotify.

My take is that it's a matter of ritual. It's akin to the whole unboxing phenomenon on youtube. There is still something about physical tactile interaction with something before its enjoyment. The smell of CD's or vinyl and the collectability of things like limited edition covers and liner notes just make it that much more special. And then when you listen to an album on Vinyl, where it's practically impossible to skip forwards and backwards, you're de-facto an active participant in the whole endeavor. You enjoy the album as it's meant to be enjoyed, fully placing yourself at the mercy of the Artist who carefully constructed the order of songs.

I no longer hold new releases from artists I love as special as I once did when the album was released in stores for this simple fact. It used to be an event that could only happen after a few hours of anticipation.

Having all songs at your fingertips is incredible, but Stairway to Heaven is also much less special when you can skip directly to the guitar solo with minimal effort.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#232

Post by dasyatidprime »

kazinator wrote: post #200
Gracana wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True. But vinyl album art is bigger, which is nice if you are interested in having a cool collection of art/objects.

If you scan a 5" CD album cover at 2400 DPI, you get a 12000x12000 image, from which you can probably render a reasonable poster, if you like.

And if it wasn't printed that fine in the first place, then you have a different problem.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#233

Post by eric_h »

marcosdumay wrote: post #215
empath75 wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the only explanation for this that I could actually understand. Anyone telling me that they think it sounds better just triggers eye rolling.

Honestly, have you looked at your sound system recently? At the time of vinyl, the RIAA had standards on how to process the sound. Those were good standards. On the move to digital we threw them away, and nowadays some companies go into the cheapest route, some go into the best benchmarks route, and nearly no company tries to release a system that sounds good anymore. But vinyl systems still have to follow the RIAA s…

This is quite possibly the first post I have ever read on the internet that mentioned the RIAA with a positive tone.

For others, here's a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#234

Post by 6stringmerc »

bcrescimanno wrote: post #144

As someone who started collecting vinyl about 3 years ago, it's about the difference between passive and active involvement in music. So much of our music consumption these days is a largely passive activity. We have music in our headphones while we work. We have music on in our cars while we drive. We have music on in the background of social events. While modern digital formats have given us true ubiquity of music…

This is a great rationale and it makes sense. Listening to Bruce Springsteen talk about "the one rack of records" in the local store, and scarcity, and on and on, it's a special connection possible for sure.

As a musician I can't "un-hear" a different method of engagement even as a listener for enjoyment. It's a different subject, but also related to the active notion you described. After all these years, sampling things from across the world time and time again, it takes quite a bit of "Ooomph" for me to really feel the hairs on my arm bristle up.

What's great in modern times though, is that I can get a real buzz every time I shop on Beatport, listen through my studio Sennheisers, and at volumes that would be considered torture if inflicted involuntarily. RAM Records and HEAVY ARTILLERY are two that I really enjoy because it's music that will scare people who even love music. Ha!

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#235

Post by Frondo »

skciva wrote: post #211
eanzenberg wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno.. digital music just sounds better, is more consistent, portable, and all around easier to play than vinyl. Why stop there? Do you also churn your own butter, milk your own cows, shave with a straight razor? Personally, I think it's just silly hipster bias.

So you don't understand why people like something and dismiss it as silly hipster bias? Does everything have to be about efficiency and logical superiority? People enjoy the experience more and are spending money on it. How horrible.

Agreed. Let people like what they like.

My deal is, that goes both ways. I've owned record players in the past, I've grown a sizeable vinyl collection, and I ended up selling it off because I'm living a much more mobile lifestyle now.

If the OP gets a more "active" experience (whatever that means to them) out of listening to a record instead of putting a CD in a cd player, great, but what bugs me is there's always an undercurrent of "it's better this way".

No, man, you just like it more. It's not "better" than listening to songs on an ipod or putting a CD on.

And all this talk about "it sounds better" or whatever, it all boils down to assigning objective measures to an experience that is, at its core, subjective. No, it's still just your preference. (Some people actually like the analogue tape sound. To them it's "better".)

Let people like what they like.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#236

Post by bbrik »

nindalf wrote: post #15
kristiandupont wrote: post #11

I confess, I am part of this trend. And I just got into it, so I get no "before it was cool"-claim to fame. Not sure where that leaves me on the hipster-scale. Buying CD's used to be a weekly ritual for me and I missed it for years. Putting on a new album on a Saturday afternoon with a beer or glass of wine while I start cooking is a very enjoyable moment for me. Now, obviously this was for the most part because I wo…

I'm not sure if this would work for you, but I like Spotify's Discover Weekly. Every Monday you get a playlist of 30 songs that you've never heard before. I listen to it from beginning to end without skipping and I often find songs that I end up liking a lot

I also like their Release Radar playlist, you get new releases from the artists you follow.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#237

Post by ams6110 »

agotterer wrote: post #45
eterm wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But why buy vinyl instead of buying CDs? I understand your point about listening to a whole album being preferable to singles, I feel the same way but I'd still much rather listen to a CD than an LP.

A few years ago my wife bought me a record player for our anniversary. Since then I've been collecting used classic rock records. For me the difference between CDs and Vinyl literally comes down to the listening experience. Vinyl has a very distinct sound, big colorful covers, and a feeling of nostalgia every time you touch the needle to the record.

Same for me. The physical act of handling the record is more satisfying -- maybe just because it's bigger? I felt the same way about 12" LPs vs. 7" singles. The click when you put the needle on the record, watching it spin, even the smell all contribute to the experience. CDs/streaming has none of that.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#238

Post by criddell »

tnecniv wrote: post #207
eanzenberg wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno.. digital music just sounds better, is more consistent, portable, and all around easier to play than vinyl. Why stop there? Do you also churn your own butter, milk your own cows, shave with a straight razor? Personally, I think it's just silly hipster bias.

Why not enjoy both? I collect vinyl and listen to digital music all the time. If you buy new vinyls on Amazon, a lot of the time you can get the MP3s for free included. When I buy a vinyl, it's because it's a physical representation of music that I enjoy. A lot of time, there's a extra items included with the vinyl, like a small poster.

I was going to say something about a false dichotomy, but you beat me to it.

Discussions about music on vinyl is always interesting to observe.

Collecting artifacts is such a prevalent part of nerd and geek culture that it's no wonder many of us love to collect and play records.

At the same time, many of us are super focused on efficiency and specifications that listening to less than perfect reproductions where you have to physically manipulate the media makes no sense.

I had a lot of records when I was younger and was happy to move on to CDs and now mp3 and streaming. If I had more space to devote to yet another collection, I would in a heartbeat.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#239

Post by ovao »

bitJericho wrote: post #193
eanzenberg wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno.. digital music just sounds better, is more consistent, portable, and all around easier to play than vinyl. Why stop there? Do you also churn your own butter, milk your own cows, shave with a straight razor? Personally, I think it's just silly hipster bias.

I agree, for sure. That said, there's a lot to be said about listening to an entire album. I'm a huge fan of CDs for this reason. It's a good mix of Vinyl vs Digital. I know I'm getting perfect, uncompressed digital audio. My setup is designed for involved listening if I want it, and I do that mostly with CDs, rather than records. At the same time, if I want something new, or a cd I don't have, I just put on Spotify.…

I'm a huge fan of CDs for this reason. I know I'm getting perfect, uncompressed digital audio.

Ah, but you don't know! On Beck's Odelay Deluxe Edition release, for example, there are at least two tracks that came from a lossy source.

I don't think it's something that happens often. But through some combination of factors it has happened before, and probably happens more often than people might be aware.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#240

Post by cranjice »

gmarx wrote: post #194
dragonwriter wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The difference between an iPhone with the default earbuds and a $5000 stereo rig with speakers is astounding but only a tiny fraction of the listening public cares Without optimum room design, even half-decent earbuds are better than pretty high-quality speaker systems, if you don't need multiple simultaneously listeners. And I don't think it's that most people don't care, I think it's just that most people have a…

optimum room design is great to get the best out of your gear but a $5000 stereo set up in your current living room will be significantly better than the earvuds

I put together a modest priced system using quality but not quite "vintage" parts from the 80s (NAD amp, Klipsch heritage, Pioneer tt). It punches well above it's weight and I'd be hard pressed to build a comparable system today without spending 5x the money.

Things really aren't made the way they used to be (for better or worse) and I think that nostalgia is definitely part of vinyl's appeal.

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