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Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

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Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#261

Post by mulmen »

klingonopera wrote: post #202
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you really just want a FLAC rip of a CD to play over a media center, then consider simply downloading the FLAC rip from a filesharing community, but then buying the vinyl release for the sake of owning the physical artifact. That way, you both get high-quality digital audio and you financially support the artist, but the vinyl release has larger artwork and is more satisfying as a collector item.

I buy the music, because I want to support the artists. I buy the CD-format, because in theory, I can do that anonymously (cash at the store). I don't buy the vinyl, because I explicitly want the digital format (see my reply to another comment on this thread as to why). I rip the CD, because, well, my phone doesn't have a CD-drive (wow, that would be weird ...). At this point... I'd actually throw away the CD, becaus…

Most new vinyl records I buy have a digital download code. If I buy them at a show it's definitely cash. I can also pay cash at the record store.

Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#262

Post by mulmen »

gnusty_gnurc wrote: post #65

During EE undergrad I learned about DSP, math and other theory involved in digital audio reproduction and it's clear to me that it's technically superior. There's some truly marvelous engineering behind digital audio. And the best part is that it enhances life: now playing an album isn't "a ritual", I can do it anytime without needing physical, wasteful storage for a degrading format. I'm absolutely baffled how peopl…

I'm not a hipster but I have a vinyl record collection. So do my friends, we trade records and each have very different collections. I enjoy "the ritual", it allows me to recollect who gave me an album or the night I went to the show. None of my friends organize our records the same way. Some are chronological by release. Some simply alphabetical. Some chronological by acquisition date. Some combine an element of genre, whatever that means to them. It's a deeply personal thing but we can still share parts of it.

In life we get to have different tastes, having a record collection is one of the ways to celebrate that.

I don't appreciate being talked down to about my personal choices or how I derive enjoyment in my own time. I'm also not impressed by your straw man argument against these "hipsters", why are they so bad anyway? Is it because you perceive hypocrisy in how some hypothetical person lives their life?

Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#263

Post by perl4ever »

fragsworth wrote: post #190
mruts wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is using a laser not real analog audio?

Since "real" was in quotes, I assume they're talking about the change to sound quality that is caused by the physical touching of the devices. It's not necessarily more clear or better, it's just different, and that's the point of doing something so retro. But if you aren't actually doing that thing, it loses a lot of the psychological value. It's similar in some sense to the reasons why people go to see live concert…

I don't see how CDs, in the abstract, can really be different from records, in that, surely you could apply a suitable filter to a CD decoder to make the output sound exactly like a record. Especially given modern computing power. It's just that, I assume, people have chosen not to.

Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#264

Post by tuscen »

explodingcamera wrote: post #166
tzs wrote: post #71

Is anyone working on a reasonably priced turntable to play vinyl discs without degrading them? In the mid '80s, Finial Technology announced such a turntable, and had a working unit at CES in 1986. It had a stylus that contained laser interferometers that could very accurately and precisely measure the distance from the stylus to the grove walls. It kept the stylus near, but not touching, the groove, getting the audio…

This seems kind of counterproductive for the (I think) vinyl target group. If I listen to vinyl, I want the kinda retro feeling "real" analog audio signal, else I'd just get a CD or online download. A mid-range stylus is completly sufficient for a great experience without any noticable noise and next to no real wear on the records.

I'd add that the ritual around vinyl (i.e. manually adjusting tone arm, touching a vinyl and placing it on the platter, etc) is the part that people like the most, not the actual sound. I don't think anyone would be able to discern a new vinyl from a cd in a blind test.

Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#265

Post by cosmotic »

tzs wrote: post #71

Is anyone working on a reasonably priced turntable to play vinyl discs without degrading them? In the mid '80s, Finial Technology announced such a turntable, and had a working unit at CES in 1986. It had a stylus that contained laser interferometers that could very accurately and precisely measure the distance from the stylus to the grove walls. It kept the stylus near, but not touching, the groove, getting the audio…

If only there were a durable music format that had absolute perfect quality, didn't need special handling, no DRM, no compression artifacts, was stereo, and handled frequencies all the way down and all the way up to where humans can hear. Oh, the CD!

Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#266

Post by perl4ever »

renlo wrote: post #96
tzs wrote: post #71

Is anyone working on a reasonably priced turntable to play vinyl discs without degrading them? In the mid '80s, Finial Technology announced such a turntable, and had a working unit at CES in 1986. It had a stylus that contained laser interferometers that could very accurately and precisely measure the distance from the stylus to the grove walls. It kept the stylus near, but not touching, the groove, getting the audio…

My very limited understanding after talking to someone who was interested in this stuff, is that people are concerned with quantizing of the signal, which will happen with that laser solution. I’ve heard this is why audiophiles also use magnetic tape. To be clear I heard this second hand and am not directly familiar.

If you play the sound through the air, which is an analog medium connected to your ears, haven't you un-quantized that nasty digital information before you can hear it?

Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#267

Post by kalleboo »

tomc1985 wrote: post #69
cbdumas wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Physical media is for when you want to really enjoy the music. Wow this is some condescending, pretentious nonsense. Also, every streaming service I've ever used is perfectly capable of playing an album in order.

You're discounting the value of physically experiencing the media you're consuming. Pretentious or not, it really is a different feeling, something that streaming can't replicate.

I have some newly-released vinyl and cassettes I bought partially for the novelty, partially to support the artists (one artist I listen to releases only on digital and cassette).

I also thought there would be more nostalgia and fun in listening to vinyl, but after 30 seconds I'm now lost in the music and there's absolutely no difference in the medium it's being played on.

Until I hit the end of side A and have to turn the disc over.

(of course I don't want to diminish anyone's enjoyment of what they like - I have the stuff I enjoy doing that others find a waste of time - your statements just come off as too absolute - it's definitely a personal preference!)

Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#269

Post by gnusty_gnurc »

mulmen wrote: post #262
gnusty_gnurc wrote: post #65

During EE undergrad I learned about DSP, math and other theory involved in digital audio reproduction and it's clear to me that it's technically superior. There's some truly marvelous engineering behind digital audio. And the best part is that it enhances life: now playing an album isn't "a ritual", I can do it anytime without needing physical, wasteful storage for a degrading format. I'm absolutely baffled how peopl…

I'm not a hipster but I have a vinyl record collection. So do my friends, we trade records and each have very different collections. I enjoy "the ritual", it allows me to recollect who gave me an album or the night I went to the show. None of my friends organize our records the same way. Some are chronological by release. Some simply alphabetical. Some chronological by acquisition date. Some combine an element of gen…

It's cause I know how little time I have to do stuff in my life already, and the idea that I'd spend my already scant time cataloguing bulky records and having to worry about them whenever I move is pretty stressful.

Re: Vinyl set to outsell CDs for first time since 1986

#270

Post by TylerE »

tzs wrote: post #71

Is anyone working on a reasonably priced turntable to play vinyl discs without degrading them? In the mid '80s, Finial Technology announced such a turntable, and had a working unit at CES in 1986. It had a stylus that contained laser interferometers that could very accurately and precisely measure the distance from the stylus to the grove walls. It kept the stylus near, but not touching, the groove, getting the audio…

A well setup turntable, with a quality cartridge, while it certainly isn't zero wear, isn't far from it. We're talking hundreds of plays.

Turntables that trash records are usually shitty turntables that, if they're even adjustable at all, aren't adjusted properly.

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