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50% of U.S. vinyl buyers don't own a record player

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Re: 50% of U.S. vinyl buyers don't own a record player

#311

Post by throwway120385 »

anovikov wrote: post #239
sorushn wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Less consumer-oriented culture demands brainwashing It simply requires putting a stop to the constant brainwashing campaigns for inducing demand. >> do things they naturally want to collecting Stanley tumblers is not a "natural" tendency.

Well... if we had a constant stream of inventions so that people will always have things they'd love to have but struggle to afford, then there won't be a need to induce demand. But we don't have nearly enough: people have more spare cash than inventions they want, are produced every year. If we don't induce demand by brainwashing, what will people do? They will keep inflating bubbles buying up stocks (making economy…

This is a pretty cynical take. It's also possible people would find meaningful things to do with their money.

Re: 50% of U.S. vinyl buyers don't own a record player

#312

Post by redwall_hp »

jonhohle wrote: post #55
stefanfisk wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But sadly often horrible mastering.

That’s not the mediums fault. I’m sure during the 70s and 80s there were equally horrible vinyl masterings.

All vinyl mastering is comparably horrible. Everything gets high-passed to hell because sub bass makes the needle jump.

There's also a noise floor that limits your dynamics.

Re: 50% of U.S. vinyl buyers don't own a record player

#313

Post by redwall_hp »

mrob wrote: post #95
numpad0 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't, because just about anything available is better than CDs. Vinyl craze is actually not about "warmth", just genuinely more data.

The only additional data that (some) vinyl has over CDs is inaudible ultrasound. Ultrasound is intentionally omitted from CDs because they're intended for humans to listen to. In all audible aspects a correctly mastered CD release is closer to the original sound than any vinyl. And if you really want ultrasound (perhaps your dog enjoys it), you can get digital releases at higher sample rates.

And vinyl has no sub bass, unlike digital formats. They would run it through a high-pass filter (disturbingly close to where the fundamental frequency of a kick drum is) in the mastering process, because record player needless jump from low frequency energy.

Re: 50% of U.S. vinyl buyers don't own a record player

#315

Post by redwall_hp »

Rubberducky1324 wrote: post #108
numpad0 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't, because just about anything available is better than CDs. Vinyl craze is actually not about "warmth", just genuinely more data.

> just genuinely more data. Mastering is mostly done purely digital, so only when they are pressed are they converted to analog grooves. This can never add new data / information.

So is mixing and recording. Nobody is dropping $100K for a decades-old mixing console and tape recorders when a couple thousand dollars worth of computers and software will not only suffice but blow away the other for flexibility and fidelity.

Gain staging against an analogue noise floor, not having nonlinear/nondestructive editing, etc. would be, to use a technical term, "fucking stupid."

Re: 50% of U.S. vinyl buyers don't own a record player

#317

Post by RAdrien »

bartread wrote: post #211
superultra wrote: post #129

I oversee pressing for over 150k+ records a year. We eliminated download cards a while ago because the redemption rate was so low. I wouldn’t doubt if the number of buyers who don’t own a record player is even higher tha 50%, and that the percentage of people who actually play the records is actually 10-20%. I don’t have data on that, it’s just a hunch. Many of us in the indie music industry (hip hop sustained record…

I’m increasingly conscious of being an outlier here. I prefer physical, for a variety of reasons (ownership being one of them), but also prefer CD to vinyl. Nobody loves CDs any more and I don’t get it. I own vinyl, I like vinyl, but CDs are objectively better and somewhat easier to store.

CDs are annoyingly delicate to handle. Vinyl does not care about your finger tips. Vinyl sleeves are also more attractive than CD cases and easier to store on a shelf or bucket.

Re: 50% of U.S. vinyl buyers don't own a record player

#319

Post by xorcist »

onion2k wrote: post #192
superultra wrote: post #129

I oversee pressing for over 150k+ records a year. We eliminated download cards a while ago because the redemption rate was so low. I wouldn’t doubt if the number of buyers who don’t own a record player is even higher tha 50%, and that the percentage of people who actually play the records is actually 10-20%. I don’t have data on that, it’s just a hunch. Many of us in the indie music industry (hip hop sustained record…

It’s a lot of plastic. A lot of waste. It's only waste if it's being discarded. If someone wants to keep it and cherish it, even if they're not playing it, then it's not waste.

Then buy it used! That's one of the advantages of physical objects!

Re: 50% of U.S. vinyl buyers don't own a record player

#320

Post by kbelder »

colechristensen wrote: post #25
thechao wrote: post #20

My dad grew up in the 50s & 60s. During COVID he purchased my daughters' the, I quote, "shittiest briefcase record players" he could find. Both girls listen to their music on their devices, but also buy vinyl. The other day, my eldest came down from her room complaining that her vinyl "sounded awful". I told her to bring it up with their Grampy. His response: "you can't appreciate good playback until you've heard awf…

“There should be a science of discontent. People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles.” Sometimes I wonder how much INTENTIONAL engineering people's discontent for good or ill happens across the spectrum of human activity. One thing is for sure, people don't talk about it much. I can think of many examples.

The Fremen.
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