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Sony plans to make vinyl records again

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#61

Post by OberstKrueger »

afandian wrote: post #38

If you think this direction is bizarre, consider the 'cutting edge'. In the 21st century my 'CD player' (Spotify) is tracking everything I listen to so they can sell the data to a company who will build a comprehensive psychological profile about me and try to influence where I spend my money (or worse, which way I vote). This tweet specifically was bare-faced about it and appeared to be saying "our users are fine wi…

Theres a middle-ground though that doesn't require you to go back to analogue listening from decades past. Use something like iTunes or whatever other equivalent application with your own music. If you're not comfortable with possible tracking from digital downloads, you can still rip CDs to it. Seems more convenient than going back to LPs and all of the physical management that that entails.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#62

Post by cr1895 »

Myrmornis wrote: post #31
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…

You don't find it inconvenient to have to turn the LP over during cooking?

If I'm at home, more than likely there's a record spinning.

I don't mind flipping. If I'm busy momentarily, it'll just spin with the needle in the deadwax...not a big deal.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#64

Post by k-mcgrady »

mohaine wrote: post #55
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Giant-sized artwork, liner notes, inserts, etc. I grew up with CD's. The vinyl primarily just feels like a collectible to me--something I can look at, turn over, read the liner notes while listening to the music, etc. I don't even really listen to the vinyl's I have, I use the digital rips instead.

I agree. I don't think most people are actually listening to these. I'm guessing most people don't even own a player (or even a home audio system to hook it to). Has there been large increase in player sales as well? I'm sure there has been an increase but I doubt it had any way to go but up. If it comes with a free download then vinyl is pretty much the perfect box to sell downloads at a brick and mortor. Thin but w…

>> I don't think most people are actually listening to these.

Given the high price of most brand new vinyl I'd be highly surprised if this was true. I do think you're on to something though. I will listen to the digital/streaming version of a record I have much, much more often than the vinyl copy. Usually if it's a new release I'll buy the vinyl, sit down and enjoy it start to finish, and then the only time I'll play it after that is the odd evening/weekend when I want to sit down and do nothing but listen to some music. It's kind of something you'll put aside time for (like watching a movie) but at the same time you'll still be streaming in the background all day at work.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#65

Post by falcolas »

api wrote: post #9

I feel like this is what happens when you reach the enlightenment stage with technology. I have a phone with eight 64-bit CPU cores built with 10nm lithography, and I cook on cast iron. "New" or "old" doesn't matter. We have things that do things. Pick one.

To be fair, cast iron has significantly different cooking properties from regular pans. The added mass means they heat up differently, and things cook differently on them.

Not to mention they can go from the stovetop into the oven, which most other pans (pure stainless steel excepted) can not.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#66

Post by Nav_Panel »

hashkb wrote: post #14

As long as nobody is claiming they sound better, and it's just for fun and nostalgia, I'm all for it. It really bugs me when vinyl buffs try to argue their rig sounds better or warmer or whatever than the same rig with a digital (or non-vinyl analog) source.

I like to think of it as being a form of dithering -- the objectively higher noise floor can actually make the whole work sound more coherent.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#67

Post by hashkb »

aarmenante wrote: post #52
hashkb wrote: post #14

As long as nobody is claiming they sound better, and it's just for fun and nostalgia, I'm all for it. It really bugs me when vinyl buffs try to argue their rig sounds better or warmer or whatever than the same rig with a digital (or non-vinyl analog) source.

From a technical point of view I get why the argument is stupid, but playing a well pressed/mixed record has a visceral pleasure that is hard to explain. It's kind of like driving a manual car. Sure, it's dated and we've invented safer, easier ways to change the gearing while driving, but people who like experiences like that all know it's something more than a "hipster" indulgence. It's simply adding a level of comp…

The manual transmission and vi are both different in ways that power users can take advantage of. (I use both of those, and digital music)

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#68

Post by hashkb »

torrent-of-ions wrote: post #32
hashkb wrote: post #14

As long as nobody is claiming they sound better, and it's just for fun and nostalgia, I'm all for it. It really bugs me when vinyl buffs try to argue their rig sounds better or warmer or whatever than the same rig with a digital (or non-vinyl analog) source.

But it can sound warmer and to some people that sounds better. You just seem annoyed that some people enjoy things that you don't.

Please define "warmer" and compare to how 100 other vinyl buffs define it. It's meaningless, if you just admit it's an emotional preference then I'm fine with it.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#69

Post by cr1895 »

afandian wrote: post #38

If you think this direction is bizarre, consider the 'cutting edge'. In the 21st century my 'CD player' (Spotify) is tracking everything I listen to so they can sell the data to a company who will build a comprehensive psychological profile about me and try to influence where I spend my money (or worse, which way I vote). This tweet specifically was bare-faced about it and appeared to be saying "our users are fine wi…

I wonder how it impacts paid subscribers, since I don't get ads on Spotify.

In any case, of "things which are tracked" Spotify learning about my music preferences is something I'm OK with. It results in me discovering new music through their playlist/radio recommendations, something that I really like about Spotify.

Re: Sony plans to make vinyl records again

#70

Post by aarmenante »

torrent-of-ions wrote: post #47
aarmenante wrote: post #20

If you're into house/techno/disco all the best records get released (or rereleased) on vinyl first, before eventually getting out as a digital download. Also for artists, the profit margins are higher selling an LP (or even better a cassette) then releasing it to a small fanbase on Spotify. It's a better way to connect with a band you like than just streaming a track on your iPhone. You get the artwork to look at, an…

Really? Last time I was into listening to new trance (pre ~2006) there were only a small handful of labels that still pressed vinyl. I haven't seen turntables in the wild for years, alas. Maybe it's different with more "underground" house and techno and disco, though.

I'm not sure about trance but "cool" techno/house is all being pressed on limited run distributions ( > 5000) before hitting digital downloads.

I might be in a bubble living in Brooklyn, but I'm seeing more record bags than thumb drives these days.

Sites like themixtapeshop.com and turntablelab.com are putting out great stuff every week so it's easy to build a set. You don't need to go digging through dusty bins to get records these days.

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