The joys of vinyl

[mattobrien]

Often while working (office at home) I will stream music wirelessly from the computer through to my hifi. Occasionally when I can be bothered (the chore of actually having to get up, choose a cd vs. just clicking the mouse) and want to enjoy better quality music I will put a CD on instead.

The difference between CD and streamed is a world apart.

Today, I have given myself a real treat and have put a record on instead. I must confess I had forgotten quite how much better vinyl sounded than a CD. It's not worth comparing it to streaming via the computer. An utterly pointless comparison.

I really out to make a bit more of an effort and listen to my vinyl collection a little more than I do.

Just wanted to share really.

 

[ianrauk]

Share away.

I still have a small vinyl collection and my turntable is in the loft awaiting a new cartridge.
You simply can't beat the pleasure of holding, looking at and playing vinyl records.

 

[tyred]

I agree, although it is mighty handy to carry your entire record collection in your pocket on an MP3 player if going on a long bus journey or something.

 

[Maz]

When I was a kid, I bought a record and there was a 'scratch and sniff' patch on the record sleeve that smelt of banana.

Can't do that with an MP3 download.

 

[Get In The Van]

The whole packaging of bands albums now is being lost. i spent many a day looking at albums and then buying them because the cover looked good (pre internet for any youngsters looking in)
Vinyl records on a decent system is pure bliss, albums recorded on analog gear, no pro tools or cubase,

 

[ayceejay]

When I listen to a CD or one played on my iPod I regard it only as a reminder of the original. When I moved to Canada I bequeathed my record collection to my son who already had a few, in fact he had to reinforce the floor to cope. When I visit I have a trip down memory lane and store it up.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

there was me thinking kitchen floor... uses for it, like I can wash it down and my OH not know I have had my bike inside overnight because I got home late last night and could not be bothered with the hassle of locking it away behind the house....

 

[Andrew_Culture]

The whole packaging of bands albums now is being lost. i spent many a day looking at albums and then buying them because the cover looked good (pre internet for any youngsters looking in)
Vinyl records on a decent system is pure bliss, albums recorded on analog gear, no pro tools or cubase,

I think it's only being lost in the mainstream pop crap world, the alternative scene has been focussing on improving the 'product' for about twenty years. The label that my own band is signed to puts out some really beautiful packages, each release has an incredible amount of time and effort poured into it. Lathe cut 7" in a hand knitted sleeve for example...

I've been pondering formats for a while now - I recently went to a music festival and was really impressed by some the bands I saw and really want to support them by buying their releases, but a CD (once ripped) will sit on my shelf and never get looked at and an MP3 download, whilst it will get listened to a LOT it doesn't really satisfy my itch.

I stopped buying vinyl around 1995 when it just became too difficult to find new albums on vinyl, but I still look at the all the lovely 12" singles and albums I bought up to that point.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Tapes on the other hand, can do one.

 

[tyred]

I went through a phase of buying records at car boot sales - Bob Dylan, Neil Young, that type of thing and used to listen to vinyl almost exclusively and then gradually stopped doing so.

On Sunday night past, I gave Highway 61 Revisited a spin, first time in ages and it was wonderful just to sit down and listen to it. I own no fancy hi-fi gear but it still had a certain something that the digital version lacks.

In recent years, the only time I generally listen to music is when driving or sitting at the PC. I find with so many songs at your disposal, I just skip aimlessly through the tracks rather than listen to them properly. Buying a new album, even on cassette or CD, used to be an exciting experience that you just don't get with downloads.

Memo to self: Go and have a browse in the local record shop for old times sake (and before it closes down).

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Memo to self: Go and have a browse in the local record shop for old times sake (and before it closes down).

I used to have a record shop, and weirdly the vinyl sales were very good indeed! Some kids would buy a record just because it was on vinyl! They called their record players 'vinyl players' which was kinda odd, but nice as it showed they had 'taken ownership'. If those kids had each been secret millionaires I reckon my record shop might have actually made a profit

 

[Maz]

I stopped buying vinyl around 1995 when it just became too difficult to find new albums on vinyl...

It's The Vinyl Countdown (doodle-oo-doo, doodle-oo-doo-doo...)

Who can name the group without Googling? (anyone under-25 need not apply)

 

[Andrew_Culture]

It's The Vinyl Countdown (doodle-oo-doo, doodle-oo-doo-doo...)

Who can name the group without Googling? (anyone under-25 need not apply)

Europe!

 

[ianrauk]

It's The Vinyl Countdown (doodle-oo-doo, doodle-oo-doo-doo...)

Who can name the group without Googling? (anyone under-25 need not apply)

Europe.
And their last few releases are absolutely brilliant. Especially the album Secret Society
None of that Final Countdown type tosh.

 

[Archie_tect]

Which one normally wears the gimp mask?