Heads-up: There are two different uses of the word record in
this blog. Ruh-cord, meaning to capture and wreck-erd, meaning vinyl disk. To
avoid confusion please read carefully.
As I sit here, listening to a piece of plastic being
scratched by a diamond, I think to myself; “Could this music get any better?”
My stereo is half-decent, the cables I’m using are not high-fidelity, and the
albums are old. These drawbacks are the only things preventing me from
answering my question with a “Yes”. What I do have right, though, is the source
of my music.
In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m using a turntable to
play my music. Despite the many flaws of this system; the lack of portability,
the size of the records and the “annoying” crackle, the record player will
forever be my favorite audio playing device. As I've already mentioned, my
set-up has many flaws yet it is still a joy to listen to.
Over 50 million albums sold |
I've never been able to pin-point why I love listening to
vinyl so much. It could be the fact that it is literally a chunk of diamond (or
other hard mineral) being dragged in microscopic grooves cut in a circular
piece of hard plastic that then vibrates in such a way to create
sound. It could also be because stereo sound (two separate tracks of sound
being played at the same time) is possible with a single record. Something else that intrigues me is the fact that electricity is not even needed to play records. You can actually hear the needle vibrating without any amplification required. But perhaps the
most attractive element vinyl has is the sound quality. As I
will get around to explaining in a future blog, most digital music is
compressed, meaning that its quality is diminished. Records, on the other hand,
are not compressed (unless you count the fact that the vinyl is literally
compressed to make the grooves haha!) Essentially, what the artist records is
what you hear every time you play a record. This fidelity is why records are a
favourite for avid music listeners, hipsters, or just people looking to hear
something new in old favourites.
If you've got the money (or an older relative willing to
part with their baby) I highly suggest acquiring a turntable and some records. The change will make all other music sound terrible and you'll wonder how you ever managed to enjoy music without it.
Sadly that's it for now. I know how you guys love reading my blogs. Expect another one soon though, I shan't be gone long.
Anyone
wishing to receive actual historical facts on this subject should either
research it themselves or request it and, if the demand is high enough, I may
write another blog on the topic.
(In the event of a mistake, please inform me)
http://www.wallpapervortex.com/wallpaper-22902_1_other_music_record_player.html#.Uyt29vldVJs
http://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/LPs-turn-65-Top-selling-vinyl-records-of-all-time-4605208.php#photo-4796329
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Dark_Side_of_the_Moon.png
Wow, I really like this topic! I have only heard music from a turntable once and I must say it was amazing. I think the crackling noise adds to the whole experience, giving it the authentic rustic feeling. I am looking to purchase a turntable and some records possibly of Pink Floyd, AC/DC, as well as Def Leopard. I can't wait to HEAR more on this subject.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend acquiring a turntable. I know you're someone who listens to music a lot so why not spoil yourself a little? When I own a house or apartment I'm going to make sure I purchase only the highest quality audio equipment. Some may say it's a waste of money but I'm sure you'll agree that enjoying music involves more than just hearing it. Have a great day.
DeletePraise be to vinyl! My first experience with "bebop" jazz music (think Thelonious Monk) was on the monstrous beast of a turntable at our old house, and I can remember it clear as day. It was a pain to figure out how to make it work, but the end result was certainly worth the trouble. As much as I absolutely adore my iPod, it just doesn't sound the same. The song itself is still good, but it's not always as "pure".
ReplyDeleteRegardless, I enjoyed this post.