Chicagoist: Focus on Vinyl

Mitch Arsenie

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 15:13:53 -0600

Thanks Mike, very much. Here's more of my work... http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreamerofmeaning/

mike

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 10:51:07 -0600

a tripod makes for a great tripod. I'd like to see some more of your work.

a scientist

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:14:12 -0600

good point inre: tubes. distortion generated through digital processors can't hold a candle to actual overdriven tubes. i've noticed a definite "woody" tone that comes from a bass played through a nice tube amp. i've never heard a digital effect that comes close to this.

navin

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:00:20 -0600

As an owner of all formats from 78's to mp3s I can say that *old* quality made records definitely sound better, listen to an old 45 explode off the turntable and then listed to a cd of the same track *insert deflating baloon sound here*. Tube driven equipment even better. This isn't about not embracing technology, it's just *fact*. Technology is getting better at quality warm sound but..... There's a reason people want analog synthesizers There's a reason older tube guitar amplifiers sell for more than solid state. etc. etc.

a scientist

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 09:16:16 -0600

i don't always like digital remastering. sometimes it's ok, but many times it changes the recording for the worse. i'd like to cite black sabbath volume 4 as a prime example. so my arguement isn't that vinyl sounds better than digital/CD, but that vinyl, esp old vinyl, is more true to the original artistic vision. it hasn't had some greasy sound engineer's hands all over it after it was released...

Josh

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 04:19:43 -0600

Mitch Arsenie

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 22:52:21 -0600

Thanks for the comments guys. Glad this sparked up some animated conversation. And yeah, vinyl rules!

Ben

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:18:53 -0600

In an age when you can burn downloaded tracks onto CDs, LPs offer something a little more tangible and permanent for a little less money, and most of that money goes to small labels that give more to the artists. For new LPs that is. Viva vinyl!

curmudgeon

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:54:31 -0600

I GREW UP LISTENING TO VINYL. WHEN I DIVORCED THE EXTENSIVE VINYL COLLECTION (1700+ lp'S) WAS A MAJOR CUSTODY BATTLE. AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, DIGITAL IS MUCH BETTER SOUND-WISE, BUT ALBUM COVER ART IS A DEAD GENRE, AND THAT IS SAD.

Mr. Smith

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:26:22 -0600

The thing is, you need really good equipment and need to keep your vinyl in excellent condition to experience that warmth. Unfortunately, it's not always possible for most people to achieve these optimal conditions.

Joel

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:17:11 -0600

Both formats have their virtues

Consumatron.com

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:09:03 -0600

Vinyl is great regardless of the recording method for two primary reasons. When DJing, it allows you the maximum control of your music as well as building your sense of timing and DJ fundamentals. Also, no DRM or other copy protection on vinyl. Of course, if you really want to focus on vinyl, you should throw up a picture of Dusty Groove, not Reckless.

Consumatron.com

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:08:02 -0600

NSH

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:05:52 -0600

Pylbug you're wrong about vinyl it does sound better. I am a vinyl DJ and there is no comparison to sound quality from a cd and vinyl. It sounds warm and alive, vs (C)old and (D)igital. (and Don't even get me started on mp3's) I can't tell you how many times other djs have approached my booth and commented on the superb sound quality. And if you think its easier to mix a cd than it is to mix vinyl you obviously have never actually done it. Only in vinyl can you automatically find your breaks without even having to listen to the recording.

s

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:00:45 -0600

I think vinyl is great because it forces the ADD afflicted among us to actually have patience and listen to a whole record... at least it does that for me.

pylbug

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:51:20 -0600

I think most people can't hear the difference, or attribute the sound of dirty, degraded vinyl (and their phono jack's low-end boost) to "warmth". Vinyl is analogue; the more you play it, the worse it sounds. Most music released in the past fifteen years has been produced and recorded digitally, so that "hip" vinyl pressing is of no better quality than the CD pressing. Vinyl lives because so many people want to be DJs, and think they need turntables to do so.

NSH

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:44:42 -0600

I love the smell of a record shop.

Mr. Smith

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:30:23 -0600

Is that Reckless on Broadway?

Dave!

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:22:23 -0600

Vinyl lives... and at the center of the photo are Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow. Yep. Awesome.