Do you think that vinyl is making a comeback?

Travisx2112 · #1 04-09-2008, 06:29 PM

Hey TB'ers, its been a while. I'm actually Cygnusx2112, but I couldn't remember my password and I changed my email address >_<.

Anyways, I've been reading a lot on the internet about how vinyl records are making a comeback, even though they never really went away. I bought a vinyl version of Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton's "Knives Don't Have Your Back" and even though I dont have a player yet, I appreciate this version a lot more than my MP3 or - more so - my CD version. I just feels good to actually hold something that is big, and has a lot more value in it, at least for me anyways. Being an audiophile, I also know that that version will sound a lot better once I get a player. Now, with Amazon having recently opened up a vinyl department, I think that that is a very good sign.

My dad also has a lot of record of stuff like Yes, Zeppelin (he has a bunch of bootlegs on vinyl, of Zep as well!) and all of the good music from the 70's and pre-85.

What do you guys think?

Trav

dancehallclasher · #2 04-09-2008, 06:31 PM

Absolutely, at least from where I sit. I only buy music on vinyl and that's been the case for a few years now. I can MAKE a CD...

Travisx2112 · #3 04-09-2008, 06:40 PM

Hm, I am also wondering if, even if it does make a big comeback? How long will it last? I personally HOPE it'll last for at least a few years, but I just can't see it.

lawsonman · #4 04-09-2008, 06:41 PM

According to a couple of music store owners around here it's coming back big time with no signs of slowing down.

Travisx2112 · #5 04-09-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawsonman

According to a couple of music store owners around here it's coming back big time with no signs of slowing down.

Really? Wow! That's wicked!

Rusty Chainsaw · #6 04-09-2008, 06:56 PM

Personally, with the way the music industry is going, I'd like to only see two formats - digital downloads and vinyl. Maybe it's time for the CD to join that big audio format graveyard in the sky.

You'd have downloads for the iPod generation, who do everything digitally, and vinyl for those who have audiophile tendencies, or just appreciate the wonders of album art done properly.

Nick man · #7 04-09-2008, 07:15 PM

Im buying vinyl these days.

If Im buying albums (which is pretty much all I do to obtain music) I want to get the packaging and as much as I can for the buck. Bigger album artwork and colored vinyl always helps. Some bands are even doing screen print covers and a few are including download passcodes or CD's with their vinyl. The novelty value also helps a bit. Plus most of what I listen to benefits from the sound of vinyl. Our most recent release was a bit of a let down untill I heard it on vinyl.

Cool in digital format but it sounded a bit flat... plus seeing in in clear vinyl/green splatter helped a lot!

KeithBMI · #8 04-09-2008, 07:16 PM

DJs will keep the format alive. I'm practicing to become a turntablist and I just bought 4 vinyl records this week.

Travisx2112 · #9 04-09-2008, 10:02 PM

I also like the fact that bands are still putting them out as well (for example Radioheads "In Rainbows", and that record that I bought.) I also bought A limited edition white vinyl version of Feist's "The Reminder" off of ebay, and I am awaiting its arrival, should be here next week. It's really cool that people are really digging it again. The only thing is is that I forgot how fragile the cases are and the bottom right corner of that record I bought is now bent because I tripped over something in my room and banged it into the wall. It's not terrible, but it isn't in mint condition either. That's what you get for getting so used to plastic CD cases! Oh well, I can always just buy another.

mattq · #10 04-10-2008, 12:55 AM

you all should read this. quite funny for folks like us

keb · #11 04-10-2008, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Chainsaw

Personally, with the way the music industry is going, I'd like to only see two formats - digital downloads and vinyl. Maybe it's time for the CD to join that big audio format graveyard in the sky.

You'd have downloads for the iPod generation, who do everything digitally, and vinyl for those who have audiophile tendencies, or just appreciate the wonders of album art done properly.

This is kind of what I'd like to see as well. Heck it may be going in that direction indeed...

Travisx2112 · #12 04-10-2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keb

This is kind of what I'd like to see as well. Heck it may be going in that direction indeed...

Yeah, you're probably right.

davetakis · #13 04-10-2008, 07:55 AM

yep it sure is. i still collect vinyl. i also manage a cd warehouse here in sandy springs. 1/3 of our inventory is vinyl. mostly the high school kids buyng it but we sell boatloads of vinyl.

Philbiker · #14 04-10-2008, 07:56 AM

Vinyl is a big fun niche format that will not go away for a long time. It's so low tech that it's very easy to do (if not do right). It's fun because there are so many fun possibilities with packaging, and a massive amount of older used stuff to be had.

Some older folks like me never got caught up in the craze of dumping their record collections and rebuying everything on CD. I just kept all my records, replaced very few with CD. I bought hundreds of records at my local used record store in the 90s.

CD technically is worlds better than LP. The problem is these days most CDs are mastered with insane brickwall limiting which makes them sound like complete ass. Vinyl masters generally are much truer to the original mix, so the vinyl version, while being on a technically inferior medium, can actually give a dramatically better reproduction of the artist's music. Completely backwards.

Sure, this could also be accomplished with CD or higher resolution digital media like DVD (Standard DVD-Video capable of 96/24 sampling rate uncompressed PCM in stereo, and it sounds stunning), DVD-Audio, and SACD, but these formats have failed for all intents and purposes. The thing about vinyl is there are a zillion players still out there and people like the tactile experience of holding the big record, turning it over, dropping the needle on the groove.

Pilgrim · #15 04-10-2008, 09:33 AM

I doubt it will go away, but to me as an old fart (age 57) vinyl is a huge pain in the butt and not worth the trouble. you gotta consider that I was a DJ and lived with that format for years. CDs were a godsend as far as I'm concerned.

CDs sound just fine to me, and they have many advantages:
- much more resistant to damage from dust and dirt
- much more compact
- easily portable
- not as sensitive to heat warping
- not as susceptible to warping from physical factors
- they're not subject to damage from fingerprints/oils

I could go on further, but to me vinyl has ZERO advantages. I don't plan to buy another vinyl disc - ever. When I get a chance to transfer my 60's and 70's vinyl to CD, I'll get rid of the vinyl records afterwards.

*smb · #16 04-10-2008, 09:41 AM

I don't know if it's just a fashion thing or if it's going to last longer but everyone seems to listen to music only on a record player or on an iPod now. It's quite odd really - I'm 20 and the parents of my friends and I were probably ditching their vinyl around the time we were born and now we're hunting charity shops and markets trying to pick this stuff up again.

jomahu · #17 04-10-2008, 10:01 AM

what the hell is vinyl?

ohhhh, records. records are cool, but the whole reason they got phased out was in favour of the more portable, indestructible cds. definitely not coming back in full force.

Visirale · #18 04-10-2008, 10:15 AM

I think all non-digital audio is falling out. Kazaa/limewire/soulseek completely destroyed the market for buying cds. Itunes took it even further. Convenience is the word of the 21st century... if I can go on my computer, listen to samples, and download high quality audio files (legally even), why am I going to waste my time going to a store?

That being said, I do think because of sampling and DJs, vinyl will be around for a while. Just don't expect a full fledged "come back." That will never happen.

heroincredible · #19 04-10-2008, 10:29 AM

I was at a metal show a while back and a couple of the bands were selling their album on vinyl. I would've bought them if I hadn't spent all my money on shirts.

dancehallclasher · #20 04-10-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jomahu

what the hell is vinyl?

ohhhh, records. records are cool, but the whole reason they got phased out was in favour of the more portable, indestructible cds. definitely not coming back in full force.

But that's the same reason that it's not going to drop in popularity from this point: if the format is still holding on now that we have the even more convenient mp3 format, it means that no advance in technology will kill it.