Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Vinyl records
- Thread starter bigbass94
- Start date
I think it's about nostalgia - so people longing for the sounds of their youth! And what they like are actually the downsides of vinyl - so the warmth is about a slight distortion and compression on most vinyl as well as the surface noise.
So - CD sounds too 'clean' to them as they grew up with vinyl!
Also pop/rock artists tended to record and master to get the best out of vinyl..
Whereas if you listen to "live" recordings of say a big orchestra and choir - there is no doubt that CD sounds far more like the sound that you would hear in the concert hall than any vinyl!
So I can remember buying vinyl of Mahler Symphonies and it would always distort at the climaxes and surface noise would obscure the quiet parts!! Very frustrating...
When CD appeared it was like somebody has taken away a big heavy curtain in front of the orchestra and you could actually hear what you heard in the concert hall!
I think it's about nostalgia - so people longing for the sounds of their youth! And what they like are actually the downsides of vinyl - so the warmth is about a slight distortion and compression on most vinyl as well as the surface noise.
So - CD sounds too 'clean' to them as they grew up with vinyl!
Also pop/rock artists tended to record and master to get the best out of vinyl..
Whereas if you listen to "live" recordings of say a big orchestra and choir - there is no doubt that CD sounds far more like the sound that you would hear in the concert hall than any vinyl!
So I can remember buying vinyl of Mahler Symphonies and it would always distort at the climaxes and surface noise would obscure the quiet parts!! Very frustrating...
When CD appeared it was like somebody has taken away a big heavy curtain in front of the orchestra and you could actually hear what you heard in the concert hall!
Where are you when the misguided post in Recordings?
I had someone try to tell me Vinyl was better because it wasn't sampled at 44.1 a while back... :scowl:
You need to buy a "B" side adaptor. They pop up on Ebay all the time. They're universal and work with all systems. Turn tables were originally designed to play only the first side of an album because the early albums were cut that way. It wasn't until the early 70's and the explosion of popular music that record labels saw the opportunity to record on both sides. Strange isn't it?
Anyhow, if you can't find one, pm me and I'll send you mine. I don't use it anymore.
Anyhow, if you can't find one, pm me and I'll send you mine. I don't use it anymore.
Vinyl is actually making a big comeback.Growing up with vinyl I'm not sure I can say it's better,only different.Although I have to admit, my son bought me a new vinyl recording of the Best of Clapton and it is a unbelievable recording.There are some times when you just can't beat a vinyl record even today.
I could be wrong about this, but my understanding is that for pressing with vinyl the bass had to be rolled off, because the groove couldn't hold the needle for the lower frequencys. So then the record players and amps boosted the lower freq when it was played. This is why if you play a vinyl and record directly to CD the low end is weak.
I don't miss the cracks and pops and all the care that had to go into vinyl. CD's are cleaner sounding. Why do people miss the noise?
I don't miss the cracks and pops and all the care that had to go into vinyl. CD's are cleaner sounding. Why do people miss the noise?
The phono preamp restors the low freqs.following a guideline called the "RIAA curve". You need one if your TT or reciever doesn't have one built in.
"You need to buy a "B" side adaptor. They pop up on Ebay all the time. They're universal and work with all systems. Turn tables were originally designed to play only the first side of an album because the early albums were cut that way. It wasn't until the early 70's and the explosion of popular music that record labels saw the opportunity to record on both sides. Strange isn't it?"
Oh, please - what a load of rubbish. I can only guess that this is a weak April Fool's joke. B sides were popular and in use at least since the 40's. Granted, my recordings that are older than that are few, but the recordings I have from the 20's and 30's use a material that looks and feels like some sort of metal and these are one-sided ( 78 rpm) and some have comments about the differences in using automatic turntables as opposed to hand crank turntables.
Oh, please - what a load of rubbish. I can only guess that this is a weak April Fool's joke. B sides were popular and in use at least since the 40's. Granted, my recordings that are older than that are few, but the recordings I have from the 20's and 30's use a material that looks and feels like some sort of metal and these are one-sided ( 78 rpm) and some have comments about the differences in using automatic turntables as opposed to hand crank turntables.
Bob Lee (QSC)
In case you missed it, I work for QSC Audio!
- Jul 3, 2001
- 12,668
- 2,036
- 67
- Disclosures
- Former Technical Communications Developer, QSC Audio
Vinyl versus CD: Both vinyl and CD are recording formats that approximate the original waveform in their own way and each has its advantages and disadvantages.
-Vinyl is an analog format that does not easily reproduce very low frequencies. A CD is a digital format and tends to reproduce low frequencies fairly easily.
-Vinyl is excellent at reproducing high frequencies where CD's tend to exhibit noticeable digital distortion, and the higher the frequency, the more objectionable the distortion.
-Vinyl is susceptible to pops, scratches, dust and damage, and degradation of the record is inevitable with normal use. A CD is also susceptible to scratches, dust, fingerprints and damage but it will not degrade with normal use. CD's are much more forgiving of jolts while playing and be considered portable, while vinyl is not.
-The fidelity or sound quality of a vinyl record is typically measured in Signal to Noise Ratio, Wow and Flutter (mechanical tracking accuracy) and Total Harmonic Distortion. These terms are much less relevant when describing fidelity or sound quality of CD's because the sound quality is more defined by digital factors such as BitRate, Sampling Rate, digital filtering, dithering and the design of the digital converters and of the error detection and correction circuits.
-All of the above is greatly simplified from what in reality could be (and has been) expounded upon in huge volumes in other places.
My own preference is to use CD's for mobile listening such as in the car or at work, but to listen to vinyl records at home with my good stereo setup. BUT..... I've re-recorded most of my vinyl onto 1/4" reel to reel tape and I use this for playing, allowing me to EQ some more bass into the music and also allowing me to avoid having to wear out my records.
-Vinyl is an analog format that does not easily reproduce very low frequencies. A CD is a digital format and tends to reproduce low frequencies fairly easily.
-Vinyl is excellent at reproducing high frequencies where CD's tend to exhibit noticeable digital distortion, and the higher the frequency, the more objectionable the distortion.
-Vinyl is susceptible to pops, scratches, dust and damage, and degradation of the record is inevitable with normal use. A CD is also susceptible to scratches, dust, fingerprints and damage but it will not degrade with normal use. CD's are much more forgiving of jolts while playing and be considered portable, while vinyl is not.
-The fidelity or sound quality of a vinyl record is typically measured in Signal to Noise Ratio, Wow and Flutter (mechanical tracking accuracy) and Total Harmonic Distortion. These terms are much less relevant when describing fidelity or sound quality of CD's because the sound quality is more defined by digital factors such as BitRate, Sampling Rate, digital filtering, dithering and the design of the digital converters and of the error detection and correction circuits.
-All of the above is greatly simplified from what in reality could be (and has been) expounded upon in huge volumes in other places.
My own preference is to use CD's for mobile listening such as in the car or at work, but to listen to vinyl records at home with my good stereo setup. BUT..... I've re-recorded most of my vinyl onto 1/4" reel to reel tape and I use this for playing, allowing me to EQ some more bass into the music and also allowing me to avoid having to wear out my records.
You've got to lock at how the material is mix and mastered nowadays as well. It's way to common for new releases, especially ones meant as radio hits, to be highly compressed and extremely "hot", just to sound louder and leave more of an impression on the audience. That might be good for a first impression and as an attention grabber, but isn't so great for extended listening.
As I said before - pop/rock and other "produced" genres don't really give a valid comparison.
I think the only fair test is to compare a live recording of a large orchestra/choir and how that sounds in comparison to the sound you hear sitting in the audience at that concert!
So I have been to many such concerts at big London venues with world-class orchestras - like Berlin Phil. I can tell you that CD is far better at reproducing that sound than any vinyl recordings!
My own findings are borne out by the industry - so Classical labels, who are aiming to please audiophile customers, went over almost entirely to CD - as soon as all the "teething troubles" were sorted out!
I think the only fair test is to compare a live recording of a large orchestra/choir and how that sounds in comparison to the sound you hear sitting in the audience at that concert!
So I have been to many such concerts at big London venues with world-class orchestras - like Berlin Phil. I can tell you that CD is far better at reproducing that sound than any vinyl recordings!
My own findings are borne out by the industry - so Classical labels, who are aiming to please audiophile customers, went over almost entirely to CD - as soon as all the "teething troubles" were sorted out!
i love vinyl. i just got a smokey robinson live record a couple of days ago, i can't wait to get home and play it.
