Thoughts on Vinyl, but we'll have to wait for 'Invisible Hour'.

An article from diffuser, entitled 'Vinyl is Absolutely not a 'Fashion statement', (Except when  it totally is, rises again the question if Vinyl sounds better, than  MP3.

The article gives us a better and wider look into the debate. Which is always good (for any debate).

The question rised again, after Neil Young said : 

“All the new products that come out on vinyl are actually CDs on vinyl, which is really nothing but a fashion statement.”

(1 sentence taken out of an interview. It's best to read it into context.)

Diffuser reached out to a number of labels, artists, and industry figures for their own takes on the vinyl debate, and came away with a more detailed — if still not exactly clearer — picture.

1 of these Artists was Joe.

"I love vinyl,” adds producer and recording artist Joe Henry,..."

About an 'Invisible Hour' Vinyl :
“...Alas, it was too expensive to do even a limited run. I hold out hopes for an issue of it in time,..."

About the general debate :

 “If one creates a vinyl version of a record to remain in the analogue domain — i.e., the record was recorded to tape and there is a desire to stay within that sphere — that is one thing. 
But when records are recorded digitally, and then pressed to vinyl, what is it you are really memorializing, beyond the romance of an idea? It’s like taking an analog photo copy of a digital image. Sure, it will still sound different, depending on how the mastering engineer treated the process — how hard they are hitting the vinyl when cutting the mother, et cetera — but no one should pretend that what you are hearing is a purely analog experience.” 

full article


I love vinyls, and find it a verry interesting debate. I completely agree with Neil Young and Joe Henry's view on it. For soundquality we need to look at the entire recording process, not only at the final format.

But the fact that you have an A and B side, gives not only the need to think carefully on the order of the songs on an album. No, I think, having to turn the record, makes you listen to it with more attention, and thus enjoyment (I assume you're playing it because you like it). It's not so practical to listen to a vinyl as background music.

And then there is the clear relationship between fysics and sound. You see the record turning, you see the grooves, you put on the needle, And then there is music.... And with old records you hear the aging process in the cracks.
I'm also fascinated by the clever mechanisms inside it, to lift the needle, starting the turning, arranging the weight of the needle,.... Specially old recordplayers.

Yes,... sit back, enjoy a nice whiskey and/or sigar. and enjoy the music.

Anyway, that aside, and if one day our paths will cross, let's talk about it further.

Greetings,
Stefan