Vinyl and MP3: Is The Future In The Past?

By: Kendall | in: Music |

In the past we have gone over record companies, digital distribution, viral marketing, and all sorts of high tech ways of getting music to the marketplace. In fact, we often provide music to for download in hopes of spreading the word of great artists and their music. It’s known that our readers embrace the digital revolution. We also know that some of our readers are audiophiles that dip into lossless FLAC formats, high quality320 kbps downloads, and a myriad of other options to keep the music as close to a master tape as possible.

Our parents grew up listening to 45’s and Full Length albums. Eventually vinyl was dropped and the easy to record and share tape cassettes were adopted. We escaped trashy tape recordings, for CD’s. We’ve replaced CD’s with 5.1 surround SACDs and DVD audio. We have given up lavish cover art for a little 2 x 2 square icon that represents an albums art. The world has become digital. Take a look around you at the airport and you will now see your parents, and grandparents listening to mp3 players. The world is trotting along comfortably in digital oblivion. This can leave true music listeners trying to find the most high quality listening experience. So, is it possible that the vinyl record could help give back to the industry that left it for dead?

Many music fans today, still hunt down old records to show off the incredible cover art. Many bands release special edition records on super cool colored vinyl for collectors. Purist DJ’s still praise vinyl in a God-like fashion. So, yes, there has been a palatable fan base. But again, I ask, is it possible that vinyl could help the music industry? How many of you downloaded Radiohead’s latest album? Some paid, some didn’t. Some are waiting for December to roll around so they can order the big version, and are probably aware of the hefty price tag it will display.

Merge and Saddle Creek records may be on to something. They are selling vinyl records again. This doesn’t mean the limited press, green vinyl addition of a record. This means, you buy a record just like your parents did. You have the giant artwork. You have to STOP in the middle of the album flip sides. This is virtually, (cough, cough, there’s a pun) completely, and utterly anti-digital. Listeners are forced to sit down and listen to a record, and not just let a playlist ride as a background element. Shuffle and track changes can’t be completed with the spin of a thumb. This means there is a possibility to scratch your records! Ok, now that you had a moment to breathe while you are getting ready to argue, both record labels are GIVING AWAY the albums in a digital format for FREE to anyone who purchases the vinyl version. This means you get all the pluses and minuses of both worlds.

When on the go, it is obvious that an mp3 player is convenient. Could you imagine walking into the gym and seeing a bunch of workout fanatics with a turntable strapped to their biceps? Me neither. That also means the trip to the gym would have to be made, but that’s another article. When at home and ready to listen to an album, many true listeners are quite often not as worried about convenience, as they are about listening and spending time with, a great album,. Its times like these that make vinyl shine…

Usually the analog and digital worlds don’t mix. It’s hard to imagine everyone dropping their mp3 players, in order to switch to vinyl. Is it impossible though, to imagine is the people who really care about music, and the music listening experience, buying records. I think many avid music listeners would gladly pay $15.99-19.99 (instead of $9.99 on iTunes) for an album if they get better sound, bigger artwork, AND a digital copy they didn’t have to import into a music editing program to convert it. Jason Kubel of Saddle Creek states this :

”We are fans of both vinyl and listening to music on our iPods, and the two don’t work very well together… “The only real options are to record it and put it on your computer (pain!) or file share/download an ‘illegal’ copy of a record you already own.”

It’s tough to say it folks, records have been on their death bed. It’s great to see that successful indie labels, and scene kids around the world might be able to rejuvenate a piece of history, and help an ailing industry have its cake and eat it too.

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Posted on November 14, 2007

Comments

11 Responses to “Vinyl and MP3: Is The Future In The Past?”

Download Music » Vinyl and MP3: Is The Future In The Past? on November 14th, 2007 5:44 pm

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HMTKSteve on November 15th, 2007 3:36 am

How many kids are missing out today by never owning vinyl? It’s not easy to play a CD backwards.

Besides, It’s so much easier to DJ with vinyl because you have total control over the medium.

Charbarred on November 15th, 2007 4:32 am

And don’t forget the amazing sound quality. CD’s are fine, but if you really want to experience the sound you have to go vinyl.

Kendall on November 15th, 2007 9:44 am

Ok, after re-reading my own article, I think it needs to be said, that it’s great to have music, and good quality music. Aside from that, it needs to be made clear that the availabilty of music on the internet has in a sense, devalued music. Many people feel if they are receiving no physical item, and can get it for free, it’s not worth paying for. If you were offered a two for one value in buying a piece of vinyl AND being offered the digital download, you are placing value back into a product.

Gabriel on November 15th, 2007 2:07 pm

Shouldn’t it be the goal to perfect the sound quality of digital music, and follow the example given by Radiohead and allow listeners to pay for their music directly from the artists, or especially designated websites with a clear small commission for keeping up sites?
I still don’t understand why sites as Last.fm aren’t picking up on what seems the logic idea.
I don’t really see the point on keeping an industry that takes such a big profit out of artists and listeners alike.
Vinyl won’t come back, except for people who think they are special (yes, that’s it), and of course for DJs. Average listeners won’t start building a LP collection, and buy the decks… You have to remember that nowadays people who like music owns hundreds or thousands of digital albums, and won’t pay (or pay again) to have the same thing on vinyl. Personally i moved all my CD collection to mp3 and added many illegally downloaded albumbes. I paid for Radiohead’s, and I will pay other artists I like.

Itax on November 15th, 2007 2:16 pm

This article makes me feel old. It seems like a generation pissing in the wind, crying about the superiority of their older, beloved technology, all the while ignoring how modern humans want to consume their music(the Sony Walkman anyone). I suspect these guys will always have a niche market, composed of audiophiles, hipsters, and older folk who won’t/can’t change. Now excuse me while I do up my zipper and go buy that old Missing Persons EP.

Kendall on November 15th, 2007 2:31 pm

I’m not stating to anyone that I don’t like .mp3, or that I feel records are better. I AM stating, that todays music consumption has taken the turn it has because the value placed on music has gone down the toilet. If there is a way to give a consumer added value, I believe more would be willing to pay. I am quite aware that sharing will go on as it his since tapes were popular. I also know that many people still enjoy all of the artwork, and having an actual physical copy.

Charbarred on November 15th, 2007 5:05 pm

I remember flaunting my DDD Motley Crue Dr. Feelgood CD and thinking it’s the best thing since sliced bread. It was right about the time I exchanged my parents’ vinyl collection for a couple of Alice Cooper cassettes.
That being said, while the digital revolution is awesome, I am actively looking for a good record player (I haven’t owned one in 20 years) because I want to experience the music properly. MP3’s in your iPod and good record at home when the mood strikes sound like a healthy combination.

HMTKSteve on November 16th, 2007 7:35 am

It’s not that vinyl has a better sound to it, it’s that music mixed today is flat with no dynamic range.

Think of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. That song is full of highs and lows. Now compare it to the average pop band of today.

DThompson on November 16th, 2007 9:48 am

The exchange is more one of portability. With the cassette (and pre-recorded cassettes always sounded like total shit) suddenly you could take your music with you, and I don’t mean transistor radio with you, I mean your own effin’ mix tape with you. Radio sucks dog… Adds all the time and waiting forever until that song you’ve gotta hear comes around again in rotation. The digital revolution is about hearing WHAT you want, WHEN you want. It hasn’t devalued music for me.
That said, I loved vinyl. I looooooved vinyl. It smelled cool, it looked cool, you felt like you’d actually bought something. The size of records allowed for the inclusion of all kinds of stuff. I remember buying Dark Side Of The Moon and getting TWO posters and TWO stickers as well. It was like a surprise package. I always saw CDs as being forced onto the consumer. Tower Records made the decision to stop carrying vinyl when it was still accounting for close to 70% of all record sales, and what do you know, the average price of a record was $10-12 and the average price of a CD was $15. Just another way for the labels (and the major chains like Tower) to rip the consumer off. Fuck CDs, the rich man’s cassette tape. Of course, now vinyl is a “specialty” item or “import only” so the price of that has gone up to be on par with a CD anyway. And $10 for an “album” on iTunes that isn’t even an album? No art? No lyrics? No posters? Compressed sound range? Now that I think about it, digital sucks!

tribe.net: www.theplugg.com on November 16th, 2007 1:21 pm

Interesting Article About Vinyl Records

Vinyl and MP3: Is The Future In The Past? http://www.theplugg.com/2007/11/14/...