RevUpRecords

There has recently been a resurgence in the popularity of vinyl records that has people wondering about the differences between digital and vinyl recordings.

Quality of Sound

First of all, when sound is recorded on a vinyl record, it is an analog reproduction, meaning that it preserves the original sound wave. Because of the shape of the grooves on a vinyl record, the full sound wave is imitated and can be reproduced.

Vinyl listeners report that there is a warmer, more full sound that you get with a vinyl recording that just is not possible to capture with a digital recording.

This is because digital recordings, rather than recording the full sound, only record snapshots of the sound wave, which leaves out some of the music.

Think of a flipbook. When you flip the pages, the image moves and you get a general idea of the motion of the object, but there is quite a bit that is left out.

graph courtesy of Electronics.HowStuffWorks.com

Price

Even though the sound of vinyl records is preferred by a lot of people, the cost of turntables, which usually falls in the $300 range, is not worth the effort. In addition, the price of vinyl records is usually a little more expensive than digital recordings because of the price of vinyl production.

If you are a true musicophile, these costs are worth the quality of sound captured by vinyl records.

Care

Digital recordings are very popular because they will never degrade over time. A digital recording will have the same quality the day it is recorded as it will 200 years from now.

Unfortunately, vinyls require a little more upkeep. If dust settles into the grooves on the record, it becomes audible, sounding like static or white noise. If the dust becomes bad enough, it can actually be heard over the music, which would make the enhanced sound of vinyl recordings a non-issue.

Music Availability

With the new interest in vinyl records, a lot of popular artists are turning to vinyl to record.

You might be surprised to know that you can buy Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, and even Adele on vinyl records.

Though these select artists record on vinyl, it is an exception, rather than a rule, for modern artists to produce music on vinyls, making vinyl-lovers who appreciate popular modern music left out in the cold.

Even though vinyl recordings have the clear edge when it comes to fidelity to sound, the transition from digital to vinyl is a big one because of the different Cons of vinyl records.

If you are already one of the vinyl-lovers, however, rock on! And happy listening to your vinyls.

Although buying vinyl is not exactly a race of staying ahead of the curve, there is enough of an audience that listens to only vinyl that there are definitely some albums that are more popular than others.

Since so many artists on the top 40 lists these days that hardly produce music that is worthy of listening to in the higher quality of a record, we put together a list of albums that users have agreed have enough musicality that they’re worth purchasing on vinyl.

A Love Supreme
by John Coltrane
Come Away with Me
by Norah Jones
Armchair Apocrypha
by Andrew Bird
Somethin’ Else
by Cannonball Adderley
Frank
by Amy Winehouse
The Real McCoy
by McCoy Tyner
Lady in Satin
by Billie Holiday
Little Girl Blue
by Nina Simone
Sketches of Spain
by Miles Davis
Saxophone Colossus
by Sonny Rollins
Street Lady
by Donald Byrd
Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet
by Miles Davis Quintet
World of Duke Ellington
by WDR Big Band
Stone Flower
by Antonio Carlos Jobim
Sings
by Chet Baker
Live from Austin TX
by Norah Jones
In a Silent Way
by Miles Davis
Monk’s Music
by Thelonious Monk
The Marshall Mathers LP
by Eminem
Moonbeams
by Bill Evans

Many people think that the only people who still buy vinyl are those that are behind the times and not willing to accept any change, however, one look at this list would prove those people wrong.

As we can see from the wide variety of both genres of music as well as decades in which the music was being made, it’s safe to say that the vinyl-philias are definitely a diverse bunch.

Just like fashion trends seem to look to the past for information, some people think that it is only a trend for people to look to the past for a trendy form of music.

However, there are more reasons for vinyl to make a comeback. Many people are choosing hard copies instead of digital because the sound is so much better and fuller.

Why Is the Sound Better?

Even though audiophiles would never dream of listening to music that isn’t tangible, there are many people that don’t understand what makes vinyl sound so much better.

The analog grooves of vinyl records definitely hold more information than any digital sample could offer. This means that there is more music and less gaps in between.

Although most people don’t think they can hear the gaps in digital music, there is definitely an audible difference when you hear the music without gaps.
Even though there are so many vinyl copies that are more expensive than digital copies, you are literally getting more music per copy with vinyl.

In fact, an article in January’s edition of Time Magazine showed that vinyl was on the upswing. “LPs generally exhibit a warmer, more nuanced sound than CDs and digital downloads. MP3 files tend to produce tinnier notes, especially if compressed into a lower-resolution format that pares down the sonic information.”

Is All Vinyl Created Equal?

Even though most who appreciate music agree that vinyl sound is superior to digital sound, it is clear that there are some kinds of vinyl that offer clearer sound than others.

Some say that a newer kind of vinyl has spaced the music closer, giving a richer and fuller sound. These new vinyl offer a superior noise reduction than those from CDs and have even better sounds than those on the LP.

Many people agree that this new vinyl offers a better sound, but even more people have said that this new vinyl isn’t worth the price.

It seems like what it comes down to is how expensive your sense of hearing is.

To anyone who collects vinyl for the love of music and pure sound, they know that their collection means more to them than any price tag would indicate.

But who could imagine that it is the artwork on the front of the album that has been the most priceless commodity in the record industry.

Where The Art Came From

Over 70 years ago, Alex Steinweiss, an employee at Columbia Records decided to spruce up the cover of these albums and ended up starting a trend that would change the music industry.

Before the creativity and ingenuity of Steinweiss, albums were sold in boring, plain, undecorated packaging. There was often nothing other than the name of the album to distinguish one package from the other.

How the Idea Took Off

It was not long before the industry realized how revolutionary Steinweiss’ idea was and how their boring records wouldn’t stand a chance against the aesthetically pleasing ones from Columbia Records.

Soon all the records on the shelves were covered with images that would eventually become iconic as some of the earliest images of music and the genesis of pop culture.

Earliest Icons

For album collectors there are few better finds than a vintage album with its original album art. One of the most famous album covers of all time, The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” cover, proved to be one of the most inventive covers of the time with cut outs and lyrics included.

Today, this album is not considered complete without its inventive and revolutionary album covers. Just like someone wouldn’t pay for a Beatles’ album without the complete album cover in 1960, the price for a Sgt. Pepper album is considered a ripoff without the cover.

Album Art Endures

Although the vinyl from the inside of the album covered has faded from popularity, the idea of album covers has continued to be a necessity.

Even today, when most of the music sales are done in a digital copy, with no physical album to necessitate a cover, artists always have album art to continue this tradition.

So next time you’re admiring an especially scintillating album cover, remember that if it weren’t for Alex Steinweiss we might still be buying only music rather than art.

In a world where everything is getting increasingly digitized, it’s becoming harder and harder to get the “real thing” any more.

But despite the push for online newspapers, digital books, music, cameras, and almost every other form of media, there are those who kick against the trend.

There are more and more photographers who refuse to work in digital, instead focusing on getting one good shot versus ten mediocre ones.

And many lovers of literature desperately hold onto their bound books even as bookstores everywhere are going out of business as consumers turn toward tablets.

But this trend of looking toward the past is nothing new to audiophiles. Those who truly love music and relish in the clearest sound have always reverted to the most basic recording of sound: vinyl.

How Do You Make Vinyl Practical?

Since there is no doubt that buying digital copies of music is much easier, there is also the option of sharing digitally stored files for free.

While the swapping of vinyls is much more difficult, it is not undone.

MediaSwapShop was set up so that lovers of vinyl can have all their favorite records without sacrificing exorbitant funds.

At this website you can sell old vinyls that you don’t want anymore, as well as set up wanted ads for records you’ve been yearning for.

All you need to do is set up your own online shop and then you’re able to buy, sell or trade as much media as you’d like.

As less and less records are being made, it can be hard to find what you are looking for in stores, but with MediaSwapShop you have the entire internet at your fingertips.

So rather than settling for the easier option of digital media, hold true to your vinyl roots by joining the online brotherhood of those who feel the same way.

Digital downloads have turned cassettes and even CDs into dust-collecting paper weights. These days, everyone likes their music the way they like their food-hot, instant, and ready to go anytime, anywhere. Ipods, Zunes, Mp3 players and even phones can take an entire media library and put it into a single, easy-to-carry format. Despite their old age and popping white noise, however, Vinyl records may be making a comeback.

These big black disks, about the size of a paper plate, were one of the most popular formats for commercial music distribution in the 20th century. Vinyl records are the embodiment of the glory days, bringing back memories for those who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. The white hiss and pops have become a symbol of when music was a purer form of expression, when lyrics had a much simpler but deeper meaning to those who took the time to listen.

Unfortunately, today’s generation never grew up with these floppy forms of music playback. Outside of 60s themed parties, many kids today don’t even know what a vinyl record looks like, let alone listen to one. Joshua Homme, American Rock musician and record producer, states that, “Vinyl has gotten to the point where it’s exclusively for the collector, I guess.”

Not Dead Yet

With the exception of ebay, it can be difficult to find shops that still sell Vinyl records in good condition. But despite apparent limitations, new statistics have shown that Vinyls are making a comeback in the music industry. Nielsen SoundScan tracks audio sales in the United States, and a surprisingly 3 million records were sold last year. By June, that number had grown by 40 percent. Though these numbers are small when compared to CDs and Digital downloads, Vinyl Records are becoming a novelty.

Vinyl records have a “retro” appeal to younger generations. As iPod listeners dust off their parent’s collections and experience music from another age, many people are recognizing vinyl’s ability to produce ‘good sound.’ Vinyl records produce an entirely different timbre and texture that often get lost in digital recordings.

Listening to a Vinyl record is a lot like performing a sacred ritual; it’s an experience of the heart and soul, not just the ears. Picking up the needle and watching the old turntable spin creates an entirely different anticipation of sound than simply putting in a pair of headphones and setting your player to shuffle.

In this fast-paced world, it’s easy to let Vinyl records collect dust in the attic and fade into the background. But for all their quirks and limitations, Vinyl records are still very much alive, and more music lovers are recognizing their potential for playing quality music.

So before throwing away that old collection of Vinyl records that have been sitting in your parents’ attic for years, give Vinyl a chance.

Strange Talk is an all boy indie-pop quartet from Australia. They recently released a critically acclaimed EP on American vinyl singles label Neon Gold Records. Neon Gold specializes in limited-run vinyl singles like the ones Strange Talk wanted to do.

The new band has big plans. They record constantly and are always on four. They have a video, “Climbing Walls” that launched August 15th on their YouTube channel.

In our era of digital downloads for music, audiophiles still have insisted vinyl is superior to any other sound quality including CD’s. In fact, with digital downloads CD sales have continued to decline, but not vinyl LP sales. LP sales remain consistent and they won’t overtake the different music mediums but vinyl’s will always be classic.

A variety of artists today still support old-fashioned vinyl’s. Taylor Swift, one of the biggest pop stars and country singers in the business, personally makes sure her albums are available as vinyl. Her third album, Speak Now, released late last year was available as a CD, digital download, and vinyl record.

The 21-year-old singer happens to have her own vinyl collection.

“The vinyl is really important to me,” Swift told EW, “because I’m so in love with the concept of an album—a collection of memories from your life that you’re giving to people. It’s a piece of you. Buying them on vinyl is just taking that one step further and acknowledging that albums are important.”

This isn’t just a gimmick for sales or something Swift says to try to sound like an authentic artist. Swift says her record player is in a central and prominent location in her kitchen at home. She even brings a turntable with her on tour.

Swift happens to go on record-buying expeditions. At a trip in Nashville, Taylor added LPs by Bruce Springsteen (Working on a Dream, Magic), Black Keys (Rubber Factory), Ryan Adams (Easy Tiger) and more.

We all can relate to the love for vinyl, but what is one of the reasons Swift loves vinyl? “There’s something so fascinating about the cover art—every single one of those was a decision by somebody and people put a lot of time and effort into it.”

In any event, it is nice to see and recognize that LPs aren’t going anywhere and artists from every generation and genre are just as smitten.

I bet if you asked Andy Samberg, the comedian from Saturday Night Live, a year ago if he would release a top selling album he would punch you in the face for being ridiculous. However, just last week the comedian alongside his amigos Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone debuted their second album “Turtleneck & Chain.”

The band’s name is “The Lonely Island.” Back in 2006, Saturday Night Live started their now famous digital shorts. I don’t think very many people will ever forget the first revolutionary digital short with Justin Timberlake “Dick in a Box.” Halloween costumes took a turn for the worst (or best) ever since.

Digital shorts are hilarious, if you appreciate crude humor, and often have collaborations with major artists. “Turtleneck & Chain” is a compilation of digital shorts. Some of the artists included alongside “The Lonely Island” in this album are Snoop Dogg, Akon, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Santigold, John Waters, Beck, and Michael Bolton.

If you haven’t laughed and rapped with every digital short, this album has a few you are guaranteed to remember. “Turtleneck & Chain” has “I Just Had Sex” featuring Akon and “Motherlover” featuring Justin Timberlake.

The actual release date of the album was May 10, 2011. By the week of May 15, 2011 “Turtleneck & Chain” was a shocking number three on the United Stated Billboard chart! The album sold 68,000 copies. On the UK Albums Chart the album peaked at number 26.

I can’t say that the “Turtleneck & Chain” vinyl record will fit nicely in your collection next to the Beatles, but if you really want to laugh the vinyl cover alone will get you grinning.

Radiohead is releasing new singles for Record Store day on April 16^th. The two unreleased songs are called “Supercollider and “The Butcher.” There will only be about 2,000 copies available for sale in the UK and Ireland.

Record Store Day is a day where artists celebrate the art of making music and releasing special vinyl, CD, and promotional products.