Premier Rock Forum

WoundedFoot wrote: To me, its obvious that most people who think vynil is cool now don't really enjoy listening to records on this format, but rather impressing their friends and making others think they're cool.

How's it "obvious"?
I presume you are actually talking about poseurs (annoying by definition), and you're pissed they are co-opting something you think is cool.
If this is the case, then we can all look forward to a bounty of used LPs in mint condition in the near future.

Okay. Below are my responses to being put on the spot by many forum users:

Brinkman wrote:

How's it "obvious"?
I presume you are actually talking about poseurs (annoying by definition), and you're pissed they are co-opting something you think is cool.
If this is the case, then we can all look forward to a bounty of used LPs in mint condition in the near future

I think it's obvious because, taking the times into consideration, the large amount people who come into record stores asking if they "Carry any vinyl?", the large amount of people who purchase them/you see carrying them around in shopping bags,etc. gets me to me think that its possible that not all of these people even have a turntable or are only 'into' vinyll since its been "trendy" and "hip". I embrace any and all listening formats of music that I have the means of playing, so I enjoy putting on a record every now and then. I don't own many LPs and am no vinyl purist. However, it aggrevates me when people talk about something they don't really like (the LP format), use any oppourtunity to state their preference for this format over another, and are embracing it only because it has become a trend. You make a good point with the used mint LPs.

Redline wrote:

You better get used to active listening if you're going to be a recording engineer.

I actively listen to music... just not all the time. I don't think I know anyone who ONLY listens to music without multi-tasking (They put on a record and just sit and listen without doing anything else every single time they listen to music). I have music playing in the background right now. Thats what I'm talking about. You need to listen as hard as you can and put your utmost devotion into 'listening' to music when you're placing/setting up mics, setting levels/gain staging, doing a mixdown, etc. I fully understand this and am used to doing so. For listening for pleasure/enjoying music from artists other than yourself or your clients, I don't think using the same method of listening would be too enjoyable. I often listen to music and try to pull out different recording techniques, effects, equipment used, etc. Thats a lot of fun.

JDanger wrote:

I seem to remember reading your argument for CD's over Vinyl before on this forum. And I've noticed you mostly (if not always) frame this argument in terms of convenience and portability, rather than on sound.

Not to put you on the spot or anything, but knowing that you're studying to be a recording engineer, I am curious to know whether you think the sound of CD is superior as well.

I don't think CDs sound superior to LPs in all aspects. Thats a definite no. Some LPs sound really great. Much better than their CD counter parts. However, not every album is going to sound great on an LP, not every album will sound great on CD. I think this needs to be taken into consideration. If your album was recorded digitally, why not just get the "true reproduction" of an analog recording and an LP with a digital recording on CD? Makes sense.

...and I'll lighten up about the Nancy Drew thing. It is pretty funny.

I buy vinyl and download the album. I don't like buying CDs because they're tiny things, the art on them is small, and all I'll do is rip them on to my computer and have them sit on the shelf anyway.

When I buy a record I get a nice big pretty picture.

Is that so shallow?

WoundedFoot wrote: Below are my responses to being put on the spot by many forum users:

No, no, no. You've got it all wrong. I didn't put you on the spot at all, I wrote:

JDanger wrote: Not to put you on the spot or anything...

WoundedFoot wrote:
I don't think CDs sound superior to LPs in all aspects. Thats a definite no. Some LPs sound really great. Much better than their CD counter parts. However, not every album is going to sound great on an LP, not every album will sound great on CD. I think this needs to be taken into consideration. If your album was recorded digitally, why not just get the "true reproduction" of an analog recording and an LP with a digital recording on CD? Makes sense.

This makes sense, I was only curious. ususally people subscribe to the "it depends" grey-matter option of CD vs. Vinyl. I thought, (maybe hoped), I was in the presence of a pro-CD advocate (I mean, you did spell vinyl wrong). That would make for good discussion.

You know, we were all sitting around playing poker at Steve's one night and he told us some of his thoughts on Vinyl v.s. CD that I thought were invaluable. Maybe you should ask Steve what he thinks.

Um...

Yeah I was there that night, too.


Steve's great.

CDs are crappy. they don't sound bad at all, but ownership of them is unsatisfying. CDs that skip are worse than vinyl that pops. 3.5 inch squared art on glossy is nothing compared to 1 foot square on cardboard. their plastic cases crack easily, and worse, are completely interchangeable. in short, they feel like the mass produced crap that they are -- even though they sound good (to me anyway). this is just the physical properties i'm talking about, not hte sound.

aside from the physical properties, there are other non-sound differences. in a home situation (where the turntable stays), i prefer the committment to, yes, a "listening experience" that putting on a record entails to the convenience of a CD. i like not being able to skip a track easily. the track is on the album. if you want skip tracks all the time, maybe it's not a good album to own.

when i'm not at home, CDs are too unwieldy for me. i prefer mp3s.

sound quality? yeah, vinyl sounds good. CD sounds good too. but if i'm buying an album, i want it to be an LP. if i'm listening away from home, i want to listen on my ipod. no need for CDs here.

shagboy wrote:sound quality? yeah, vinyl sounds good. CD sounds good too. but if i'm buying an album, i want it to be an LP. if i'm listening away from home, i want to listen on my ipod. no need for CDs here.

exactly.

I feel no need to preach to the choir here, so I'll keep it short and sweet.

Vinyl is the most reliable form of media.

Vinyl is not "cool," but it is practical.

I love the way vinyl looks...I love bands that take time using the vinyl's large size and packaging as a canvas.

This argument is tired.