Vinyl vs Digital???

We were discussing this at work recently, with mixed opinions.

Some of the LP guys said exactly what you have said, it’s all about the cover, the TLC, etc etc. But for the younger folk who have never owned an LP it was completely alien. (like myself)

But on the other hand, one of the ‘LP guys’ didn’t understand the concept of using different software to get bit perfect rips, setting up networks so you can stream to every room, controlling your library wirelessly via an ipod, not having an album cover to read but instead checking out an artists Myspace page or such.

But its all the same, the love of music and everything that goes with it.

for me, the old stuff is vinyl and the new stuff is cds.

it's a matter of availability.

and the digital format is better for listening to classical IMO because of no clicks, pops or turning over + better dynamics and silent background.

but mostly it's old=vinyl new=cd due to availability.

I'm an all digital man now with everything I own ripped to FLAC and served up with my Transporter. I do recocnise the tacile nature of the relationship with vinyl as well as the great cover art etc, but like Occean says I often browse the artists Wiki, Myspace or whatever when listening. Things just move on.

quote:

Originally posted by Gonzalikus:
Am I alone on this one?...

Not at all.

But I agree with Chebby completely. Digi and Anal are not mutually exclusive.

Enjoy what you enjoy.

For me, digi would always need a commanding presence because at least 90% of what I listen to is NOT available on vinyl.

I will not let religious devotion to one particular format or another dictate what i listen to you.

Ripping vinyl at least allows you to have access to albums out of print, or never released on CD, without needing to invest in an entire vinyl set-up..... The opposite is not the case.

oh and 24/96 hi res audio. Stunning....

Dont get me wrong, i do listen to Digital also... in fact i consider my self up to date tech wise... i have many "high-res" digital music, Apple airport express, MacPro book, etc... but i play digital music when im doing something else besides sitting and listening... like having friends over, working on digital photography (my other hobby) etc...

I enjoy much more Vinyl i guess due to the hole ritual thing... ive been used to the clicks and pops so its something that doesnt bother me, but like someone else said, it is better with Classical music...

im glad that u guys understand me )

Digi and Anal are not mutually exclusive


kind of kinky for this forum

Lots of mentions for the artwork and rituals surrounding Lp's.

Lets not forget to mention that it generally produces a more enjoyable listening experience to CD. Not sure if it is colouration or whatever, all I know is that I derive much more satisfaction from the old black stuff.

i think digital is way way better dont like lino, its time consuming, dirt stick to it, fluff is a killer, setting up a deck is pants, music is limited on it. digital is the way forward. people use and worship vinyl because its an old habit. once broken your free of all the shite things like looking after it and the artwork etc. and not having to worry about tip-toeing around so not to 'disturb' the contact of the needle... come on this was something that was started over 100 years ago, move with the times.

quote:

Originally posted by r-tee:
come on this was something that was started over 100 years ago, move with the times.

r-tee

You did not mention that vinyl is a hi-rez format compared to lower rez digital (and getting lower all the time -CD to MP3 etc) is that moving with the times? Vinyl does have it's weak points, but still has an ease that digital has not acheived. Newer is better is not always true for anything. I enjoy both formats in my system. I prefer vinyl, you prefer digital, we both enjoy our music.

Cheers

Bob

quote:

Digi and Anal are not mutually exclusive.

Hmmm...I think my old college girlfriend was the first person I ever heard say that...

quote:

Originally posted by DrMark:

quote:

Digi and Anal are not mutually exclusive.

Hmmm...I think my old college girlfriend was the first person I ever heard say that...

- I resisted the urge to comment on this earlier...

quote:

Originally posted by DaveBk:

quote:

Originally posted by DrMark:

quote:

Digi and Anal are not mutually exclusive.

Hmmm...I think my old college girlfriend was the first person I ever heard say that...

- I resisted the urge to comment on this earlier...

i guess is my poor english, because i dont get it

quote:

Originally posted by DrMark:

quote:

Digi and Anal are not mutually exclusive.

Hmmm...I think my old college girlfriend was the first person I ever heard say that...

I nominate this as the best comment of the year.

"Vinyl vs Digital" is a little confusing because Vinyl could be digital for the informations that is contained in it's grooves. A real analog Vinyl is one that is recorded and mixed in the analog domain and haven't been spoiled being converted into digital.
If sound quality is the ONLY priority, it is useless to listen to Vinyl that contains digital manipulations at it's roots.
Whatever the turntable-arm-cartridge, you will be listening to digital.

quote:

Originally posted by Gonzalikus:

quote:

Originally posted by DaveBk:

quote:

Originally posted by DrMark:

quote:

Digi and Anal are not mutually exclusive.

Hmmm...I think my old college girlfriend was the first person I ever heard say that...

- I resisted the urge to comment on this earlier...

i guess is my poor english, because i dont get it

do not worry if you dont get it, you could always give it

quote:

Originally posted by Gonzalikus:

quote:

Originally posted by DaveBk:

quote:

Originally posted by DrMark:

quote:

Digi and Anal are not mutually exclusive.

Hmmm...I think my old college girlfriend was the first person I ever heard say that...

- I resisted the urge to comment on this earlier...

i guess is my poor english, because i dont get it

I WISH you it is your poor english . . . . . .

This thread could run and run...

quote:

Originally posted by DaveBk:
This thread could run and run...

Hey Dave - How was that Alan Parsons?

quote:

Originally posted by Gonzalikus:
due to the hole ritual thing...

Sounds like you are understanding just fine.

Regarding the whole album art argument... When you rip the vinyl, you can easily scan all of the art. You can look at it all you want on your HDTV/Lappy/Monitor etc...

And..... then look at anything you could possibly want to on this place called the "World Wide Web" or WWW for short, aka "The Internet".

You can read about the artist, look at pictures, find concert footage, read scores, wiki their discography, who produced that album?

quote:

You can read about the artist, look at pictures, find concert footage, read scores, wiki their discography, who produced that album?

Not if you are sitting in your listening chair and the computer is behind you, you can't, not that I'd want to, the LP cover has sufficient information(usually)for me.

Given that at their best both analogue and digital produce enjoyable results, then what is left is the detritus of the fearful packaging that afflicts all but hard disk storage, and the radio. Of course if a person cannot enjoy music contained in analogue, or contained in digital media, then they must stick to what they can enjoy ...

If ever there was a real advance it is the loss of scruffy old card-board sleeves or grim tacky plastic jewel cases brought about by music servers, replacing the usual physical carriers.

Give me strength to carry on listening to music via the normal physical media till I can digitise via a server based system!

The ritual of playing an LP, I would personally liken to such other irritating aspects of life as scratching an irresitibly itchy arse, or picking a particularly painful cold-ridden nose.

Handling CDs is almost akin to having a tetanus jab ...


ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Not if you are sitting in your listening chair and the computer is behind you,

Mirrors are fairly inexpensive.

Seriously though, I fully understand the whole album art, and tactile nature of both physical mediums.

I just got over it.

We all listen differently and I would guess the format of choice reflects this.

I delayed the addition of a CD player for years, enjoying my vinyl on my Sondek/Ittok/Troika until the sound of little feet and lack of vinyl in the shops resulted in the enforced switch to CDs.

I heave to say that it was only when I eventually secured a CDS2 that I felt entirely comfortable with CD replay.

However, as the original question suggested, for many it's more than just the music, it's the whole package. I can't really explain the excitement and anticipation of clutching my latest LP on my way home, the first play, reading the sleeve notes, often admiring the sleeve artwork from the likes of Yes, ELP, Moody Blues, Caravan ..... (especially gatefold) etc etc.

Somehow, even if I could read the notes on those CDs, it still doesn't deliver the same magic. Just like listening to the chart show every Sunday, it was magical. Who takes any notice of single or LP charts any more. The singles chart is irrelevant and the album charts determine what most high street shops stock.

I have about 1,000 LPs stored waiting for the day when I resurrect my LP12. I'm curious as to how LPs will sound on my LP12 compared to my CDS2. But at least I'll be able to admire the sleeves and maybe even read them (none of us are as young as we used to be!)

Downloads etc are, for me, a further step in the wrong direction.

Pete

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
Regarding the whole album art argument... When you rip the vinyl, you can easily scan all of the art. You can look at it all you want on your HDTV/Lappy/Monitor etc...

And..... then look at anything you could possibly want to on this place called the "World Wide Web" or WWW for short, aka "The Internet".

You can read about the artist, look at pictures, find concert footage, read scores, wiki their discography, who produced that album?

For me, looking at the Mona Lisa in Internet is not the same as looking at it at the Louvre in Paris.