Does vinyl sound better or do we just like the sound of our youth?
Above is a photograph of the Mediaeater Archive (www.flickr.com/photos/mediaeater/197563926/) I'll trade my meager record collection for his - what is on those shelves? can I browse? I love the ritual of flipping through records.
I also love the sound. I often think about that and wonder why.
My friend Matt sent me a link to an article by Dale Dougherty that maintains that the reason I like the sound of records is because we prefer the sound of our youth.
In other words, kids growing up today in the digital age prefer the sound of mp3 to vinyl.
Here is the link: http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/03/the-sizzling-sound-of-music.html.
The author, Dale Dougherty, states that, "Our perception changes and we become attuned to what we like -- some like the sizzle and others like the crackle." Read the rest of the piece - it's great!
What do you like? Do you like the crackly sound of vinyl records or the sizzle of mp3?
Matt wonders, "Maybe thirty years from now our kids will be rigging up outdated systems to get that mp3 sound they miss from their youth."
You think Matt might be right?
Paul,
actually, a more interesting question is why have we lost a sense of what music performed live sounds like? My kids love music-but they experience it almost exclusively as a recorded phenomena. Both of them play instruments, but they are always gobsmacked when they come across a street performer in Squirrel Hill making music.
T
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Theresa,
Not sure if I would agree that it is a MORE interesting question - us vinyl guys seem to talk endlessly about the differences between vinyl and CD and CD and mp3 - but I would agree that live music is definitely a great and very different experience. Artists like Bob Dylan and many others seek capturing the live feel in the studio. Sounds like Dylan's upcoming album - just announced for a April release - will have a very live sound with accordion. Maybe your kids will like that! accordions are popular with street musicians, aren't they!
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Hello Paul,
I come to your blog via that O'Reilly piece... Nice looking place you've got here!
A radio station in Grand Forks, ND (KKXL) used to play complete albums on Saturday nights, and I still have a cassette recording I made one stormy winter night 1980-81. It is Pink Floyd's THE WALL, and I've listened to it hundreds of times. Even though I've also owned the vinyl and CD versions of that classic, the over-the-air recording, to me, sounds the best...
The DJ, all low-voiced and mellow, introduces the album and then drops the needle... A pop and crackle on the lead-in groove, then music... A little radio static at the beginning of "In The Flesh"... The DJ coming in at the end of each of the four sides to do station IDs and weather ("3 below zero at 1:15... And now, side four of THE WALL")... Little things like that make it a warm and enjoyable listening experience for me, sound quality be damned.
Maybe it's a nature vs. nurture type thing? I dunno.
Anyhum, nice blog you've got going on here. I'll definitely be checking back in.
Cheers!
Matt
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Dear Matt,
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you like the blog and do hope you will stop by often! Your story about the DJ in Grand Forks was great and reminded me of the late night FM jocks when I was growing up. Check out my next posting for the story.
best,
PAUL
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