Strange black things.
Discussion
Today I was forced to go into our loft to hunt out some objects that I'd pretty much forgotten about. The reason, a shiny new record player had arrived. The last time said records were played was probably about 15 years ago, and then on an all in one 80s Aiwa with spectrum analyser etc.
So after spending the last hour learning about tone arm balance and anti-skate, I was ready to try and remember the art of record - dust jacket extraction, without touching the surface.
Wow, suddenly I was transported back to my child hood - and also realised what poor taste I had in music back then (early 90s techno was dire).
I'd forgotten what an 'experience' playing a record was; something you lose in today's double click and listen world. There is something magical about the way light catches an old vinyl record, and the experience of watching the stylus slowly bobbing up and down whilst you absorb the music: surely the musical equivalent of a roaring fire?
Surprisingly the sound quality was also rather excellent with barely a pop or a crackle - something that couldn't be said with my old 80s all in one.
So tonight, after my son comes back from nursery, he will be getting a short history lesson in the prehistoric world of vinyl.
Oh and the important thing, it's a Debut III with USB and pre-amp (a bargain £180 in an open box sale) http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.c...
So after spending the last hour learning about tone arm balance and anti-skate, I was ready to try and remember the art of record - dust jacket extraction, without touching the surface.
Wow, suddenly I was transported back to my child hood - and also realised what poor taste I had in music back then (early 90s techno was dire).
I'd forgotten what an 'experience' playing a record was; something you lose in today's double click and listen world. There is something magical about the way light catches an old vinyl record, and the experience of watching the stylus slowly bobbing up and down whilst you absorb the music: surely the musical equivalent of a roaring fire?
Surprisingly the sound quality was also rather excellent with barely a pop or a crackle - something that couldn't be said with my old 80s all in one.
So tonight, after my son comes back from nursery, he will be getting a short history lesson in the prehistoric world of vinyl.
Oh and the important thing, it's a Debut III with USB and pre-amp (a bargain £180 in an open box sale) http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.c...
My 8-year-old has already had that lesson. Suffice it to say: the first and most important instruction to impart is "we never put our sticky mitts on the bits with the grooves".
The second thing to say is: "no, you can't have my records".
And the third thing to do is hide your eBay account login details.
I love vinyl. I only use MP3s or CDs for convenience. Glad you had a good time playing your records!
The second thing to say is: "no, you can't have my records".
And the third thing to do is hide your eBay account login details.
I love vinyl. I only use MP3s or CDs for convenience. Glad you had a good time playing your records!
I recently rediscovered my turntable in the loft and tons of black shiny round things. Started thinking about running the lot through and making MP3 files of them all so I can enjoy the sounds of my youth once again.
Memory lane here we come!
Once I'd played one album I remembered how scratchy and damaged most of my records actually are. They are now back in the loft along with the deck.
One particular album was Genesis Invisible touch. How I adored this album when it was released. My favourite track on the B side was Domino. Once I played it and it skipped about 30 seconds of the track, I remembered that it had a huge scratch which was added during a particularly fun party.
Ah well, maybe I can get it on CD sometime. Back to my unscratched and hissless music server.
Memory lane here we come!
Once I'd played one album I remembered how scratchy and damaged most of my records actually are. They are now back in the loft along with the deck.
One particular album was Genesis Invisible touch. How I adored this album when it was released. My favourite track on the B side was Domino. Once I played it and it skipped about 30 seconds of the track, I remembered that it had a huge scratch which was added during a particularly fun party.
Ah well, maybe I can get it on CD sometime. Back to my unscratched and hissless music server.
Z4monster said:
I recently rediscovered my turntable in the loft and tons of black shiny round things. Started thinking about running the lot through and making MP3 files of them all so I can enjoy the sounds of my youth once again.
Memory lane here we come!
Once I'd played one album I remembered how scratchy and damaged most of my records actually are. They are now back in the loft along with the deck.
One particular album was Genesis Invisible touch. How I adored this album when it was released. My favourite track on the B side was Domino. Once I played it and it skipped about 30 seconds of the track, I remembered that it had a huge scratch which was added during a particularly fun party.
Ah well, maybe I can get it on CD sometime. Back to my unscratched and hissless music server.
That's the thing though, even through my fairly crappy stereo there was virtually no hiss, which really did surprise me. Perhaps your turntable was just past its sell by, or needed a new stylus / needle whatever the experts call them.Memory lane here we come!
Once I'd played one album I remembered how scratchy and damaged most of my records actually are. They are now back in the loft along with the deck.
One particular album was Genesis Invisible touch. How I adored this album when it was released. My favourite track on the B side was Domino. Once I played it and it skipped about 30 seconds of the track, I remembered that it had a huge scratch which was added during a particularly fun party.
Ah well, maybe I can get it on CD sometime. Back to my unscratched and hissless music server.
I used to (and still do) love the sound of vinyl. I had a fairly decent turntable and cartridge setup a few years back.
But I got fed up with the constant battle of static, dust and the (comparatively) short playing time of LP records.
From my point of view, CD / streaming has it's drawbacks, but nothing like that of vinyl.
The final straw for me several years ago was a particularly noisy Phil Collins album, I ripped it off the turntable and snapped it in two (tsk, tsk temper, temper) and that was the turning point for me.
Have been using CD and streaming ever since.
I still have about 150 vinyl albums left, but they're just for show now.
But I got fed up with the constant battle of static, dust and the (comparatively) short playing time of LP records.
From my point of view, CD / streaming has it's drawbacks, but nothing like that of vinyl.
The final straw for me several years ago was a particularly noisy Phil Collins album, I ripped it off the turntable and snapped it in two (tsk, tsk temper, temper) and that was the turning point for me.
Have been using CD and streaming ever since.
I still have about 150 vinyl albums left, but they're just for show now.
I still have all my vinyl - hundreds of LPs, 12" and 7" singles. Some more cherished than others but only ever played now if I can't get it on CD and I want to digitise it. I'm generally a nostalgia enthusiast but must admit I really DON'T get nostalgic about handling the vinyl, cleaning it, then turning the thing over after 15 mins or so...
Flip Martian said:
I'm generally a nostalgia enthusiast but must admit I really DON'T get nostalgic about handling the vinyl, cleaning it, then turning the thing over after 15 mins or so...
Curiously enough, I do! I bought a remaster a few months ago of an LP I used to play a lot years ago. I put it on while I was doing something else, and at the end of side A my subconscious told me to go over to the CD player to flip the record... I often play CDs and MP3s as a background to whatever else I'm doing, but generally if I'm listening to vinyl I stop what I'm doing and listen to it properly. My birthday present last year was a Moth record cleaner.
TonyRPH said:
The final straw for me several years ago was a particularly noisy Phil Collins album, I ripped it off the turntable and snapped it in two (tsk, tsk temper, temper) and that was the turning point for me.
Have been using CD and streaming ever since.
That is disgraceful - you listen to Phil Collins?Have been using CD and streaming ever since.
Mike...
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