On 4 Feb 1994 J.D.Crawley@acoustics.salford.ac.uk wrote:
[Loadsa stuff about how vinyl is better than records.]
I didn't want to jump into this thread, 'cos it bores me shitless, but
the arguement can be killed off dead with a few simple facts. I hope.
1. A totally fresh piece of vinyl played on a VERY high end turntable. ie
Linn LP12 with a Lingo power supply, a 500 pound arm and a 500 quid
cartridge is *unarguably* better than any CD player played through the
same speakers, amp, cable etc. Hiss? What hiss?
2. Vinyl is totally awkward to use. I have a pair of Technics 1210's. I
would shoot any one who suggested I part with them, they are the only way
to mix music. But for coming home at night and putting on some sounds,
they are just totally crap. Especially now everyone seems to be spreading
their music over at least 2 12"s.
The ease of use presented by CD's is also *unarguable*. And I didn't even
mention stuff about programming, repeat etc.
3. The music on vinyl is subject to damage. I have hundreds of records. I
love each and every one of them and take absolute care of them, but still
inevitably cracks and pops will creep in. My copy of Surfing on Sine
Waves is only a year or so old, but is in need of rejuvenation. The
relative robustness (yes I know they scratch etc, but they're not
affected by dust fluff etc) of CDs is a big plus.
4. Techno is still not generally available on CD. It is a lot better than
it was; virtually all LP's are out on vinyl. But 12"'s are the source of DJ's
power. No way are these all available on CD.
Solution to these problems... If you're a DJ you have to have decks. If
you want all the latest tunes you have to have decks. If you want ease of
use, robustness and a facility not to have all your more ambient stuff
fucked up by dust etc, get a CD player.
My personal solution. Well, I am now finally going to give into CD and buy
a CD player as soon as I can afford one. I feel there is enough music
coming out on CD to make it worth while. I will then buy all my LP's on
CD. But this raises an expensive problem, if I want to mix I will need
the vinyl too......
And of course a beautiful big chunk of black vinyl with it's huge
gatefold artwork looks far better than a poxy little CD :)
'nuff said.
greg,
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