The True Magic of Vinyl

Perhaps no recent trend has been claimed by hipsters more than the resurgence of vinyl records.  I have to say though, I see the appeal.  There is something cool about being able to hold a record in your hands.  Watching the record spin on the player, seeing the detail in the album art, and being able to create a shelf of your own musical memories is something that the modern MP3 format cannot replace.  Its a great thing, and while certainly more expensive, it is a worthwhile purchase.

Always listen to Batman...Always.

The question remains though, is this just a trend that exists because it is a trendy alternative to the MP3 format? Is it just because it is a different option to the mainstream formats of music we know today?  There has to be something more than just that.  Vinyl can't just be for hipsters.

As it turns out there is a definitive reason for why vinyl may be an excellent option, which comes from the audio quality that vinyl provides.  While some people may say that newer is always better, it turns out that in this case older technology may have been the better form when it comes to truly hearing the music.  The difference in sound comes from the difference in compression, and the modern era's pursuit of 'loudness', an area where old technology has got MP3 quality beat hands down.

In order for the entirety of music to be put onto an MP3 that can be shared across computer the file must be compressed in order for it to become the format that we know and love today.  What this means though is that some of the depth and quality of music is lost as the file is compressed.  The vinyl format allows for music to be presented in a less compressed format.  In a short film produced known as the 'Distortion of Sound' several musical giants refer to the MP3 as creating a generation of McDonald's music listeners, those who don't enjoy sound in its truest quality and are content to simply listen to the loudest, simplest, and cheapest form of music.  The modern era focuses on producing music that is loud, the sheer volume of noise is the goal of the MP3.  While this is definitely achieved, it does come at the sacrifice of sound.  Vinyl's longer recording format allow for the peaks and valleys of music to be exposed, the ebb and flow of the instruments to truly immerse a listener.  A good set of speakers and a vinyl is hard to beat when it comes to getting as close to live quality as possible.  Older has the jump on the newer when it comes to sound quality.  You can watch the full twenty two minute movie in the link below.

To put it simply, vinyl allows for sound to be captured and reproduced at a higher quality then anything that the MP3 era can offer.  If your looking for something portable, its clear that vinyl is not the right form of music for you.  You will never be able to take your vinyl records with you on your Sunday morning jog, but if your interested in staying home and being engulfed in a musical quality that is unheard of by many of the newest generation then its tough to beat vinyl.  The combination of sound with the 'cool factor' of having a detailed hard copy in your hands is very appealing.

Vinyl isn't just for hipsters anymore.

Harvey Specter (Suits on USA Network): Lawyer, Suit Connoisseur, Vinyl Record Collector