Notes

Wired 10/24/07
Vinyl may be final nail in CDs coffin

“ Portability is no longer any reason to stick with CDs and neither is audio quality”
-consumers are now using MP3s, ipods and iphones. Cds are becoming a superfluous intermediate between producers and listeners.


Differences of sound between vinyl and Cds
-audio on vinyl cannot be compressed to extremes
-more data contained in analog groves
-CDs have a wider dynamic range

Turntables and vinyl records are still made and in demand by audiophyles.

Some musicians choose to release on vinyl and MP3s only.

Not realistic to think that Vinyl will make complete comeback but strong evidence that it will not disappear either. In fact there is an increasing demand for vinyl .

Wikipedia
Loudness War

To explain difference in sound and sound quality:

Producers look for new sounds and tend to produce and broadcast music with increasing level of Loudness.

Maximum amplitude once reached, one can only increase loudness by decreasing the dynamic range: loudest peaks destroyed.
Compression distorts or clips waveforms.

What kind of music is easily heard in noisy environments (car, city, public places): with high level of sound pressure.
Radio stations : compression necessary .
Explains choices of producers.

Choices of producers is criticized by recording industry professionals
(Ex Dou Sax Geoff Emerick, Steve Hofman) and musicians (Neil Young, Bob Dylan)
Quote from Bob Dylan
Quote from Jay Graydon

Mastering engineers are pressured against their will to make release louder.
There is evidence that consumers are noticing and beginning to be discontent with the loudness of recordings.

Hearing problems could result from such sound mastering.

Technical explanations of the effect of increasing loudness:
dynamic range, waveforms and how these effect emotional perception and reaction.
Distortion, clipping

History of recording medium

http://blog.wired
/music/2008/04/riaa-admits-vin.html
RIAA Admits Vinyl Sales Are Climbing

Evidence that vinyl sales are up
Sales reports from 2005 to 2008