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Over the past decade, we have witnessed the surprising renaissance of vinyl records in the music industry.
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But although they only represent about 3% of music consumption, even compared to streaming platforms, their resurrection is undeniable.
In 2015, the Official Chart Company released its first vinyl record chart, and today most major releases are available on vinyl, CD and digital formats.
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But what's behind this resurgence and what still attracts so many to vinyl records?
Unparalleled Sound Quality
People often hail the audio quality of vinyl records as superior to digital, praising their richness and depth of sound.
This appreciation has a solid scientific basis. Vinyls capture the sound waves of a performance in a unique way, creating a physical representation of the sound in the grooves of the record.
Magnify these grooves on an album 100 times, and you'll notice the textures and depths that represent different tones and musical instruments.
But this contrasts with digital recordings that offer a “printed” representation of the music. These differences are especially noticeable in musical genres that have a wide range of tones, such as classical music.
However, it is important to clarify that digital music is not far behind in sound quality.
High-quality FLAC files and even traditional CDs provide exceptional audio reproduction.
Digital music's bad reputation is often due to the MP3 format.
It sacrifices quality to allow for faster downloads and playback, and is designed for convenience.
High-quality audio equipment and specialized needles can elevate the quality of digital audio.
Diamond needles, for example, offer a longer lifespan and higher audio quality, while also causing less damage to the vinyl.
Proper care is also crucial, as scratches, dust, and warped discs can significantly affect playback quality.
So, proper maintenance is essential to fully enjoying your vinyl collection.
The Fascinating History of Vinyl Records
Vinyl has a fascinating history dating back to phonographs and wax cylinders, which were fragile and had limited sound quality.
The transition to discs similar to those we know today, made of shellac, occurred in the 1920s.
However, the vinyl revolution began in 1949 when vinyl records surpassed shellac in sales and popularity.
Vinyl offered advantages such as smaller grooves and greater rotation per minute, allowing each side of the record to play for up to 20 minutes.
Since then, vinyl has maintained its basic form, with the introduction of improvements such as stereo and 12-inch pressings.
But its popularity declined with the rise of CDs in the 1990s, but it has experienced a notable resurgence in the United States and Europe since the late 2000s.
The Intricate Manufacturing Process
Producing a vinyl record is a highly manual process that has passed from the responsibility of major record labels to small independent factories.
Before production, every aspect must be determined, from weight and size to RPM, insert type and shape, which can take 8 to 16 weeks.
Creating a record begins with creating a matrix from which the vinyls are pressed.
Then the matrix is made from a soft wax version of the disc, which is plated in nickel and silver to create the mold.
These dies are used to press up to 500 vinyls, with additional dies required for larger production runs.
Despite being a laborious process, vinyl records continue to be a reliable means of reproducing music, with a typical defect rate of just 0.5% on freshly pressed vinyl.
Conclusion
The return of vinyl records is more than a fad; it is a celebration of the richness and history of sound.
Whether for their unparalleled quality or the tactile experience of handling a record, vinyl records have earned a lasting place in the hearts of music lovers.
But even in the digital age, they continue to provide a unique sonic journey, a testament to the evolution of music and technology over the years.
