Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

[Newman]

Down 33 1/3.

https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I68bG-2.png

Gulp. I hope that is not measured in RPM!

 

[Axo1989]

Do you listen to Boards of Canada?
(I’m getting déjà vu that I’ve perhaps asked before…)

I do!! and maybe you have. We've certainly discussed some electronica ...

I also expect that slightly revved-up ambient sub-genre is easier to get lost in, time-wise.

 

[MattHooper]

I do!! and maybe you have. We've certainly discussed some electronica ...

I also expect that slightly revved-up ambient sub-genre is easier to get lost in, time-wise.

I’ve been a fan since the 90s. Naturally, I have a bunch of their albums on vinyl, which I enjoy too.

I think the one real mistake I made with some vinyl purchases early on was buying some ambient music records. I do like the overall vibe, but even on vinyl, I had trouble sticking with it, sitting there, concentrating on music that barely moved. Perhaps it’s more for background or meditation.

 

[Axo1989]

I’ve been a fan since the 90s. Naturally, I have a bunch of their albums on vinyl, which I enjoy too.

I think the one real mistake I made with some vinyl purchases early on was buying some ambient music records. I do like the overall vibe, but even on vinyl, I had trouble sticking with it, sitting there, concentrating on music that barely moved. Perhaps it’s more for background or meditation.

I definitely have listen-to-in-foreground electronic favourites, and also listen-to-in-background-while-working stuff which is less attention-grabbing (absence of lyrics ia helpful there too). But even for the latter I like electronic by actual artists, rather than generic ambient by hacks (for want of a better word).

The background function is better served by long pieces. I feel a bit disturbed if I run a regular album with many songs and realise I've barely heard it, that's somehow disrespectful/wrong considering the artist's effort (maybe they appreciate the 0.001 cents per stream though).

Otoh, getting up every 20 mins or so to change the side/record is maybe healthy, compared to indeterminate duration locked into computer trance.

 

[Axo1989]

Down 33 1/3.

https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/I68bG-2.png

Interesting footnote: if a streaming album equivalent is 1,250 (ad-free) track plays, how many people play all their (10-track) records ~125 times? I'm sure there are streamed albums I've listened to less often than that.

 

[Thomas_A]

So, I just played the same excerpt from the CDs I have of the same recording. Not exactly a proper ABX, but here goes. I did what I could to match levels. First off, I noticed less treble and bass. Particularly deep bass from the organ. I suspect the mastering engineer had to back off in order to prevent distortion so close to the run-out groove. Side four of the LP runs for 23'36 - above average, but a lot of the finale is low in dynamic level, so it doesn't really get loud until the end. There was a touch of congestion throughout. In the very final part I could hear some disc eccentricity, the pitch rising and falling. I don't know if that's from the warp you mentioned or a slightly off-center pressing. Like I said, not so bad as to make the music un-enjoyable, but still not as good as the CD version.

Edit: BTW, it's the finale of Mahler's 2nd symphony, a real torture track for LP replay.

Thanks for this. Is t possible for you to compare and publish the excerpt on CD in MasVis? Below is the excerpt on the vinyl session:

 

[Robin L]

Thanks for this. Is t possible for you to compare and publish the excerpt on CD in MasVis? Below is the excerpt on the vinyl session:


View attachment 398782

Sorry, don't even know what that is.

 

[Thomas_A]

Sorry, don't even know what that is.

MasVis online

andreasarvidsson.github.io

Just drop the file/excerpt and click on the file left, you'll get a summary as above. I was just interested in the spectrum.

Regarding this issue of Mahler, almost 25 minutes on a vinyl side is pushing it. I think this is just a reissue. I don't think DG made anything more as they with the Bruckner and the other original source series, which included going back to original sources and rebuilding the cutting machine to allow for better space during cutting; I have to look.

 

[Robin L]

MasVis online

andreasarvidsson.github.io

Just drop the file/excerpt and click on the file left, you'll get a summary as above. I was just interested in the spectrum.

Regarding this issue of Mahler, almost 25 minutes on a vinyl side is pushing it. I think this is just a reissue. I don't think DG made anything more as they with the Bruckner and the other original source series, which included going back to original sources and rebuilding the cutting machine to allow for better space during cutting; I have to look.

Sorry, this requires maneuvers I'm not currently capable of performing.

That 25 minutes on a side is the duration of the original LP issue. I don't think there's a DGG reissue of Bernstein's Mahler 2nd. Columbia/CBS made a few reissues of his earlier performance. That one is in lower fidelity than the needledrop you provided.

 

[Thomas_A]

Sorry, this requires maneuvers I'm not currently capable of performing.

That 25 minutes on a side is the duration of the original LP issue. I don't think there's a DGG reissue of Bernstein's Mahler 2nd. Columbia/CBS made a few reissues of his earlier performance. That one is in lower fidelity than the needledrop you provided.

Ok. You need to rip the CD version and then drop the file in MasVis, but if that is not possible, that’s fine.

Classic music is difficult on LPs since there are limited options to fit the music on one side with required bass dynamics. As mentioned, the Original Source Series, most sold out by now, might produce some more dynamics if they use their custom made cutting machine. The Mahler no. 2 is not an Original Source Series though, and visually, the tracks look quite crammed. So my expectations were quite low.

https://www.the-original-source.com/about

I may buy one of them for curiosity but I don’t really know which one that would be a good performance.

Original Source Vinyl - Deutsche Grammophon

Deutsche Grammophon Shop - the official label store: Vinyl, CD, Special Editions & Merchandise. New releases, classics & more from DG in Berlin.

store.deutschegrammophon.com

 

[Robin L]

Ok. You need to rip the CD version and then drop the file in MasVis, but if that is not possible, that’s fine.

Classic music is difficult on LPs since there are limited options to fit the music on one side with required bass dynamics. As mentioned, the Original Source Series, most sold out by now, might produce some more dynamics if they use their custom made cutting machine. The Mahler no. 2 is not an Original Source Series though, and visually, the tracks look quite crammed. So my expectations were quite low.

https://www.the-original-source.com/about

I may buy one of them for curiosity but I don’t really know which one that would be a good performance.

Original Source Vinyl - Deutsche Grammophon

Deutsche Grammophon Shop - the official label store: Vinyl, CD, Special Editions & Merchandise. New releases, classics & more from DG in Berlin.

store.deutschegrammophon.com

I can strongly recommend the Brahms Piano Concertos with Gilels and Jochum and the Dvorak 9th Symphony with Kubelik and the Berlin Philharmonic. The Pollini recording of the Chopin Preludes has a great reputation, but I haven't heard it.

 

[Thomas_A]

I can strongly recommend the Brahms Piano Concertos with Gilels and Jochum and the Dvorak 9th Symphony with Kubelik and the Berlin Philharmonic. The Pollini recording of the Chopin Preludes has a great reputation, but I haven't heard it.

I might give them a try. The Brahms seem to be sold out now but I read it will be an Mk2 release.

These are a bit unique, according to those who have listened. And only exists on vinyl.

 

[Newman]

I might give them a try. The Brahms seem to be sold out now but I read it will be an Mk2 release.

These are a bit unique, according to those who have listened. And only exists on vinyl.

When you say "only on vinyl"… would you exclude this streaming Atmos version that I am listening to right now?

Cheers

 

[Leporello]

When you say "only on vinyl"… would you exclude this streaming Atmos version that I am listening to right now?
View attachment 399050

Cheers

They have certainly existed on other formats. I have the Brahms/Gilels and the Pollini Preludes on cd.

 

[DonDish]

I’ve been a fan since the 90s. Naturally, I have a bunch of their albums on vinyl, which I enjoy too.

I think the one real mistake I made with some vinyl purchases early on was buying some ambient music records. I do like the overall vibe, but even on vinyl, I had trouble sticking with it, sitting there, concentrating on music that barely moved. Perhaps it’s more for background or meditation.

You should try german progressive psytrance. A slower form of psychedelic trance. Somewhere between ambient and Psy.

 

[DonDish]

I'm a member of a couple of reddit audiophile threads where people post pictures of their rigs and most of the time they include turntables and every time I see one my mind is blown because I outgrew vinyl only a few years after buying my first CD player in the '80's. Back then I had a tape deck, a turntable and a CD player but once I heard digital I knew they was no going back yet people en mass are and I find it baffling given all the benefits of youtube. The first and most obvious benefit is, it's free. Secondly, youtube has an almost endless catalog of music, with the original music video, the karaoke versions of songs, live versions and videos that include the lyrics. Thirdly, the convenience of simply clicking my mouse a few times and opening up a world of music is pretty alluring. I always wondered about the sound quality though so I bought a CD a few years ago to compare youtube to CD and couldn't hear any difference. LP's on the other hand can only be played one at a time, require time, money and effort to obtain and play and also require money and effort to maintain and as your collection of LP's grows it obviously becomes more expensive and takes up space-something youtube doesn't yet most reddit audiophiles are flocking to them

Does the vinyl renaissance make sense to you because it sure doesn't to me

I have a €300 Pro-ject and mostly records from my late dad, and some I boght in the 80´s. Records are covered in a bar menu of drinks and cigarette ash from over half a decade of parties. When I fire up old Love and Jimmie hendrix records at friday night, be sure im working my way through a six-pack In this scenario SNR is somebody elses problem, and the human brain has a measurable S/N ratio too you know, which falls off nicely paralell to beer intake. Im always amazed at the great sound of vinyl

 

[Thomas_A]

When you say "only on vinyl"… would you exclude this streaming Atmos version that I am listening to right now?
View attachment 399050

Cheers

Not sure since there is no mention of the new original source on other media.

 

[Thomas_A]

They have certainly existed on other formats. I have the Brahms/Gilels and the Pollini Preludes on cd.

Yes they all exist in originals. But the remixed ones?

 

[egellings]

I definitely have listen-to-in-foreground electronic favourites, and also listen-to-in-background-while-working stuff which is less attention-grabbing (absence of lyrics ia helpful there too). But even for the latter I like electronic by actual artists, rather than generic ambient by hacks (for want of a better word).

The background function is better served by long pieces. I feel a bit disturbed if I run a regular album with many songs and realise I've barely heard it, that's somehow disrespectful/wrong considering the artist's effort (maybe they appreciate the 0.001 cents per stream though).

Otoh, getting up every 20 mins or so to change the side/record is maybe healthy, compared to indeterminate duration locked into computer trance.

That also a good interval length for a beer replacement run, too.

 

[Leporello]

Yes they all exist in originals. But the remixed ones?

Ah, yes. I did not realize you were talking about remixes.