Recording methods and sound carriers are evolving so quickly nowadays that we can only master new devices and remember our favorite records of our childhood.
As we once carefully wiped off a vinyl disc, we carefully put the needle on the record and waited for the first sounds of our favorite song. And now stacks of discs are gathering dust on the shelves, or even gone to the trash heap. But in vain. After all, now these discs are arousing more and more interest among modern youth!
Vinyl riddle
It would seem that digital recording formats should have left vinyl in the past a long time ago, as happened with tape cassettes. Digital files are easy to play and store, and an audio player is built into every phone. So you can listen to digital music anywhere, anytime, but try the same with a vinyl record! Nevertheless, in 2008 the circulation of their release almost doubled, and the discs themselves are becoming an object of hunting for collectors who are ready to give significant money for them. What's the secret?
The fact is that digital and analog forms of sound reproduction have fundamentally different methods of recording and playback. Consequently, the sound is also different. And in the case of digital recording - not at all for the better. Alas, sometimes, following in the direction of increasing the convenience and compactness of reading information, we allow ourselves to lose the quality of its reproduction. A vinyl record, in contrast to an audio file, has a large width of reproducible frequencies, a higher resolution. When digitized, the sound loses about half of the range that vinyl could have retained. That is, to put it simply, the disc is one step closer to “live” music than digital recording.
Of course, in order to hear a really high-quality "vinyl" sound, you need to make sure that the playback equipment is in good working order, and the record itself is not scratched. However, keen vinyl fans take great care of this.
A music lover's paradise
Another reason for the fascination with vinyl discs is the special atmosphere that is created when listening. For a music lover, this process is akin to meditation: set up a turntable, thoughtfully choose a record, remove dust from it with a special pad, and only then solemnly lower the needle to the beginning of a thin sound groove. And then - sit relaxed in an armchair with a glass of your favorite drink or a cup of tea, making sure that neither family members nor phone calls bother you. This is not for you to go with the player in the minibus!
In addition, the passion for collecting itself is of no small importance. Who would be proud of a collection of audio files on a computer? But the collection of records is another matter. This is something that can be touched with love and pride, demonstrating to friends - even if they do not understand much about music. Especially when you consider that there are special discs for collectors - for example, colored vinyl (they are usually produced in limited editions). This is not the limit: you can find discs with engraving on the reverse side, with a pattern applied … And in general, who said that a disc must be necessarily round? Vinyl record manufacturers also produce curly discs. True, due to the change in shape, the “working” surface of the disc is reduced, and only one song is placed on it - and as a rule, this is a hit.
How to choose a gift?
If you want to please a familiar music lover with a new disc, then try to remember a few recommendations. First, get to know his musical tastes and passions more accurately so that your gift does not come as an unpleasant surprise for a friend. After all, not every disc is capable of making a collector happy. Just ask him to talk about his hobby, and perhaps he will let slip about which disc he would like to buy for a long time.
Secondly, remember that buying a record "from your hands" - you can get poor quality sound, or even a waste if the disc turns out to be "worn out". Therefore, it is better to find the disc you need in the online store, now there are a lot of them - this guarantees your gift of good enough quality!
