In the last twenty-five years, the audio turntable and vinyl record have given way to digital audio technology, which has resulted in the CD, the MiniDisc, iPod, HDCD, MP3, DVD Audio, and SACD formats. The intention of digital audio was to provide the public and the recording industry with a durable and sonically perfect sound reproductive format.
Digital Vs Analog
These goals have been mostly met. However, many in the audiophile community still have some misgivings regarding digital audio reproduction and prefer the sound of the analog vinyl record. For example, analog recording techniques such as Half-speed Mastering pioneered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, Direct-to-Disc recording, DBX-encoding, and Quadraphonic recording (forerunner of Dolby surround), yielded sonic capabilities on vinyl that rivaled the much-touted CD. Perhaps if such recording techniques would have been more widely used, we would not have CD's today, or at least forestalled its dominance in the marketplace.
Sound Waves and Numbers
At best, digital recording is merely a mathematical interpretation of sound, it is not the sound itself. In a vinyl record the actual sound waves generated by a performance are physically imprinted on the vinyl surface and can be extracted very easily with a stylus. On a CD, sound is converted into numbers language and must be extracted by equipment that understands what the numerical patterns actually mean. On top of that, the digital information must then be converted back into an analog format so we can hear it.
This is isn't to say that digital recording isn't a desirable method for storing music. However, there are definite historical and technical implications when using either analog or digital audio recording technology.
Future Historical Implications of Vinyl And CD
From a historical standpoint, the vinyl recording can withstand time better than current digital audio recording. If a future civilization has a different technology base than digital, CDs will be useless. Trying to figure out how to access the information on a CD just from examining the disc itself would be a formidable task. Unless there is access to either a working CD player or one that may be in disrepair, but can be back-engineered, the CD could end up as just a strange curiosity by a future civilization.
On the other hand, the information on a vinyl recording can still be accessed mechanically with just a little trial and error. Any civilization that has a concept of sound reproduction, and minimal mechanical skills, would be able to construct a stylus and playback device to extract the sound waves imprinted in a record groove. Even if unable to get the playback speed correct, or extract optimum sound quality, they would still be able to listen to the sound and figure out what the sounds represent.
New Isn't Necessarily Better
The digital formats, such as the CD, are capable of reproducing more dynamic range and lower noise levels than analog records, but contrary to popular belief, the CD does not necessarily insure better sound. This is particularly an issue with MP3, which uses extreme compression techniques to store CD or analog source material into a very small digital storage space, such as a flash memory card, mini-hard drive, or on a CDR/RW disc. CDR/RWs can hold many more hours of music in the MP3 format than standard CD files. Although this is practical in terms of music storage and portability, sound quality isn't up to par with standard CD, and certainly not up to par with HDCD, DVD-Audio, and SACD (Super Audio CD).
Also, even though vinyl records can incur scratches and pops, the CD is not indestructible and has been known to skip, repeat, and deteriorate.
As a result of this awareness, many, from generation X and Y, to audiophile journalists, the appreciation of good vinyl recordings is making its way back into the mainstream and with it, a new demand for Turntables to play them on.
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