Is vinyl dead? Is digital Djing finally taking over?

**djhipnotikk** · 12-12-2010, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by nem0nic

Why is that food for thought? Give me one real reason why I should hang on to a dying music format. With digital media, I can carry all my music in a small portable drive, have another copy backed up in case of hardware failure, and access it using a number of different playback devices. Digital distribution means that artists can work outside of the major label system and bring me a wider variety of music than I've never had access to before. It also allows artists to self release - something not easily possible when you have to distribute physical media. With digital media, I can still access the music on the vinyl records in my collection WITHOUT subjecting them to damaging playback over and over again.

Please explain what's so great about vinyl. It doesn't offer better audio quality than even a typical MP3. It's heavy and large. It loses quality on every single playback - even with high end needles that are set up properly. It's prone to warping in moderate heat. It can easily be broken or scratched. It's expensive. It can only be played back on one device, which is itself large, heavy, and prone to all kinds of incorrect setup.

Is there some real reason I should embrace vinyl (again)? Or is it just some romantic notion because someone watched Scratch or read about the 4 pillars of hip hop. Should I also be out tagging subway cars, or brushing the nap on my Pumas?

jesus, what is your problem? why can't i have an opinion? i was in no way saying you were in the wrong.

if you like digital, so be it. some of us prefer vinyl. i don't get what all the hostility is about..

one thing vinyl has (and always will have) over digital is appreciation by the DJ, i think. buying a cart full of tracks rather than a couple of records, it's changed the way people select, and therefore play music. i believe this has led to people spending less time thinking about the music they play, and therefore the end product is some good tunes surrounded by lesser quality ones. with the old model you get sets that are full of a DJs personal favorite tunes, or at least all quality tunes, because they didn't buy them by the dozen. this is an art, after all, and i think vinyl helped keep it that way. if you're spinning solely to make cash, cool, this doesn't apply to you. i'm talking about people who see DJing as the art form it is.

edit: ps - you are quite the ignorant cunt for that last statement.

**jimbob5000** · 12-12-2010, 04:45 AM

C'mon guys, calm down again. I mean, we're all not that far apart, aren't we?

**nem0nic** · 12-12-2010, 06:12 AM

jesus, what is your problem? why can't i have an opinion?

Let me help you with this whole internet thing. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean you can't have an opinion. If you're that thin-skinned, this might not be the playground for you. You come into this thread implying that we should embrace vinyl, but you're backing up your argument with romantic notions instead of facts. I'm just asking you to be specific.

if you like digital, so be it. some of us prefer vinyl. i don't get what all the hostility is about

No one is being hostile except you with your last post. If you think someone who disagrees with you is being hostile, I weep for your future.

i believe this has led to people spending less time thinking about the music they play, and therefore the end product is some good tunes surrounded by lesser quality ones.

I don't know. I can say that I spend much more time looking for new music now that I ever did when I was actively buying vinyl. I can listen to more tracks, because I don't have to worry about things being sold out or unavailable. And if I like a track, I can dump it in my cart and buy it at my leisure, knowing that it won't go away. Plus between all the retailers out there I have a pretty massive listening booth.

But with all the availability, I don't think that DJs are just clicking BUY because tracks are available to them. They're still picking music because they like it and can use it in their sets. But with digital, I think they are also more likely to take chances, since more is available to them. I also see regional genres blow up faster than ever before because music distribution is more global than it has been in the past.

if you're spinning solely to make cash, cool, this doesn't apply to you. i'm talking about people who see DJing as the art form it is.

I don't see how that plays a part at all in this conversation. Are you implying that the mere fact that music is pressed on a vinyl platter somehow makes it art, but that same music in a digital form is somehow diminished to a kind of money grab by the DJ spinning it? I (again) don't see your logic.