PixarÕs geniuses are
The 12" record has survived the CD, DAT and MiniDisc, making it specialized music's continuous medium and a DJ's staple.ocussed
By: Geovanni Velasquez
THE VINYL JUNKIE’S FIX
I log unto www.naked-music.com and I am pleasantly introduced to the site’s trademark picture of a seductive figure urging me to ’Come In’. I do so and am met with an eye-catching website. The art direction and design is amazing, consistent with this record label’s 12" releases. And that is why I am here—for high quality soulful music on the now less than universal format of the record (CD seemed to have filled the gap that vinyl left behind). Don’t get me wrong, vinyl never left the market it just laid low while the CD made a mark. But, many people still believe that the stereophonic record (vinyl) doesn’t exist. That it went the way of the 8-track tape, Halston fashions and roller-skates. But that is farther from the truth. In fact, there is a substantial market reinforced by the introduction of the web and other media, which include a whole new breed of independent record labels that thrive solely on the manufacture and sale of the vinyl record (like the aforementioned Naked Music Recordings). This rise-again profile for vinyl has introduced a brand new way of interacting with music itself. What is happening today that makes vinyl relevant in multimedia today? And where will it take us in the future?
In 1877 Thomas Edison turned the crank of his latest invention and heard it repeat a nursery rhyme that he had just spoken into its mouthpiece. The world has never been quite the same again. That rudimentary "talking tinfoil" launched a musical and social revolution that is progressing today with technology at its side. Unfortunately, Edison did not envision this for he deserted the project and hoped someone else would take enough interest and proceed from there. That is just what happened. Even though the phonograph had fallen on dismal days, there was the assurance of its promise that continued to haunt a few isolated souls. One of these was Alexander Graham Bell, who had shown considerable interest since its infancy. He took EdisonÕs creation and refined it in several important particulars. The cylinder-like tinfoil used to reproduce the sounds, was replaced by cardboard coated with wax (a term now used in reference to the record in urban culture), in which the recording stylus engraved the pattern of its vibrations into narrow grooves-- and the record was conceptualized!
Who would have thought that without this medium, music would not be where it is today. The Beatles phenomenon would have been non-existent. Studio 54, the infamous coke-laden disco of New York City would never have been known, in fact, would probably never have happened. With the connection that the disc jockey, the records and the audience had, along with the introduction of new music application technology like the analog mixer, there was great opportunity for interactive media to take place. And that continues up until today, but, even more so with the birth of the Internet and access to endless technology. Image attending a musical event/gathering with the focus on the DJ manipulating records to come up with new sounds and incite emotions from the crowd. But, what is more amazing is that often times these events are broadcasted over the World Wide Web and are accessible to anyone. One could easily log on and share the same experience. The user might even have the choice of purchasing the music or the DJ’s work, which some companies focus on exactly that. Guidance Recordings has developed an excellent website containing their back catalogue consisting mainly of vinyl. What Guidance do thatÕs so interesting is that they have real-audio files of all their releases sampled from the vinyl itself (to the trained ear it would be obvious). One would image that they would use a more digital source (like the DATÑmaster copy) for a digital context. There is also Groovetech.com where browsing through their database of vinyl is synonymous with many links like clothing, more music and products. Vinyl’s longevity can be measured with the emergence of these websites catering to it.
Music would also not have been as sophisticated as it is today. Without having something like vinyl to set the standard, there would not have been any real leap towards various music formats. But it all depends on the individual. Some might argue that the record adds more life to the recording; that the bass and treble response give depth, and the CD taking away from that. Others swear that the CD is impeccable, picking up any frequency possible. There is also the MiniDisc, which has not deleted the record and is a little expensive. Whichever way one sees the stereophonic record, it is always going to exist. It will push the boundaries of music even further, partaking in the age of communication. Permanently staking its place in the global village.
Geovanni is currently attending SAIT with the intention of pursuing a career as a Graphic Artist. An avid music fan, he is knowledgeable in music with a lot of "SOUL" and canÕt get enough of wax.
Source:
Technics SL1200 MKll image taken from:
www.turntablelab.com
FACER E-Zine V2#1
Foundations, Projections and Issues