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Vinyls

Despite being generally thought of as outdated technology, there is a huge trend in the purchase and use of vinyl mediums of music. Some claim that vinyl sounds better compared to digital formats due to more depth of sound and musical detail, while others are mostly interested in it for the nostalgia or a different experience while listening to music compared to simply pressing shuffle on their phone. Other groups of people are just into it because its 'retro' and a cool thing to have. Several of my friends have record players and routinely buy new albums and, despite not having a record player myself, I often spend time browsing through old records at thrift stores.

How Does a Turntable Work? - Science Channel

Record players have no rewind or shuffle button and can play music for about 25 minutes before needing to flip or replace the vinyl disc. Unlike most data-storing technologies used today, records store music mechanically, not electronically. The discs are made out of polyvinyl-chloride, PVC, hence their name, vinyls and  store music with tracks formed from small grooves etched around the disc. They are read while rotating at a constant speed, around 33.3 or 45 rpm (Ghassaei, 2015).
Image result for how does record player work
Electron Microscope Record Image - Amanda Ghassaei

Record players consist of three key components: the stylus, cartridge, and arm (Science Channel, 2016). The stylus makes contact with the vinyl by fitting into the grooves (Science Channel, 2016). The walls of the grooves cause the stylus to vibrate as the vinyl spins, and these vibrations continue along the lever attached to the needle, which eventually leads into the cartridge (Science Channel, 2016). Inside the cartridge are two coils, a right-coil and a left-coil, and the lever which contains a magnet at its end. The magnet's movement causes electrical signals to generate in the coils, based on the direction of movement (Science Channel, 2016). The signals are then sent to the arm and are amplified into sound. The speakers are then able to project the sounds encoded by the record.

The Scientist (Vinyl) - The Scientist

References: 
Ghassaei, Amanda. (2015). 3D Printed Record. Retrieved from: http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Record/

MrVinylObsessive. (22 Aug 2014). The Scientist (Vinyl) - Coldplay. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIyzHSycJ1E

Science Channel. (21 April 2016). How Does a Turntable Work? Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cyphJLljAM


Comments

  1. UnknownApril 8, 2017 at 9:06 AM

    A very interesting and well-written post explaining how vinyl records and record players produce sound. Loved the Coldplay soundtrack on vinyl for "The Scientist." I am going to miss reading your postings and listening to your song selections! JM

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