Vinyl Record Storage

Why Drum And Bass Vinyl Records Represent A Body Blow To The MP3

When it comes to drum and bass vinyl records, it really seems to make little sense to use any other format. Despite all of the advances in technology and computer file storage and compression, not to mention portability, it is gratifying to know that there are still forms of music, genres and sub genres being created today which demand and require a form of storage and media which turns entirely away from the digital era.

For all of the advances in computer power, with CDs and MP3s seemingly everywhere you look, from websites to hanging round the necks of teenagers, from mobile phones to glued to the front of magazines and newspapers, there seems to be no escaping the older formats of music, the vinyl records, with genres of music thriving on the vinyl disks, and not just thriving – but actually needing such a format to be fully appreciated.

I’ve talked a lot in the past about the way that vinyl adds a quality to music which is bleached out by the digital manipulation of binary files. The computerized digitization of music seems to erase any individuality, any spark of individualism. But the popularity of drum and bass music has meant that vinyl represents more than just a pleasing alternative, an individual style or a more versatile way to experiment with the performance.

The fact is that artists and producers creating drum & bass vinyl records are not expecting the music to be transferred to any other format, and this is more than obvious if you’ve ever tried listening to a D&B track on your iPod. You might start to wonder why the introduction is so long, and why when the song is finished the drum and bass routine just seems to go on forever. There’s a good reason for this – you weren’t meant to hear that part. Or at least, you weren’t meant to hear that part of the drum & bass track because it was designed to be played about with by the DJs.

As with most house music, whether garage, RNB, hip hop, jungle, breakbeat or the many other genres and sub genres which exist within the urban music culture, it is not intended for you to just sit back passively and listen to the music, but for you to participate in it. This is very true with D&B or drum & bass vinyl records. The intro and outros have been extended deliberately to allow DJs to mix, fade and play around with the tracks, creating unique ways of incorporating the music into the session.

This is so much the case that in several cases artists and producers have provided DJs with either pre-release versions to experiment with, to make sure that the D&B tracks are played, tested and experimented with, or even exclusive D&B tracks with extended intro and outro sections. It’s for this reason that it makes almost no sense at all to just sit passively and listen to this extended routine of drums and bass.

This is also the same reason why when it comes to drum & bass music vinyl is the only practical answer. You can’t effectively scratch, mix or fade MP3 files into each other. I know that software exists that enables you to simulate these sorts of effects, but they have a real disadvantage – there’s no hands on feel involved. Just pushing buttons offers little in the way of spontaneous creativity. Top DJs don’t use computers, MP3s or even CDs as the main way to play with and experiment with the music.

It’s important to be able to get physically involved with the music – whether that’s dancing or actually getting your hands dirty in the vinyl basket. Drum & bass is very much about feeling the music. Most home systems just simply can’t handle the bass effectively, and the whole idea of this music is to feel it through your body as much as listen to it. This is another reason why plugging your earphones in and listening to it on your iPod seems to make little sense. You’re never going to feel the music. But getting yourself out to a house event, a nightclub or rave party where drum & bass music is in evidence will very much allow you to feel the music.

Whether feeling the music as vibrations rushing through your body as you dance the night away, or getting your hands on the grooves and playing about with the drum & bass vinyl records in a tactile and experimental way, there’s no denying that when it comes to drum & bass music vinyl is the only practical form of media to use in order to fully appreciate the genre.

Where can I find storage for vinyl records?

Solid State Drives (SSDs)

Of all the technologies found in a modern computer, I would have to say that over the past decade the device that has done the least to raise its game is the humble hard drive. It could be argued that over the years they have enjoyed significant increases in capacity, have become a great deal faster and a fair bit smaller, but for some time now it has been clear that the main storage device for your computer is also its biggest bottleneck.

My first hard drive held 20MB and I’m currently using one which holds 1TB so although I can admit that a 50,000 times increase in capacity is a substantial development, this doesn’t deter from the fact that the technology involved has remained very much unchanged. A hard disk relies on a number of spinning discs, referred to as platters which are then read by a read-and-write head; the closest and rather crude approximation would be to think of a vinyl record being read by a stylus. Clearly the disadvantage of this technology is that it relies on moving parts and hence is limited in speed by the physical restrictions on the device, along with suffering potential reliability problems caused by having several magnetic discs each haphazardly spinning at 7,200 times a minute inside your machine.

A technology that has been threatening to break in to the mainstream consumer market for some time now is the Solid State Disk (SSD) which stores its data on flash memory chips rather than magnetic platters; much in the same way as a little USB memory key, otherwise known as a flash drive. A greater number of chips, therefore a larger storage capacity can be accomodated with the SSD as it is physically larger than a flash drive in size. The speed of the memory used and the actual interface between the SSD and the computer is significantly faster than utilised by a flash drive and hence more suitable for the intensive access required when using it as your main storage device.

Defragmentation is no longer required as the physical limitations of the hard disk are banished. Unlike a hard drive which would have to physically move to several positions on the disc to read a file that was split in to several pieces across the platter, it takes no longer to read data from several positions on a memory chip rather than just the one. The drive is more energy efficient and virtually silent because of the lack of movement.

One might wonder why we are still using the old cumbersome hard drives if such a technology is currently available and unfortunately there is one real sticking point. Compared to the production cost of a hard drive platter, the price of flash memory is relatively high so while you can pick up a 64GB SSD for around

how could i make a storage box for vinyl records?

I’m wanting to try and make my own storage box for my records, but don’t know what material i could use or how to put it together. so i need ideas and suggestions? thanks.

What Are The Popular CD/DVD Standard Formats?

The first format that was created for CDs was the audio CD. It was meant to succeed the vinyl record as a method for storing and playing music and was called the Compacy Disc Digital Audio. Cassettes and records were the primary methods of carrying audio, but they had problems that were addressed with the help of CDs. The quality of the vinyl on the record could degrade as you kept playing it back, which could lead to lower sound quality, which CDs fixed.

The “Red Book,” so named because of the color that the cover sports, shows that the medium standard for your typical Compact Disc is meant to carry a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz, and two channel 16-bit PCM encoding is used to convey the audio, giving it a high standard for quality. While cassette tapes or records usually have monaural recordings, you could not do that with CDs, so mono tracks were just presented as two channels that sounded identical.

Though the Red Book Standard claims that you can use four channel sound, commercial CDs have not used this; instead DVD audio is usually the standard for that particular format. When CDs first came into prominence, they were resisted at first by music aficionados that touted the superior sound quality of vinyl, which is something that some people still hold to today. The origin of this belief stems from the fact that early CDs used the cost cutting measure of having 14-bit digital-to-analog converters in lieu of the usual 16-bit ones, but that is in the past. Though technology has caught up, the discussion still rages as to which is better, vinyl or CD.

Compact Discs

A CD is a format that uses an optical disc to carry data in a digital format. Sony and Philips created this particular format together in 1980; it was meant to replace the vinyl record and provide a more secure method of carrying data. As they first looked into creating this design, they wanted to look at a 60 minute playing time for that format. Norio Oga, the vice president of Sony at the time, thought about that particular time limit so it would fit the 1951 recording of Beethoven’s Symphony #9. In later years, 80 minutes became the new time limit.

As the time passed, the format would expand and further itself, with CD-ROMS that could carry computer data to VCDs and SVCDs, which are video compact discs that could hold interactive media and photos as well, providing new ways to use the medium. Though the CD has been around for more than two decades, it is still the primary media for audio files.

CD-i

Interactive media uses this type of CD. This had audio on it, but the first track instead held extra information which would not be displayed on the table of contents for the CD. So when it was placed in a regular CD player, it would not play that track.

Though CD-i did not last long, it was used mostly for children’s games and interactive coloring books.

CD-Text

The Red Book Standard also talks about CD-Text, which is a format that includes the audio tracks, along with text that provides the artist, track and album names. Though this feature is typical in most CDs now, there are some disks or hardware that does not use this. More and more new cars are including this feature in order to show data about your CDs. CD+Graphics (CD+G) and CD+ Extended Graphics (CD+EG/CD+XG)

These formats have data on the audio, both in text format and in picture format, so you have more data on your tracks. While they operate normally in regular CD players, if you have a unique player you will be able to see added graphical information. For the most part, karaoke machines use these formats to display the lyrics so you can follow along.

CD-ROM

When the CD first came out, audio playback was its only purpose. However, five years after its release, Philips and Sony thought they could use the same medium to display computer information. If you had a CD-ROM drive on your computer, you could play DVD-ROM disks.

Video CD(VCD) and Super Video CD (SVCD)

When the VCD and SVCD came out, they were the primary method of viewing video from a CD, and both DVD players and VCD players could use them.

With VCDs, you could get VHS-level quality on the video, with improved visuals on the SVCD.

Picture and Photo CDs

Kodak developed the CD for use as a data storage medium to put your photos on, calling them Picture and Photo CDs. While they sound similar, there are significant differences in these two formats. With the Photo CD, you can hold 100 images of high quality images; the Picture CD, however, you can place far more images on them, but they are compressed JPEGs.

SACD (Super Audio CD)

This format is like the regular CD-DA, but the audio is at a much higher resolution, making the sound far better than a typical CD. With the advent of DVD-Audio, SACDs were created in order to combat its popularity, though the fact remains that DVD Audio did not catch on very well.

With an SACD, you will also be able to have a hybrid disc that includes both regular CD and SACD audio, giving you two options for quality on your tracks. That feature also permits you to play these SACDs in regular CD players and still hear the tracks.

CD-R (CD Recordable)

CD-Rs are CDs that have a photosensitive dye that the data spiral receives in the manufacturing process. The CD burner will then use a laser to alter the dye’s color, imparting the information and giving it the ability to be played in a regular CD player, so its read laser can interpret the information.

While CD-R burns are intended to put the information on the disk forever, there is research that indicates, that the media will be unreadable over time. Though a physical CD can endure for up to a century, you might not have the same time frame with the information placed on it, due to the quality of the disk, how you store it, or how well the drive works. There are even tests that indicate an 18 month shelf life for burned CDs, especially if you do not take good enough care of your CDs.

CD-RW (CD Rewritable)

Compared to colored dyes in CD-R, CD-RWs use metallic allow to carry their information. When the write laser is used in the burner, the alloy is heated up in order to make the allow reflect the information on the disc. In this manner, it is turned into a typical CD and it can store the data.

Enhanced CDs

Enhanced CDs were utilized to put extra computer-related information onto an audio CD, thereby increasing the value of their music discs. If you had a CD-ROM drive, you could access unique features and data on your computer.

Once computers started to get more prevalent in the late 90s, more Enhanced CDs were created. Once Iron Maiden started to remaster their albums, they made their rereleases Enhanced CDs.

CD Recording

If you want to put data of your own onto a CD, there are many ways in which you can do it. There are CD-R, which necessitate making a permanent copy of your data, or CD-RWs, which allow you to rewrite and overwrite as you see fit.

DVDs

Much like a CD, a DVD, or Digital Versatile Disc, is a format meant to store digital data. It can store both video and audio, as well as normal computer information. Though DVDs and CDs may look nearly identical on the surface, DVDs have a much greater storage capacity. While CDs were expanded to provide a plethora of formats used for different purposes, DVDs have only yielded DVD Video and DVD Audio.

DVD-RAM

DVD-Random Access Memory is utilized mostly to back up data for computers in the event of an emergency. Compared to DVD writable and rewritable formats, DVD-RAM is far more efficient and durable due to the defect management capabilities and error control integrated into the medium. What’s more, data can last much longer on a DVD-RAM, and has a greater capability of being rewritten than RW discs on the whole. If you want to store data for a long time, this is the preferred method.

DVD-R and DVD+R

Both of these formats are fairly similar in their purpose, but they do the same job in fairly different ways, making them quite dissimilar. They work not unlike recordable CDs in that dyes are used to store the information. Whatever the format, you are meant to put video or data onto the disk using these dyes; though they both do the same thing, they do so in technically different ways, though this is inconsequential to the typical consumer due to the compatibility of the formats.

Due to this lack of real difference between consumers, there is no clear winner on the market, so both formats are here to stay for right now, as the public has not decided on one or the other.

DVD-RW and DVD+RW

Users can rewrite data onto a DVD disc using one of these formats, which both perform the same function They act just like CD-RWs in that metallic alloys are the secret to recording this overwritable data to a DVD; also, just like with DVD-R and DVD+R formats, both formats are equally preferred and fairly identical, so there is no winner on that format. Since they are both compatible with burners and players of DVDs, no single format will win out.

DVD Audio

DVD-As or DVD Audio, is a method of fitting a DVD with high quality audio tracks. While this is a form of DVD, it is not meant to carry video, and carries few similarities. DVD-As do, however, allow you to have your music in a variety of formats from uncompressed mono to compressed 5.1 digital surround sound.

The year 2000 saw the release of DVD-As, where it started to compete with SACDs. In the end, both formats lost out to the lasting impact of the CD.

DVD Recording

You can also record with DVDs, much like you could with audio CDs; there are recordable formats that you can use to put your own data onto a DVD, such as DVD-R and DVD+R where you can write it once to a disc, or DVD-RW and DVD+RW where you can keep rewriting, not to mention DVD-RAM.

DVD Video

In this day and age, most people get their digital video media in the form of DVD. Japan brought out this product in 1996, and it started to dethrone VHS very rapidly. While Blu-Ray format is newer, it is still too expensive and not widespread enough to beat DVDs except in Japan.

With a DVD Video, you get MPEG-2 files that are compressed to fit a movie or television show, but the video quality is much better than a VHS. There are even features such as menus, chapters, subtitles and even featurettes and extra audio tracks you can add on.

How do you store your old vinyl record albums?

I am looking for a solution and am not able to think of many options. Has anyone used or seen a good system for record album storage? I want them in my home available at my fingertips.
Thank you… I guess you can only get SO creative with such a thing!

How should I store vinyl records?

I have just started collecting records again and don’t know how to best store my vinyl. Many times I am mailed the record next to but not inside the jacket. Is there a reason for this? Will the jacket get a circular imprint from the record? Should I store my records outside their jackets? What’s the best temperature for storing vinyl? Are there products for audiophiles that are worth buying, that improve vinyl storage? Thanks.

Turntables, Needles and Belts – Oh My!

Ahhh, the sweet sound of a vinyl record spinning on a turntable playing the music that you love. No matter what kind of music that you listen to, it just sounds better via this format. And if the vinyl revival is any indication, these treasures of sound are not fading away anytime soon.

In fact, new sales figures from SoundScan indicate the renewed interest in this historic audio format. In 2009, the sale of records has already topped the one million mark (through May). SoundScan is predicting that the sale of vinyl will reach 2.8 million units sold in 2009; up from 2008′s figure of 1.9 million units sold; a record high since the counting giant has been tabulating music formats sales.

Electronic companies also are seeing a renewed interest and a jump in sales of turntables or, as they used to be called, record players. People of all ages are resurrecting old turntables that have been stored away in attics and closets as the music industry has reveled in the digital age.

However, a couple decades of turntable storage will necessitate a couple of new parts to play those old and new records. Luckily, for the vinyl record consumer, there are a handful of places where one can still find the parts to get a turntable spinning again. Whether you seek a new cartridge, belt, preamp or needle (aka stylus) or are not sure what you need, one thing is certain; your local music shop stands almost no chance of easing your search. We found just one place online that not only had these items but had a posted warranty, toll-free number, live chat and electronics technician on staff.

Speaking with Steve Winokur from www.turntableneedles.com, we can understand why the site has become a Mecca for all who wish to restore their equipment. In this Q&A session, let’s explore more about what they do and how they help people with their turntable needs:

Tell us more about your company, why you started it:

”We used to be a consumer electronics repair facility in the 1990′s,” details Steve. “TV, camcorder, VCR, CD, stereo, and even a few turntables can in for repair. We started operations in 1992. For the 1st several years I don’t remember anyone coming in for a turntable belt save a few turntables a year that needed repair. Then, in the late 1990′s, local walk-ins started coming in about once a month. They wanted a belt for their turntable! My VCR belt sources also had turntable belts so I ordered some in.”

”Back then internet was getting big so I bought the name turntablebelts.com. After several months, I launched the site. After several more months I grossed enough to pay my rent on the repair facility and this made things very exciting to say the least. It was only natural to try my hand at selling needles. Over the past decade, countless 1000′s of hours have been poured into making the difficult task of finding the right needle as easy as possible for the consumer. The result is the website you see today.”

What do you think of the vinyl revival and what has it done for your business?

”We can now declare…’The analog resurgence is on!’ Orders are strong despite the economy. People all over the planet are pulling out the old turntable, installing a new needle and belt and spinning vinyl again. Why? Well how else can you listen to all your favorite tunes from yesteryear at such a low cost? Not only are people transferring their vinyl to digital to save the expense of buying titles in digital if they can even be found, but they are also playing records again just for the nostalgia or pure enjoyment.”

”As we all know, music is good for the soul. At this time in history, millions of people still have the music of their youth just sitting around. Many are realizing that for the price of a CD or two or three, they can get their turntable back up and running with a new belt and needle and be able to listen to dozens of albums that they likely already love. There’s no risk of paying $18.99 and only getting one good song on a CD. What a great way to forget the troubles of life for an hour. Real music once again. No podphones, and no seek button, an album is an event, not a scan.”

Tell me some of the common problems that customers have:

”There is really only one that stands out…..”How’d I get the WRONG needle?” Well, about 25% of the time, someone has changed the cartridge from what was originally installed on a turntable. So, when a customer looks up their needle by the model number of the turntable and pays no attention to the currently installed cartridge or does not match the photo result to their needle they may experience a 25% chance of getting it wrong, thus resulting in an exchange. Always check the cartridge number.”

”In ALL cases, the foolproof way to get the right needle the 1st time is to focus completely on the number of the cartridge or needle that is currently installed, not necessarily the model number (though that still may help). But beware the two stumbling blocks:

A) Often there is no part number on the needle or cartridge (or it may be hidden under the headshell on top of the cartridge).

B) The part number in the owner’s manual is still valid ONLY if the cartridge has never been changed!”

Tell me more about your search feature; is this a database that you wrote?

”Yes. We’ve gleaned info from numerous old out of print books. Scanned the info into optical recognition software and then proofread every single result of which there are well over 100,000 cross references. At www.turntableneedles.com, “Find My Player” is our flagship search tool and is an innovative search window that takes you straight to the parts you seek. It includes over 80,000 individual models showing the most common parts required. Often the old info is not clear visually or the intent is not clear. Since the info from say the 50′s and 60′s is intended for human consumption not computers, then a range of models might be listed that all use the same needle. So, it might say that for models 1300 thru 1350 use needle number 123. Wow, talk about tricky. The maker might have only made 5 models within the range of 1300 to 1350. What to do? We had to go thru and extrapolate data using deductive reasoning and internet research. Such that the resulting data is somewhat different as we try to individually list each model or part number so that search engines can pick up a match.”

”We constantly work behind the scenes to improve our site. We just added several hundred more ceramic cartridges and idler wheels to our site. We specialize more in obsolete, impossible to find needles and ceramic cartridges, more so than say current production DJ needles,” said Steve.

What is the best way to listen to music (not a trick question) and why?

”Wasn’t there a Star Trek Next Generation episode where everyone got addicted to a new video game and the ship almost crashed as a result?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo5S5NXL7vI

”In my town it seems that about 75% of the pedestrians have these little white things with wires stuck in there ears. I hope society doesn’t crash from so many people becoming addicted to some little white pod, unable to socialize or have a quiet walk. With exceptions, music listening, I believe should be an event, not a crutch for a mind afraid to be by itself or a brain that is addicted to constant noise.”

Do you have an interesting story that you remember about a certain order?

”Sure, the order “that never was”. It was a cold dark night…….oops wrong order. We have one comment a potential customer left over at:”

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/TurntableNeedles_AVCR_Electronics

”I think it was a few years ago but the customer was able to get their unit back up and running with NO parts required. We told them what to do to solve the problem on their own. At the above link you will find dozens of stories written by verified customers.”

So, bring out those old turntables and join in with the vinyl revival. The sound of your music will be better and your listening experience much more enjoyable. While you’re at it, share the great sound with someone caught up in the digital age, they will find a sound that their ears have been missing all along.

Duramax Vinyl Shed For All-Purpose Storage

If you are looking for a reliable storage shed that is not easily damaged by weather conditions and prone to rotting and decay, a Duramax vinyl shed will serve your purpose well. Duramax is a division of US Polymers Inc, which is a highly regarded manufacturer of PVC compounds in the US. Duramax sheds are sure to satisfy the most discerning buyer. The company uses an innovative vinyl formulation that guarantees that Duramax products are of the best quality.

If your location sees a lot of sun, you will find that a Duramax vinyl shed has tough resistance to extreme heat. It is also designed to be fire-resistant, minimizing the hazard in areas where heat can reach record-highs. At the same time, vinyl sheds made by Duramax are tough that it can withstand winds of up to 115 mph. Your shed will not easily cave in to snow that may accumulate on the shed roof.

A Duramax vinyl shed comes with sturdy walls that are strengthened further by galvanized steel wall columns and steel roof systems. You will not have to repaint your vinyl shed nor worry about rotting, denting, mildew, and termite damage. A Duramax shed retains its original color no matter what type of weather it is exposed to.

More Features

It is true that with vinyl sheds, your options are limited when it comes to colors and designs. Duramax has offered a solution to this by making sure that its products are aesthetically acceptable, if not totally appealing.
Duramax vinyl sheds come in a variety of interesting colors that it would not be difficult to find a model that not only serves your needs, but looks good on your yard. Designs are also remarkable. One of the most popular Duramax vinyl shed is the one with grain-patterned light beige walls and layered roofs.

The double-door feature is another characteristic Duramax vinyl sheds are known for. This makes it ideal for moving large equipment in and out of the shed. Other special features such as vents, skylights, windows, shelving kits, door locks, and so on are available for buyers who may want them.

Anyone can have his own prefabricated Duramax vinyl shed and set it up within just a few hours. For a reasonable price, building a garden shed has never been more convenient. A shed kit comes with parts that have been prepared by professional carpenters. They are drilled and numbered accordingly for easy installation. Some buyers claim that it takes only around three hours to put a Duramax vinyl shed together.

Models range from 5′ to 10′ series. Make sure you have measured and levelled the area where the garden shed will be erected. It would also be wise to plan which items you are going to or set up in the shed and where they are going to be place before making an order. Include furniture like shelves and work benches when planning.

Why Techno Vinyl Records Are Such A Successful Fusion

Techno vinyl records might at first seem a contradiction in terminology, with techno music encompassing all that is technological, computerized, digitized and that which relates to the future. On the other hand, vinyl reminds us of pre-computerized simplicity, reduced quality of sound, imperfect music reproduction and an age that had yet to be introduced to compact disks and MP3s.

But this apparent fusion of old versus new is ideal, and many techno enthusiasts still seek the vinyl format of modern techno music. Why is this? What can possibly be the appeal of techno music and older vinyl formatting? The answer is, perhaps, that although techno, like so many other forms of computer generated or computer synthesized music, can be clinical and harsh without the softening realism of vinyl, it is those very imperfections and background noises which seem to bring the music alive. To the new, younger generation this can sometimes seem strange, but for those a little older, who can appreciate the subtler benefits of music media, vinyl brings a whole dimension to any music form, and helps to bring a sense of warmth and tangibility to modern, synthesized sounds.

Of course, plenty of recording studios, artists and DJs have tried to emulate the sound and effects of vinyl through computerized, synthesized forms. Yet to the real connoisseur, such differences are more than obvious. Above all, vinyl records increase the opportunity for individuality, performance and spontaneity – all missing from performances generated solely through disks, files and computerized storage.

Techno itself can be a hard form of music to define, although others might argue that its definition is very simple. It is one of the more mainstream forms of computer synthesized music, or computer generated music, with its roots simultaneously in house, trance and jazz. There are elements of house and hard house music, whilst at the same time some of the soothing, more melodious aspects detectable within trance music, and electric trance in particular. But there are also strong influences from the world of jazz, and since techno began in Chicago, this relationship between jazz and computerized music is perhaps not so surprising.

Because of the varied ancestry which techno music has enjoyed, and the difficulty in defining it as a discrete music style, there have been many attempts by music artists to break in to the nightclub music scene through the use of techno music, or at least through branding their music as techno. In some cases this has been successful, but in many cases it has not, with techno fans simply viewing the music as pop songs with a jazzed up a beat. Nonetheless, techno music as a genre has become one of the more widespread music styles to break out of the rave, techno and trance scenes and hit great popularity both in and away from nightclub scenes.

For the aficionados of the techno world, vinyl records will always be around and will always be the medium of choice. There are certainly DJs and music fans who have techno music in many other forms and formats, such as CD and MP3, and there are many advantages and benefits of having music in this form. Perhaps the most obvious is the ability to carry it around, and portable music has definitely become something of a fashion, with technology providing this facility. Vinyls are far less portable, but despite this apparent drawback, remain popular and distinctive.

When it comes to techno music vinyl offers something real, something less than perfect – something individual. It is easy to see technology as capable of punching out identical, flawless results time after time, but this is to misunderstand the nature of techno music. Techno is not about flawlessness or perfection, it is not about sterile, clinical digitization – it is about music, and about enjoying it, and if that means keeping vinyl alive, then that is, after all, what music should always be about.