Over the century and a half of the existence of the record, its technology has not undergone fundamental changes. On the surface of any plate there is a groove, during the passage of which the needle vibrates, and these vibrations are converted into an audible signal.
The method of storing audio information on the tracks of disks forming a spiral is also used on modern media, however, in digital binary code.
For many decades, the main source of high-quality sound for music lovers all over the world has been LP (long-playing) and EP (for one musical number on each side) vinyl records. Both disc manufacturing technology and reproducing equipment have been constantly upgraded. At the end of the eighties of the XX century, they achieved seemingly complete perfection, and immediately became outdated, giving way to optical digital media.
Any turntable consists of two main components: a rotating stand and a pickup. Both elements in the history of the record have been modified and improved.
In gramophones and gramophones, mechanical motors were used, based on a winding spring, and the uniformity of rotation was ensured by mechanical stabilizers.
Then came the time for electric motors, which had greater stability of angular velocity, but also needed additional measures to maintain a given speed. The climax of achievements in solving the problem of uniformity of rotation was a turntable equipped with a quartz stabilizer.
The pickup also experienced no less metamorphoses, having gone from a gramophone needle connected to a membrane to a complex electromechanical system that requires proper adjustment, adjustment and compensation. A high-quality vinyl player often looks very impressive, its tonearm, equipped with counterweights and an anti-skate, gives the impression of a high-tech device, which it is.
The disadvantages of the mechanical
Of course, there are records. The sound quality is significantly affected by any damage to the surface of the plate, causing clicks, hissing and other unpleasant effects during playback.
Unlike CDs, any EP or LP cannot be played an infinite number of times, they wear out and โget dirty,โ no matter how high-end a vinyl player is. Pollution also makes it difficult to enjoy music, and eliminating them is a science. Of great importance is even the proper storage of โlayersโ. The resin from which they are made is amorphous and can bend over time.
Despite the complete and unconditional victory of digital discs, analog recording has not sunk into oblivion. Vinyl sales, of course, declined. At the same time, the records became an elite product produced for gourmet music lovers who believe that only a record provides natural, natural and โliveโ music reproduction.
The vinyl player has not moved into the category of unnecessary things also because the LP collections, which have been assembled for decades, contain rare records that are dear to their owners. It is possible that representatives of the next generations, analyzing parental things, will be interested in the music that their "ancestors" listened to.