« Lego Panoramic Camera | Main | Submit Your Photos for STEP Cover »
January 3, 2006
Scanning Film is Very Similar to Converting Vinyl to MP3's
I recently purchased a turntable, and have been attempting to optimize my system so that I can get the best sound possible from my inexpensive setup. I have my turntable connected to my computer and have been experimenting with different ways to convert my vinyl to MP3's. It struck me that this process is very similar to scanning negatives. It is more than just removing dust, and cleaning up the recording. The process of listening to records and using film photography is very physical and very personal. You manually advance the film, and you manually lift the needle. Light burns into the film, and the needle scrapes accross the vinyl. Light leaks, and vinyl crackles and pops. You carefully protect your negatives and records in sleeves.
While it is pointless to fight the digital reformation, I sense that there is a resurgence in analog. I read on Wired that, "According to the RIAA, vinyl's percentage of overall sales doubled in 2004, grossing $110 million over 2000's $72 million. This growth came at a time when overall music sales dropped from $14.4 billion to $12.2 billion." Although I have no stats to back this up, I would bet that toy cameras and older film cameras have experienced similar growth.
So what is the appeal to this seemingly outdated technology? Audiophiles and filmphiles would argue that analog is superior, but I don't think that the resurgence has much to do with this type of snobbery. It has everything to do with wanting to physicallly experience music and photography. When I put the record from my childhood on the turntable, I reconnected with the music in a way not possible through my iPod. I couldn't tell you if the sound quality was better or worse, but I do know it was more real. The same has been true of my recent fondness for antique and toy cameras. I don't know if my pictures are any better than I could have taken with a digital camera, but I know they are more personal. The results mean more to me because I was actively involved in the process.
I hope the analog revolution continues, but I don't see it ever replacing digital. I do think that vinyl and film will always exist as a powerful alternative to everything digital.
Posted by Adrian at January 3, 2006 7:25 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.adrianhanft.com/cgi-bin/MT/mt-tb.cgi/20
Comments
I think you got the right idea when you said it is less about snobbery and more to do with a physical connection. I think the same might be said of letter writing and email. Just a few months ago, down the street from a store opened up called The Regional Assembly of Text that sells nice hand made journals and cards and other such stationery. They even host a letter writing club once a month and provide typewriters!
Posted by: Neil at January 3, 2006 9:46 PM
add automatic watches to the list. even the expensive ones arent much more accurate than a simple quartz watch, but people still love them for the feel and the fact that there is no need for batteries.
Posted by: einars at January 4, 2006 1:45 PM