What happened to Vinyl Records

Where Has All The Vinyl Gone?

The terms "album" and "record" and "vinyl" have all become linked to a time in music history where recording artists sold their wares on plastic, grooved disks that came wrapped in paper sleeves and decorated with art. These were the CD's and MP3's of the that era, and turntables, often simply called record players, were the means to access them. When audiotapes began to encroach on the record market the days were numbered for vinyl albums.

Today audiophiles are an enthusiastic minority in the world of music-dom. Because the needs of these fans of vinyl are great enough, advancements in turntable technology, such as the needles, cartages, arms and motors that turn the tables are still being improved upon. The hip-hop industry, which uses turntables to literally scratch vinyl records in order to produce unique, funky sounds and samples, is also a great source of custom for those manufacturers who still deal in turntables.

While it would not be of much use to DJ's who scratch turntables, one such advancement is being worked on today. Initially designed in the 1980's but unable to produce quality sound until recently, laser turntables use a beam of light to read the grooves in vinyl records, completely eliminating wear produced by traditional needles. This is evidence, along with the continuing popularity of DJ music, that the turntable, though nearly extinguished by the very same scientific drive responsible for its creation, will be around for years to come.

Music