vinyl drag

Vinyl Drag is an experiment. An experiment that takes place on an unsuspecting slab of 12” vinyl.

We all know that vinyl records are vulnerable, and need to be treated with respect. Keeping to this rule I’ve always been mindful of the way that I handle all records that I come across. Now it’s time to see what happens when I don’t follow the rules. Below you will find recordings that serve as a document of degradation. Every week (or so) since October I have been using this page to post an audio recording of a 12" record that has been intentionally abused.

As with all blogs the posts work backwards with the most recent post at the top and the original track at the bottom. Click to hear the original track.
Alternatively, you can click here to be presented with just the audio posts.

Mar 18
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

You may think your speakers are turned down real low when you listen to this, but in fact the overall volume level of the track has dropped dramatically. This is recorded at the same volume level that it has always been recorded at. I think Vinyl Drag may end very soon at this rate.

Here’s the waveforms in sync shown in Logic. On top is the recording from today and underneath is the untouched original track recorded back in October. The dynamic range has drastically fallen and the clicks, pops and noise that has risen due to the degradation has made the underlying track almost invisible.