Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Music technology and change

I loaded a CD into the tray of our DVD player to listen the other day. It occurred to me what a thrill that was.

For the last few months, if I was listening to music, it was either streaming over the internet or on iTunes. I push a button and the music plays. How sterile.

When I go back to my house in Oklahoma, I have a complete stereo system including turntable. There is something special about taking a piece of vinyl out of cardboard and paper sleeves, laying it on the turntable, and dropping the needle on it. The cracks and the hiss of the needle on the record was a sign that you were really listening to that item and its flaws. You are participating in the music delivery process.

I used to think CDs lacked that same thrill. Now with my abundant digital collection, the thrill formerly reserved only for the LP has emerged with the CD.