Does Vinyl sound better in the club? - h3xe

In theory: No! Worse actually!

In practice: Yes kind of...

Here's why

Its all about dynamic range!

Dynamic range is the difference in amplitude from the quietest to the loudest sound. Its measured in decibels (db).

More dynamic range is good! It allows music to breathe and sound big and alive. To little dynamic range can result in a flat or hollow sound.

Vinyl vs digital

Vinyl is technically limited in its dynamic range.

16bit digital sources have 96db of dynamic range (144db for 24bit). Vinyl must work with only 60-70db on high quality Pressings.

Clubs usually play music at 110-120 db.

So vinyl is missing about 40db of headroom for the sound to breathe?

That sounds awful. Here's why its not a big deal.

The noise floor

If vinyl has a dynamic range of 70db and we amplify it to a club level of 110db what happens with the missing 40db?

Everything below the quietest sound a recording can reproduce is called the noise floor. Its noise at the "bottom" of the recording.

If we amplify the recording 40db past its dynamic range, the noise floor gets raised from 0db to 40db. This means there is a constant 40db of noise when a vinyl is being played in a club.

Understanding decibels

Decibels (db) are a logarithmic scale used to measure and describe things that are logarithmic in nature. Sound energy (amplitude) among them.

Skipping over some math and human hearing principles here, in effect this means:

The step from 100-110db is much larger than the step from 30-40db. Loud sounds carry so much more energy that they mask quiet sounds. If we hear music at 110db we wont really hear sounds below 40db anyway.

Embracing the Noise

If you've ever used white noise or nature sounds to go to sleep, you know how calming noise is to us humans. Dub Techno and Chillout producers rely on background noise to achieve a warm and soothing sound.

So maybe 40db of noise in the background of music is good. Especially when its analog and not digital noise. Some quiet details of the music might disappear into the noise floor but who really cares? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Analog vs digital

Analog is often associated with "warm organic" sound, while digital is often described as "cold and clinical".

When the music production industry switched from analog to digital, producers started using analog emulation software.

Why? We just like how it sounds!

This is the biggest strength vinyl has over digital! Its an analog filter over everything. Naturally adding warmth to any recording.

Another hidden strength lies in the mastering of vinyl records.

Vinyl mastering

The mastering for vinyl records often differs from the digital track.

Digital tracks need to compete in the "Loudness War". Vinyl records can be as loud or as quiet as is best for the sound.

Mastering and the "Loudness War" is a whole different story, but in essence it all comes back to dynamic range.

No compromises

Vinyl masters have full freedom to make the sound as "good" as it can be without needing to be "as loud" as other tracks.

This results in more dynamic range in the loudest 70db of the music where it actually matters.

Sometimes vinyl masters are even specially tuned for club environments. Making full use of big sound systems.

These are big strengths vinyl can have over digital. But its "can have" not "have". Modern algorithms are making the "Loudness War" a problem of the past.

So Vinyl sounds better?

Kind of. The sound is warmer and naturally pleasing to humans. On the other hand, it is technically limited and less precise.

If we seek a clean sound with depth, quiet details that add flair and big moments that set a room on fire, digital is probaply the way to go!

Vinyls biggest drawback in a club setting

Vinyl reproduces sound by vibrating a tiny needle over tiny grooves. If the air and walls in the room vibrate also vibrate (because of low frequency soundwaves), the needle is disturbed in its vibration pattern. This adds distortion to the sound.

Controlled Distortion is a cool thing! Techno, Hyperpop and Rage Productions all use it. Some DJ Mixers have distortion filters.

Uncontrolled Distortion can have bad to horrible consequences. The sound gets crushed, Peaks happen at wrong times and everything sounds like mush.

Why i prefer digital in loud settings (opinion)

For me the biggest difference is how cleanly Digital can reproduce basslines in all their detail.

Often i find Vinyl Sets in loud club environments to sound muddy in a nice and soothing way. Especially with heavy bass, the low end often feels like a jungle or swamp you can immerse yourself in.

Personally i prefer clean & precise basslines that fly and roll through the room. Keeping all of their rhythmic and melodic detail.

When dancing, i prefer clean melodies in the vibrations in my body more than a soothing jungle of sound i can sink into.