vinüülplaadil

Vinüülplaat, often referred to as a vinyl record, is an analog sound storage medium. It consists of a flat disc, typically made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with a continuous spiral groove etched into its surface. This groove contains a modulated waveform that represents the audio signal.

Sound is encoded onto the record by a stylus cutting a groove that varies in depth and width, or side-to-side displacement. To play a record, a turntable rotates the disc at a constant speed, usually 33 1/3 or 45 revolutions per minute. A stylus, mounted on a tonearm, tracks the groove. As the stylus moves along the groove, its vibrations are converted into an electrical signal by a cartridge. This electrical signal is then amplified and sent to loudspeakers, reproducing the original sound.

The history of the vinyl record dates back to the late 19th century, with significant advancements in the early 20th century leading to the widespread adoption of shellac and then vinyl discs. Vinyl became the dominant format for music consumption from the mid-20th century until the rise of the cassette tape and later the compact disc (CD). Despite the advent of digital audio, vinyl records have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent decades, appreciated for their perceived warm sound quality and tangible physical presence. They are often collected for their artistic packaging and the ritualistic experience of listening.