Damn I was going to ask you this question at the Denton Record Convention last weekend but we ran out of time. Thanks for the info! I love colored vinyl glad to hear I am not doing myself harm.
Here’s the funny thing: even the Black vinyl records are color vinyl! However, I have heard no difference between any color vinyl and black vinyl or even clear vinyl.
Was checking to see if someone stated this before I posted a comment. Indeed, black is not the natural color of vinyl pellets -- so yes, Black Vinyl *is* Colored Vinyl!
I have a Black Pumas colored vinyl LP. It is mostly red translucent but with some opaque cream splatter going across the disc for about a 4” of needle travel. While listening to the record on my Arya Stealth headphones there is a very obvious surface noise increase as soon as the needle travels over the cream colored section of the disc. Now once the music starts playing loud, I cannot hear it. But during quiet sections and silence, it is obvious. This pretty much proves that the material to make the cream color is noisier. So, color does matter sometimes.
The color isn't the major problem here, it's the mastering and mostly the process BEFORE the actual vinyl is pressed (as it was mentioned in the video). Even multi-colored or splatter vinyl could sound awesome, if it is made properly and with care. Most problematic are those records, which glow in the dark. I never discovered a copy with zero surface noise.
the only whisper quiet, new vinyl i own are metallica, helloween, and old columbia jazz reissues, plants need to package in poly/static free sleeves. so many releases come in that card stock style sleeve and are full of gunk from the factory AND borderline vacuum sealed with static which presses the gunk into the grooves
I have some really shite Rhino Records pressings ...then I have some blown away sublime "audiphile" pressings like Diverse Vinyl ...a good video if you haven't done one is what things add up to make an audiphile quality pressing
It is rare to be able to to a side-by-side comparison of the same record (same mastering and pressing plant) that is a regular black vinyl, a solid colored vinyl or some variation of splatter or picture disc. I've heard a glow-in-the-dark version of Magna Carta Cartel's "Dying Option" record and it was a noisy mess with background noise so loud it drowned out vocals in the calmer sections of some songs. The regular black vinyl version is a VAST improvement. I would chalk this down to a simple quality assurance issue as Dustin mentions, with wrong temperatures being used, dirt in the machines, etc. The more predictable the materials (PVC) used in making the record, the better. A transparent multi-colored splatter with a glitter effect is way more likely to have issues than a record that is just a solid color.
It's hard to know. I have some colored LPs from 60s/70s that sound fantastic. I just really depends on the particular pressing. But yeah....I believe the stigma around BLACK sounding better than other colors dates backs many years. But these days is completely false.
I have a question: How does a dye create surface noise? Does it contain impurities that clog grooves, or does it chemically degrade the vinyl in some way? I remember being told to avoid picture discs back in the '70s and '80s because they were often made of cruder clear plastics, sandwiching a piece of printed paper, so that makes sense. I remember the days of the petrochemical "vinyl shortage" in the '70s, when LPs were often pressed from old, recycled resulting in discs that often had contaminants (dust, dirt, bits of old labels) stamped into them. They tended to have a lot of sandpapery background noise (and whooshes in the silence between tracks). That gave birth to the "100 percent virgin vinyl" sales pitch. So, I guess what I'm wondering is: Is the noise really the dye, or is it the result of a bad pressing or otherwise tainted vinyl? Does exposure to heat (maybe in a warehouse before it makes it to the store) create noise (in addition to possibly warping the record?). I've had to return a couple of Blue Note Tone Poet pressings recently because they had distortion from what sounded like bleed-through from one groove to an adjacent one. Not the usual faint whisper, but jarring blurts (usually from a trumpet!).
If the color additives (including black) are not broken down and smoothed out enough then it’s creates impurities, and thus surface noise, in the grooves of the record. As Dustin explained, the compounders these days have it worked out to where that it not an issue - not one caused by any color additives at least. It’s all the other steps in the process where imperfections occur if not executed perfectly
Yep. The guy who pressed them, I forgot his name, said in a Detroit Techno documentary he did that because they were 25 cents a piece if he used recycled vinyl. He said sometimes there would even be pieces of label stuck in them. Lol
I know way more about LPs, 45, 78, transcription disks .. than anyone on YT. The turn table has changed for the worst part. Not only are they not in true stereo, but the New turntables do not play back LP's the correct way. and often just sound horrible! I have been remastering the Lp,45,78's for a long while now (As I am now 41 as of aug 5th).
@@NTXVinyl Not stereo! Well, I had no Idea of that info... I will explain later, My left ear has become swollen and now, the bone around the ear lobe has started to push outward.
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There are a lot of collectors out there than only buy coloured vinyl. Mostly, young people. I don't think they ever noticed any difference because they simply don't have any black vinyl. On my collection I have a few coloured, not a lot, and I don't find any problems.
@@NTXVinyl I have a few pic discs only for the art side of things but never played any of them. I do have playable versions of them all. The rabbit holes we jump down lol. Cheers for the response and videos they're much appreciated. Have a good one enjoy.😀
I’m an older collector and had a few pictures discs and never played, but I assumed when I bought them in the early 90’s, they would play like a black wax records. Had no idea the quality would be sub standard.
I have heard that the black dye consist mainly of graphite, wich is a good conductor. This reduces the build up of static electricity compared to other colors. Is this a myth or the truth and nothing but.
It’s all about the surface noise… especially on a good system with headphones… splatter is by far the noisiest in this situation… clear and black as well as transport colors are more difficult to tell apart…
Here’s the funny thing: even the Black vinyl records are color vinyl! However, I have heard no difference between any color vinyl and black vinyl or even clear vinyl.
![They Might Be Giants - Flood [Full Album MIDIs]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AZk-Y-FyZaQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Damn I was going to ask you this question at the Denton Record Convention last weekend but we ran out of time. Thanks for the info! I love colored vinyl glad to hear I am not doing myself harm.
Good video - thanks!
You're welcome!
Here’s the funny thing: even the Black vinyl records are color vinyl! However, I have heard no difference between any color vinyl and black vinyl or even clear vinyl.
Was checking to see if someone stated this before I posted a comment. Indeed, black is not the natural color of vinyl pellets -- so yes, Black Vinyl *is* Colored Vinyl!
I have a Lot of color vinyl and i find out that all of My red vinyl is noisy. I dont know if it is a coincidence.
I have a Black Pumas colored vinyl LP. It is mostly red translucent but with some opaque cream splatter going across the disc for about a 4” of needle travel. While listening to the record on my Arya Stealth headphones there is a very obvious surface noise increase as soon as the needle travels over the cream colored section of the disc. Now once the music starts playing loud, I cannot hear it. But during quiet sections and silence, it is obvious. This pretty much proves that the material to make the cream color is noisier. So, color does matter sometimes.
Black vinyl is colored vinyl. The question you should ask is does the compound used to color the vinyl affect the sound.
That is all addressed in the video.
@@NTXVinyl poorly
The color isn't the major problem here, it's the mastering and mostly the process BEFORE the actual vinyl is pressed (as it was mentioned in the video). Even multi-colored or splatter vinyl could sound awesome, if it is made properly and with care. Most problematic are those records, which glow in the dark. I never discovered a copy with zero surface noise.
Exactly. The color has no bearing on sound
Where do picture disks land in this discussion? Thanks
Totally different process and material. I’ve heard decent ones, but in general they are very noisy because of how they are made.
@@NTXVinyl thanks for that. I was looking a new Black Sabbath collection coming out. Maybe I should pass on it.
the only whisper quiet, new vinyl i own are metallica, helloween, and old columbia jazz reissues, plants need to package in poly/static free sleeves. so many releases come in that card stock style sleeve and are full of gunk from the factory AND borderline vacuum sealed with static which presses the gunk into the grooves
Agreed on paper sleeves. Dustin and I touch on that in the full interview which airs soon
I have some really shite Rhino Records pressings ...then I have some blown away sublime "audiphile" pressings like Diverse Vinyl ...a good video if you haven't done one is what things add up to make an audiphile quality pressing
It is rare to be able to to a side-by-side comparison of the same record (same mastering and pressing plant) that is a regular black vinyl, a solid colored vinyl or some variation of splatter or picture disc. I've heard a glow-in-the-dark version of Magna Carta Cartel's "Dying Option" record and it was a noisy mess with background noise so loud it drowned out vocals in the calmer sections of some songs. The regular black vinyl version is a VAST improvement. I would chalk this down to a simple quality assurance issue as Dustin mentions, with wrong temperatures being used, dirt in the machines, etc.
The more predictable the materials (PVC) used in making the record, the better. A transparent multi-colored splatter with a glitter effect is way more likely to have issues than a record that is just a solid color.
I thought this rumor was from 60's/70's when the RARE color vinyl from back then DID sound crappier. Today's color vinyl? It's awesome
It's hard to know. I have some colored LPs from 60s/70s that sound fantastic. I just really depends on the particular pressing. But yeah....I believe the stigma around BLACK sounding better than other colors dates backs many years. But these days is completely false.
I have a question: How does a dye create surface noise? Does it contain impurities that clog grooves, or does it chemically degrade the vinyl in some way? I remember being told to avoid picture discs back in the '70s and '80s because they were often made of cruder clear plastics, sandwiching a piece of printed paper, so that makes sense. I remember the days of the petrochemical "vinyl shortage" in the '70s, when LPs were often pressed from old, recycled resulting in discs that often had contaminants (dust, dirt, bits of old labels) stamped into them. They tended to have a lot of sandpapery background noise (and whooshes in the silence between tracks).
That gave birth to the "100 percent virgin vinyl" sales pitch. So, I guess what I'm wondering is: Is the noise really the dye, or is it the result of a bad pressing or otherwise tainted vinyl? Does exposure to heat (maybe in a warehouse before it makes it to the store) create noise (in addition to possibly warping the record?). I've had to return a couple of Blue Note Tone Poet pressings recently because they had distortion from what sounded like bleed-through from one groove to an adjacent one. Not the usual faint whisper, but jarring blurts (usually from a trumpet!).
If the color additives (including black) are not broken down and smoothed out enough then it’s creates impurities, and thus surface noise, in the grooves of the record. As Dustin explained, the compounders these days have it worked out to where that it not an issue - not one caused by any color additives at least. It’s all the other steps in the process where imperfections occur if not executed perfectly
Reminds me of early house music 12” vinyl that was made from recycled vinyl and poor quality. I think the label was Trax records out of Chicago.
Yep. The guy who pressed them, I forgot his name, said in a Detroit Techno documentary he did that because they were 25 cents a piece if he used recycled vinyl. He said sometimes there would even be pieces of label stuck in them. Lol
I love when the young generation thinks they know better but they are clueless. This guy has never cut from non digital in his life.
I know way more about LPs, 45, 78, transcription disks .. than anyone on YT. The turn table has changed for the worst part. Not only are they not in true stereo, but the New turntables do not play back LP's the correct way. and often just sound horrible! I have been remastering the Lp,45,78's for a long while now (As I am now 41 as of aug 5th).
My turntable is not in stereo? What in the world are you even talking about 🤣
@@NTXVinyl Not stereo! Well, I had no Idea of that info... I will explain later, My left ear has become swollen and now, the bone around the ear lobe has started to push outward.
There are a lot of collectors out there than only buy coloured vinyl. Mostly, young people. I don't think they ever noticed any difference because they simply don't have any black vinyl. On my collection I have a few coloured, not a lot, and I don't find any problems.
So that solves that question, but where does it leave picture discs in the grand scheme of things? Better, worse or the same?
Pic discs are a completely different material and process. In most cases, very sub-par sound to a normal vinyl LP.
@@NTXVinyl I have a few pic discs only for the art side of things but never played any of them. I do have playable versions of them all. The rabbit holes we jump down lol. Cheers for the response and videos they're much appreciated. Have a good one enjoy.😀
I’m an older collector and had a few pictures discs and never played, but I assumed when I bought them in the early 90’s, they would play like a black wax records. Had no idea the quality would be sub standard.
I never knew that either expensive art in some cases lol. 😂
Should be able to use optical AI to recognize a good lacquer cut from one that has problems before plating.
Yeah that’s what the vinyl industry needs….AI. 🙄
I have heard that the black dye consist mainly of graphite, wich is a good conductor. This reduces the build up of static electricity compared to other colors. Is this a myth or the truth and nothing but.
Complete myth on current/new vinyl. Could have been the case years ago, but not any more. It’s all the same.
If adding a color (even black) to virgin pvc vinyl introduces surface noise, then why add any color?
because the black wasnt for color, it was for stability. They touch on it but its clear they dont actually understand it.
It’s all about the surface noise… especially on a good system with headphones… splatter is by far the noisiest in this situation… clear and black as well as transport colors are more difficult to tell apart…
The color of the vinyl doesn't make a difference. It's the mastering process. Black vinyl can sound like shit if it's mastered improperly. LOL!
Not only the mastering. Also the cutting of the lacquer, and the quality control along every step - and there are many.
Here’s the funny thing: even the Black vinyl records are color vinyl! However, I have heard no difference between any color vinyl and black vinyl or even clear vinyl.
Correct. We discuss that within the first 30sec of the video