LPs use analog technology. Analog technology records a sound wave continuously, in the same way as it is created. Remember that sound begins as a vibration, such as someone’s voice box vibrating while singing or a string vibrates on a violin. The vibrations create sound waves.
To make an LP, sound waves are changed into electrical signals by a microphone. These then activates a tool that carves the pattern of the vibrations into the LP as tiny wave forms in the sides of a groove. Since the etched wave forms are in the same pattern in which the sound waves moved through the air, the notches are analogous to the original sound wave.
When an LP is played, the round disk on which the sound wave patterns are etched spins around. The phonograph stylus (a needle) sits in the groove of the record and bounces off the wall as it moves along (shown above). This causes the stylus to vibrate and those vibrations are then amplified and sent out through the speakers as sound waves in the air.
Take a few minutes to look at an LP. Observe what it looks like, what it feels like and then record what it sounds like in the Music Data Table.
Sound
How does sound begin?
Sound begins as a vibration.
