Needle drop (audio)

For other uses, see Needle drop.

A needle drop is a common term used to describe a version of a music album that has been transferred from a vinyl record to digital audio or other formats.^[1] Needle drops are sometimes traded among music collectors, especially when the original vinyl recording has not been released officially on a subsequent consumer format.

Other reasons for trading needle drops include the lack of availability of certain recordings on digital media, the non-availability of less compressed version, or the lack of availability of certain versions or masterings of that record, e.g. mono or stereo versions, or the loss of the master tape.^[2] The term is thought to have been coined in 1949 by Peter Goldmark during the first rush of transfers of lacquer and 78 rpm records to the then-new long playing 33 ⅓ RPM format.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Steve Hoffman (2006). "Steve Hoffman comments on the history of the term Needle Drop". Steve Hoffman. http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=89828. Retrieved November 5, 2008. 
2. ^ Bill Holland (2007). "Labels strive to rectify past problems" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. http://www.billholland.net/words/Labels%20Strive%20to%20Rectify%20Past%20Archival%20Problems.pdf. Retrieved November 5, 2008.