Vinyl is undoubtedly back in full force, and while it may not ever return as a leading format, audiophiles and novelty seekers now have the opportunity to do everything from buying records at Whole Foods to pressing their loved ones’ ashes into a vinyl record. It’s hardly news that Jack White is the modern torch-bearer for vinyl records as well – The Third Man Records honcho – and Bonnaroo 2014 MVP – recently obliterated a 20-year-old record by selling 40,000 vinyl copies of his new LP, Lazaretto, in its first sales week. Pearl Jam had previously held the title for their 1994 album Vitalogy, which sold 34,000 vinyl units.
Infographic Charts Vinyl Revival vs. Digital Domination
We’re fascinated by the wizardry involved, and take for granted how magical the experience truly is as we drop the needle down and spin the black circle. But now, Applied Science pulls back the curtain with a stop-motion microscopic video using an electron microscope to show a ridiculously closeup view of the process in action. Check it out: