A new spin on the download format

Now that the music CD - and particularly the CD single - has been all but consigned to the technological dustbin, the download is the popular format of choice. And yet, vinyl, the format that steadfastly refuses to go away, still has many followers: from the older generation who grew up with it, to youngsters just discovering it for the first time.

This demonstration attempts to combine the convenience of the download with the retro nostalgic appeal of the spinning black disc and its classic label designs. The player itself uses as its model the Goldring Lenco 75 - one of the finest turntables ever built, in my opinion! Once the page has loaded, just drag a record from the pile and drop it on to the turntable, and it should start to play. You can move the music forward or back by dragging the arm appropriately. To reject a record, either play another one, or move the arm towards the centre.


Important Note: Copyright in sound recordings
Unfortunately, because of copyright restrictions, I am not able to include any recent records in this demonstration. Current UK law states that recordings over 50 years old fall into the public domain, and this is the opinion expressed by the UK Government's website and also the UK Copyright Service as of June 2010.

In April 2009, the European Parliament voted to extend the copyright term to 70 years; this will not, however, become law until it has been approved by EU Member States. The upshot is that, in order for this site to be absolutely in the clear, it can only provide sound files that were originally recorded and published before 1 January 1961 which, according to current legislation, are considered to be in the public domain.