Rebeat Innovation, an Austrian-based start-up, has received £3.4m in funding for high definition (HD) vinyl which promises higher audio fidelity, louder volume, and longer playing times than standard LPs.
Founder and chief executive officer Günter Loibl told Pitchfork that the company has ordered a laser system, worth around $600,000 (£420,000) which, when up-and-running, will produce test stampers for five pressing plants.
'Our goal is to officially present our test stampers at the Making Vinyl conference in October. It will take another eight months to do all the fine adjustments. So by summer 2019 we shall see the first HD vinyls in the stores,' he said.
According to Loibl, the HD vinyl process – which converts audio digitally to a 3D topographic map – allows for records to be made more precisely, producing 'up to 30 percent more playing time, 30 percent more amplitude, and overall more faithful sound reproduction.'
When cut at 33rpm, a 12" record can currently hold around 22 minutes of music per side.
Last year, over four million LPs were purchased – marking a decade of consecutive growth to levels not seen since 1991.
Founder and chief executive officer Günter Loibl told Pitchfork that the company has ordered a laser system, worth around $600,000 (£420,000) which, when up-and-running, will produce test stampers for five pressing plants.
'Our goal is to officially present our test stampers at the Making Vinyl conference in October. It will take another eight months to do all the fine adjustments. So by summer 2019 we shall see the first HD vinyls in the stores,' he said.
According to Loibl, the HD vinyl process – which converts audio digitally to a 3D topographic map – allows for records to be made more precisely, producing 'up to 30 percent more playing time, 30 percent more amplitude, and overall more faithful sound reproduction.'
When cut at 33rpm, a 12" record can currently hold around 22 minutes of music per side.
Last year, over four million LPs were purchased – marking a decade of consecutive growth to levels not seen since 1991.
