AirVinyl Review

I don't know about any of you, but I personally have not missed using a vinyl record since I got my first tape deck and I haven't made a mixtape since I got my first mp3 player. That said, obviously other people have missed these types of media because a developer created an entire app where users can use exactly that, except it's in a more digital setting. I'll explain, I promise.

AirVinyl converts the music already stored onto an iPad into digital vinyl records. Each record only holds as much music as a real record can, so converting a rather large album will create multiple records, as shown to the right with my digital copy of the Gears of War 3 soundtrack. AirVinyl also creates virtual crates to store the records, just as we used to do way back in the day - and how record collectors store them now.

Most importantly, the converted records sound like actual records when played via AirVinyl's turntable. I'm a music junkie, but I admit that I don't have the ear to be able to tell the difference in terms of quality of sound. So at least to me, it doesn't sound any differently from what it sounds like using the regular music player on the iPad. Perhaps a true audio connoisseur can tell the difference, but sadly, my ear cannot - assuming that there really is a difference.

AirVinyl also allows the creation of mixtapes, which in the case of the iPad, is just a retro name for a playlist. This is possibly the best feature of this app. Since Apple's music player will only play playlists created from iTunes and downloaded on the device, there is no other way to create a playlist on the fly. If I'm out of town or suddenly have to provide the entertainment for a gathering, I would love the ability to create a new playlist.

And yes, the app does supply a tape deck and cassette storage for the mixtapes. As such, I can actually rewind a song. I wish that while rewinding the tape deck made that little high squeak sound that is so familiar with rewinding tapes while they are still playing. But alas, it does not.

Giving current technology a retro look is quite in right now, and this app fits in with this trend nicely. For the retro hipster or someone who wants the ability to make playlists wherever and whenever, this app is well worth the $.99. For everyone else, stick with the current iPad music player.

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