Side B | Content plan
deeper than the single
Side B — a media community for fans of analog sound and vinyl aesthetics, where everyone can share their experience.
Side B — deeper than the single
media concept and goals
become the leading Russian-language guide to the world of vinyl, helping newcomers take their first conscious steps and helping experienced enthusiasts deepen their knowledge and discover new dimensions of analog sound.
Goals:
1. Alleviate the fear of a «difficult entry point» into the topic (what player to buy so as not to overpay, how not to damage a record). 2\. Provide practical tools for evaluating sound and upgrading a system. 3\. Create a platform for sharing experiences among listeners of different levels.
Six-Month Thematic Plan
The plan is built on the principle of «simple to complex»: the first two months are an introduction to the topic, months three and four are dedicated to setup and deepening the material, and months five and six focus on listening culture and community building.
content samples
1. Telegram channel posts
2. First video lesson in vertical video format
Scenario
Close-up: The needle lowers onto the record. A crackle is heard. «You bought vinyl. It’s crackling. You think that’s how it should be.» 3–10 sec A hand grabs the record by the edges and places it on the turntable. «First mistake: you are holding the record by the playing surface.» 10–20 sec Close-up: A fingerprint on the groove. «Every fingerprint is dust that gets embedded in the groove. And the crackle you can never wash off.» 20–30 sec A hand correctly grips the record by the edges and the sleeve. «Correctly: by the edges and the sleeve. That’s it.» 30–40 sec Shot: The record on the turntable, the needle lowers, the sound is clean. «The crackle will remain, but it will be the crackle of time, not your fingers.» 40–45 sec Side B logo. Text on screen: «Side B. Where the real music hides.»3. Video Podcast
Episode Title: «Why Vinyl Isn’t ‘Warmer’ and Why That Doesn’t Matter» Duration: 18 minutes Script Excerpt (0:00–2:30):«Hey. This is Side B, and today we’re talking about a phrase you’ve probably heard: „vinyl sounds warmer.“ Everyone says it. Store clerks. Friends who bought a turntable a year ago. Even we say it sometimes—because it’s convenient.But here’s the thing. From a physics standpoint, vinyl isn’t „warmer.“ It just distorts the sound differently. The digital format reproduces exactly what was recorded in the studio. Vinyl adds character to that—high-frequency rolloff, gentle compression, surface noise. It isn’t „warmer.“ It’s „different.“And that’s fine. Because the question isn’t about what is „more correct.“ The question is what you enjoy listening to. If you put on a record and you notice the guitar sounds a bit softer, and the bass a bit rounder, and you like that—great. But not because vinyl is „objectively better.“ But because it’s a different experience.In the next segment, we’ll analyze precisely what changes in the sound using three albums as examples: one remaster, one original from the 70s, and one modern pressing. And you’ll hear the difference—or you might not, and that will be an answer in itself.»
4. Long Read
5. Telegram channel section
Rubric: «Side B Dictionary»
Topic: «What is VTA and why is everyone talking about it»
6. Vinyl selection (Telegram)
Title: «Five Albums Where You Can Hear the Difference Between Vinyl and Streaming»
Text: Not all albums benefit from vinyl. Some sound the same. These five do. We chose tracks where the difference isn’t about «warmth,» but about detail: the breath, the pedal noise, how the instruments spread across the channels.
- Fleetwood Mac — Rumours (original 1977, non-remastered). Listen to «The Chain.» On vinyl, the bass enters slightly later, and the pause before it becomes charged with tension. On streaming—it’s just a pause.
- Radiohead — In Rainbows (2×LP, 45 RPM). «Weird Fishes/Arpeggi.» At the higher playback speed, the guitar layers don’t blend into a muddy mess.
- Nina Simone — I Put a Spell on You (Verve reissue). «Feeling Good.» The breath before the first phrase. On digital, it’s there. On vinyl, it’s part of the room.
- Daft Punk — Random Access Memories (original pressing). «Giorgio by Moroder.» Giorgio’s voice sounds like he’s sitting next to you, not in the speakers.
- Miles Davis — Kind of Blue (mono version). «So What.» Mono isn’t «worse.» It’s a different stage. The double bass and the trumpet stand in one point, and you can hear them conversing.
Note: Do not buy remasters of these albums if you want to hear this specific sound. Look for original pressings or verified reissues.
7. Q&A Interview
Title: «A Collector from St. Petersburg: 'I’m not buying music; I’m buying history'» Subject: Dmitry, 34, has been collecting vinyl for 8 years, with about 600 records.— Dmitry, how do you choose what to buy? — I’m not buying «music.» I can listen to music on streaming. I’m buying history. If it’s an original 60s Blue Note press, I’m not buying jazz; I’m buying how Rudy Van Gelder recorded it. If it’s a Soviet «Melodiya» press, I’m not buying the album; I’m buying how people listened to it in the 80s.— What is the most valuable thing in your collection? — Not in terms of price. But in terms of meaning. There is a record someone gave me whom I met at a fair. He died a year later. I don’t know how much it’s worth. I know it’s mine.— What would you tell someone just starting out? — Don’t chase «rarities.» First, learn to hear the difference between pressings. Buy one album in three versions: the original, the remaster, and a modern reissue. Listen to them. If you don’t hear the difference—don’t spend the money. Listen to the music.
