Which is more accurate: digital or vinyl?

++++ A bit off topic here, but it seems to me that a lot of classical musicians spend a heck of a lot of time working on their "tone".+++++

True, but I assure you that even more energy is spent on good rhythm. But interestingly (and this points to some of audio-related issues being discussed here) while rhythm is something that can certainly be "worked on" or practiced by a musician, the kind of rhythmic flexibility and control that defines an artist as opposed to, simply, a good musician is something that is difficult to learn. Many times (not always) it is something that is innate. Tone can be worked on and developed more easily. The control and flexibility that define an artist, and which allow him/her to be expressive in a way that really touches the listener is what gets distorted very easily by recordings.

People make the rhythm, not the recordings, right?

I'm not sure how one format or another gets an advantage regarding rhythm.

Surely imperfections in record manufacturing including warping can have an effect on things. Not sure I understand how digital would normally have any rhythm issues. Resolution, maybe, but resolution and effects of that is different from rhythm at least with how I understand these things.

RE***What are some examples of music that does not sound like music?***

There aren't any because if its "music" then it sounds like music!

The are many examples of noises that try to fool you into thinking its music though! (but ultimately cant and doesnt)

It's a great cliche and true..."a superlative system will make the gear disappear."

Our systems can be very good approximation's of the real recorded musical event. That's the good news.

Remember the police's album..."the ghost in the machine"?

Open up the top of your amp or cd player. Can you see the music there amongst the capacitors and wires? Where is the music and what is it? What makes it come?

Both mediums are flawed and neither is 100% accurate to the original live event,and I mean event, not the recording of that event.

It's always amazed me at how more realistic and lifelike some of my old mono lp are when compared to even new vinyl releases.

I think minimalism is one important aspect that often is overlooked in modern recording.

If you can, throw in the kitchen sink and go with as many tracks as you can,in other words too much audio techno for techno sake.

The old pros only rode the volume control and yet most of those analog recordings sound very lifelike, and it's amazing when you think of all the time that has passed since those recordings were made.
And how far and advanced(?)modern recording technology has come since then.

But I have to shake my head everytime I listen to a vinyl or cd of music recorded in the last few years and wonder what the heck happened?

This I think is why analog is more accurate if it was done in a minimalist way when the music was recorded.

I think a lot of the "accuracy" is lost the more you veer off the path of simple recording with good mics and even better recording techniques.

The old fix it in the mix and band aid, frankenstein multi studio patch jobs have robbed most of todays music of any shreds of accuracy to the original event.

If you want accuracy , go out and support the live musicians(unamplified is preferable),cause you ain't gonna get it with vinyl or digital.
You may prefer the sound or convenience of one over the other,but accuracy is something that cannot be determined.
There's just been too much junk placed between the musicians and your ears , rendering accuracy moot.

Stick with what sounds best, and forget about the concept of accuracy.

It doesn't apply in this hobby, which is all about illusion and not accuracy.

"It's always amazed me at how more realistic and lifelike some of my old mono lp are when compared to even new vinyl releases."

I find that mono can often be more realistic and lifelike also even with mono CDs, especially good remasters of older mono material.

Works especially well with blues, R&B, R&R, and other older forms of popular music. Beatles, Chuck Berry, Buffy Holly, Muddy Waters, Elvis are a few examples.