“A vinyl record is an analog recording, as opposed to CD’s recording, which are digital. Analog is able to catch the entire sound wave, while digital only recreates “snapshots” of the analog sound.
Sound vibrations are transmitted to a sensitive stylus (or needle), which cuts a groove into a wax record as it revolves. The vibrations of the stylus cause various depths and widths to be carved into the wax record, creating a groove.
When you place a record onto a record player, the needle on the stylus retraces the groove that has been cut into the record. As it retraces the groove, it recreates the sounds which caused the groove to bend and form in the first place by transferring the vibrations to a diaphragm in a speaker which picks up the sound and amplifies it to a reasonable level.”
How Does a Vinyl Record Work?