I think the crackle is like a memory in the air – it reminds you that someone was there, pressed the record, leaned close. It gives the story a grainy warmth that a polished digital track can’t conjure, even if it’s cleaner. The hiss becomes part of the narrative, a little audible echo of the past. In that sense, the vinyl crackle adds an extra layer of authenticity that feels almost like a quiet conversation from another time.