Vinyl Scratch’s Voice | MLP Mysteries

[@imkuelllgremlin]

I theorize she has selective mutism, and fluttery is basically the therapist friend, so she feels comfortable to talk to her on occasion.

[@georgiagalaxy]

Yesss

[@Beyondthe5thPanel]

BRILLIANT!

[@Beyondthe5thPanel]

Could it also be possible that she has slight deafness to multiple sounds without her headphones and has to really focus? Sure she had music playing, but maybe it’s the vibrations of music helping her to overcome

[@endieisded]

That's exactly what I was thinking

[@sammitaylor3942]

I was thinking the same thing

[@mentallyillfinger]

I prefer her being mute, to be honest. Her music speaks for her.

[@LannyLeArtist]

Yeah

[@Cottencandyfago]

Ye it gives more representation

[@Hadeshy]

Agree. Her bring mute ties nicely with her playing music; she realized she could communicate with music. Also, it make sense with it not being explained. Would've been weird for the characters who're supposed to know her to go "Ah, yes, I forgot you're mute" just to introduce it. I know it's probably not what was intended, but it works wonder like that

[@plague9774]

I like her being mute too or maybe she just doesn’t want to talk?

[@pemanilnoob]

Can’t a character just be mute?

[@memethyst]

i always wondered why she never talked and what she would sound like if she did talk... alot of people say shes mute but i noticed her talking to fluttershy in the background too, maybe she's like big mac and only talks when she feels like it? octavia is her roomate [probably more than that honestly] so she definitely knows her better than anyone else which is why she can understand her without her saying anything

[@darkbots5900]

Ok bloom from DC

[@Lilongwe265]

Yea more than roommates- besties

[@SidVacant69]

@@Lilongwe265 "best friends"

[@HypnoZelda]

or she just has selective mutism

[@Jimins__Pookie]

@@Lilongwe265 Sappho and her friend 🤩

[@dawnelizabethy]

I personally think Vinyl and Fluttershy have the same anxiety disorder but loud music and sunglasses is how Vinyl copes, she gets to make minimal eye contact, very few ponies (or people) bother her when her music is on and when she's DJing she has a distraction so it's not a one on one interaction with someone. Then Fluttershy copes by only keeping the closest knit friendships and caring for her animals in a quiet environment on the outside of interactions with others. Think of it like how no 2 people cope with anxiety the same way in real life, some have fidget toys, others are hermits or recluses, some are like Vinyl.

[@georgiagalaxy]

I’m like all three of the last things you said there, and I can relate to both Vinyl and Fluttershy, cause I have a laid-back, noise-free, annoyance-free output to life, so yeah

[@sophaloaf030]

ur so real for that

[@stonedrei]

tbh i always headcanoned her as autistic (im autistic myself and she's my comfort character)

[@kellabdjfoo]

awww thats so sweet i love that

[@kellabdjfoo]

yesss@@stonedrei

[@damiondraws8538]

Maybe she’s “not supposed to talk” because she doesn’t have a voice actor. So if she was given lines, they’d have to find a voice actor for her that fits her in the fannon. And they just decided that rolling with her not speaking was a good way to make her more interesting and unique without needing to pay for another va

[@ayumikamukura1041]

YEAH That's pretty much it, hasbro wanted to contract a VA for her at the time but the VA wanted to keep doing fandubs but they (hasbro) didn't wanted so she didn't signed up

[@Edward256]

For me I feel like whoever that did Babs Seed would've been a good choice.

[@StinkyEm07]

true i do agree with that:)

[@natureisneat8262]

@@ayumikamukura1041 he the VA is a dude

[@dogman15]

@@ayumikamukura1041 To be specific, Nowacking could have done the voice for the show, but thereafter would not have been allowed to voice Vinyl for fan projects.

[@zeejacks8220]

i like the idea that she's deaf or hard of hearing. plenty of deaf people are able to speak (as seen when she speaks to fluttershy), but prefer to gesture or use sign language. i feel like the gestures and nonverbal language shown on screen can be representative of her using sign language with others, without being so explicit as to animate it. additionally, the type of music she likes and makes (being instrumental and bass-heavy) fits perfectly into the kind of music hard of hearing or deaf ppl are more likely to enjoy. listening to loud headphones all the time to avoid being talked to or because she wouldn't hear much of whats around her anyway fits this headcanon as well

[@skootergirl22]

How would she even hear music if she's deaf?

[@zeejacks8220]

@@skootergirl22 deaf doesn't necessarily mean complete silence, and hard of hearing means theres at least some hearing ability still. pretty often, people who are functionally deaf (could not be able to understand speech, could only hear extremely loud sounds, or only certain pitches) are able to hear some parts of the world. lots of deaf people enjoy hearing or feeling loud basslines of music in headphones, but wouldnt be able to pick up on other noises or understand speech

[@unripetheberrby6283]

That was my main idea too~ Aside from like, selective mutism

[@cha0tic_neutral_system]

I second this headcanon as a deaf person who loves music and goes mute

[@basedimperialism]

She's not deaf. Octavia speaks to her, and she would obviously know if Vinyl was deaf or not since they're not only friends, but live together AND share a love of music-- all three of which would give opportunities for Octavia to know that Vinyl Scratch is DEAF.

[@SaignusUnltd]

Talking to Fluttershy, huh? 👀 This is intriguing because, at least for my hc's, a big part of what makes Fluttershy so good with animals is a high degree of empathic sensitivity, Which also contributes vastly to her shyness (other ponies feel overwhelming to be around sometimes, especially to very sensitive empathic fillies) Maybe Vinyl is similar, and music is her refuge. Talking is difficult, at least with ponies who don't have the same level of sensitivity, But then there's Fluttershy, who experiences the world in a similar way, and they just 'get' each other. Canon? Not that much. Overthinking one scene from a kids show? Definitely, but that's the fun of theories like these. A fun way to look at the interaction between these characters? For me, yes. Would have been fun to see it explored further in the show

[@MrRjhyt]

We also have to consider Fluttershy's ability to speak to critters. Maybe her ability extends to whatever makes DJ Pon3 different from other ponies.

[@SaignusUnltd]

@@MrRjhyt I like that thought yes

[@FNAFFan555]

This would definitely make sense

[@maddietourmaline46]

Oooh, I like this

[@saltananda3227]

I'm pretty sure the reason she doesn't talk is as simple as: she's vibing out 24/7 and doesn't want to turn down her music to hear what people are saying, so she'll just nod like "yeah man totally" And turned down her music and actually listened to fluttershy as to not offend her, or respect, or whatever, and by extension replied back since she could hear what was being said now.

[@soulslvr9562]

If shes mute i think thats a nice little form of representation even if it is incidental. Or maybe dj is just reclusive and lets their music speak for her. Or maybe she doesnt talk unless seen as absolutely nesscary.

[@melvincholy2923]

My personal headcanon is that she's nonverbal/neurodivergent and listens to music so often for sensory comfort, but it would be nice to have her be representation for any other disability too!

[@irritatingpunk]

SAME

[@blankbear782]

Yah that would be interesting tho

[@Kumatora._]

Samee!

[@HonkYeahArson]

Her glasses could add to that headcanon too, since neurodivergent people often are sensitive to bright lights and her glasses could help dim them! (Myself being one of those, bright lights are just way too overstimulating!!) Her eyes are also hidden by the glasses, which means she wouldn't have to make eye contact (something some neurodivergent people also struggle with) :D

[@FandomFanaticFreak]

Guys, why are we making everything neurodivergent?

[@NeoDragonCount]

In one fanfic someone had a very funny explanation: She refuses to speak around people due to having a hilariously thick Hungarian accent.

[@SatanicPizza]

Best explanation

[@lenira7750]

canon.

[@mochi_aster]

honestly I can see that

[@Toondoubloon]

Tbh that’s a good hc lmao

[@anokartist2352]

I like the idea that she's mute, it normalises disorders/disabilities. If she was a more active character than I would love to see some sort of sign language. I have this au that I made way back in season 8 that I recently been working on where one of the main characters is a selective mute so I have been interested in what an mlp sign language would look like.

[@DemonicRemption]

@anokartist2352 Yeah between Derpy's impaired vision(which I know was an animation error originally, if I recall), and Scootaloo's inability to fly, MLP:FiM was not shy about representing the disabled, or individuals with disorders. Moreover they were interesting characters.

[@MarianneStudios]

I would suggest that Vinyl is *selective* mute but surely she’d speak to Octavia, right? Either way, if Fluttershy can speak to animals, she most likely can lip read as well! I see red eyed Vinyl as vampire Vinyl (hence why she’d be able to speak!)

[@SoulSlugArts]

Yeah I think so too she just doesn't want to most of the time Like mood honestly

[@firkle]

selective mutism doesnt mean u choose to not talk it means sometimes you become mute like physically . alot of people with SM actually want to talk but i get what ur saying

[@SoulSlugArts]

@@firkle yea yea

[@lunakingsley.7247]

@@firkle that or the person has become stressed or suffered mentally trauma to the point that they can't speak even though they still have the ability to physically speak.

[@Sitruskk]

it hink it might be that they're just comftrable enough to not have vinyl talk unless she eels like it

[@comablitz]

In EQG Friendship Games, she appears to sing along at the CHS Rally Song and that's probably not the only time something like that happened. But anyway, nice Video again!

[@memethyst]

i noticed in the best gift ever you can see marble singing too when usually she wouldnt say more than "mmhm"

[@falcon_arkaig]

Sometimes I lip sing (basically singing without making noises, just moving my lips), so maybe she's doing that or something? Am I making sense?

[@Markiz93]

In the ending of Friendship Games you can see her talking with Lemon Zest, althiugh you can't hear her voice.

[@neoptlemus]

Maybe she does it because nobody can hear her voice? like it adds onto the sound but with so many grouped together you couldent hear just her voice? shes like self conscious of her voice??

[@christianparrish3292]

In the first eg movie, she's actually singing to the song at the gala.

[@andrews_lego_tanks_and_more]

I actually never noticed her talking to Fluttershy in the background, that's pretty interesting. I guess they just didn't want to give her any other voice besides what the fandom had given her.

[@theonespaghetti5363]

I like the idea where she can talk but doesn't care enough to do so

[@Technilogica2019]

i definitely wonder if vinyl might be somewhere on the spectrum. music could be a special interest for her, and a way that's easier for her to communicate without having to use words. and i know this part is based on stereotypes, so take this with a grain of salt, but i've also seen people speculate that fluttershy could be on the spectrum as well, hence why vinyl would feel more comfortable talking with her. they communicate in a more similar way. and the reason vinyl and octavia get on so well is because of a shared interest in music. (also notice how octavia tends to be pretty strict about her tastes with other ponies, but with vinyl she's more willing to let loose and have some fun. she knows how important it is to vinyl) the sunglasses and headphones could also provide familiarity and comfort. during rainbow rocks, spike even mentions how she "never takes off her headphones" even when there's bassy, energetic, fun music all over the place. she loves music but that much going on at one time, plus the social interaction aspect of the showcase, would have been incredibly overstimulating. we don't know if she's constantly listening to music, she might just have them on for comfort, but i can DEFINITELY say pretty confidently that her sunglasses are for comfort, just because she even tends to wear them at night. but also consider: i am hardcore projecting lmao

[@bigbadseed7665]

I agree that there isn't enough conclusive evidence to draw a conclusion, but still, I choose to believe that Vinyl is not only mute but also deaf or at least hard of hearing. Admittedly the only evidence I can offer is either conjecture on my part or debatable symbolism, but I still like it. In "Music to My Ears," we momentarily see a soundwave appearing in Vinyl's eyes as she listens to music. I choose to interpret this as a sign that she has synesthesia (she can "see" sound) a somewhat common phenomenon in people who have lost one or more of their senses. Also, yeah, it's weirdly rude of her to listen to music while people are trying to talk to her, unless she's just not interested in listening because she can barely hear them anyway.

[@mentallyillfinger]

Unless she can read lips, so it doesn't matter that her music is that loud. Which I think would be interesting. Her being mute and nearly deaf makes her even more interesting as a musician and DJ.

[@cowboycalico]

i have the same headcanon!

[@Edward256]

@@mentallyillfinger If she could read lips, surely she would've understood The Doctor as he was asking for Rarity, not wanting to bowl. ;D

[@jdinsomniac7504]

weird headcanon and such a stretch.. That was just for the music videos visuals and cool editing dude

[@cennix]

I always thought it was just to feed into that dj vibe. Like for example djs like dead mouse, marshmello and David guetta yes, they can tlak but when they're on stage they don't say anything because they're just there doing their job if that makes sense

[@RachneraArachnera]

I’d imagine that she’s like Soundwave from Transformers Prime. She just *doesn’t* speak, but if she were to, it’d be a tiny bit vocoded or have a phaser. If she chooses not to talk, it’s probably because she doesn’t want to annoy anyone by speaking, but still talks to people who she knows won’t give her any trouble, i.e. Octavia, Fluttershy, or Celestia.

[@lemonlimedinosaur]

Personally I think why the show writers made her silent was to make her stand out from the other popular background ponies

[@thetinykid4169]

Maybe the reason we see her speak in eqaustria girls but not anywhere else is because she specifically has selective mutism. So she just cant talk the majority of the time the screen is on her but CAN talk occasionally. I doubt it's what the writers intended but it is technically a good in-world explanation.

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

I wouldn't say covers count as canon, since anything can happen in a comic book cover, especially things that sounds like they would happen inside, but don't. What happens inside should count for canon, not the cover. This one in particular definitely didn't happen, since it's a reference to Justice League International. The brash Guy Gardner says the original line. (The MLP comics in particular loves to make cover and background references to things for adults.)

[@WorldWeave]

If she’s talking to Fluttershy in the background, that might imply that she’s a *selective* mute, where she can talk, but only does so with people she’s comfortable enough with

[@SilverShinepony]

actually Jessie Nowak was suppose to voice her, but in the end she didn’t follow through cuz the rules where nuts

[@EffMinus]

really? do you have a link to a source?

[@SilverShinepony]

@@EffMinus I couldn’t find anything, but you can always ask Jessie himself

[@rmartinez1993]

Also fans would have raged to no end if nowaking wasn't her voice. At the time.

[@PXOKILLERDUBSTEP]

Vinyl scratch was the reason got me in to Dubstep and electronic music back in 2015 I love it everything about her makes me love more Dubstep and I still do

[@tamaraelena369]

Samee she got me obsessed when I saw fan made video of bass cannon

[@burnin8orable]

She actually does talk in the comics. She has a speaking line in the comic focused on Big Mac. I remember there was an interview with one of the show staff who gave an in-universe explanation saying that her character was expressed through her music rather than dialogue. I like this interpretation. The out of universe reason is that Jesse Nowack's voice became so iconic in fan animations that no one could ever imagine any other voice actor playing her. Jesse Nowack couldn't do the voice on the actual show because 1: he's worked on fan animations and 2: his voice is too masculine post transition to do Vinyl's voice like he used to.

[@Cage-CatYT]

I love to think she's either selectively mute or just mute in general.

[@TobbyMLP]

Glad to see another great video from you! Vinyl was always a pretty interesting character in Gen 4, kinda wish we got to see more of her sometimes lol.

[@randomgrunt3968]

She is just above everyone. Also comics are canon until proven otherwise and EG are 100% canon, I absolutely agree with you.

[@CysmaWinheim]

Vinyl is the MLP equivalent of Morn from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. They do talk, and are probably quite the chatterbox according to some characters, but only while offscreen.

[@helloitsphonie]

I agree with some people saying she's selective mutism. I always loved DJ cuz her characteristic of not wanting to talk and music lover are just like me fr. I know that EQG are technically canon, but I see it more as human DJ the one being able to talk (to Fluttershy at least) and pony DJ is up for interpretation cuz we never see her talk at all.

[@arrowghost]

I like her more when she's having her stand out red eyes than magenta. A voice by NoWacking nailed her personality

[@x7z3]

3:50 has anyone considered vinyl is a Selective Mute? i have selective mutism, we dont talk often, infact im kind of like vinyl im literally always listening to music but still understand ppl and i use facial/body gestures often. but if its someone im really comfortable with (for example fluttershy for vinyl) then i am able to speak and communicate normally, selective mutism is when your mutism occurs in some situations not all the time, so if she can speak, she may just be unable to for most of the time. and personally, i think vinyl having selective mutism for me personally is a good headcanon... since it kind of fits perfectly (especially since just bcz someone can talk doesnt mean they arent mute, they could have other forms of mutism, mostly with selective since its very comfort and situation based)

[@TheCatVtuber]

Having a mute roomate before, I gotta say Mute Peoples do move their mouth, it's like a gesture when they are using their hand movements as well, but they can't speak coherent sentences. They just make noises, like blarghblah

[@yondaime500]

I think I remember Jim Miller saying something about that in his interview to Equestria Daily, but I don't remember the time code anymore. But anyway, he just said it was someone at Hasbro who said that Vinyl shouldn't speak. He didn't say anything about whether it was supposed to be a disability.

[@scribblenut9443]

I would say possibly selective muteism witch is when a person is uncomfortable talking and will only talk to people they are comfortable with that would explain her talking to flutershy she might not speak to octavia because Octavia learnt to communicate with her wordlessly to make her more comfortable at home or something

[@AutumnIsFalling331]

I like the idea of her being mute. I always like seeing representation in shows and we’re yet to see a canonically mute pony. Also someone said “her music speaks for her”, I like the idea that that’s why music is such a passion for her.

[@Lemony123]

Plot twist: Dj-Pon 3 is secretly an animal therefore fluttershy can understand her.

[@PPEFwatch]

Maybe it's a dj thing. I mean, I can't remember the last time guys like marshmallow or Alan walker said anything with their real voice

[@unlimitedrabbit]

You've earned my subscription with this video. I'll watch pony analysis content until the day I die because I'm a brony for life. 🐎♾️

[@annonymousannonymous9586]

If it was because they feared the fans going bolistic over how her voice sounded, they probably could have gotten Tara Strong to voice her using her 'Raven' from 'Teen Titans' voice, it would sound close to what Vinyl sounded like in Fan Vids, and since they already had Tara voicing Twilight, it shouldn't have been THAT hard to get her to do a few lines for her. Also I theorize that because she's always partying so Hard she constantly suffers from Laryngitis, so when we see her on Camera she's not talking because her throat is too sore.

[@Star_Strike]

I think it really does just come down to her not wanting to talk. It's clear from EQG that she _can_ talk, but she just doesn't most of the time... Or she secretly sounds like a chipmunk and doesn't talk to anyone other than Fluttershy in order to to hide that fact.

[@EffMinus]

that chipmunk voice theory is my new headcanon.

[@temmieton9755]

Vinyl is now Alvin from Alvin and the chipmunks real?

[@Scott89878]

I subbed because the Owlicious video was recommended to me, and I liked that it was a short video informative video about MLP and the narrator wasn't annoying or obnoxious like some bronies are. I then when to the channel page looking for more videos and saw that you were just getting started, so I subbed.

[@Hawkssmip404]

One of my HC is that she has selective mutism which is an severe anxiety disorder my friend has it and her having it makes some since

[@datprawn4850]

Vinyl is the Gromit of the series

[@basedimperialism]

To anyone who thinks Vinyl is deaf: She is not deaf. Multiple times she can be seen tuning her music, such as when she is about to make music with Octavia, and neither does Octavia, her best friend and roommate, make any visual cues to Vinyl and speaks to her, even when her back is turned. If anyone knew that Vinyl was deaf, it would be Octavia, so the fact that Octavia speaks to Vinyl like she were a non-deaf pony, confirms that Vinyl isn't deaf.

[@basedimperialism]

Also, 10 months late, but when Octavia mentions needing to come up with music for the wedding, Vinyl (with her back turned), then reacts visibly, and goes to her turn-table to start making music with Octavia.

[@Pony-yay]

I'm loving this channel!

[@transformersfan500okane3]

Hasbro did this probably as a Reference to Prime Soundwave, who was quiet as well, Since MLP Aired same Tine as Prime

[@dutch_asocialite]

To me she's a clearly introverted individual who prefers to indulge in her hobbies or head (and closest confidants) than go out socialising, which she is capable of, or talking unless absolutely necessary. Her proclivity to listening to music whenever reminds me of how I retreat into my head and start conceptualising new plot lines when out walking or attending a presentation.

[@Tired_Kye]

That's an interesting theory, MLP has a lot of unanswered mysteries.

[@vana8ium]

Your ponysona is so hawt, AND IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE!! TURN IT UPP

[@adamcheck4941]

When Vinyl was on ask ponies it's revealed she can talk she just chooses not to because she has a huge potty moth and every other word she utters is a swear word. I suppose being that the show has a kids rating that wild forbid her speaking.

[@superflarr0w214]

That legend of everfree detail…I had no idea, it certainly makes this topic a lot more interesting!! Great video!!

[@EffMinus]

thanks lol

[@Gojigotchu]

She's just iconic like that

[@puzzled-head3493]

Still thinking about how she's shown singing for like 2 seconds in the third equestria girls movie, but maybe she's just mouthing or something

[@moonshredder5181]

i remember those fan animations from like 2013 where you have her talking in "I Am Octavia" which id actually imagine her voice as

[@NTtwins_1098]

Most people’s first vids aren’t that good and go up in quality slowly but all your vids are great all ready. Keep going don’t give up 👏 .

[@speedhunter7156]

I've always chalked it up to this she lets he music carry her voice which is what artists who have been around for years do they let their music/art speak in there place sometimes so she's not a mute but probably dosent choose to talk unless absolutely necessary because to be fair being that kinda dj you would have access to any sample word in the world and could just peice it together but chooses not to even by that distance

[@bvl.commanderwinter9023]

you know it's a mystery why she doesn't talk but it's one of my favorite mysteries of MLP I think she could but she doesn't want to talk in my opinion it's pretty cool

[@neasulavuori4955]

i belliiieeevvve it was confirmed they asked the fanwork voice actor to do her voice offically but they declined as to still be able to do fanworks so it seems to legit be a case of it's the fandom voice or mute in this in between space where both are canon?

[@stolenqueen_]

I really really REALLY loved Vinyl back in the days

[@nikoxykittehs]

I'd say Fluttershy is amazing at talking with animals, even in that episode where she talked her biggest fear out of being "mean to her friends". Maybe Fluttershy understands DJ Pon-3 in a way nobody else does?

[@Galimeer5]

MA Larson saying "she isn't supposed to talk" sounds like an external pressure, not a matter of internal consistency. Maybe it was a mandate from Hasbro, although that seems a bit extreme. It was probably at least a running gag within the DHX studio -- like, she's not mute, but it's funnier if she never actually has a speaking role

[@megansutton9699]

1:49 It could just be a buddy buddy quirk, like an inside joke, like a secret code that only they can understand. Thinking back on it now, I guess it’s similar to Deep Cut, from Splatoon 3. How Shiver and Frye can communicate with Big Man, despite him only speaking in “Ay”s I also had this headcanon that Vinyl’s hyperactive DJ personality is actually a persona or a facade and she is actually very shy. Her somewhat modest and surprisingly quieter personality in ‘Slice Of Life’ as well as that Vito of her talking to Fluttershy kind of adds some weight to it. Especially that clip, Ii’s like she’s talking to someone she can relate to and feel containable around.

[@Apple_Bapple]

i think the box her doll came with said something like "she believes actions speak louder than words."

[@WyrdFayth]

As others have said, she's selectively mute, but Slice of Life in particular gave me a theory that there's more to it than that. She's hard of hearing as well. "Selective" mutism absolutely counts as a form of being mute, and is not always about just "choosing not to talk," although that _also_ counts as selective mutism if it's most of the time. Any character who notably has no dialogue in a work where characters with similar levels of focus do can (and probably should) be considered selectively mute (if not fully mute). I'm talking Red from the Pokemon games, even with him having a tiny handful of lines in Masters (one of which is "Words are unnecessary" lol). I'm talking Koda from My Hero Academia, Komi from Komi Can't Communicate, etc. It gets tiring when people treat it like a "big mystery" when some people just don't talk much. People can go nonverbal under different circumstances for a wide variety of reasons. For example, I often go mostly or fully nonverbal under stress. In those times, it isn't that my body isn't capable of producing speech, like this video sounds like you meant by "can't speak;" but I also _can't speak,_ or if I can, it is extremely physically difficult to force myself. It's a physiological thing. The issue is mental, but it affects things on a physical level. This is not the only way selective mutism can work, however; it isn't always tied to anxiety or stress. As for the second half of my theory, though, you used the clips involved in it here. In the one shown at 2:12, his voice was very muffled and indistinct rather than just drowned out by music in a normal way. And in the one shown at 1:35, where she and Octavia were starting to jam out, Vinyl initially clashed horribly with Octavia, and didn't seem aware of it until Octavia's reaction. She had to stop and focus intently to be able to sync up with her. That would make sense if she isn't fully deaf, but does struggle to hear clearly. My theory is that Vinyl _both_ finds it difficult to speak at times (for any number of possible reasons) _and_ often chooses not to even when she could. She wouldn't be fully confident she's speaking "correctly", and finds it easier not to bother most of the time when she can communicate effectively enough without words. She prefers loud music with heavy bass and distinct beats because she feels the vibrations as much as traditionally listens to it, but struggles to discern finer points of softer and more flowing music like Octavia favors. She listens to music at pretty much all times because _why not?_ She wouldn't get much more out of trying to listen to her surroundings, so there's not much discouraging her from just enjoying the jams instead. I love Vinyl, and in theory I love casual disability and/or neurodivergence rep, but I do wish writers would be a little clearer about things like this, too. Like how (hard of hearing theory or not) the mention of "I didn't know she wasn't supposed to [speak]" shows it was a conscious decision for her to not, and I wish they'd told us directly why so people wouldn't either debate it or miss it entirely. But then, on the other hand, when writing is too heavy-handed about things like that, especially for a minor character, it can come off as "Very Special Episode" sort of other-izing, and that's not really better... So I guess it's a matter of picking your poison. :(

[@EifieDM]

I always thought she was just too into the music to be bothered to talk and reply lol

[@autumbreeze1129]

Vinyl technically does speak in EQG, but it's always either in the background so you don't hear what she's actually saying or singing along with others so her voice would be lost among the crowd. Primes examples are her chatting with Fluttershy in the background during Legends of Everfree and singing during the reprise of This Is Our Big Night in the first EQG movie

[@blitzzz7817]

Maybe she just quite and talk to the people she trust..

[@minegriner1642]

The same comic with that cover art you mentioned she does talk within the comic itself. It’s issue #10 of MLP: friendship is magic. She just announces that their going to do a new type of dance, it’s on page 17

[@babyblue_22]

Hey man, subbed three weeks ago just a couple days after your first Owlicious video. I'm super proud that I'm one of your OG subs, here since the beginning before you had even 500 subs. And I'm lovin' your videos! Because of the fact that I didn't really become a brony until late 2017, for me the (more or less) end of the active fandom came far, far too soon. I love being a pegasister, and I love this fandom so damn much. I miss it, dearly. I know we have G5 now, but...while I ADORED the movie, the actual series...not too much. And from what I've seen (like the lack of any real resurgence of the brony content creators), the majority of the community agrees. The new show has absolutely none of that innate magic that G4 did, none of that character and writing, none of the worldbuilding that we fell in love with. In fact, they got RID of that worldbuilding. Just tossed it out the window and replaced it with smartphones and **shudder** _social media._ And I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but there is seriously no way in hell this show takes place in the same Equestria. It makes zero sense. They SAY it does, sure, but it's a classic "show don't tell" situation. They don't _show_ us that this is still the same land we knew, they just *tell* us it is, showing zero traces of what once (supposedly) was. The fact that pony's names no longer have any meaning or describe the character also sucks (Zoey? Seriously?), but FAR worse is the cutie mark issue. The fact it's only on one flank is bad enough. That's seriously freaking dumb. But the real kicker is how little they matter _canonically._ Cutie marks are no longer special and unique. Hell, they're so small and plain and indistinct that I can't even tell what the damn things are supposed to be 99% of the time. I've watched the G5 movie at least four times. And I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I cannot recall a single one of the new main character's marks. Not even the Diet Twilight's mark. (Oh, and circling back to the boring names issue, I'm realizing now that I can't even remember most of the new Mane Six's names either!) Even the ponies THEMSELVES don't give a rip about their cutie marks. I mean, why even bother at that point? And lastly...have you guys SEEN that abomination from hell that they call a "baby dragon"??🤢🤮 That is one of the WORST dragon character designs I've EVER SEEN. It looks like it came straight from _Shimmer and Shine._ You know...the show meant for literal babies. Um okay, wasn't intending on that rant there, it just kind of....happened, once I mentioned G5. Oops. Lol...my bad.😅 Anywho.... My main point was supposed to be watching your videos makes me feel like I'm back in the good old days again, and I've missed it, so thanks.🥰 Anywho, keep the awesome content coming!

[@muukalainen11]

For me I like to think she is mute just because fans have already given her a voice. It's understandable because I too have got used to it. It'd be super weird to hear her sound like something else. Maybe they just didn't want to change it so that's why she doesn't talk..?

[@The_Roach_Hiding_In_Your_Room]

I swear i must have had some weird mandela effect going on, because I swear i remembered her talking in the slice of life episode but maybe my brain is mixing that up with those fan animations cause it's been a good while since I actually watched the show.

[@larsloud3913]

Damn i would hoping we could hear her voice because DJ Pon 3 and I have a lot in common we both love Dubstep/EDM music Remixes

[@funalicious1000]

Let's face it...all of those ponies are getting into some confrontation every episode. She just wants to stay out of it and not pick sides. She does this by vibing to her music...or by pretending she doesn't hear anything going on around her. 😉

[@bloodrunsclear]

I always figured she was just too cool to talk.

[@ShazzledWolf32]

Interestingly enough you can also hear her say let’s go in the evergreen movie

[@dirtylittlesecretman08]

she doesn’t talk bc she’s just like me fr

[@DemonicRemption]

Y'know as a Dragon Ball fan, I shouldn't be surprised that content about FiM is still being made. Yet I am, but this is what a dedicated fandom does, it makes content and celebrates a series long after it has ended.

[@EffMinus]

idk about others, but I’m just trying to escape modern day by latching onto nostalgia

[@vasiliyrufox]

You can see her talking at the end of the episode in Season 6 Episode 8 - A Hearth's Warming Tail

[@Quiel245]

Nice, Really thanks for the awsome content!

[@EffMinus]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@bathtub111]

I always thought she had social anxiety and is more comfortable not talking and maybe with the scene with fluttershy cause she can talk with her because they both have similar problems ans shes one of the few people that she feels comfortable talking with

[@loveawesomeheart2812]

I always thought that she was just selectively mute, she can talk but just prefers not to

[@valsfilms9200]

I don’t think she can speak. But I like that Octavia can understand her still.

[@lil_hal]

i headcanoned Vinyl being mute before you've showed a clip of her talking to Fluttershy. So then, being autistic myself, i started headcanoning her as neurodivergent w/ selective mutism or autistic (as was said in one comment under this video). it's just so makes sense! she's always in headphones and sunglasses, she's stimming, her music goes like "jammy jam" 'cause of probably the stim purposes, she talks only once and with Fluttershy of all people.

[@toasxter9804]

while being mute makes sense the theory that she's fully deaf is beyond stupid cus how can she listen to music

[@batsnghostz]

I literally just found your channel through the merch video

[@Drawing_with_lillian]

I actually like the idea of her not being able to speak the show is about differences make us unique and even opposites can make the best of friends a great example of this is if Vinyl has Mutism or dysphasia which means someone doesn’t have the ability to speak like how some can’t see or hear.

[@superxavxii421]

Reminds me of Soundwave from Transformers Prime. (Although he does talk once, but its the coldest line in the show)

[@jasonmp22]

Mostly, she prefer to be muted because of the fact that her voice would sound peachy and mutual! Jessie Nowak approves!

[@MILDMONSTER1234]

I love how the fandom thought she had crimson red eyes only for them to be magenta instead lol

[@VinnyMartello]

She's a little but like Cousin IT. She wears sunglasses and doesn't exactly talk but people know what she's saying. And everybody loves the weirdness of Cousin IT.

[@unripetheberrby6283]

3:08 Omg they're red 😱

[@patricioperez7323]

If vinyl could speak, I wonder how would she sound like? I was surprised on Octavia’s voice but it suits her.

[@ernstfriedricheckhoff4652]

In the first EQG film, DJ Pon-3 can be seen singing along to the lyrics during the reprise of "This Is Our Big Night".

[@dangamertop9253]

I think that she can speak, but it's her thing that she chooses not to, whatever the reason is. Hasbro had a character like this in transformers prime, a con called Soundwave, who, despite being capable of speach, is quiet until one episode in season 3 where he says 4 words before getting his memory erased, they're even both associated with music.

[@Maddypxii]

Nowacking was an amazing voice actor, I know he doesn’t make mlp content anymore but he’s the reason why I love vinyl the most

[@shatteredprism]

I headcanon that Vinyl is selectively mute, which might also come from slight projection as someone who is selectively mute.

[@creativeusername8339]

I believed as a kid that she just didn’t want to put effort into talking to others because she was too absorbed in her music,

[@Pony-yay]

I seriously love this OC too!