The Basics The vinyl record as we know it today was introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, the Long Play Record. There are many pressing methods and sizes, as innovation led to better sound quality. Records are made with vinyl plastic pucks, placed on hot metal molds that presses small audio ‘micro-grooves’ into your favorite songs. A small needle, attached to a ‘cartridge’, placed in the grooves of the record creates sound as the needle is pushed up and down, side to side, thus sending small vibrations through a tonal arm and into your speakers. (well its a little more complicated than that) Taking care of your records from how to take them out of the cover, from when you place it on the turntable, is a delicate process. Vinyl record listening is an interactive form of entertainment, while it may seem tedious at times, the music will sound it’s best and mean much more.
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the LP
the 3 types of vinyl records LP (Long Play) vinyl records are the most common, characterized by their 12 inch diameter and 33 1/2 rpm speed. Most feature albums are pressed on this format.
the single Single records, named for being small enough for 5-7 minutes of sound (a single song), per side. Due to their pressing method, radio stations, DJs, and picky listeners leaned to these pressings to avoid listening to an entire album Transcription Discs, the least common but father of the LP. Created for recording radio broadcasts and interviews. The only records 10 inches in diameter, made by shellac, later innovated to PVC .
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Preparing The Record For Play
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A correctly packaged record should come with a 1. Record Cover: a cardboard outer shell that protects your record the best, however can show signs of wear quite easily
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2. Record Sleeve: a thin paper sleeve that protects your record from possible rubbing of the cardboard cover, causing damage to the finer grooves affecting the treble sound
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3. Vinyl Record: I hope your vinyl came with the cover, this is the jewel of the safe. Highly fragile and take delicate steps for safe removal
How to take a record out of the cover 1 - without squeezing the cover, gently hold the record horizontaly 2. Slowly reach inside the cover, pinching the corners of the Sleeve. Then carefully pull the sleeve and record out 3. Remove sleeve by pinching the flat, half-inch wide, outerrim of the record, after the record plate label is visible, make a finger gun, placing the thumb on the edge of the record, and your pointer/middle finger on the center label 4. After successfully removing the record, hold with both hands on the pressed outerim Pro-tip: Never ever hold your record like this
the Anatomy of a Record Player ((slightly simplified)) Players will always include and exclude features that other players may not. I will outline the basic features on the illustration below to further your understaning of your personal turntable.
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1. Table Plate 2. Slipmat 3. Tonal Arm 4. Cartridge 5.Tonal Arm Rest
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6. Plinth 7. Counter-weight 8. Needle 9. Cueing Lever/ Start button 10. Treble/Bass
1 - Table Plate, the mechanism that enables the spinning of the record on the table. 2 - Slip-mat, the soft felt, cork, or rubber pad protecting the record from the table plate 3 - Tonal Arm, the long S shaped arm holding the needle and transferring the sound to the amplifier 4 - Cartridge, what holds your needle, when replacing a needle it is best to buy a new cartridge altogether 5 - Tonal Arm Rest, when the player isn't in use, the Tonal Arm should be placed in its resting guard 6 - Plinth, the box that makes the shape of the player, protecting wires and belts from easy damage 7 - Counter-weight, some are adjustable, where the end of the tonal arm is balanced to apply the perfect amount of pressure to the record 8 - Needle, the magic mechanism that reads your records' grooves and puts it to sound 9. Cuing Lever/Start Button, how a record will be started, manually with a Cuing Lever, or Start Buttons for automatics 10 - Treble and Bass Dials, not all players come with a pre-amplifier installed, however if yours does then it should be smooth sailing from here! Adjust the settings to how you please and rock on!
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Identifying Your Record Player Is it an automatic or manual play?
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Manual
- It has a Start, Stop, and Stylus Lift button, and simple button/dial RPM settings
- It may or may not have a Stylus Lift Button
-may include speakers and pre-amp
-If stylus is picked up and moved toward, the record should spin - Needle must be manually placed upon the record, and taken off
*Remember: Records have 2 sides, and will have to be manually flipped on both players
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Placing your Record on the Record Player And playing those sweet tunes 1. Still holding the flat outerrim, identify the record plate on your player 2. Slowly thread the metal spoke through the record’s center hole, ther is no need for pushing, and make sure your fingers aren’t underneath it! Dropping records can damage it’s fine sound
3. Check your record’s RPM setting, printed on the center label. Before moving the Tonal Arm, unlock the Tonal Arm Rest to prevent automatic player damage, and to freely move the arm and needle. 4. Only For Manuals: Most manual players will spin as you gently move the tonal arm and stylus to the edge of the record. Don’t place the needle too close or it will slide off, not too far or youll start the record late
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How To Clean Your Records 1. Start every listen with a light cleaning using a microfiber brush As mentioned before, leave your fingers on the edge of the record. Oils from your skin can ruin your records play quality.
If your record seems affected by ignorant care, while machines can be purchased to make them spotless, I am skeptical of their effectiveness. I recommend Vinyl Me Please’s record oil, a solvent that wets a satin brush that picks up any dirt left in the grooves of the records. If something seems to stay despite your cleaning, professional care or cleaning machines would be recommend
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How to store your records Vinyl Records are unassumingly heavy, due to their fragile nature, and their only-growing collectible value, they are absolutely worth protecting
Some Tips for Ultimate Protection - Record Crates an easy way to transport a smaller amount of records, and much more cost effective than record storage shelves. - Clear Cover sleeves protects any exterior damage prone to Album Covers, due to their slick material, they can be slipped between records in a case or shelf - Organization Tabs the least necessary addition to your collection, however can take it to the next level. If your collection is big, it brings a clean aesthetic and easier searching for a record in mind.
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How to store your records ((cont.) ALWAYS store your records VERTICALLY, stacking records horizontally may seem easier, and for a few LP’s it may be absolutely fine. However, a scrathed or damaged record may ruin the entire album, to avoid any damage, vertical storage is the safest. NEVER store your records in the sun, vinyl is created by heat, and the same prolonged exposure can melt and warp the record. This will make it impossible for your needle to stay within the grooves. Warping is the most common cause of record skipping. *If your record is warped, Record Flattening Machines may be pricy but are a promised-solution *I would not advise flattening your records at home, what may be salvadgeable could be entirely ruined if any grooves are heated to harshly and melt into each other Finally,NEVER leave your records out of their sleeves. Keep the protection that came with the record, and if their aren’t paper sleeves in the cover, buy them!
Final remarks I hope you now know how to do the record basics, I am in no way legally tied to this advice and you will not get compensated for damaged records after following my suggestions. Here are some final thoughts: I swear to god if you hang albums on your wall I will take them down myself. Why spend $30-$100 on a record just to watch it collect dust above your closet. And dont get me started on those who hang the record outside of the cover on top of ALREADY disregarding the reason it was made. You will ruin its playable features. Not only does the thumb tack or putty you use to adhere it to your eggshell walls damage the table plate hole, but your record will run and lose all of its audible quality. IF you are displaying your records, please for the love of god get a case, find a solution to take them off and place them back. Theres nothing quirky about owning vinyl if its useless. Play your records, dance in your living room, have a romantic spagetthi night or smoke the cigar, THAT’S the vinly experience.
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