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How to Get Started With Vinyl Records (A Guide)
Post By: Alan
We all know how awesome vinyl records sound. Or do you? Yes, they sound awesome. But if you grew up in a time after records began to lose their popularity, you’re probably not sure about this whole vinyl thing. Let’s break it down nice and easy for you…
Equipment needed:
How to play a record
Silly, huh? It should be common sense, but it kind of isn’t if you weren’t raised on records. In most cases, you just plop the record down on the turntable, turn it on, and the record will play automatically. In some cases, you may need to actually place the needle on the record after starting the turntable. Do it gentle, and you’ll be fine. Other things to make sure about are the speed of the record. If you’re playing a big 12″ record, it will probably be a 33RPM record, although there are some exceptions. If it’s a small, 7″ record, it probably plays at 45RPM. Those small 45’s also usually require a piece of plastic (sometimes called a spider) in the center of the record, so the spindle on the turntable holds the record properly.
How to store a record
I did a much more detailed post about maintaining vinyl records, but basically, you just need to treat your records with care. Don’t expose them to anything nasty and you should be fine. Store them upright. Keep them out of sunlight. Try to keep them at a decent temperature. That’s really all you need to know.
How to clean your stuff
Records, unlike digital music formats, are pretty high maintenance. They get dusty, they can’t handle heat, they are prone to static cling…The list goes on. The most important thing is to keep records clean. A big part of keeping them clean is taking precaution. Try to handle them by the edges, and only with clean hands. Give them a quick wipe with a carbon fiber brush before you play and before you put the record away. If they get gunky, oily, etc, you’ll want to do a more thorough (wet) cleaning. Here’s a detailed post about cleaning vinyl records.
What it’s all about (The love of music):
Ultimately, vinyl records are about the music. I know there are some audio snobs and old hippies that like to get all high and mighty about the sound (and digital audio enthusiasts who say digital is better), but the truth is it doesn’t matter. I want my music to sound the best it can, but I also just want to hear music, regardless of the format. If you’re just getting started in vinyl records, follow your heart. If you like how it sounds, the experience, and everything else that goes with it, then it’s all good!
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Topics: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
August 5th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
excellent! thank you! I am just starting into getting into vinyls… I am clueless about all the good music. And how I regret it! I am looking into buying record players, vinyls, and even working at a Record store locally!
August 6th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Welcome to the community! I always recommend getting some of the classics from the vinyl era (50’s – 80’s), but I also know that lots of indie artists are releasing their music on vinyl as well. The most important rule is to have fun (and take care of your vinyl!)
September 25th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Thank you.. I surely will look into the 50’s – 80’s. I need some advice, Alan. Should I go to thrift stores/garage sales to find a antique of a record player? Or order a brand new one online? Oh yes, what is the difference between turntable and record player? And what is a phono input or anything related to phono?..
September 25th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Hi there! Thanks for visiting. To answer your questions:
You can certainly find plenty of record players in thrift stores and at garage sales, but you never know what shape they’re in. Unless you can’t afford a new record player, I’d buy a new one.
Turntables and record players are the same thing. Geeks tend to prefer the term ‘turntable’, but it doesn’t really matter.
The phono input is specifically for turntables (aka PHONOgraph). It has a pre-amp, which amplifies the signal coming from the record, and also provides equalization for the ‘RIAA curve’. Don’t worry about the specifics, just be sure you plug your turntable into the phono input.
March 1st, 2012 at 10:44 am
Great info BUT I own a “Spin Clean” record washer and found that it does a really great job for under $100 USD. It is a little time consuming but I have cleaned over 400 records with it so far and have no complaints. It will clean any size vinyl record you may have. Just give yourself some space to work and a few hours a day and you can do your whole collection and know that they are all clean and ready to play or sell.