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The Magic Of The Vinyl Record
Vinyl records are considered among the original
storage media that took the world by storm
decades ago. Today, even though we have the CD,
MP3, DVD, Blue ray, etc., vinyl records continue
to charm everyone. Musicians and fans alike are
passionate about having their music recorded on
vinyl records. In spite of the popularity and
convenience of iPods and online downloads where
you can carry with you thousands of songs in
your pocket, Vinyl records still have a solid
fan following among those who cherish them as
well as among those who have just discovered
them. The exciting full length LPs of the ‘60s
and ‘70s are attracting young and old alike.
A great thing, as far as music companies are
concerned, about vinyl records, is that you
cannot download them illegally. Many of today’s
music artists are releasing their music on vinyl
records in addition to CD and MP3 formats.
Record labels also throw in free MP3 downloads
with these albums so that the generation next
can enjoy both – great sound at home with the
vinyl and also carry their music as MP3 when
they are mobile.
Vinyls are especially attractive for their
unusual shapes and artistic design and current
presentations are geared to appeal to the
current listeners. New records are available at
around $ 14. Amazingly you can expect to get
used LPs, depending on its condition, for as
little as a penny. If it is a collectible, there
are avid collectors who will not hesitate to
part with thousands of dollars to acquire it,
particularly if it is autographed by the artist.
But Why Do People Collect Vinyl Records?
There are several reasons why people collect
vinyl records. For some, it is an obsession –
the thrill of getting hold of that rare record
they have always wanted. There are garage sales,
flea markets, rummage sales etc where records
are sold all over America. Album art covers are
major collectibles among fans. There are
classics like the Beatles’, Janis Joplin, and
Led Zeppelin etc. that are considered great
treasures. There are 45-rpm vinyl record sleeves
that are considered more valuable than the
actual vinyl record. These sleeves are
majestically framed, displayed or just lovingly
preserved.
Some also see vinyl records as an investment. On
websites like eBay, millions of vinyl records
are auctioned off each year. The most appealing
thing about a vinyl record is its sound quality
and then, of course there is the appreciation in
value over time. Many people collect vinyl for
its nostalgia value too. Limited editions are
especially sought after, with colored vinyl,
picture discs, 180-220 gram audiophile records,
and album artwork coming close behind. So it is
not really surprising that today’s generation
also finds vinyl records as appealing as those
who might have been crazy about them in the
1960’s or 70’s.
Vinyl record trading is major business today. On
eBay alone, you will find something like six
thousand collectible Beatles’ albums for sale –
all being sold for huge amounts. Artists like
the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Pink
Floyd, Nirvana, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin are
the most preferred along with Motown records,
blues recordings, jazz, punk and vinyl from
other genres as well. Artists like John Lennon
and Peter Buck of REM own massive collections
that include rare, original vinyl records.
Vinyl Records – Some Features
When vinyl
records were first introduced, they were seen as
the unbreakable alternative to the shellac
records that would easily break. Incidentally,
vinyl records are popular not just because they
can be reproduced or stored easily; the record
covers and sleeves
were also considered highly collectible too. It
was possible to compile songs on 12-inch discs
called albums. Small connections were compiled
on EP or extended play records.
Now lets look at some of the characteristics of
vinyl records and get to know them better:
Speed: You will generally find
vinyl records at speeds of 16, 33, 45 and 78 rpm
or rotations per minute. This basically means
that these records must be played at that speed
on the turntable to listen to the music the way
it is meant to sound. Actually the 16 and 78
records were made decades ago at a time when
there was no standard record size and are rather
rare today. You will most likely come across
the 33 and 45 RPM vinyl records.
Size: Vinyl records can be of 7,
10 or 12 inches where 7 and 10 inches are
usually used in single play or SP recordings or
singles. The 12-inch discs are the LPs or long
playing records.
Time: this is a combination of the
vinyl record’s size and speed because they
determine the amount of music on the disc. If
size is small and rpm is high, the record will
spin faster. LP records play for longer – for
over 25 minutes per side, making for roughly 50
minutes of music. All LPs are 33 rpm and 12-inch
records. The SP or single play records usually
have around two songs per side and are 7 inches
with 45 rpm. So you’ll get about 6 minutes of
music each side. There are maxi SP records that
are 12 inch SPs and these are usually used in
songs that run to twelve minutes a side. 10 inch
SPs are uncommon. There are 33 rpm SPs, though.
Material: You might assume that
vinyl records are black in color, but some
record companies do release limited edition
color vinyl records that can be red, gray,
white, blue, purple, etc. In fact you may even
come across colorless see-through records. While
there’s barely any difference in sound when you
compare the color vinyl with the black, some
people feel that color tends to get damaged more
easily than black. Quite a few DJs use color
vinyl to release their work. As we mentioned
earlier, you will also find picture discs.
Picture discs essentially have a picture or some
kind of art on the sides rather than the plain
black. These come in see-through covers so that
the art is visible. These used to be rare and
limited editions, although these days they are
easily available.
Mass: A vinyl record’s mass plays
a crucial role in the way it plays. Almost all
SPs come with the same mass. LPs weigh 120
grams, though some audiophile vinyl records are
heavier and could be even 200 grams. You can
safely assume that the heavier the record, the
more its volume since the grooves are deeper and
so, sounds a lot better. These also do not
damage easily. Incidentally, most foreign
45-rpm singles were vinyl pressings while the US
records are pressed on plastic.
How Vinyl Records Are Graded:
Vinyl records and covers are graded to describe
the condition they are in. There is no actual
standard as such. However, the following
terminology is used popularly:
-
Mint or M –
brand new with all album extras intact
-
Excellent or Ex
– almost new, rarely played. Could have
slightly worn cover
-
Very good or VG
– used record, but in great condition and
good sound quality. Possibly some scratching
but no major defects
-
Good or G –
slightly lower sound quality due to frequent
playing, possibly with scratches and scuffed
cover.
-
Fair or F – a
just about playable record with a damaged
cover. Can probably be restored
-
Poor or P – not
good sound quality, damaged cover, barely
playable from the scratching
-
Bad or B –
broken or almost impossible to play record
Often the record’s edition makes an impact. For
those who are not keen on seriously looking
around, there are the new releases. The best
thing is a record company that releases new
vinyl record pressings from the master tapes of
an album for the best sound quality.
Quite a few records were released in the 50’s
and 60’s were mono recordings and later released
again as stereo records. Monos are quite rare
since all later editions were stereo.
What Equipment Do You Need To
Play Vinyl?
Once you get hold of vinyl records, you would
basically need a turntable, an amp / stereo
receiver and speakers.
The earlier model turntables have all the
necessary features like speakers, amps and RCA
jacks built in. The speakers connect to the amp
to complete the sound system. Turntables are
generally component type hi-fi equipment where
you would need to connect an external amplifier
or receiver. If there is no phono input you will
need a phono preamp.
In the picture we can see the record player on
top of the receiver and the two speakers
connected.
If you are looking to save money I recommend
that you purchase used receiver and
speakers on ebay or anywhere you can find them.
The turntable is more delicate so I recommend
that you purchase it new at
Amazon.com's
turntable and accessories store. Since used
needles can sometimes damage your records and
the band system can be damaged overtime it is
better to buy the turntable new.
You also get record changers that let you play a
stack of records without having to keep changing
each one when it is over.
Vinyl, MP3s and CDs
There is no getting away from the fact that
vinyl records have a charm all their own that is
impossible to duplicate. MP3s are certainly
easier to carry around since you can fit a
massive collection into a hand held player. MP3s
are definitely convenient. But then, nothing can
compare to the joy of holding and playing a rare
vinyl record. There’s a thrill when you slide it
out of its sleeve and listen to all the
crackles, pops and hisses that only add to the
excitement. Ask any vinyl record collector.
Record sleeves alone give rise to a variety of
feelings with their innovative design. It is a
fact that the sense of adventure you feel with
vinyl is simply lacking with MP3s or CDs.
Vinyl records have a far warmer sound compared
to MP3s, CDs and digital downloads. With MP3 if
the compression has been done in a
low-resolution format, then it could sound
tinny.
Apart from the above, vinyl records come with
extra perks. The album art, pullout photos, and
even full size posters are big attractions. In
fact, the alternative rock genre vinyl records
actually had 16 page booklets that were big
collectibles. You will also find bonus tracks on
some LPs that you wont find on the CD version,
which is definitely extra value. Most of all,
vinyl records are more socially interactive as
you can see, feel and relate with their physical
presence with your friends while enjoying the
music.
The good news, naturally, is that you can
actually get your vinyl records on to your
computer hard drive with a turntable. This
turntable lets you plug and play into your
computer with a USB interface to produce sound
files identical to the vinyl recordings. You can
then transfer them to your iPod and carry them
around or just enjoy them from your pc.
Where Can You Buy Vinyl Records?
You can find vinyl records at your local music
store, flea markets, thrift shops, garage or
rummage sales, etc. Online, on eBay, there are
plenty of mass sellers who auction them. The
best bets are collectors who sell from their
collection since they are usually in the best
condition.
Looking After Your Vinyl Record
Collection
You should always store your vinyl records in a
vertical standing position on a shelf. Do not
ever stack them horizontally as they will damage
the discs and the covers because of the weight.
Vinyl records must be stored in a moisture free
place. It goes without saying that they must not
be exposed to sunlight or cigarette smoke as
they could get warped. Thus – in short – vinyl
records must be kept free from heat and
moisture. Preferably handle your records by only
touching the edge or center where the label is.
Avoid touching the grooves.
Records can be cleaned with a soft micro fiber
cloth to keep them free from dust and dirt. Your
turntable’s stylus must also be occasionally
cleaned with a stylus brush according to the
instructions that came with your equipment. And
of course, your record covers and sleeves must
also be taken care of. Keep your album covers in
a plastic sleeve – who knows, you might be
sitting on a fortune! There are collectors who
frame their rare album covers beautifully to
display them as wall art.
Popular
Vinyl Genres
Currently, the
most popular vinyl genres, according to
Amazon.com, which sells something like 150,000
titles across more than twenty genres on vinyl,
are alternative rock and classic rock. The
high-resolution vinyl format has a huge fan
following. You will find vinyl in almost all
genres – some sites specialize in selling modern
jazz, bebop, pre ’75 R&B, psychedelic, Motown,
blues, soul, funk, progressive rock and so on.
The most popular classic rock artists are the
Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, The
Doors, Jefferson Airplane, etc. The most loved
soul artists on vinyl are James Brown,
Funkadelic, quite a few Motown and Stax labels,
psychedelic artists and British invasion groups.
Most collectors go for are blues, jazz, classic
rock and classical records.
In
Conclusion
The great thing
about vinyl records is that they are a part of
the unforgettable rock and roll age and a
cherished part of pop culture. Collecting,
storing, restoring and preserving of vinyl
records is like actually having a piece of the
artist, the music and the memory of times gone
by. In addition to this, it is a fact that vinyl
sounds truly genuine. Because of the way it is
recorded, vinyl brings a warm sound reproduction
that is unmatched by digital MP3s or CDs. Vinyl
is certainly here to stay.
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