Vinyl
Polyvinyl Chloride, which is a particular vinyl polymer has being used to make Gramophone Records since the 1950s after replacing Shellac. The Phonograph disc record was the dominant medium used for music reproduction the entire 20th century, although in the 80s CDs gained popularity Vinyl Records were the choice for DJs and conscious Audiophiles; and are now making a notable resurgence. They are generally described by their diameter or the speed they are played, and also for their time capacity, 33rpm 12inch LP, 45rpm 7inch single…
There is a lot of discussion about whether Vinyl is better than other formats; and I am not going to start a new one here; however there are a few facts that really play in favor of this particular format:
-The Record Buying Experience, which is the kind of activity you can immerse for hours, searching, thinking whether that particular album is really worth it, and interacting with total strangers asking them for suggestions; see, it is indeed a social experience far, far away from the online app.
-Vinyl Sound, if you think it sounds better you are correct, no audio data is loss when pressing a record, files do not need to get compressed to store as many songs as possible on your Iphone, therefore it sounds just as it was intended.
-Records are yours, they can even be considered an investment. There is a real sense of ownership when you buy a record, you can feel it, you care for it and you can collect it and have it with you for years to come. Yes, it is easy to listen to music form a computer or phone, but nothing compares with the feeling of placing a pristine record on the turntable and as it begins to spin, that exciting sensation of the needle going thru every single song.
The Record Collector
We all love vinyl, we have different stories of how and when we purchased our favorite albums, there are more songs that remind us a different point of our lives than we want to admit, and they are just part of us.
Some of us are perfectionist, looking for that special edition that will make our compilation complete; or have our favorite band releases from A to Z, and of course every single issued color of their new album, rendering our obsession to almost an addiction level.
But as much as we love collecting records and take pride of that unique find; we also like to keep them immaculate, after all for some of us our relationship with vinyl is for the long run, we already took our vows! And it is not just an empty promise like the one we made to our High school crush, we are here to stay. So we are eager to know all the details and tricks to get the most out of our experience; and we also want to share our enthusiasm and knowledge with the newbie and the occasional vinyl enthusiast.
Proper Vinyl Maintenance
A good cleaning practice every Record Collector will agree upon is to keep your vinyl as untouched as possible, since the moment you purchased and open that new release, always treat your records with the same caution you will treat your fine china.
Now, there is a big difference between cleaning a record and dusting it. When there is a relatively small amount of dust on top, a Carbon Fiber brush is recommended, and this type of brush is actually an indispensable tool every record owner should have, not only clears dust but also helps reducing static. But if you want to deep clean the grooves, a Carbon Fiber Brush is very limited in its ability to get the job done, and if you apply too much force in the process you may end up scratching the record.
A much efficient solution (tool) is a Velvet Brush, as it is gentle enough that you can apply extra pressure when cleaning, and is extra effective when used it in conjunction with a good cleaning fluid; it is by far the best and safest tool available for newbies or if you want a cost effective way to clean your vinyl.
The proper way to use a Velvet Record Brush is to simply place your record on a level surface, on top of a clean towel, spray the cleaning fluid directly on the vinyl or spray the velvet surface and start the process, always moving the brush in a concentric motion following the grooves. Repeat as many times as necessary, as that tough stain from the flea market find is proving to be just as difficult to remove as you taught it would be! Follow the process with a clean quality Microfiber Record Cloth to get the remaining solution out of the surface always using the same circular motion. You will find that this method as simple as it sounds brings great results, it is safe and removes almost all impurities giving new life to your vinyl.
As a final note, remember to keep every part of the system properly maintained and clean; get a quality stylus brush and always keep your records stored correctly.