How To Get Started With Vinyl Records?

Now that vinyl is popular again, I occasionally go to record stores.

Both vinyl and digital music have their charms, and it is difficult for me to say that I must choose one over the other. But if you want to open the door to vinyl records, this article may be able to help you. Next, I will share some basic knowledge about vinyl with you.

Basic Knowledge of Vinyl

1.Types of Vinyl Records

Vinyl records broadly include the earliest phonograph records, shellac, and the most familiar records made of PVC and gradually dominated after being launched in 1948, also called Vinyl Records.

Buying vinyl in the second-hand trading market is also different from buying old CDs and old cassettes. There are many more inexplicable words in the seller’s description. A vinyl is divided into different sizes and speeds, including various English abbreviations. What do they mean?

2.The Size and Rotation Speed of Vinyl Records

These are the most basic knowledge about vinyl records, which explain the types of vinyl records, and there are more detailed data:

• Size: There are mainly 3 categories, including 12 inches, 10 inches, and 7 inches
• Rotation speed: Each size has a corresponding regular rotation speed, such as 12-inch LP is usually 33 rpm
• Weight: 120g-150g for used vinyl; 160-180g for new vinyl, with 180g as the main weight

In fact, the most common vinyl records we see now are 12-inch vinyl records. Because they can be listened to for a longer time, they are also called 12-inch LP "Long Playing", which is the time of one song compared to 7 inches.

12 inches is just enough to make an album, so it is more popular with musicians and sells more, and fans can also enjoy listening to it.

When you buy, just use it as a reference. After all, 10-inch and 7-inch singers sell less. If you don't have a special preference, you don't need to care.

3.Sound Quality Has Little To do with Weight

As for the weight that some sellers emphasize, just listen to it as a selling point of "better sound quality". The weight of the vinyl has little effect on the sound quality. It is better to pay attention to the appearance that affects the sound quality.

 

Vinyl LP phase classification standards⬇️

Grade	M	NM	VG+	VG	G	F/P
Turntable Condition	No flaws	Excellent	Minor scratches	Visible scratches	More scratches	Severe scratches
Packaging Appearance	No flaws	Excellent	Minor wear	Visible wear	More wear	Severe wear and tear
Sound Quality Effect	No flaws	Excellent	Excellent	Slight noise, no needle skipping	More noise, no needle skipping	Severe noise and skipping

 

 

Combining the three dimensions of vinyl packaging, vinyl disc, and sound quality, "M" ~ "VG+" is the best. The record has no deformation and few scratches, the sound quality is excellent, and you don't have to worry about it when you buy it.

Is Vinyl Worth Buying?

Since music can be easily obtained, we listen to it while driving and walking, and even our favorite song will become a vague background sound.

I think the time spent listening to vinyl is like turning the pages of a physical book, which is a "real feeling" that you don't have when you swipe the screen to play randomly. Maybe many people who like vinyl also like this way of slowing down to listen to music.

 

The listening experience of vinyl is also different. This is not to say that it is better than digital music, but I think that the atmosphere of music is indeed different, just like the same song heard live, and the music memory obtained by listening to CD or headphones at home is two different things.

Many people also say that vinyl is too particular, and you have to be careful when listening, clean the dust, and it will wear out after listening for a long time, but this is its specialness-

Because it will be damaged, why not pay more attention every time you listen to music?

 

Of course, if you want to enjoy vinyl music and reduce damage when listening, a suitable vinyl record player is also very important. If you need it, I will talk about how to maintain vinyl records separately.

In general, if you also want to add a way to listen to music and feel more happiness, vinyl is indeed worth listening to and buying.

"Listen for Fun" or "Want to Collect"? This Will Determine How You Choose Vinyl

1. Listen for Fun

Since it is for fun, you don’t pursue specific musicians or specific versions, so there are too many choices.
Just buy according to your favorite bands and musicians, but the price of vinyl records ranges from tens to hundreds, so don't buy too much at once.

2. Want to Collect

There are also many friends who buy vinyl records with the mentality of collecting, especially those who are obsessed with first editions, master discs, etc., and the price they invest is really hard to estimate.

The so-called first edition and master disc pressing can be compared to movable type printing.

1. The engraved original characters are equivalent to the master disc of vinyl records
2.  The first few paintings pressed out of the master disc are the first edition of vinyl records
3. The engraved "knife" is the performer's voice

This means that the first edition is the closest to the performer's voice.

The subsequent reprints are recorded based on the first batch of vinyl records as templates, and the sound details may be further lost.

For collectors who want to hear the "original sound", this difference is huge.

The recording technology, the way of interpretation, and who interprets it also largely determine the overall quality of the finished product, so the vinyl records produced by high-quality labels are the most popular and the most expensive.

At the same time, it is equally important to choose a record player that you like and is suitable for you.