Vinyl cleaning

[ladybug]

Hi! So I cleaned my vinyl with a microfiber cloth to remove the dust but there are still a few particles left here and there, but it looks mostly clean. Will that be a problem? Like does it have to be spot clean? Or a few particles won't really matter? I don't have a record player yet to test it. Also if it's chipped on the side(during transport), like the edge of it is slightly chipped in one place is that a problem? It's not on the surface itself.

[Needfuldoer]

Unlike CDs, you want to clean LPs and 45s around their circumference, following the groove. I use a spray bottle full of distilled water (and spiked with a little isopropyl alcohol), then follow the grooves with a fuzzy paint edger (like this one), then mop up with a clean lint-free cloth. If you've got canned duster or an air compressor, blow as much dust off them as you can first, while they're still dry.

 

If you wipe them from the inside out, like you're supposed to with CDs, you can cause scratches that go perpendicular to the spiral groove.

 

Dust or scratches on an LP or 45 will just sound like a click. You may be surprised at how not-delicate they actually are. (Remember, back in ye olde days they were just how everybody bought their music, not precious collector's items.)

 

 

16 minutes ago, stefanmz said:

I don't have a record player yet to test it.

When you get one please don't buy a Crosley, or any other modern novelty player that uses this plastic mechanism.

 

 

16 minutes ago, stefanmz said:

Also if it's chipped on the side(during transport), like the edge of it is slightly chipped in one place is that a problem? It's not on the surface itself.

As long as the damage doesn't extend into the playable area, it should be fine. (And even if it does, you can just drop the tone arm further in than the damage extends and listen to the rest of the tracks.)

 

Can you post a picture?

[ladybug]

1 hour ago, Needfuldoer said:

Unlike CDs, you want to clean LPs and 45s around their circumference, following the groove. I use a spray bottle full of distilled water (and spiked with a little isopropyl alcohol), then follow the grooves with a fuzzy paint edger (like this one), then mop up with a clean lint-free cloth. If you've got canned duster or an air compressor, blow as much dust off them as you can first, while they're still dry.

 

If you wipe them from the inside out, like you're supposed to with CDs, you can cause scratches that go perpendicular to the spiral groove.

 

Dust or scratches on an LP or 45 will just sound like a click. You may be surprised at how not-delicate they actually are. (Remember, back in ye olde days they were just how everybody bought their music, not precious collector's items.)

 

 

When you get one please don't buy a Crosley, or any other modern novelty player that uses this plastic mechanism.

 

 

As long as the damage doesn't extend into the playable area, it should be fine. (And even if it does, you can just drop the tone arm further in than the damage extends and listen to the rest of the tracks.)

 

Can you post a picture?

ok thanks a lot for the tips! I cannot take a picture but it's just on the edge it definitely doesn't extend on the playable area so it's fine. Also noted, I won't buy a cheap record player.Well, speaking of that, can you recommend any that are at least below 300 dollars, because the only good ones I have seen are very expensive? Something that is high quality for somewhere between 100-300 dollars. The cheapest that is not garbage. What can you recommend me that matches these criteria? I don't have a lot of budget that's why I am asking. And I already really want to buy a record player, I don't want to wait until I can buy the best one. I mean then I can just buy another one but for now I need something that will play my vinyls without sucking. Also can I clean the records with an antibacterial wet wipe?

[cmndr]

I'm NOT a vinyl expert so I can't give good specific product recs. 

One warning I'll put out there - VINYL IS EXPENSIVE. 
Like REALLY expensive. And limited. And fragile. It can still be quite enjoyable and there's a tactile feel to it that's nice but... 

 

There's multiple reasons why the technology, from the 1940s, was basically abandoned. 

It's susceptible to physical wear and tear. It struggles with bass. It struggles with going from high to low volume. It can't do proper stereo. 
It's REALLY expensive to do well. And done well, it'll still be less accurate than just the same mastering mapped onto digital. 
And modern music is mastered for digital first and NOT for vinyl.

 

If you haven't gone off the deep end on vinyl and built out a huge collection yet... strongly consider sticking to digital. 

There's a reason why 40 years ago, it was deemed superior to what is now an 80 year old technology... digital can do near perfect reproduction of sound in the sound frequencies humans listen to. 

Digital can do deeper bass. It can do higher highs. It can do longer songs. It doesn't scratch. 

Oh and it can do true stereo/surround sound. Records are literally one dimensional in many cases. The best that can be done is pseudo stereo. 


The same amount of $$$ will get you better speakers/headphones (the thing that actually makes the sound matters the most), potentially some room treatment and a lot less jank and hassle.
 

[ladybug]

2 hours ago, cmndr said:

I'm NOT a vinyl expert so I can't give good specific product recs. 

One warning I'll put out there - VINYL IS EXPENSIVE. 
Like REALLY expensive. And limited. And fragile. It can still be quite enjoyable and there's a tactile feel to it that's nice but... 

 

There's multiple reasons why the technology, from the 1940s, was basically abandoned. 

It's susceptible to physical wear and tear. It struggles with bass. It struggles with going from high to low volume. It can't do proper stereo. 
It's REALLY expensive to do well. And done well, it'll still be less accurate than just the same mastering mapped onto digital. 
And modern music is mastered for digital first and NOT for vinyl.

 

If you haven't gone off the deep end on vinyl and built out a huge collection yet... strongly consider sticking to digital. 

There's a reason why 40 years ago, it was deemed superior to what is now an 80 year old technology... digital can do near perfect reproduction of sound in the sound frequencies humans listen to. 

Digital can do deeper bass. It can do higher highs. It can do longer songs. It doesn't scratch. 

Oh and it can do true stereo/surround sound. Records are literally one dimensional in many cases. The best that can be done is pseudo stereo. 


The same amount of $$$ will get you better speakers/headphones (the thing that actually makes the sound matters the most), potentially some room treatment and a lot less jank and hassle.
 

well I mean I mainly buy vinyls right now either for my favoritest of albums only or just decorational purposes(because of the artwork or pictures on the vinyl or whatever), but I mean once I bought it I kind of want to hear it because I am curious so that's why I need a record player, otherwise I mostly listen to digital yeah(cds or straight up digital files)

[Blue4130]

1 hour ago, stefanmz said:

well I mean I mainly buy vinyls right now either for my favoritest of albums only or just decorational purposes(because of the artwork or pictures on the vinyl or whatever), but I mean once I bought it I kind of want to hear it because I am curious so that's why I need a record player, otherwise I mostly listen to digital yeah(cds or straight up digital files)

If it is just for curiosity, get a vintage used turntable with a modern needle. Don't spend $$$ on something that is not your primary listening method if you don't have lots of spare cash floating around.

[ladybug]

yeah not a  bad idea actually  I thought of that too. I will search for something on ebay or amazon.

[ladybug]

On 7/17/2024 at 8:16 PM, Needfuldoer said:

Unlike CDs, you want to clean LPs and 45s around their circumference, following the groove. I use a spray bottle full of distilled water (and spiked with a little isopropyl alcohol), then follow the grooves with a fuzzy paint edger (like this one), then mop up with a clean lint-free cloth. If you've got canned duster or an air compressor, blow as much dust off them as you can first, while they're still dry.

 

If you wipe them from the inside out, like you're supposed to with CDs, you can cause scratches that go perpendicular to the spiral groove.

 

Dust or scratches on an LP or 45 will just sound like a click. You may be surprised at how not-delicate they actually are. (Remember, back in ye olde days they were just how everybody bought their music, not precious collector's items.)

 

 

When you get one please don't buy a Crosley, or any other modern novelty player that uses this plastic mechanism.

 

 

As long as the damage doesn't extend into the playable area, it should be fine. (And even if it does, you can just drop the tone arm further in than the damage extends and listen to the rest of the tracks.)

 

Can you post a picture?

hey so the record is fine it plays fine by the way(I already heard it and it's amazing), so you were right and thanks for the tips for cleaning(the record is quite scratchy and noisy but the noise is not a problem anyway, it's probably dusty and I have to clean it again) , also about my record player I posted another thread if anyone wants tips for that if you are unsure what to pick.