This video is about a question that I got in another video... "How many times can I play my records before they wear out?" This video includes some general turntable setup information.
I caught one video where they were testing turntables by playing a record 100 times. Even the cheap turntable, even though it had a little wear, was still very listenable. It's more likely you'll get tired of listening to the record before actually wearing it out.
hi there im waiting for delivery on some dubplates which are cut onto some softer vinyl plate ? i hear different storys of playing time . some say no plays at all and others say 20 times . please can you give me some info .. thanx
I’ve watched this video a couple times. I love your down to earth approach! Records are meant to be played. Cars are meant to be driven! If you obsess over it you are robbing yourself of the pure joy of using it! I used to archive my records on tape. I still have working equipment which I could use for that purpose but I don’t even bother with that anymore. I just “play the damn things”! Best advice anyone could give. Just enjoy life! If they wear out or become too staticky, I simply use to money I saved from NOT buying an expensive high end system and buy more records. I think they sound pretty amazing on my modest Parasound Classic amp and preamp and my mint condition Technics SL1200 MKII with Ortofon 2M Blue! Anything more would exceed the acoustics of my very modest listening room!
Great video Craig and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it."Records are made to be played"...EXACTLY. I have an original 1977 pressing of the Stranglers"no more hero's" and to this day it still sounds fantastic,clear as a bell,no distortion and no surface noise.I would bet I've played that album over 100 times over the years!! If you look after them and your turntable then there's no reason why your records won't last you a lifetime. Keep up the good work
There is a reason why i buy from the 1 dollar records and dont care if they have some imperfections.. granted there is such thing as too messed up to listen to. However... a little static or minro scrateches dont bother me as long as it doesnt skip
My solutions to assuring my records last are: 1. All the recommendations Craig makes regarding turntable set up and stylus maintenance, 2. Clean every record before playing if only with a brush, 3. handle records only by the edge and label, 4. Put record back soon after playing, 5. If you are going to be listening many times over, either make a copy to listen to (as Craig suggests) or buy a Cd stream online or download -- especially useful for car, phone, and work, and finally my favorite, 6. Buy lots of records! Have so many stockpiled and coming in that you can't listen to one too many times because others are waiting to be heard.... (Added later) and 7. Never loan a record. It will either never return or be damaged.
I have my father's records that he had played hundreds of times on many turntables 30 years ago and after a good clean they sound as good as my new ones. And tape will not wear out for a good few centuries.
I agree with your assessment of vinyl records, have hundreds myself that play perfectly even after 40 years. But you have to take good care of them, never put any type of chemical spray on the vinyl, over time this will leave a residue on the playing surface which will eventually eat into the grooves making them unplayable. As for tape: Tape does become oxidised over time and will be damaged and turn to crumpled brown dust when touched, again tape must be handled with care. The best for Reel-to-Reel tape is the store them with the playing surface not exposed to the elements: To store, run the tape backwards on the tape spool, then put it in the tape box it came in. But I am sure you knew all this sir, so my info is for those less acquainted with vinyl and tape. Go well.
And there was another great video..thnx man...you've helped me out of several problems,in this video but also the one where you very specific explain how to setup the turn-table. Many thanks from the Netherlands..👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
dozens?? man I have records I guarantee I have played...probably 1000 times, and sound fine. keeping your records and stylus clean & your table setup correctly will keep your records sounding awesome for damn near a lifetime. if they started sounding shitty after a few dozen spins, or even a hundred, I would've worn some of my fav records out in the first month. keep em clean and they'll outlive you
ive had and played my vinyl collection for over 30 years , and they have been played alot , being im a dj ,, still playing them now 2022 ,, and they still sound fine ,,great video 😎👌😊
Yes indeed. Just goes to show us many like to type and talk as if there's not a chance any of is still have vinyl. .. I'm sure when the majority of us purchase any vinyl it was one of those things we saw ourselves having for a very very long time.. Vinyl is final...
I’ve been doing it onto cassette since 1982 and to computer since 1999, always with good results. Use a good turntable, a receiver with a good phono preamp, and run the tape output to the line input on your PC. Before recording the whole song or side, play a loud passage and set the audio level conservatively, peaking only at 80%. After you’re done recording you can always increase the level of your file, but if the peaks clip, there’s no fixing that distortion.
I recently found a 1st pressing of "Sinatra and Strings", from about the same year. It was a Goodwill find, 73 cents after tax. Like so many older records I have found, a good wet cleaning brings them back to life, even with visible marks and debris. It's a case-by-case thing. Some will sound amazing, some will reveal their wear and tear. If you don't feel good listening to it, throw it away (sound-quality-wise). There's another one out there in better shape. But if you see something that speaks to you in some way, buy it - it could be a cheap, excellent find! And if you buy thrift-shop records that kinda smell like mildew, store them in a different place than your good records. Mildew travels...
I have a linear tracking turntable so a lot of the inner groove distortion issues are eliminated because it tracks the groove in a straight line in the same way records are cut on the cutting lathe. Mine is a Technics SL-3 and I love it. If you love vinyl, I say just play the damn things. Vinyl is meant to be enjoyed and listened to, not just sit on the shelf doing nothing. If you look after your records well and play them on a decent turntable they should last a very long time. Vinyl rules!
If you align your cartridge properly there is little difference between a linear tracker and a conventional turntable. Inner groove distortion is caused by the much lower groove velocity and the ability of the stylus to track it.
Absolutely in agreement with ALL you told us in this video. Nothing else to add. Thank yiu so much for the abdolute huge informations you explained. Congrats to you. Danilo
Great , i really enjoyed it, vinyl records are the best and if you keep them by the all rules than you can play them lots of times...i have vinyls from the '50 -'60 ( most of my collection) and they sounds great ...Elvis, Beatles .....love the sound
Yes, this video was informative, and very helpful, and maintained what I believe about analogue playing. Myself, I have a Harmon Kardon TD302 (of 1988), and it still works fine. By the way, I forgot to thank you for getting me to explain my idea; my philosophy of the technology of analogue in comparison to digital reproduction; in this case the listening of music, from vinyl records, and music CD. Also, sorry, I did not get your real name, Graig; I called you "Mr. Vinyl TV". Thumb up, another great video. Thanks Graig. Furthermore, yes I agree, vinyl is final.
Subscribed. I refurbish vintage audio equipment. Mainly reel to reels and have several turntables that I've been bringing back to life. Your knowledge will help me a lot. Thanks.
wow thanks a million times i have learn a lot today im new to vinyl its a new passion for me and my wife and we love it excellent video!! thanks thanks thanks!!:)
When I was in the service , we would tape our own new records & those bought by our friends. I would copy most to my AIWA 3800 cassette deck (3 heads), or to my AKIA GX-77 (reel to reel). Sometimes doing both at the same time. Great info, thanks.
i have some records that used to be in a jukebox and others that came from a radio station, all of which have been played hundreds of times and they still sound good
I never think of wear when i play my records, as long as they are clean and the needle is not worn So far i havent noticed any wear on any of my lps, and some of them have probably played more than 100 times, maybe more i guess
Great video as always (great personality)... And for all you lot that really new to vinyl but act like you're veterans, just for a few minutes take time to appreciate what vinyl is and for the time it came about too. There's audio embedded into some plastic which any really slim pointed object can be used to read the vibrations from the nanoscopic grooves, kmt. . Me personally, vinyl gives me that feel that the artist may have been present when the vinyl was being cut which is the truth for all artist especially on their first album or single, who wouldn't want to see that process in the flesh, sorry, what musician wouldn't want to see it, I'm sure a music fan wouldn't want to miss it either I'm sure. .
as long as ur extremely careful with your records by making sure the paper inner sleeve does not touch the record when removing it from the inner sleeve or buying other non paper inner sleeves to minimise chances of scratching ur records when removing from inner sleeves. also keeping your records clean and reguarly dust them with a record cloth/brush and put them back in their inner sleeves when you are done with them they will sound great for years and i mean years. i have some records that i have owned for years and have purchased new and i think they sound just as good as the day i bought them. i do not spend hundreds of dollars on vinyl to mistreat them and have them become scratched and noisy junk. the only reason a record would sound worn or damaged is because they are heavily scratched or very dirty. hell i have some 30 to 40 and up year old records in near mint condition that i think sound like they were hardly played if not played at all and were brand new. not all my records sound amazing. but like i said those records do have a few scuffs here and there and therefore have some background noise because of that. but generally 98% of my collection sounds great because i know to only buy vg to near mint condition records
Some records sound great no matter how many times you play em,I have an old 60’s vinyl by the Melbourne jazz group Big Red Onions,the album is called Big Band Memories,it’s a fantastic record.
I have played a copy of an indie band album over 500 times before I noticed some sound deprivation. In my case, it was St. Paul and the broken bones on a Kenwood linear tracking turntable. I still play my worn copy most of the time, but I loved the album so much I bought another copy!
Hey Craig really really like your vinyl videos I’ve learned a lot from you and I thought I knew a lot lol. Can you please make a video on how to properly print the protracter from vinyl engine the proper size and exactly how to use it? I have a vintage Pioneer PL-50 turntable that has been completely refurbished and still OEM. I love the vintage stuff. Thanks Craig your the best man. Take care and keep producing
I really enjoy my turntable, I think my favorite band on record is Electric Light Orchestra . If anyone is looking for some amazing vinyl, and you liked ELO , you will be amazed with the overall quality of the sound the achieved back then.
Oh wow! I used to do the same thing (recording a new album onto cassette to listen to till the tape wore out) back in the 80's :) I did it because often I wanted to hear my music in my vehicle and I had a cassette deck in it, or when I was at a friend's that only had a cassette deck in their home and no turntable. It was great for that.
So glad to be hearing that vinyl is meant to be played. I love my records, way too much. I own an AT-LP120, i've set it up just right, but i still feel a small slash in my heart whenever i drop the needle and i hear even the tiniest bit of crackle, because i just know that that piece of plastic isn't gonna last forever, but i'm glad an expert agrees on vinyl meant to being played.
Records get better everytime you play them, just keep them clean, dont scratch them, and never slide them on the inner sleeve, especially if it is paper, it i will make hairlines that will multiply everytime you take the record in-out and eventually will be readable by the needle.
@@horsey604 Agreed, most audiophiles never use paper inner sleeves, unless there is also a plastic inner sleeve. I never put any type of chemical spray on my vinyl. I keep mine in very good condition and NEVER let anyone else play them but me. I am not being horrible, its just that not many people know how to handle & treat vinyl. But I love vinyl, even though its the most labor intensive of all the musical formats. But then, that's the tactile beauty of vinyl.
@@TERRYMism I never let other people handle my records because it is what you said, most people are too clumsy to handle vinyl.People cannot even handle cds properly...
@@horsey604 Yes, its sad but true. Most people just do not care when it comes to others property. I had a first pressing of Dark Side of The Moon in 1973 when it came out in Quadrophonic. I stupidly let a person play it after them telling me they had hundred of records. I thought, well they know how to handle vinyl. I was wrong, not only were there finger prints all over the playing surface there was a deep scratch between the tracks "Breath" and "Time". Totally ruined a good British Harvest Labeled Record. That was back in 1973, since then, no one had had a hand on my vinyl except me. The youngsters today have no clue on vinyl and how to take care of it, unless one sits down with them for 20 minutes to explain to them...vinyl records are not CDs, plus vinyl has always been an expensive hobby to buy, so that's another reason to take care of it. But sir, I am telling you nothing new here. Thank you for your post. Go well
I have still to learn a lot (and drink a lot, too, I guess), to be satisfied with the sound of cassette-copies of my vinyls. 😂 But, again a great video by Craig ...
Another way to ensure not only listening pleasure, but the longevity of your vinyl records is to clean them regularly. A brush is good for surface cleaning before play. I use a wet cleaning system to soak the grooves and saturate and remove the micro dust and debris. I also clean the stylus before it tracks another record.
I play my records but not too often as i want them to last a life time since most I've spent a bit on or what i consider a good amount on. I have a turn table just like yours and its a darn good player with the right cartridge the cart i have is a Ortofon 2M Red. Great video.
Same here, have an Audio Technica AT-LP120 WITH A Shure Stylus, as you say, a darn good turntable. As long as you keep any chemical spray away from them, and give them care and respect, they will last a lifetime, no matter how many times played. Sir, I am glad you used Turntable. Most people get confused with turntable and record player. Record player's are invariably, cheap and nasty, would never put my vinyl anywhere near them. However, turntables are a specialised instrument for playing vinyl records if one wants to treasure them for ever.
Record wear begins immediately. It's the nature of the product. You cannot have your cake and eat it too; but, in common practice just following simple instructions on turntable set-up and record handling precludes the sort of wear which distracts from record playing pleasure. I digitize my records so I have no concern for record wear; plus, the digitized record is pop filtered, making it actually sound better than the LP from which it was made.
in I think 1963 I bought my very first Album - It was Meet The Beatles, (I was 6 years old) - I still have it and it still plays amazingly well. I realize I was a kid and had no clue about how to properly care for Vinyl Records - But here's what I did know - My family was dirt poor - My Dad more than anyone else taught me at a very young age (Many thumps and lumps on my head from small tools I never put back clean or( "Put it back where you got it / THUMP") - So yeah, even at that age I learned to take very good care of things. Yes, I cleaned them off with a T-Shirt, gently, but yeah, T-Shirt. Anyway, I still have my entire collection - except for about 100 Records I had stolen while in the Navy by a "Buddy" I let stay in my apartment who left in the middle of the night one night and took all my Vinyl with him - Thankfully, the vast majority of my collection was still at my parents home. I bought and still have the original Disc-washer system and a Zero-Stat Gun - I use them and my own DIY Cleaning solution with Water and Alcohol and a tiny bit of Jet-dry. No static, no dust , my TT is in an enclosure with glass doors so extremely low dust and it also has a dust cover. I love it. I don't agree with the vague term "Dozens of Times" though.
14:53 Paraphrased: "Dozens of times [before friction wear becomes noticeable], but ticks and pops will occur before that point" (with everything properly aligned, tweaked, etc.).
Hi I have lp,s that have thousands of hours of play time. With proper maintenance. Good turntable cartridge is s must, Most of my collection was played on a pioneer pl510 with Stanton cartridge, then when my 510a died I moth balled my vinyl probably 400 lp,s I just couldn't stand them sitting , so after Craig's review I got s fluance rt82, best 300 I ever spent I'm dropping the needle again. My albums play fantastic after a little cleaning
Nice video man... When I record my old records, I actually like the crackle and pop captured. You still get the vinyl sound on tape or MP3. I guess people hate it, but I think that's part of the experience of listening to records. Love your work.
My record collection runs from mid 60s to mid 90s, not played on high end equipment : i.e standard record player/ music center which did have anti skate tone arm weight Then an ordinary Philips rack system which lasted from 1986 to 2016, tracking weight for the styli for these went from 5 to 8 grams. I now have much better equipment and I can say that these records sound as good if not better than c.ds of the same records even after all these years of playing. So in answer to the question how many times can you play a record, look after your records and you can play them for many many years and they will sound as good as when you first bought them
What a long winded unexplained phenomena. As an old AM station jock from the 1970s I played 45s thousands of times over & over again & the records lasted & sounded great. Turntable setup is important & if your playing ALOT of well used records go medium not light weight on the arm. It helps ALOT if you keep your records & turntables clean. So to answer the question records last as long as they are taken care of.
Hey Craig. I've really been enjoying your videos. Great job. I'd really love to see an instructional on using Audacity. I also have the AT-LP 120 and a few Japanese pressings that I want to archive asap. I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks and keep it up.
Take care of your damn albums and you’ll have them forever I have albums from the late 60’s and there gorgeous so it’s YOU who determines your records life
Thank you so much. Learning a lot. I recently bought a Denon DP-30L and Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Receiver CR 1040. I am new to the LP records. what are good speakers? I like many genres but my preferred is the Classic Symphonies.
Have to agree with Levi G , music is for listening to, enjoy it. I know that audiophiles spend ridiculous amounts of money, and then they spend most of their time looking at the equipment, and researching the next upgrade.
"Records are made to be played. Play them. Play the damn things."
Beautiful :) and awesome video!
I caught one video where they were testing turntables by playing a record 100 times. Even the cheap turntable, even though it had a little wear, was still very listenable. It's more likely you'll get tired of listening to the record before actually wearing it out.
hi there im waiting for delivery on some dubplates which are cut onto some softer vinyl plate ? i hear different storys of playing time . some say no plays at all and others say 20 times . please can you give me some info .. thanx
Play your records and enjoy them. Life is too short to let them sit.
I’ve watched this video a couple times. I love your down to earth approach! Records are meant to be played. Cars are meant to be driven! If you obsess over it you are robbing yourself of the pure joy of using it! I used to archive my records on tape. I still have working equipment which I could use for that purpose but I don’t even bother with that anymore. I just “play the damn things”! Best advice anyone could give. Just enjoy life! If they wear out or become too staticky, I simply use to money I saved from NOT buying an expensive high end system and buy more records. I think they sound pretty amazing on my modest Parasound Classic amp and preamp and my mint condition Technics SL1200 MKII with Ortofon 2M Blue! Anything more would exceed the acoustics of my very modest listening room!
Great video Craig and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it."Records are made to be played"...EXACTLY.
I have an original 1977 pressing of the Stranglers"no more hero's" and to this day it still sounds fantastic,clear as a bell,no distortion and no surface noise.I would bet I've played that album over 100 times over the years!!
If you look after them and your turntable then there's no reason why your records won't last you a lifetime.
Keep up the good work
*heroes
There is a reason why i buy from the 1 dollar records and dont care if they have some imperfections.. granted there is such thing as too messed up to listen to. However... a little static or minro scrateches dont bother me as long as it doesnt skip
My solutions to assuring my records last are: 1. All the recommendations Craig makes regarding turntable set up and stylus maintenance, 2. Clean every record before playing if only with a brush, 3. handle records only by the edge and label, 4. Put record back soon after playing, 5. If you are going to be listening many times over, either make a copy to listen to (as Craig suggests) or buy a Cd stream online or download -- especially useful for car, phone, and work, and finally my favorite, 6. Buy lots of records! Have so many stockpiled and coming in that you can't listen to one too many times because others are waiting to be heard.... (Added later) and 7. Never loan a record. It will either never return or be damaged.
Subbed. Great channel with straightforward and insightful commentary and none of the useless digital vs. analog fanaticism.
I have my father's records that he had played hundreds of times on many turntables 30 years ago and after a good clean they sound as good as my new ones. And tape will not wear out for a good few centuries.
Me too but most of the records are more than 40 years old and still sounding sick
I agree with your assessment of vinyl records, have hundreds myself that play perfectly even after 40 years. But you have to take good care of them, never put any type of chemical spray on the vinyl, over time this will leave a residue on the playing surface which will eventually eat into the grooves making them unplayable. As for tape: Tape does become oxidised over time and will be damaged and turn to crumpled brown dust when touched, again tape must be handled with care. The best for Reel-to-Reel tape is the store them with the playing surface not exposed to the elements: To store, run the tape backwards on the tape spool, then put it in the tape box it came in. But I am sure you knew all this sir, so my info is for those less acquainted with vinyl and tape. Go well.
And there was another great video..thnx man...you've helped me out of several problems,in this video but also the one where you very specific explain how to setup the turn-table. Many thanks from the Netherlands..👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Ha! Every time I start a new hobby there Craig is! I've been watching his homebrew videos for years. Subscribed...
dozens?? man I have records I guarantee I have played...probably 1000 times, and sound fine. keeping your records and stylus clean & your table setup correctly will keep your records sounding awesome for damn near a lifetime. if they started sounding shitty after a few dozen spins, or even a hundred, I would've worn some of my fav records out in the first month. keep em clean and they'll outlive you
ive had and played my vinyl collection for over 30 years , and they have been played alot , being im a dj ,, still playing them now 2022 ,, and they still sound fine ,,great video 😎👌😊
I'm still playin records that came out in 1955
Me too..."Rock Around The Clock", Decca Records, original pressing.
bill haley was a comet pimp. knowledge is power.
same here, so the answer is , a god damn lot of times
same here
Yes indeed. Just goes to show us many like to type and talk as if there's not a chance any of is still have vinyl. ..
I'm sure when the majority of us purchase any vinyl it was one of those things we saw ourselves having for a very very long time..
Vinyl is final...
I would love to see a video on Vinyl archiving. I've done a bit of this recently but never been that impressed with the results. Great video.
I second this idea.
Does anyone know if he has done a video? Would greatly love to see it!
I’ve been doing it onto cassette since 1982 and to computer since 1999, always with good results. Use a good turntable, a receiver with a good phono preamp, and run the tape output to the line input on your PC. Before recording the whole song or side, play a loud passage and set the audio level conservatively, peaking only at 80%. After you’re done recording you can always increase the level of your file, but if the peaks clip, there’s no fixing that distortion.
I have a record I bought in 1962 which still sounds great.
I recently found a 1st pressing of "Sinatra and Strings", from about the same year. It was a Goodwill find, 73 cents after tax. Like so many older records I have found, a good wet cleaning brings them back to life, even with visible marks and debris. It's a case-by-case thing. Some will sound amazing, some will reveal their wear and tear. If you don't feel good listening to it, throw it away (sound-quality-wise). There's another one out there in better shape. But if you see something that speaks to you in some way, buy it - it could be a cheap, excellent find! And if you buy thrift-shop records that kinda smell like mildew, store them in a different place than your good records. Mildew travels...
I have a Benny Goodman LP that was pressed in 1952. I do get the feeling that it hasn’t been played much, but it sounds absolutely amazing.
Take care of it and it will sound great. Rule of thumb: Never lend records to a slob and someone who who doesn't take care of their lps.
I have a linear tracking turntable so a lot of the inner groove distortion issues are eliminated because it tracks the groove in a straight line in the same way records are cut on the cutting lathe. Mine is a Technics SL-3 and I love it. If you love vinyl, I say just play the damn things. Vinyl is meant to be enjoyed and listened to, not just sit on the shelf doing nothing. If you look after your records well and play them on a decent turntable they should last a very long time. Vinyl rules!
If you align your cartridge properly there is little difference between a linear tracker and a conventional turntable. Inner groove distortion is caused by the much lower groove velocity and the ability of the stylus to track it.
Thank you for taking the time to do this!
Wow right off the bat. I learned something. Level the turntable with the level on the platter. I have been doing it all wrong.
soothing and captivating voice, i really enjoyed this. thanks for the upload.
I love your parting words, "Play the damn thing"
Your videos are so informative. I've learned so much from watching thanks for uploading
after more than 25 years of cutting records for the industry: This video is to the point! Well done!!!
Absolutely in agreement with ALL you told us in this video.
Nothing else to add.
Thank yiu so much for the abdolute huge informations you explained.
Congrats to you.
Danilo
Fantastic video... Fascinating... Thanks very much all the way from the UK....
Great information and video. Learned a lot of useful info to start with.
Thanks for posting! Love your sensible, down to earth attitude! Play on, bro! :-))
YOUR VIDEOS ARE EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Finally someone who doesnt completely dismiss digital. I see all mediums as far surpassed the human hearing comprehension if done properly.
great channel and great info...love it thanks man
Love your videos! keep on homebrewing and listening to vinyl!
Great , i really enjoyed it, vinyl records are the best and if you keep them by the all rules than you can play them lots of times...i have vinyls from the '50 -'60 ( most of my collection) and they sounds great ...Elvis, Beatles .....love the sound
I'm so happy to have found you on here. I can tell you are speaking to my type of $$$ range vinyl lovers.
Great advices, awesome video! You are like a very wise guy. Cheers!
absolutely fantastic video. your the man! keep it up. alot of need to know information . thank you.
subbed. love the detailed and insightful videos.
You simply the best 😇😇😇😇😇 you pour lot of information , once again thank you very much , keep going - Adios Amigo 🙂 riaz from Kerala : india
thanks for the great video:Happy new year from Hungary!
Yes, this video was informative, and very helpful, and maintained what I believe about analogue playing. Myself, I have a Harmon Kardon TD302 (of 1988), and it still works fine. By the way, I forgot to thank you for getting me to explain my idea; my philosophy of the technology of analogue in comparison to digital reproduction; in this case the listening of music, from vinyl records, and music CD. Also, sorry, I did not get your real name, Graig; I called you "Mr. Vinyl TV". Thumb up, another great video. Thanks Graig. Furthermore, yes I agree, vinyl is final.
Thank you so much for sharing the knowledge.
Subscribed. I refurbish vintage audio equipment. Mainly reel to reels and have several turntables that I've been bringing back to life. Your knowledge will help me a lot. Thanks.
Please make more videos and more often. They're really great.
watching this from mexico, thanks for the info !!!!
You're the best ! Thank you very much .
Congrats on your channel milestone. Keep up the awesome work.
Love your videos brotha!!!
wow thanks a million times i have learn a lot today im new to vinyl its a new passion for me and my wife and we love it excellent video!! thanks thanks thanks!!:)
Great advice Craig.. Thankyou
Always great info Brother :D
Great video!!! please do on archive. I'm learning more today than I ever have had in the vinyl day so of my life.
When I was in the service , we would tape our own new records & those bought by our friends. I would copy most to my AIWA 3800 cassette deck (3 heads), or to my AKIA GX-77 (reel to reel). Sometimes doing both at the same time. Great info, thanks.
I would love a video on archiving!!!!
i have some records that used to be in a jukebox and others that came from a radio station, all of which have been played hundreds of times and they still sound good
I never think of wear when i play my records, as long as they are clean and the needle is not worn
So far i havent noticed any wear on any of my lps, and some of them have probably played more than 100 times, maybe more i guess
Good information, usefull video thanks, Jacques
Great video as always (great personality)... And for all you lot that really new to vinyl but act like you're veterans, just for a few minutes take time to appreciate what vinyl is and for the time it came about too. There's audio embedded into some plastic which any really slim pointed object can be used to read the vibrations from the nanoscopic grooves, kmt. .
Me personally, vinyl gives me that feel that the artist may have been present when the vinyl was being cut which is the truth for all artist especially on their first album or single, who wouldn't want to see that process in the flesh, sorry, what musician wouldn't want to see it, I'm sure a music fan wouldn't want to miss it either I'm sure. .
as long as ur extremely careful with your records by making sure the paper inner sleeve does not touch the record when removing it from the inner sleeve or buying other non paper inner sleeves to minimise chances of scratching ur records when removing from inner sleeves. also keeping your records clean and reguarly dust them with a record cloth/brush and put them back in their inner sleeves when you are done with them they will sound great for years and i mean years. i have some records that i have owned for years and have purchased new and i think they sound just as good as the day i bought them. i do not spend hundreds of dollars on vinyl to mistreat them and have them become scratched and noisy junk. the only reason a record would sound worn or damaged is because they are heavily scratched or very dirty. hell i have some 30 to 40 and up year old records in near mint condition that i think sound like they were hardly played if not played at all and were brand new. not all my records sound amazing. but like i said those records do have a few scuffs here and there and therefore have some background noise because of that. but generally 98% of my collection sounds great because i know to only buy vg to near mint condition records
Good video. Thanks for the information.
Rockin' the hair Craig!!
ultimately play it listen to it smile and enjoy it then play it again, job done.
vinyl is final indeed :) great video, one of many others! cheers!
Some records sound great no matter how many times you play em,I have an old 60’s vinyl by the Melbourne jazz group Big Red Onions,the album is called Big Band Memories,it’s a fantastic record.
I have played a copy of an indie band album over 500 times before I noticed some sound deprivation. In my case, it was St. Paul and the broken bones on a Kenwood linear tracking turntable. I still play my worn copy most of the time, but I loved the album so much I bought another copy!
OMG. i have 45s and 78s from my mom. that are 60 years old. still sound great today
That's the problem with CD's: when they first begin to give up, they give up completely. There is no middleground. Vinyls last much much longer.
@Michael H. Great for you.
Awesome video Craig, I would like to see a video on recording records and the computer and tape decks and how to wire in a reverbbb, cheers (17)
Great video, thank you.
Good tips Craig , I have never got rid of my Vinyl for over 40 years and have some records that have been played only once because I taped it Cheers
Good info, thanks for the video
Hey Craig really really like your vinyl videos I’ve learned a lot from you and I thought I knew a lot lol. Can you please make a video on how to properly print the protracter from vinyl engine the proper size and exactly how to use it? I have a vintage Pioneer PL-50 turntable that has been completely refurbished and still OEM. I love the vintage stuff. Thanks Craig your the best man. Take care and keep producing
I really enjoy my turntable, I think my favorite band on record is Electric Light Orchestra . If anyone is looking for some amazing vinyl, and you liked ELO , you will be amazed with the overall quality of the sound the achieved back then.
Thanks for the info
Please make more videos, you rock man!
Oh wow! I used to do the same thing (recording a new album onto cassette to listen to till the tape wore out) back in the 80's :) I did it because often I wanted to hear my music in my vehicle and I had a cassette deck in it, or when I was at a friend's that only had a cassette deck in their home and no turntable. It was great for that.
So glad to be hearing that vinyl is meant to be played. I love my records, way too much. I own an AT-LP120, i've set it up just right, but i still feel a small slash in my heart whenever i drop the needle and i hear even the tiniest bit of crackle, because i just know that that piece of plastic isn't gonna last forever, but i'm glad an expert agrees on vinyl meant to being played.
Records get better everytime you play them, just keep them clean, dont scratch them, and never slide them on the inner sleeve, especially if it is paper, it i will make hairlines that will multiply everytime you take the record in-out and eventually will be readable by the needle.
@@horsey604 Agreed, most audiophiles never use paper inner sleeves, unless there is also a plastic inner sleeve. I never put any type of chemical spray on my vinyl. I keep mine in very good condition and NEVER let anyone else play them but me. I am not being horrible, its just that not many people know how to handle & treat vinyl. But I love vinyl, even though its the most labor intensive of all the musical formats. But then, that's the tactile beauty of vinyl.
@@TERRYMism I never let other people handle my records because it is what you said, most people are too clumsy to handle vinyl.People cannot even handle cds properly...
@@horsey604 Yes, its sad but true. Most people just do not care when it comes to others property. I had a first pressing of Dark Side of The Moon in 1973 when it came out in Quadrophonic. I stupidly let a person play it after them telling me they had hundred of records. I thought, well they know how to handle vinyl. I was wrong, not only were there finger prints all over the playing surface there was a deep scratch between the tracks "Breath" and "Time". Totally ruined a good British Harvest Labeled Record.
That was back in 1973, since then, no one had had a hand on my vinyl except me. The youngsters today have no clue on vinyl and how to take care of it, unless one sits down with them for 20 minutes to explain to them...vinyl records are not CDs, plus vinyl has always been an expensive hobby to buy, so that's another reason to take care of it. But sir, I am telling you nothing new here. Thank you for your post. Go well
I have still to learn a lot (and drink a lot, too, I guess), to be satisfied with the sound of cassette-copies of my vinyls. 😂 But, again a great video by Craig ...
You're a guru, mate. Thanks for your videos. They are incredibly helpful.
Thank you make learn a lot for setup my turntable.
Another way to ensure not only listening pleasure, but the longevity of your vinyl records is to clean them regularly. A brush is good for surface cleaning before play. I use a wet cleaning system to soak the grooves and saturate and remove the micro dust and debris. I also clean the stylus before it tracks another record.
I play my records but not too often as i want them to last a life time since most I've spent a bit on or what i consider a good amount on. I have a turn table just like yours and its a darn good player with the right cartridge the cart i have is a Ortofon 2M Red. Great video.
Same here, have an Audio Technica AT-LP120 WITH A Shure Stylus, as you say, a darn good turntable. As long as you keep any chemical spray away from them, and give them care and respect, they will last a lifetime, no matter how many times played. Sir, I am glad you used Turntable. Most people get confused with turntable and record player. Record player's are invariably, cheap and nasty, would never put my vinyl anywhere near them. However, turntables are a specialised instrument for playing vinyl records if one wants to treasure them for ever.
Good stuff - thank you!
Record wear begins immediately. It's the nature of the product. You cannot have your cake and eat it too; but, in common practice just following simple instructions on turntable set-up and record handling precludes the sort of wear which distracts from record playing pleasure. I digitize my records so I have no concern for record wear; plus, the digitized record is pop filtered, making it actually sound better than the LP from which it was made.
Linear tracking turntable baby. I love my PS-LX520.
in I think 1963 I bought my very first Album - It was Meet The Beatles, (I was 6 years old) - I still have it and it still plays amazingly well. I realize I was a kid and had no clue about how to properly care for Vinyl Records - But here's what I did know - My family was dirt poor - My Dad more than anyone else taught me at a very young age (Many thumps and lumps on my head from small tools I never put back clean or( "Put it back where you got it / THUMP") - So yeah, even at that age I learned to take very good care of things. Yes, I cleaned them off with a T-Shirt, gently, but yeah, T-Shirt. Anyway, I still have my entire collection - except for about 100 Records I had stolen while in the Navy by a "Buddy" I let stay in my apartment who left in the middle of the night one night and took all my Vinyl with him - Thankfully, the vast majority of my collection was still at my parents home. I bought and still have the original Disc-washer system and a Zero-Stat Gun - I use them and my own DIY Cleaning solution with Water and Alcohol and a tiny bit of Jet-dry. No static, no dust , my TT is in an enclosure with glass doors so extremely low dust and it also has a dust cover. I love it. I don't agree with the vague term "Dozens of Times" though.
Great info, 👍😃🇦🇺
14:53 Paraphrased: "Dozens of times [before friction wear becomes noticeable], but ticks and pops will occur before that point" (with everything properly aligned, tweaked, etc.).
miss you craig.i moved back south and only have this smart phone to work with for now.no computer for a while.
miss Friday nights.god bless
Thank you!
your records should last your life time if they dont you have cheap table or its setup wrong get a cleaning machine even a spin clean is good
Hi I have lp,s that have thousands of hours of play time. With proper maintenance. Good turntable cartridge is s must, Most of my collection was played on a pioneer pl510 with Stanton cartridge, then when my 510a died I moth balled my vinyl probably 400 lp,s I just couldn't stand them sitting , so after Craig's review I got s fluance rt82, best 300 I ever spent I'm dropping the needle again. My albums play fantastic after a little cleaning
Absolutely agree! "Just play the damn thing."
Nice video man... When I record my old records, I actually like the crackle and pop captured. You still get the vinyl sound on tape or MP3. I guess people hate it, but I think that's part of the experience of listening to records. Love your work.
My record collection runs from mid 60s to mid 90s, not played on high end equipment : i.e standard record player/ music center which did have anti skate tone arm weight
Then an ordinary Philips rack system which lasted from 1986 to 2016, tracking weight for the styli for these went from 5 to 8 grams.
I now have much better equipment and I can say that these records sound as good if not better than c.ds of the same records even after all these years of playing.
So in answer to the question how many times can you play a record, look after your records and you can play them for many many years and they will sound as good as when you first bought them
What a long winded unexplained phenomena. As an old AM station jock from the 1970s I played 45s thousands of times over & over again & the records lasted & sounded great. Turntable setup is important & if your playing ALOT of well used records go medium not light weight on the arm. It helps ALOT if you keep your records & turntables clean.
So to answer the question records last as long as they are taken care of.
I have mono LPs made in the 1950s that sound amazing and I have now clue how many times they were played as I got them used
Hey Craig. I've really been enjoying your videos. Great job. I'd really love to see an instructional on using Audacity. I also have the AT-LP 120 and a few Japanese pressings that I want to archive asap. I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks and keep it up.
Take care of your damn albums and you’ll have them forever I have albums from the late 60’s and there gorgeous so it’s YOU who determines your records life
Thank you so much. Learning a lot. I recently bought a Denon DP-30L and Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Receiver CR 1040. I am new to the LP records. what are good speakers? I like many genres but my preferred is the Classic Symphonies.
can you make a video about cleaning your records? Maybe depending on buying new and picking up old and used? thank you. just subbed to your channel.
I really dig your videos. When are you gonna make another?
Have to agree with Levi G , music is for listening to, enjoy it. I know that audiophiles spend ridiculous amounts of money, and then they spend most of their time looking at the equipment, and researching the next upgrade.
I've got records that I bought 45 years ago and sound mint. I did have good equipment back then...