My Music Collection (and how to start your own!)
Currently I own 16 albums, 14 are records and 2 are CDs.
You can view a gallery of my albums in the Music Gallery tab!
I really enjoy collecting records! I have a player, and a speaker system in my room. My dad first sparked my interest in vinyls, and from there I started building a collection.
One of my favorite aspects of records is the disc itself. A lot of the ones I collect are very unique and colorful, not just the standard black.
Starting your own collection!
Upkeep
When collecting vinyls, you want to:
- Keep them in a place with moderate temperature, below freezing they may become brittle,
and extreme heat will cause warping. - Keep them away from humidity.
- Keep them vertical to avoid warping, don't stack them!
- Only touch the edges when handling them to avoid scratches and dirt.
This should prevent damage like becoming warped, brittle, or scratched and dirty!
Player
Parts of the Record Player
Now unless you're a nerd, you don't need to know every single small bit of the anatomy of a
record player. Here I'll only list the simple stuff, nothing crazy complex.
First you've got the platter; this is the plate the record spins on. The platter spins via a motor
that either is directly connected, or connected via a belt.
Next is the stylus or needle
Buying a Record Player
When buying a record player, it may seem good to start with a simple cheap player,
but investing in a good player is a great choice for keeping your records in good condition.
I made this mistake myself and am still working on saving up for a better player.
Currently im saving up for the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK turntable (right)
which is an upgrade from the crappy one I've been using. Its not expensive
but still high quality, and is good for someone who is getting into vinyls, like me!
Records
Types
There are two types of records! LPs (long-playing), and EPs (extended play).
LPs are 12-inches, and are the standard format for albums. They typically have 10 to 12 songs,
and have 30 to 50+ minutes of playtime. Some LPs may have more than one disc if the album
is too large for just one. This may cause sides to be shorter though, leading to having to change them more often.
EPs are 7-inch, but may rarely come in 10-inch versions. These can be for singles as well!
Speeds
33 1/3 RPM
- The typical speed for LPS
- Spins slower, making playtime longer
45 RPM
- Standard speed for EPs
- Shorter run time
78 RPM
- The fastest speed
- Records of this speed are rare, and older