Category: Caring For Vinyl Records

Vinyl records, once an iconic medium for music enthusiasts, carry with them a unique charm that digital formats often struggle to replicate. The crisp sound, the tactile experience, and the nostalgia associated with vinyl make it a cherished possession for many. However, even the most ardent vinyl aficionados encounter a frustrating dilemma: the skipping record. It’s a perplexing problem, especially when there are no visible scratches or blemishes on the surface. So, why does this happen?

To understand why a record skips without visible damage, we must delve into the intricate mechanics of how vinyl records produce sound and the factors that can disrupt this process.

1. Tracking Force and Tonearm Balance:

One of the primary culprits behind skipping records lies in the delicate balance between the tonearm and the stylus (needle). The tonearm’s weight, known as tracking force, must be carefully adjusted to ensure optimal contact between the stylus and the record’s grooves. Too little tracking force can result in insufficient grip, causing the stylus to lose contact and skip across the surface. Conversely, excessive tracking force can exert undue pressure, distorting the grooves and leading to mistracking.

2. Tonearm Alignment:

Proper alignment of the tonearm is crucial for maintaining accurate tracking. If the tonearm is misaligned, the stylus may not follow the grooves correctly, causing it to skip intermittently. Misalignment can occur due to various reasons, including mishandling, transportation, or improper setup.

3. Surface Imperfections:

While scratches are the most obvious culprit for record skipping, other surface imperfections can also disrupt playback. Even tiny particles of dust or debris can interfere with the stylus’s trajectory, causing it to jump or skip across the record. Additionally, static electricity buildup on the record surface can attract dust, exacerbating the problem.

4. Stylus Condition:

The condition of the stylus plays a critical role in ensuring smooth playback. Over time, the stylus can wear out or accumulate debris, diminishing its ability to track the grooves accurately. A worn or dirty stylus is more prone to skipping, as it struggles to maintain consistent contact with the record surface.

5. Turntable Setup and Calibration:

A poorly calibrated turntable can exacerbate skipping issues. Factors such as tonearm height, anti-skate adjustment, and turntable leveling can all impact tracking performance. It’s essential to follow manufacturer guidelines and regularly maintain and calibrate your turntable to prevent playback issues.

6. Warped Records:

Warped records can cause the stylus to fluctuate in its vertical movement, leading to intermittent skipping. While visible warping is often apparent, some records may exhibit subtle deformations that are not immediately noticeable but still affect playback. Storing records properly and avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures can help prevent warping.

7. Environmental Factors:

Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can influence vinyl playback. High humidity levels can cause the record surface to retain moisture, leading to sticking or skipping, while low humidity levels can increase static electricity buildup. It’s crucial to store records in a stable environment away from direct sunlight and moisture.

8. Quality of Pressing:

The quality of the record pressing can also contribute to playback issues. Poorly manufactured records may have inconsistencies in groove depth or spacing, resulting in tracking problems. Additionally, records pressed from recycled or low-quality vinyl materials may exhibit surface irregularities that affect playback.

9. Mechanical Issues:

In some cases, mechanical issues within the turntable itself can cause skipping. Problems such as a misaligned or worn-out turntable belt, malfunctioning motor, or damaged bearings can all impact playback performance. Regular maintenance and inspection of turntable components can help identify and address these issues.

10. Dynamic Range and Bass Resonance:

Certain passages of music with high dynamic range or excessive bass can exert greater demands on the stylus and tonearm, increasing the likelihood of skipping. Adjusting the tonearm settings or upgrading to a stylus with better tracking capabilities may help mitigate these issues.

In conclusion, while scratches are often the first suspect when a record skips, numerous other factors can contribute to this frustrating phenomenon. From tonearm calibration to environmental conditions, each element of the vinyl playback system plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth and uninterrupted performance. By understanding these factors and taking proactive measures to address them, enthusiasts can enjoy their vinyl collections to the fullest, relishing in the timeless allure of analog sound.

Storing your Vinyl Record Collection

How you store your record collection can make the difference between records in mint condition and dirty, dusty, warped albums that have only sentimental value. Those 7 Inch, 12 Inch and LP records have been hard to acquire, the challenge is to keep them safe.

It doesn’t take much time to set up a good storage area for your vinyl, and as time passes, you’ll be glad you did.

Here Are Some General Rules For Good Record Storage

• Always store vinyl records in an upright position, on their edges. Records stored horizontally eventually bend and warp.

• Never place records in direct sunlight or heat; this too will cause them to warp

• When moving your records around, never leave them in a hot vehicle

• Keep records in a cool, dry place (not the basement or garage, which tend to be moist and damp).

• Ensure that your storage area is clean

• Use anti-static record sleeves to reduce dust accumulation

Vinyl is incredibly heavy, never underestimate how much an accumulation of vinyl can weigh.

Consider carefully the type of shelving you will be using. Shelving units weigh approximately 35 to 45 pounds per shelf and feet, while 78s weigh even more. If your shelving isn’t sturdy, vinyl records can easily cause shelves to collapse. When choosing shelving for your collection, pick a material that won’t bend, like steel or oak.

Your records should never be stored in high temperatures, ideally never let your collection get above 22c or around 70 degree fahrenheit. Try not to let temperature fluctuations in your storage area be too wide and extreme. Look for no more that 5 to 10 degree movement in the temperature variation.

Try and avoid humid environments and humidity generally. Your records will last longer the more temperate the environment that you provide for them.

Playing your records is part and parcel of keeping your record collection in the best possible condition while learning to appreciate the incredible collection that you have accumulated.

Learning to handle your records with care is the primary starting point to looking after them. Whether you’re into 12 Inch or 7 Inch or both, no self respecting collector would ever want to inadvertently damage a record.

Handling Records

Handle the vinyl by the edges or the label only—with clean hands, of course.

Once you’ve finished playing a record, put it back in its sleeve and cover. This will eliminate dust accumulation on the record, as well as unwanted fingerprints or scratches. Remember, the less you touch a record, the cleaner it will be (and if it’s a rare record, the higher its potential value). So hands off!

Dust Cover On Your Record Player: Off or On (Up or Down)?

This is mostly a matter of personal preference. Playing records with the dust cover down may prevent dust from settling on the turntable or the record, but some believe that leaving the cover down ruins the sound of the record. My suggestion is to try it both ways to see which you prefer.

The dust cover pictured above is the extreme of how how far people will go – remember dust is your enemy. Keep them away from it to achieve the best possible playback.

Below is a graphic demonstrating the typical record player setup

How do turntables work?

When a stylus moves through a record’s grooves, an electric signal is created. Compared to signals emitted from CDs and cassettes, though, it’s very weak. Older amplifiers compensated for this by having phono channels that boosted the signal, making it possible to listen to records. Since it’s not needed for CDs and cassette tapes, many modern amplifiers don’t have this channel. As a result, the record’s electric signal is too weak to be audible. By purchasing a pre-amp, though, you can give the signal the extra boost it needs before reaching the amp—and your records will sound great. 

How to avoid scratching records

To limit the risk of scratching your records and LPs during playback, keep your dust cover down or closed. Try also to ensure you use the tone arm when lowering the stylus, don’t just drop that needle!

Alway put your records back in the sleeve with a sleeve insert. Never leave your records lying around.