Five tips for vinyl virgins from a vinyl guy by Tony Nauroth

Source: http://blog.pennlive.com/bizarrebazaar/2008/04/five_tips_for_vinyl_virgins.html

April 08, 2008 12:08PM

Vinyl doesn't go back as far as this player, but this sample is definitely analog, not digital.

When I was in the third grade -- you'll be able to figure it out by the time you finish reading -- my father, a printer by trade, invented a machine part to make his boss' printing presses more efficient. It saved a ton of money. My father didn't get the credit and he didn't get royalties for it. But his boss did buy Dad a new stereo radio/phonograph player in a beautiful cabinet. Top shelf at the time. He also gave us 125 vouchers for 33 and 1/3 rpm albums we could redeem at a local record store.

The boss, a Mr. Glucken of Pittston, Pa., knew my Dad liked music.

Glucken also asked Dad if he'd like to move into his country mansion near Dallas, Pa., and take care of it while he did the grand tour of Europe. So all 10 of us moved into this magnificent home on the top of a hill, with its half-mile long driveway and 73 acres of fields and woodland.

Glucken was on his grand tour for nine years while we lived in his mansion -- free! It was great. And frequently we would gather around the stereo near the huge stone fireplace and listen to vinyl. For all its pops and scratches, the sound that came out of those 8-inch speakers was as warm as the crackling fire nearby.

We're in the midst of a revolt against digital sound, despite -- or perhaps because of -- its perfection. It's unreal, especially when heard by the ears of those trained to listen to vinyl. Yet even teens and 20-somethings are getting into this 100-year-old technology and need a simple "how-to" guide to find their groove -- literally.

Josh Bizar, director of marketing at Music Direct, a company that specializes in everything "analog," says, "Since the technology is all new territory for the vinyl virgin, it can be tough getting through that 'awkward stage.'"

Josh put together five tips to help vinyl record "virgins" get started:

FIND THE RIGHT TURNTABLE -- Used record players are a dime a dozen at garage sales and thrift stores, but a 30 year old record player could have many problems. Make sure you get a really good service tech to get it up and playing properly. There are also countless new turntables on the market today. For an investment of $300, you can buy an amazing new turntable with 21st century technology that will be perfect right out of the box.

A modern phonograph player.

SET UP YOUR SYSTEM WITH CARE -- Any turntable will need to be properly set-up to get the maximum amount of music out of your record. That means finding someone who knows how to install the phono cartridge (needle) properly to get the most music out of the grooves. Also, make sure you place your turntable on a rock-solid shelf to keep vibrations away.

LOOK FOR QUALITY VINYL -- Thrift shops, garage sales, used record stores and even your uncle's basement are great places to start your vinyl collection. There are also more new LPs pressed today than anytime since the mid-80s. Specialty stores can advise you on all the great music that's available on the best quality new vinyl.

AP PhotoA record album slides out of a press at the United Record Pressing company in Nashville, Tenn. on Jan. 25, 2007. The press turns a blob of vinyl about the size of a hockey puck into a record album.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR RECORD COLLECTION -- Avoid all those ticks and pops by removing the decades of grunge from the grooves with a really good record brush and record cleaning fluids. There are even special record cleaning machines that do all the work for you and will vacuum dry the LP so you can play it immediately. They can be pricey, however. Still, clean records not only sound better, they're much more valuable.

BRING YOUR RECORDS INTO THE 21st CENTURY -- The biggest trend in vinyl right now is taking your records and making them digital. Many newer turntables can connect directly to your computer via USB, and even older, standard turntables can run through a special USB Converter and achieve the same effect. Download some free "ripping" software, like Audacity, and you're ready to put your record collection right onto your iPod.

Of course, to get the full effect that I remember, you'll have to invent something really cool and valuable. Then move into the country. Just remember to hold out for royalties.