What Are You Listening to?

[MrLobster]

Never thought I'd see Rihanna and Throbbing Gristle on the same mixtape.

It's been a good year for picking up music... Part 2 is up now, part 3/4/5 should all go live before the 31st.

[virushopper]

[Maximilian]

[october_midnight]

[Archive_Reports]

Really I'm listening to a Thrice playlist, but The Arsonist is currently playing.

[henryeatscereal]

[[parasite]]

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[[parasite]]

funeral for a friend




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[MrLobster]

[henryeatscereal]

[theburningreptile]

[bobbie solo]

[MrLobster]

Such a great album with many quality remixes stemming from it too...

[ThermionicScott]

Just bought this the other day, sounding really good so far.

I've had the CD for about 20 years now, but whenever I take home a vinyl version these days, I'm a little nervous that it won't live up in some way (bad mastering, background noise, pops/clicks, outright defects in the vinyl, etc.)

[Space Suicide]

sleeper hit with me.

[the duder]

Just bought this the other day, sounding really good so far.

I've had the CD for about 20 years now, but whenever I take home a vinyl version these days, I'm a little nervous that it won't live up in some way (bad mastering, background noise, pops/clicks, outright defects in the vinyl, etc.)

Is that a Dual 1220? I've got my dad's old Dual and I've had no luck in getting the plate to spin. Any resources you know of that I should check out?

[MrLobster]

I've had the CD for about 20 years now, but whenever I take home a vinyl version these days, I'm a little nervous that it won't live up in some way (bad mastering, background noise, pops/clicks, outright defects in the vinyl, etc.)

For background noise, I'd recommend figuring out a cleaning method for your records you're happy with (mine takes about 15min per side... mixing dry and wet cleaning methods, but then again I'm also encoding it to a lossless digital file so... standards can vary), any background noise that remains is usually "the hum".

If it's new vinyl with a defect, and you bought it from a store, take it back for a refund or exchange (if that store has a fucked up policy about unopened product, ask them how you're supposed to find out about a defect without opening it? and then never spend any more money there, because that's fucked).

When it comes to mastering, I've noticed one of three things tend to happen. They master it "Fully" to the format (using up as much spectrum as the vinyl can hold, usually resulting in a LOUD inherent volume), they master it "Safe" for the the format (leading to a good inherent volume, just nice) or they take the CD mastering and press that up to vinyl which usually results in a quieter inherent volume. I'm most annoyed with the CD mastering represses that the major labels have been pushing out, they should spend the cash and actually remaster it for the vinyl format... but they aren't bad as such. Just... lacking.

Clicking/pops... Depends on the cause. Surface scratches can look pretty bad but add nothing to the playback. Sometimes the surface can look pristine and have them. Sometimes playing the record through once will high light pops and also dislodge anything the cleaning(s) haven't and then playing a second time, no pops will be heard.

But if it actually causes you anxiety, then you should probably stay away and stick the with the "sterile" CDs.

[ThermionicScott]

Is that a Dual 1220? I've got my dad's old Dual and I've had no luck in getting the plate to spin. Any resources you know of that I should check out?

Dual 1229, you were close! My dad worked in a TV/radio/stereo repair shop in high school, and has always liked how well-built and serviceable Duals are, so he put me on to them right away.

I, on the other hand, am not much of an expert at fixing them beyond making sure everything moves freely, so you might try taking off the platter and seeing if the spindle on the motor turns at all when you try to engage it. There are some good YouTube videos on servicing these things, that's where I learned whatever I do know about it.

[ThermionicScott]

Thanks for the tips @MrLobster! Thankfully, none of that causes me any real anxiety, I'm just really attuned to it for the first couple of spins. If a record skipped right out of the package (and after cleaning), sure I'd return it. But for the most part, I'm able to tune out minor clicks and pops eventually*, like with any used record I pick up.

*For example, my copy of Shout Out Louds "Optica" had more ticks than I would have expected/preferred, but I think it might have been mastered at a lower overall level to cram more music (51+ minutes) onto it, making noises more noticeable when turned up to compensate. And our copy of "The Burbs" soundtrack has that sort of a quiet "sizzle" between tracks, probably due to the splatter-colored vinyl. But that doesn't stop us from enjoying those records in the end.

[Bachy]

[henryeatscereal]

[[parasite]]

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[[parasite]]

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[bobbie solo]

[[parasite]]

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[Bachy]

“That’s a lovely accent you have. New Jersey?”

[zero]

[MrLobster]

(wanted to share the track "Ghost Trains" but not ripped to the 'tube...)

[theburningreptile]

[henryeatscereal]