record playing rituals

aKnyght

aKnyght

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given the all the recent discussion of vinyl and acquiring of turntables here, i though it would be helpful for those just getting into [or back into] analog to hear what vinyl preparation procedure / ritual you practice before dropping the needle... record cleaning, anti-static brush, stylus brushing, etc, etc. anything you do differently for brand new LPs?

digital is like cracking open a beer, playing vinyl is like mixing a martini [sorry, can't remember who here to attribute this quote] ...anyway, whats your recipe and mixing procedure ?!
 
I clean my albums with the VPI cleaner as least once as they come out of the collection, unless I know the LP has already been cleaned.

Then I will put the lp on the table and use my Audioquest brush. I clean my stylus after each LP, or side, if I hear during play it may have had some dirt.

I always put the LP back into the jacket after play.
 
Similar to Mr Peabody now that I need to start this ritual

All albums will be cleaned upon acquisition, then I will rotate them on some type of schedule

Electrostatic brush prior to each play and put away

Stylus cleaning upon use and at the end of the listening session, I use the MoFi brush but just bought the Onzow ZeroDust and read on Ortofon not a good idea to use it?





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besides all the obvious things with records, one thing i got in the habit of many years ago was always grounding my fingers on the rack (or a chair or something away from the arm or platter) to drain any static electricity before touching the tonearm. a vinyl system can really be a conduit for a significant static charge with the platter turning and limited ways for that static to drain away. and i do that even touching my preamp for digital too since it's a habit.

what shoes we wear; bare feet, slippers, socks or tennis shoes can make a difference. time of the year as far as humidity matters, and even the weather changes. so why risk it? just always ground yourself to drain the static. it free and just a habit to acquire.

visitors observe me doing that and ask me about it. and it's just a thing that i've learned the hard way.

also i have extra grounding in my system (chassis and signal path grounding beyond power grid grounding) which has reduced the static electricity that i encounter in my system these days compared to the past. not saying that everyone should or can do that, but it's an option that helps with this issue as well as system performance. about 10 years ago i experimented with tourmaline guns (hair dryers blowing hot air through screens filled with tourmaline crystals....the negative ion effect) and seeing how much removing static can temporarily improve performance gives you an appreciation for the presence of static in our systems, particularly spinning discs, vinyl and digital.
 
After cleaning a record with my RCM, I replace the original record sleeve with plastic anti-static sleeves that you can buy in bulk. That way, you can help keep the static electricity down and I can always tell if a record has been run through the RCM or not.
 
I am re-discovering my old cleaning rituals. First off, I insert the album into an archive quality inner sleeve as soon as it is opened. I then put the entire album and jacket into an outer sleeve for protection. I do this as soon as I am finished playing a record also.

So far I have been using wet cleaner with a velvet pad for any album that is a tad dirty, also on a brand new album. I use a carbon fiber anti-static brush prior to each playing. I also clean the stylus after each and every play. I am very picky on caring for my albums. I have yet to purchase a cleaning machine but I did use to own a VPI machine back in the day (I believe it was the first product VPI ever released.... I could be wrong but it was very early on for them).

I believe, after the initial getting used to period here, that my digital will continue to be my primary source. I am enjoying playing around with the new table. It definitely is taking me down the "back in then old days" path at this point. It is another fun source, but digital is so much easier, etc.

Go suggestion on touching some metal prior to handling anything to do with the table. Since my rack is metal I will have to get into this habit also :).
 
like many of you my ritual is thus .......

initial cleaning of record on my RCM (L'Art de Son mix, distilled water rinse, vacuum) , LAST treat the LP, replace sleeve with anti-static and note with a sharpie on the corner of the sleeve the date.

before playing I brush the record while spinning with my Disc Care 2+2 record brush(no longer in production but IMO the best brush out there)

stylus is cleaned between sides played with a stylus brush
 
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