Caring for Your Record Collection at your Gainesville Apartment

Though CDs and digital files are the dominant music medium these days, the classic long-playing vinyl record, or LP, is enjoying a renewed popularity. Why? A record’s analog recording picks up more of the nuances in the music and makes it easier for audiophiles to enjoy an album as one complete work. Unfortunately, vinyl records are fragile and easily damaged, making proper care essential if you want to enjoy them for years to come.

The first key to keeping LPs in good shape in your Gainesville apartment is controlling their environment. Dirt and dust can drastically increase the wear on both the record and needle cartridges, so be sure to keep records covered in their jackets, and store them in a sealed box or case that prevents dust buildup. The grooves on a vinyl record also can be prime growing places for mold if water or oil from fingerprints gets trapped in them. Try to handle records only along the edge and avoid keeping them near any other high humidity area. High heat is also a danger, since it can cause records to warp.

Playing records correctly is another important factor in protecting your LPs. Always be sure to balance your turntable’s arm so the needle is just resting in the groove with just the recommended pressure from your cartridge, since too much pressure will wear both out faster. Ensuring a record is spinning when placing or removing a needle is also important. Starting or stopping a record with the needle on it can cause the needle to drag or shake and potentially scratch the LP.

Though there’s a lot more to record care, these basic steps can help you keep your LPs safer. Bellamay Grand has apartments with plenty of room for you to enjoy your record collection, as long as you remember to be courteous to your neighbors by keeping your volume down or using headphones. Call or e-mail us today for more information on our rates and available apartments.