Are vinyl albums 12-inch?
12 inch records are generally manufactured for full-length (LP) albums. At 33 rpm they hold around 15-22 minutes per side.
How big is an album on vinyl?
The LP (from "long playing" or "long play") is an analog sound storage medium, a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of 331⁄3 rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a vinyl (a copolymer of vinyl chloride acetate) composition disk.
What is a standard album size?
Popular sizes include 11×8, 16×12 and 14×11.
What dimensions are albums?
The LP format remains in use for occasional new releases, though other formats have largely supplanted it. The size of the typical cardboard LP sleeve cover is 12.375 in (31.43 cm) square.
How long can a vinyl record be?
The largest record size is a 12-inch album. Each side can generally store up to 22 minutes of music. Vinyl records have reached a limitation in competition with modern media. CDs generally store around 60 minutes of music, whereas an album made for vinyl is capped at around 45 minutes if it takes advantage of both sides of the disk.
What is the warm part of a vinyl record?
The varying part of the signal, which most audiophiles call the “warmth” or “natural sound” of a vinyl record, is a representation of another time-varying quantity— how intact the grooves are.
How Does a Vinyl Work?
Record players convert vibrations from the grooves on a vinyl into analog sound waves. Unlike the more common digital sound transmission that MP3s and streamable music rely on, analog transmitters omit a continuous signal that varies depending on the pressure of the needle on the grooves. The varying part of the signal, which most audiophiles call the “warmth” or “natural sound” of a vinyl record, is a representation of another time-varying quantity—how intact the grooves are.
Why does my vinyl record have fewer pops?
If the disks are clean and free of dust or grime, they will play with substantially fewer pops and clicks. These disruptions happen when the player’s needle cannot read a notch in the groove on the surface of the record. Should you find yourself with a smudged vinyl, it is relatively easy to clean and restore your disk to its proper quality.
How many RPM does a record spin?
Chances are, the records you’d like to listen to are full-size 12-inch records, spinning at 33 1/3 RPM, or 7-inch singles, spinning at 45 RPM. Often, EPs and maxi-singles are produced on 12-inch disks that also rotate at 45 RPM. Make sure you look for the revolution per minute designation on your record before dropping it on your turntable’s platter. If you don’t match your record player’s setting to the rotation needs of the disk, you could distort the record to the point where it would be impossible to play it again.
Why do my records warp?
If you neglect your records or fail to take care of issues right when you notice them , they can warp. The disk will look bent or melted out of shape in some places. If you’re lucky, a mildly warped album will just sound a little awkward to the ear when you play it.
Why do records have grooves?
At a certain point, records can become cramped with grooves and have to expand in size to accommodate the extra music play while maintaining the quality of the audio . The grooves are simply too narrow to fit all the detail of multiple sound recordings if this extra area is not accounted for.
What are different record sizes used for?
Records are sized differently because different records are designed to hold more or less music playtime.
How many songs are on each side of a record?
These records are usually used for recording singles, and they usually only hold one song on each side.
How wide is a 33 RPM record?
A cover for a 12-inch or 33 RPM record is 12.375 inches wide and 12.375 inches tall.
How thick is a 45 record sleeve?
The album sleeve for a 45 record is usually 7 and 5/8 inches square, with a thickness of about half an inch.
What RPM is a 12 inch record?
If a 12-inch record was designed to be an EP, or extended play, record, which is a record that holds less than a full album’s worth of music but more than a single, the 12-inch record will most likely need to be played at 45 RPM.
Why are vinyl records better than other types of records?
Vinyl records were once the best way to listen to music, and many music enthusiasts still believe that records provide a better , more pure sound than other recording and listening technologies, especially for music that was specifically recorded to be played on records.
Why do record covers have a cutout?
Many record covers, particularly the inner sleeve parts, have a round cutout in the middle so that the paper label of the record can be seen.
How big is a vinyl record?
Records come in a range of different flavors based on competition and consumer tastes. The most common sizes are seven, 10, and 12 inches in diameter , but size isn’t the only way to identify what kind of vinyl record you have.
What is a 33 rpm record?
These recordings are often called ‘LPs’ or ‘LP records,’ short for ‘long play ,’ as the slower playback speed and narrow grooves allowed 33 rpm records to store more audio than older varieties. 7-inch discs could hold two to three songs, while the 12-inch breed fits four to five.
Why are 45s called singles?
Despite using the same microgroove technology, 45s were often called ‘singles’ because each side normally held just one song. Since these vinyl records often stored popular radio hits, they also found their way into jukeboxes back in the day.
How to tell a disc apart?
A better way to group these discs and tell them apart is the speed (in revolutions per minute, or RPM) at which they spin while playing on a turntable. There were lots of speeds on the market from the late 19th century until the 1920s, when the recording industry agreed on the 78 RPM standard.
Can you play vinyl records on a turntable?
What to Do with Your Vinyl Records. Of course, you can play records with a turntable – provided you have space for the player and don’t need anything too portable. Not all turntables play all sizes, especially the 78s, so you can go for an all-in-one record player like this one.
Is vinyl record making a comeback?
The vinyl record has made a huge comeback. From its warm sound to the thrill of digging in record stores for rare LPs, folks are still finding value in this once-fading format.
Can you digitize vinyl records?
While you can follow the steps above to transfer vinyl records to digital, we’re happy to digitize your music if the DIY approach isn’t for you. Part of vinyl’s appeal is the physical nature of the format, but to enjoy these songs on the go – and preserve rare cuts of your favorite tunes – converting to digital is your best bet. Get in touch with us today for more info!
What size disc was invented?
The size of disc varied over time with 10 inches eventually becoming a popular size. Inventing the 33, Yet Few Used It. By the time 78 became standard, new methods of audio recording had emerged. This allowed for more information to be printed onto a smaller record without losing any fidelity.
How many LPs can you play on a 78 RPM?
This will allow you to play virtually any commercially released records including 45 singles, 33 LPs, and the classic 78 RPM records.
How many RPM does a turntable have?
The motor played back a disc at times between 70 and 80 RPM. As more and more audio manufacturers turned to producing record players, the idea of a 78 RPM turntable became the norm. This is because the 3600 RPM motor used within the turntable saw peak performance at 78.26 RPM. Eventually, this became the official record standard by 1925.
Why does a record turn faster?
The slower a record turns, the worse the audio sounds. Due to this, in order to provide the best sound possible, the record needs to turn faster (higher RPM). However, when a record turns faster the amount of information it can hold on a record is reduced thus having a shorter playback time.
Why did RCA release the 45 record?
The record was smaller than the other options. Ultimately, RCA released the format in order to directly compete with the Columbia Record 33. The 45 of the time did not provide much in terms of an advantage over 78s, and Columbia’s system could play both 33 and 78, so few manufacturers picked up on the 45s.
When did the record 78 drop out?
The 78 more or less dropped out shortly after the conclusion of World War II. The faster a record spins, the better it sounds. With that in mind, there is only so much a record can play.
Who invented the phonograph?
Thomas Edison invented the very first phonograph, which worked off of a hand crank. Due to this, a set standard speed proved to be impossible. The average user hand cranked the device at around 80 RPM, yet the vinyl cylinders of the age could hold only five minutes worth of playback material. The Creation of 78 RPM.
Origin of The Record Player
How Does A Vinyl Work?
- Record players convert vibrations from the grooves on a vinyl into analog sound waves. Unlike the more common digital sound transmission that MP3s and streamable music rely on, analog transmitters omit a continuous signalthat varies depending on the pressure of the needle on the grooves. The varying part of the signal, which most audiophiles call the “warmth” or “natural sou…
Record Sizes
- Chances are, the records you’d like to listen to are full-size 12-inch records, spinning at 33 1/3 RPM, or 7-inch singles, spinning at 45 RPM. Often, EPs and maxi-singles are produced on 12-inch disks that also rotate at 45 RPM. Make sure you look for the revolution per minute designation on your record before dropping it on your turntable’s platte...
Dj Usage
- DJs have found a way to use the seemingly crippling disadvantage of a disk’s limited size to their benefit. Now, many singles designed for DJ performance are not pressed into the standard 7-inch size disk. Instead, they are produced on 10 and 12-inch records. The extra room on the vinyl record dramatically improves the sound quality of the music and allows for personalized extend…
Record Weight
- Modern vinyl albums are often affixed with another metric alongside the revolutions per minute: the weight of the vinyl record itself. New albums, especially from niche artists released through an independent label, have a superior physical quality and will play phenomenally even on an amateur turntable and stereo system.
Caring For Your Vinyl
- Taking good care of your vinyl records is just as important, if not more so, as maintaining the health of your record player.
A Final Word
- The world of vinyl is unique, complex, and extremely rewarding. We hope this guide helped you wrap your head around vinyl discrecord sizes! If you are interested in buying vinyl records, visit our online record storetoday!