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How To Choose Vinyl Records

Despite the popularity of digital music and CDs, vinyl is still a hit with listeners of all ages. Think of what albums your collector may be dreaming of, a lost favorite or a rare gem. Whether you are shopping for a long-time listener with an impressive vinyl collection or someone just looking to take the first step into analog music, the revival of vinyl means that there is a huge range of classic albums and new releases to choose from and machines to play them on. You can find records of all genres including rock, indie, hip-hop, and even film soundtracks. Browse the offerings on eBay and start a new yearly tradition among your family.

Why choose vinyl?

For audiophiles, the answer is quite simple. Vinyl records sound better. The quality of a digital music recording like a CD is limited by its bitrate, or the rate at which it records information. The sound on a digital album is a series of snapshots, and the music is often compressed afterwards to reduce the file size. The grooves of a record are continuous and lossless. As long as you have a good turntable, you can hear the recording exactly as it was played . This isn’t necessarily true of modern album releases, though. Many new records and remasters are actually pressed from digital master files. Vinyl records are collectible, too. Many records from the time when vinyl ruled are now rare. Original pressings of albums from classic bands like The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd can have real historic value. Collectability isn’t limited to classic releases, either. Since digital formats have become the main medium for music, record companies have tended to treat vinyl records as special editions, so albums often come with unique artwork and other bonuses.

How do I assess the condition of records?

A vinyl record’s condition is of great importance to collectors, so they often look for graded records. These are rated on a common scale, although there is some subjectivity involved. Mint records are those that are in perfect condition and have been stored very carefully. They will never have been played and the disc and sleeve will display no damage. Some will still be sealed. Near Mint vinyl records will still show no damage to the disc or the sleeve or cover, but may show some signs of having been handled.Very Good and Very Good Plus vinyl records will show wear, although they have still been stored and used carefully. Grooves may be more worn and there may be creasing or scuffs visible on the sleeve. You might also get some crackle while listening, but the sound quality should still be excellent. Good and Good Plus graded records should play all the way through without skipping, but sound quality might be less than it was due to wear on the grooves. The vinyl and the sleeve or cover will have clearly visible defects.Lower grades like Poor or Fair may well not play through every time without skipping, and will display noticeable cosmetic damage like cracks on the vinyl or tears on the sleeve.Vinyl records will sometimes be given a play grade and a visual grade. Play grades refer to how good the sound quality is, while visual grades are down to how good the disc and its cover look.

What do the different formats mean?

LPs measure a foot across and spin at just over 33 rotations per minute. A vinyl LP can hold up to an hour of music on each side, so they are a popular format for albums. In longer albums the grooves have to be cut closer together which can affect sound quality. Many albums were made as double LPs to get around this. These could consist of two vinyl LPs in a single 2-LP box, or one double-sided LP.45s are seven inches across and spin at 45 rotations per minute on your record player. They only have five minutes of playing time per side at most, so they are usually used for singles. If you only want the hits, you could put together a collection of nothing but 45s.78s are a bit different in that they usually aren’t actually made from vinyl but rather shellac. This makes them quite fragile. Like 45s, you won’t find full albums in this format: running time is limited to about three minutes per side.

“Bi-2”, Yolka, Cream Soda and others – about why they release albums on vinyl ♫ IMI. Magazine

-disks. Nevertheless, since the late 2000s, interest in vinyl began to grow again – for example, in 2019, record sales in the United States grew by 12.5%.

A logical question: what is the situation with vinyl in Russia? We asked about this from the artists whose albums are released on LP, and from representatives of labels that publish records.

Text : Vladimir Zavyalov

When did Russian music start being released on vinyl again?

After the closure of the Melodiya vinyl division, the release of records in Russia slowed down dramatically. Popular albums in the 1990s and 2000s were extremely rarely released on records, and a few labels were engaged in publishing (for example, Gala, ZeKo-Records, Lilith). In the 2010s, Russian music on vinyl began to be released more often. One of those who mass-produce it in Russia is the label “ Soyuz “. Its head Aleksey Alyaev said that the first releases of the label on vinyl were Starfall by Civil Defense and Fashion by Bravo in the early 2010s [but this is not entirely accurate – Soyuz released vinyl records back in the early 1990s and even in the zero – approx. IMI].

According to him, the release justified itself: for example, “Starfall” quickly sold out and generally became a collector’s rarity. Alyaev recalls: “The main part of the circulation was black, and they also had to release red and transparent vinyl. But something was mixed up at the factory and instead of 100 transparent plates they made 22 pieces, although there should have been 600 black plates and 200 each – transparent and red. Naturally, this transparent vinyl has become one of the most rare records in the history of the domestic remake.”

Vinyl “Civil Defense” – “Starfall”. “Vyrgorod”, “Soyuz Music”, 2011

The story with “Moda” also turned out to be quite interesting.

“Mastering took place in a cool studio in California,” says Alyaev, “but releasing records right there was difficult in terms of logistics, so we found a suitable factory in Europe. I must say that the leader of Bravo, Yevgeny Khavtan, carefully and scrupulously refers to the process of creating vinyl – therefore we need a laquer (a special soft aluminum plate coated with varnish – a nickel matrix is ​​created on it, which is needed in order to make a vinyl record. – Note IMI) made in California. Then it was delivered to a German factory in a special aluminum protective case, and from this lacquer we printed an edition of the Fashion album. When we brought the finished vinyl to Khavtan, he said that it sounds very cool.”

Is vinyl produced in Russia today?

Yes, but only one plant does it – Ultra Production. Opinions on the quality of the records produced there vary.

Alyaev is sure that over the years of its existence “the plant has very much leveled the quality”, although it has not yet reached the level of foreign products.

“Is Russian vinyl different from German vinyl? Of course, there is such a feeling, ”says the head of the Union.

Satisfied with the records of his group made in Russia and Artem Khorev of Anacondaz ; “Ultra Production” he calls “a good producer.” Nevertheless, mastering – the main, according to Khorev, the stage of making a vinyl release – is done by Anacondaz in London at the 360 ​​studio.

Vinyl Anacondaz – “I Never Love You”. Invisible Management, Ultra Production, 2019

But Shura Bi-2 does not consider releasing vinyl in Russia a good idea. “Bi-2”, according to him, print only polygraphy in Russia, and the records themselves are made in Germany or England.

“Why in Germany? Tried here in Russia: the quality is not suitable. Listen, compare and hear the difference. We did tests for a long time and realized that mastering should not be done here. But this is the most important thing: you need to do the mastering first, because taking a digital version and recording it on vinyl is not good. When we recorded at Abbey Road, we worked with people who specifically mastered to vinyl. The difference in quality is huge, ”the musician explains his choice.

The mastering stage is the most important, Alexey Alyaev agrees.

“It usually goes like this,” he says about the production of vinyl by Russian artists. – There is a ready-made phonogram, a special “apprentice” is taken – inexpensive, ten thousand costs per phonogram – and in the end, the frequencies are simply brought up so that when overlaid on vinyl it does not sound like a CD, but is close to the sound of real vinyl. We understand that basically all records are now digital, but, unfortunately, people don’t even fool around with this now and end up with a CD with all the vinyl reproduction artifacts.”

However, making records in Russia has certain advantages.

“There is no need to worry about customs clearance and delivery,” says Alyaev. “They [Ultra Production factory]. — Approx. IMI] make both small print runs and color editions, their service to the client has grown. This is a good option for low-budget and small-circulation groups. For example, it would be too expensive for me to make 200 red Yorsch records on red vinyl in Germany. They will tell me: dude, you need to wash the press after the red color, so the circulation should be at least 500 records.

If we talk about the post-Soviet space, we can’t help but mention Semikols, a vinyl production plant in Riga run by Andrey Algoritmik, a Moscow DJ, promoter and founder of the Powerhouse Moscow club. Records of Cream Soda, On-The-Go, Intourist, Pompeya and others were printed at this plant.

Vinyl “SBPC” – “Probably for sure.” Semikols Record Pressing, 2019

Andrey said that Semikols is a family business: “Before I was born, my father was engaged in the publication and sale of records and cassettes.” Andrey himself started with the publishing of Western music on CD and the organization of concerts, until he realized that “a new scene has formed and it’s time for it to leave a mark on history with the help of vinyl records.”

According to him, the most ordered circulation is from 300 copies. How do they separate?

“Mostly they leave at the concerts of the group and by pre-order in their social networks,” says Algorithmik. “If an artist is able to gather 300-400 people for his concert, then distribution as such is not very necessary for such a circulation.”

Why do artists need vinyl?

Singer Yolka explains this with nostalgia. “Historically, I come from a family of musicians where vinyl has always been a fetish. My grandmother had records, we had a record player at home and very rare albums on records. Since our parents naturally hunted for records, this spirit of hunting was somehow transferred to me. Plus, I personally know several people who collect vinyl, ”says the artist.

Nadezhda Gritskevich (group “Naadya” ) admits that vinyl was not a fetish for her, but it was nostalgia that prompted her to release the album on a record.

“As a child, like many, I had a record player, which was not perceived as something sacred. We listened to fairy tales and music on it, I heard Whitney Houston’s first album on vinyl, although then, of course, I still could not understand the difference between the carriers, ”said Nadezhda.

Vinyl “Naadya” – “Naadya”. Kometa Music, 2015

For Artem Khorev’s , vinyl is primarily merch.

“We do a lot of weird merchandise. We have our own beer and our own condoms, for example. And vinyl is very romantic. Plus, for many, collecting vinyl is also a hobby. Interestingly, the records are often bought by fans who do not have a special player, just as a souvenir,” said the leader of Anacondaz.

“Vinyl is a whole culture,” says Dima Nova from the group Cream Soda is a whole world with its own nuances, rituals and a lot of troubles, from listening and DJ sets to production. This is important for us because we are part of this culture and we want it to live and flourish.”

Pavel “DJ 108” Pachkay , ex-member of the St. Petersburg hip-hop team DA-108 , considers the release of his group’s cult albums an indicator of “status” and “great joy”.

“I still feel it somehow. Therefore, the first classic album “Road to the East” and the single “Say26” on vinyl is a milestone for me,” said DJ 108.

Evgeniy Gorbunov from the groups “GSh” and “Intourist” explained the release of his music on vinyl as follows: “The idea that a physical medium with your album exists warms the soul in our wonderful digital era.”

Vinyl “GSh” – “OESH MAGZIU”. Kometa Music, Semikols Record Pressing, 2017

Why do vinyl labels need it?

Sergei Klimov , head of the large independent label ZBS Records , which publishes music ranging from Dolphin to Monetochka, notes that his business began with music lovers.

“It so happened that I was always close to music: I was interested, followed events, actively searched for releases, helped musicians I knew with graphic design, and so on. True, despite the diploma of a programmer, I was accidentally drawn into the field of logistics and customs clearance, in which I spent many years, ”said Klimov.

However, over time, office work began to annoy the future founder of ZBS Records more and more with its limitations.

“At that time, the vinyl renaissance was already in full swing abroad, and in Russia, attempts were just beginning to appear on records by local musicians and bands. I really liked this idea, and after talking with several European factories and having good experience in logistics, I decided to try to publish those bands that I liked and still like, ”said Klimov.

To a direct question about why he does this, Sergey simply answers: “I love both music and the vinyl record format itself. There is an imperfect, but very lively and atmospheric sound of vinyl, and aesthetics, and also the subculture of digging, the search for something new and interesting, the exchange of opinions. This is my lifestyle, and for the most part I prepare publications for people who are just as passionate about music and vinyl.”

Vinyl “Coin” – “Coloring for adults”. “The Mystery of Sound”, ZBS Records, 2019

“A vinyl record factory is a kind of citadel that produces ingots of musical history that will remain for many years on physical media,” explains Algorithmik . “Musicians want to leave a mark on history, and we are here to help them do it in a quality and beautiful way.”

Okay, but is it profitable at all?

Both musicians and labels unanimously answer: vinyl in Russia is definitely not about big money.

“I won’t say that vinyl publishing is some great source of income,” says Aleksey Alyaev . – Moreover, circulations are sold for a long time. Still, vinyl is an expensive pleasure. I would say that vinyl is more of a gift for artists and fans than a business.”

“I had to take out loans, agree on certain conditions with contractors, and the most difficult test was creating a recognizable name for the publishing house, not to mention gaining the trust of the audience,” recalls Sergey Klimov, who at some point had to make a difficult choice between the main work and vinyl release. – When there are only a few publications in the publisher’s catalog, few people are interested in you. It is at this stage that most small and independent publishers close down. It requires a good margin of wear resistance, diligence, as well as the most important thing – the desire for a goal and passion.

For the first four years, Klimov actually worked alone, and only since the summer of 2017 was he able to afford to hire an additional employee in the staff of ZBS Records (Klimov’s partner Roman Kushtyn in the label’s VK group is called “chief in sales”). “Until now, we work together, having outsourced accounting, illustrators and sound engineers,” says the label director. “And even now I can’t talk about any stability: the “swing” continues from month to month, from year to year.”

“This is a lifelong project, so you can talk about profitability in different ways. Such an undertaking pays off in about 5–7 years,” Algorithmik believes. He admits that the profit “with a small circulation is very small, about 20-30% of the amount: the higher the circulation, the higher the percentage of profit.”

Yolka calls the release of vinyl “a very unprofitable souvenir”: “It’s not about making money in my case. For me, this is exclusively a fetish and my ambitions, ”says the singer.

“I would not say that this is a mega-profitable event,” agrees Shura Bi-2 , but nevertheless notes that now the records are selling better than a few years ago. “We used to sell a thousand pieces for over a year. Now we have half of the circulation goes on pre-order before the release. Plus, we sell records at concerts: as a rule, 5-10 vinyls are bought at each concert.

Artem Khorev says that Anacondaz “doesn’t earn much” from vinyl sales, but he is glad that “connoisseurs can add albums” to the collection of the group. Dima Nova also does not consider vinyl as a source of income: “For Cream Soda, this is more of an image story. Many copies are scattered as a gift and are in the nature of a souvenir / merchandise. But, as experience has shown, releases easily pay off and there are plenty of people who want to buy a record in 2019.”

Vinyl Cream Soda – “Beautiful”. Semikols Record Pressing, 2018

“An indie artist cannot earn millions on records,” says Nadezhda Gritskevich . “Still, printing vinyl requires a fairly large investment: for a record, you need to make a separate album master, a new layout of the cover and an apple.”

The group was unable to release the second album “Oskolki” on vinyl: the difficulty, according to Gritskevich, “is that small editions cost the group more and you have to wait longer if you are dealing, for example, with a large factory. [However], the industry does not stand still and there are small private factories like Semikols Records in Riga, for which small circulations are just right.

“Records sell well in Moscow and St. Petersburg,” says Evgeniy Gorbunov . – And even better – after successful concerts in Europe. It all depends on what kind of music is on the record, what the cover looks like and who, in fact, is the listener. This thing doesn’t work for everyone: sometimes it’s better to invest in t-shirts and badges than vinyl. But if you stand personally at the table with records with a marker in your hand, sales will go faster.”

DJ 108 answered briefly: “We have arrived here zero, the main thing is the contribution to culture and satisfaction of the requests of real collectors.”

Vinyl “Yes 108” – “Road to the East”. To Russia with Love, ZBS Records, 2016

How difficult is it for artists to release on vinyl?

The tree admits that it is not an easy process: “As far as I know, you need to check the manufacturer first, because a lot depends on the equipment, right down to the depth of the grooves, the thickness of the vinyl and its quality as well. I’m very glad that I don’t have to deal with finding those who order vinyl, because I have really good management, and here I can delegate and delegate absolutely calmly.

Vinyl “Yolka” – “The dots are placed”. “Mirumir”, 2014

Dima Nova believes that finding a publisher is not a problem: “Nothing difficult: if you have money, everything will be easy and pretty fast.”

“The publisher was found by our then label, the records themselves were printed, it seems, in the Czech Republic,” recalls Nadezhda Gritskevich . – Now I suspect that this process has become somewhat more complicated due to customs and the dollar exchange rate. We printed 150 records and sent some of them to those who supported us on Planeta.ru (in order to send records, I bought a three-meter piece of cardboard and a roll of bubble wrap), and some sold out, and quite quickly.”

Evgeniy Gorbunov calls the production of vinyl a simple undertaking: “You take money, pay it to the factory and wait for the circulation. The main thing is to understand how much you need it at all and what is the profitability. “Incompetence Records, my label and Andrey Lee, now have two vinyl releases: Intourist’s “Business trip” and the first album of the Director of Everything,” he continues. – The director was printed with money from the sold copies of “Business Trip”, which, in turn, was printed at the expense of our friend, who at some point will need to return this money. And my album “Economics” was printed by the label “NISHA” – this is the same team that deals with the festival “Pain” and Moscow Music Week.

On DJ 108 the publisher came out himself, and the artist is grateful to him: “ZBS Records are great enthusiasts and altruists. A business that brings practically no money, everything is mainly for the soul and for true connoisseurs.

Why is vinyl becoming popular again?

“Young people began to understand that this is an interesting story,” notes Shura Bi-2 .