What makes a record crackle?

KarmaContestant · #1 08-01-2005, 06:01 PM

Seriously, I have no clue. I have some records that don't crackle at all (like my Rock A Little) - and others that sound like there is shredded glass on the record (like the I Can't Wait 12" single). Is this due to the quality of the vinyl? Is it the age of the vinyl? Is it because the vinyl has deteriorated, or exposed to a corrosive substance? Has it just been played too many times? Or is it just dust on the needle? One of the above, or a combo of many? Will a new needle fix this, or lessen it? Oddly enough...and I know this sounds strange....sometimes only the right or the left channel will crackle...

I'm using an old Sony turntable....probably made in 1981,

It was given to me recently, and I really should get a new one....but it seems that new turntables are very expensive.

Any enlightenment regarding the resolution or hoplessness of the crackling (or a suggestion for a new record player) would be appreciated.

**mylittledemon** · #2 08-01-2005, 08:09 PM

Imperfections in the vinyl, the needle itself, whether or not the turntable is level...dirt or dust on the vinyl....there's a list of 20 things that causes the "crackle."

Nixxxed · #3 08-02-2005, 12:57 PM

Static electricity can also cause the crackles. I remember this weird little gun that some company (Ronco?) used to sell - when you took the LP out of the sleeve and placed it on the turntable, you pointed the gun at the disc and pulled the trigger. It made a weird little pop which was supposed to electrically negate the static charge.

They also used to sell anti-static turntable pads - it was basically just an LP-sized felt pad that you kept on the turntable to absorb the static when playing a record. I never owned the gun, but I did own a static pad, and it seemed to help.

As far as record care for dust and the like, I had a friend who used Armor-All to clean his records and keep the vinyl from drying out. I never used it tho. I always hate it when you get into cars and someone hasn't wiped that stuff off completely, and you get that greasy crap all over your hands. ICK. And I always wondered if it had any adverse affect on his turntable needles, but never found out for sure...

DrummerDeanna · #4 08-02-2005, 01:01 PM

I? LOVE The crackle of vinyl

Nightbirdjel · #5 08-03-2005, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I? LOVE The crackle of vinyl

Me too. Sounds like bacon frying. Mmmmm.......bacon. Drooling like Homer now.

Oh--I recommend a Kenwood turntable. My Dad gave me one several years ago. It's nothing fancy, I guess you could kinda call it "bottom of the line", but it was brand new then and still has a nice clean sound. It couldn't have cost very much, cuz Dad's poor like me

. He got it cuz he knows I'm crazy-loyal to Kenwood products. When I got my very first car I saved up and finally bought a low-end car stereo/tape player from Kenwood. Man, I put that thing through HELL-played it loud all the time, never cleaned it, etc., and it sounded just like new for YEARS and never once ate any of my tapes, no matter how super-old or dirty. I'd probably still be using that thing now if it hadn't been STOLEN

. Oh well. I got my money's worth out of it and then some. Ok, end of product pitch now, sorry I got carried away!

KarmaContestant · #6 08-03-2005, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightbirdjel

Me too. Sounds like bacon frying. Mmmmm.......bacon. Drooling like Homer now.

What is it with bacon? I know vegetarians who ate no animal products for years....and suddenly, one day...they succumbed to the irresistable charms of bacon!

Sure does smell good....

Thanks for the recommendation on the turntable. My goal is to get all of my vinyl-exclusive music digitized and transferred to CD. I'm not in any hurry, and there are still many records to purchase, but I want to make sure I get the best transfer possible.....which is why I asked about the crackle to begin with.

Not to start an intercontinental war or anything, but I have to point out that it seems like the only records I have that crackle really bad....are all imports from the UK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I? LOVE The crackle of vinyl

I enjoy the crackling if it's subtle...it adds to the depth and...uh...substance of the music. I'd say that music sounds better on vinyl - always - though many would disagree. I have friends who have never in their life listened to a record, and they just don't seem to understand what I love about it. It's so obvious to me, the life that the music takes on when it's played off of a record, versus the cold perfection of a binary series of ones and zeroes.

Livia · #7 08-03-2005, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightbirdjel

Me too. Sounds like bacon frying. Mmmmm.......bacon. Drooling like Homer now.

Oh--I recommend a Kenwood turntable. My Dad gave me one several years ago. It's nothing fancy, I guess you could kinda call it "bottom of the line", but it was brand new then and still has a nice clean sound. It couldn't have cost very much, cuz Dad's poor like me

. He got it cuz he knows I'm crazy-loyal to Kenwood products. When I got my very first car I saved up and finally bought a low-end car stereo/tape player from Kenwood. Man, I put that thing through HELL-played it loud all the time, never cleaned it, etc., and it sounded just like new for YEARS and never once ate any of my tapes, no matter how super-old or dirty. I'd probably still be using that thing now if it hadn't been STOLEN

. Oh well. I got my money's worth out of it and then some. Ok, end of product pitch now, sorry I got carried away!

Kenwood makes good sh*t - I'm still using my brother's high school hand-me-down Kenwood amp and tuner. It's from the late 70s!

I've got a Dual, linear tracking turntable almost as old - it still works great!

chiliD · #8 08-03-2005, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

What is it with bacon? I know vegetarians who ate no animal products for years....and suddenly, one day...they succumbed to the irresistable charms of bacon!

I think it is the subliminal allure of cannibalism...since pigs are very similar genetically to humans (I heard that on CSI

).

bretonbanquet · #9 08-03-2005, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

Not to start an intercontinental war or anything, but I have to point out that it seems like the only records I have that crackle really bad....are all imports from the UK.

I don't know why that would be, but the US vinyl records I have do tend to be of a higher quality. I find the worst vinyl for crackle and jumps is mid-to-late 1980s vinyl and 1990s vinyl, almost as if they were creating crap vinyl in order to encourage people on to CDs...

I also find a good clean removes about 60-70% of crackle due to dirt, but sleeve wear and needle wear (and static) causes the rest, I think. You often get crackle before track one on a record because that's where the needle always drops, for example.

MacMan · #10 08-03-2005, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

I think it is the subliminal allure of cannibalism...since pigs are very similar genetically to humans (I heard that on CSI

).

Oh Jesus.. Don't say that!!! I love bacon, especially Canadian bacon... and I won't get that outta my head... Cannibalism

Nightbirdjel · #11 08-05-2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

Not to start an intercontinental war or anything, but I have to point out that it seems like the only records I have that crackle really bad....are all imports from the UK.

It could be because of the plastic sleeves. Most of my imports come with those really nice plastic sleeves, which I like better than paper cuz they never tear, but they do tend to make the record more static-y. Just a theory.

Nightbirdjel · #12 08-05-2005, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

Kenwood makes good sh*t - I'm still using my brother's high school hand-me-down Kenwood amp and tuner. It's from the late 70s!

I've got a Dual, linear tracking turntable almost as old - it still works great!

COOL! Another Kenwood fan. I'm totally jealous of your old equipment. That stuff from the 70s is great. They really built stuff to last forever back then. I remember those linear tracking turntables when they were the "hot new thing". God, I'm OLD

. *sigh* I just love records. The way they smell, how big they are, the great artwork that's actually big enough to see, the way I always like one side better than the other, just everything.