Author: Andrew

Are your vinyl records damaged goods, or are scratched records able to play? A scrape on your thousand-dollar phone, a scuff on your brand new car, an abrasion on your prescription glasses, scratches mean damage, and no one wants damaged goods. It may be tempting to think about the scratches on your vinyl records, and for that, I do not blame you. 

Just like how a minor groove on your phone screen does not render your phone useless, a small scratch should not be a problem, therefore a scratched record should be able to play.  However, it is crucial to know that the damage will determine if your vinyl is playable or not.

Is my scratched vinyl record playable or not, or can I at least mitigate the damage? In this article, we will answer these questions through and through, so sit back and relax.

The Scratches And Vinyl

Are scratched records able to play? Before we directly tackle that query, we must first understand the role of “scratches” in vinyl records.

It is simply incomprehensible how we can manage to bring albums and more albums of songs within the palm of our very hands. And to think how we do not even ponder about this fantastic technology and take it for granted! However, there was a time when we needed to carry compact disks, clunky cassettes, or even vinyl to play quality music.

Even with cassette tapes and most compact disks going obsolete, vinyl records are still alive and well! Who would have known that such a “relic” is still one of the best ways to listen to music to date! However, boy, are they susceptible to physical damage!

Vinyl records have a “love and hate” relationship with scratches. First of all, the very existence of vinyl records comes from its precise architecture of scratches, known as its grooves. 

These grooves form an intricate pattern that collectively is read as sound signals by the needle of your vinyl record player and converted into the music that you hear. Quite the beautiful journey, isn’t it? (1)

From the humble origins of being a boring groove to its stunning end as an Obra Maestra musical piece, it is quite a wonder. However, despite the scratches known as “grooves” creating such beauty, scratches themselves can also ruin it. Improper handling, falling, improper storage, and more situations can result in vinyl scratching.

Some would say, “Who cares? Aren’t vinyl records made out of grooves in the first place? Do scratches even matter?” Well, yes, it does matter.

Because vinyl records are so reliant on the specific structure of the grooves, they are highly susceptible to mutilation due to even slight changes in the physical form of the grooves. These “physical changes” can manifest as bending, but it often presents itself in the form of scratches.

Are Scratched Records Able To Play?

As we have established already, vinyl records are vulnerable to scratches or even just minor changes to their physical structure. However, does a simple scratch spell death, or do they inhibit unnoticeable audio artifacts? Are scratched records able to play?

Scratches Are A Big Deal

We will use the compact disk as a potential viewpoint to answer this question in a more relatable light. Despite the two’s vast differences, the compact disk and vinyl records hold many similarities. For example, both are in the shape of a disk, save data, and were also used as mediums to store audible information.

We all know too well that compact disks scratch very quickly, even swifter than a vinyl record. It is not too common to see a used, unscratched compact disk. However, they still retain their data and are still very usable.

Just like that, a vinyl record can still hold its integrity even when scratched. Especially when the scratches are minor scuffs, vinyl records will mostly retain their listenability. However, like how a scratched compact disk will have odd skips and pauses, a vinyl record will undoubtedly have audible artifacts.

Since vinyl records are analog technologies and not like the compact disk, the scratch will not only manifest itself as minor skips and pauses, but it can even cause your vinyl record to jump and skip whole tracks! Even with the most minute of scratches, do not expect uninterrupted listening. (2)

Are scratched records able to play? Perhaps, that may be the case—however, any scratch, big or small, will have impacts on your vinyl record. The only thing you can do is hope.

After all, a big scratch aligning with the grooves will not have as much damage compared to a scratch running directly across multiple rows of the vinyl record’s tracks. Like a train with a broken rail, it would not be playing smoothly.

Some Will Still Play; However, There May Be Skipping Involved

Alright, you have dropped your vinyl record, succumbing the record to scratches. “Certainly, there will be no audible damages, right?” You said to yourself wistfully.

You pop your vinyl record player open, hope for the best, and find track one playing well. Track two, track three, and track five seem to be playing well also. However, where did track four go?

Your worst nightmares are confirmed, and it looks like there are damages to your vinyl record. Why is this a thing, and how does this happen? Well, let us talk about that, shall we?

I know you are tired of hearing this concept. Still, I must repeatedly assert that the physical architecture and structure of the vinyl record will heavily impact its integrity. Having unnecessary scratches or scuffs will result in audible damage. 

Are scratched records able to play? Well, it depends on the severity of the scratch. However, as said earlier, mutilations and distortions are expected even with the slightest and shallowest scratches.

The needle on your vinyl record player’s cartridge follows the structures, i.e., the grooves on your vinyl records. When there are scratches on your vinyl record, instead of following the predetermined path that will play each section of the record in an orderly manner, the scratch will create an additional pathway for the needle to go through. 

When this happens, instead of transitioning from track three to track four, the tonearm’s needle passes through a shortcut and skips to track five directly. 

Scratches Do Not Mean Bad Blood With Your Needle

Certain things may make your heart burst into action: your smartphone dropping,- or that loud popping you hear when your needle hits a scratch. We all know that needles are very expensive and that popping sound from the vinyl record’s scratch may be the end of it. 

Hold your horses first, amigo, as that is certainly not the story. If you do not know, most needles placed on your turntables contain diamond or sapphire, both very durable metals that do not break with just a scratch. Vinyl is a much less durable material than diamond or sapphire, so you shouldn’t be worrying too much about that. (3)

However, it would be best not to forget that even diamonds and sapphires suffer from casual wear and tear. Keep them safe and handled well!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do Vinyl Records Get Scratches?

Vinyl records get scratched due to mishandling, stacking, dropping, improper storage, and even dust and sand. 

How Do I Keep My Vinyl Records Pristine And Scratch-Free?

To keep your vinyl records scratch-free, make sure always to have a clean, well-maintained, designated storage area for them. Additionally, do not touch the grooves. It may be tempting, but handling them with your bare hands may cause scratches.

Are Scratches Permanent?

Scratches are permanent, and there are no foolproof ways to repair them. Make sure to handle them properly always.

Sources

1. https://www.vinylrecordlife.com/how-vinyl-records-get-scratched-and-how-to-avoid-it/
2. https://retroonly.com/do-scratched-records-still-play/
3. https://toprecordplayers.com/does-playing-scratched-records-damage-the-needle/

In a world where Spotify, iPods, and compact disks exist, sometimes, we take for granted even the smallest of features: mainly pausing. While digital media can “play” and “pause” with the push of a button, this process is not precisely very straightforward on analog mediums. That is why today, we asked ourselves: “Can a record be paused?”

Despite the technical limitations, analog music formats such as vinyl records can be paused. However, the process isn’t so straightforward. It will require you to raise the cue physically.

In this article, let us talk about how to pause the record safely and consider what you should consider before hitting the play button.

 Can A Record Be Paused?

Although not conventional, you can pause a vinyl record. However, in my opinion, I would not consider the process “pausing” rather than calling the method as stopping the record altogether. Why do I say this exactly? Let us find out.

1. Pausing The Old School Way

Vinyl records and turntables make themselves stand out as they are one of the last remaining analog mediums of playing recorded music that is still widely used. Despite its weight, exorbitant prices, cumbersome form factor, and fragility, vinyl records are considered the prime way of listening to music. They are uncompressed and have the nostalgia and experience factor added in. However, they are not considered to be the most convenient method of listening to music.

Why do I say this? Well, because of many factors. First, vinyl records are not precisely beginner-friendly, and they are certainly more prone to damage; moreover, the act of pausing isn’t precisely as straightforward as an MP3 player.

The pausing process goes like this: first, you will need to lift the cue to raise the tonearm. When you do this process, you will notice that the music has already stopped. However, this does not mean that it is paused, unfortunately.

If you are using the modern vinyl players (which you are probably using one), you will probably notice the lift arm button. Instead of manually lifting the cue with this button, you can lift it with the push of a button! It will make the process a lot easier and less cumbersome.

If you take a second look at your turntable, you will notice that vinyl is still rotating, which implies that it technically hasn’t stopped yet, only that there is no audio leaving the speakers anymore. In this step, you will need to “stop” the rotation by pressing the stop button on your turntable. (1)

So technically, you haven’t “paused” your vinyl record. You merely “stopped” the turning. However, it functions more or less the same as the pause button on your MP3 player, albeit less convenient, and is not very precise as well.

The next time you ask if a record can be paused, remember that you can pause it– but not in the same manner as you know it to be.

2. Why The Order Matters

If you read the process stated above, you may have noticed that instead of directly stopping the vinyl record’s rotation, we have lifted the cue and the tonearm first before proceeding with the stopping action. Why is this exactly?

It is not a “must-do,” but it is a recommended process. If you didn’t know, the needle of your record player’s tonearm is actually made out of the diamond. Earlier, we have discussed that vinyl records and record players are very fragile; let’s talk about that.

The diamond needle is not only very expensive (obviously) but is also pretty tough, especially the diamond tip. Using the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, we will notice that the diamond is the most challenging material globally, making the vinyl pale in comparison. Indeed, you wouldn’t want the ever-so-hard diamond needle dragging over on your delicate vinyl, wouldn’t you? (2)

3. It’s Not Exactly The Same. In Fact, It Is Quite Complicated.

Pausing a vinyl record player is not necessarily the same as the pausing option you have with your MP3 player. We have established that well enough already. However, can it get more different as well?

First of all, we have already discussed a specific “ritual” or order when pausing a vinyl record. Lift the cue, then stop the vinyl record. However, this is not the only way a vinyl record’s pause differs from the standard pause we have on our gadgets.

If you must know, there is a particular behavior of pausing that is exclusive to vinyl record players. Unlike MP3s, iPods, and the like, vinyl record players, when “paused,” do not resume the music or audio at the spot where you stopped it. Instead, it may skip through a few seconds of the track, especially if the whole process was manual and does not incorporate automatic cue levers.

So can a record be paused? Yes, but the process is not the same as how a DVD player would pause a compact disk.

Playing A Vinyl Record Player Is Not So Simple Either

We have discussed earlier how the pausing process is quite convoluted. However, the same can be said to the “playing” process as well. In the instance where you will need to resume your audio after pausing or when you are just initially starting to play your vinyl record, you do not just press play, as it always has been with vinyl record players; it is more complicated than that. (3)

1. Speed And Size

First, you must know all about the vinyl record’s speeds. Vinyl records are unique on their own as they have different sizes that can affect their rotation speed. When you play a vinyl record too fast or slow, you may not like the overall music output.

Second, you must know about the sizes. As of writing, there are still three relatively standard sizes, the seven-inch vinyl, the ten-inch one, and the twelve-inch one. (4)

The seven-inch and twelve-inch vinyl are generally used for singles and can hold up to two songs, one song on each side of the vinyl record. On the other hand, the twelve-inch vinyl is reserved for extended plays and can include multiple songs per side. These sizes handle different rotation speeds.

The 7-inch and 10-inch records play at 45 RPM, while the 12-inch records play slower at 33 1/3 RPM. So before you press play, make sure you are using the correct rotation speed first. Most modern vinyl players can operate under multiple rotations per minute options, so compatibility problems should not be too familiar.

2. Pressing Play

So how exactly does the process of pressing play go? Now that we have understood the speed and the vinyl sizes, I would like you to identify the speed needed for the vinyl record at hand. There are usually printed labels indicating the speed requirement of a vinyl record on the record itself.

Now, set up your vinyl record player at the appropriate speed. Wait for the vinyl record player to rotate that fast and then press play.

When using automatic record players, the cueing lever will rise and hover over the record. When using a manual record player, you may need to press on the tonearm’s cueing lever to lower it. (3)

Can a record be paused? Can a record be played? Of course, it can, and all it requires is wit and preciseness.

The Questions They Asked: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will I damage the record if I leave the needle resting on it?

If you followed the steps earlier, you would notice that we recommend you raise the needle before you stop the record. We still want you to do the same.

2.  Are there thicker types of vinyl?

Yes, there are. Although not necessarily affecting sound quality, it does improve durability by lowering the risk of vinyl warping, a phenomenon common in hot climates.

3. Does tonearm matter?

Yes. Some tonearms are much more suited to a specific sound than others.

Sources

1. https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/how-do-you-properly-stop-a-record.178926
2. https://forum.dvdtalk.com/other-talk/638008-do-record-players-have-pause.html
3. https://toprecordplayers.com/how-to-use-a-record-player/
4. https://victrola.com/blogs/articles/a-guide-to-vinyl-record-sizes

It only happened recently when a heatwave struck the United Kingdom, but one of the oddest questions popped out of nowhere due to the event: what temperatures can vinyl records withstand? It all started with the media giant Tiktok, and when a vinyl record lover, Matt, discovered the heatwave left, his records warped. With the video gaining traction, many people have turned to ask the same question as you did. (source)

Typical vinyl records start to melt at around a hundred degrees Celsius, or approximately 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite indoor and outdoor temperatures not being that hot, the material can absorb heat which will help reach those dangerously high levels. 

In this article, we take it upon ourselves to solve the phenomena of the melting vinyl records and finally answer the question, “What temperatures can vinyl records withstand?”

The Phenomenon That Sparked Curiosity: The Heat Wave And The Vinyl

Before we get started with all the “vinyl record warping science,” let us first investigate the very phenomenon that sparked the curiosity in everyone’s heads: the Tiktok video and the excruciatingly hot United Kingdom heatwave. 

On a fateful week of July, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland reported and recorded their hottest day yet– prompting The Met Office (The United Kingdom’s national meteorological service) to issue their first-ever extreme heat warning. Yes, you heard that right, they published their first-ever notice of such sort! (source)

Of course, many people tried to avoid experiencing the hot weather, wearing loose clothes, and staying indoors; the people of the United Kingdom sure did their very best to keep cool. However, some did get a little bit creative. 

While a significant portion went out to enjoy the heat and play sports or went to get a tan, Tiktok user and vinyl lover “Matt” tried to be more creative.

Instead of going to Google and searching up “What temperature can vinyl records withstand?”, he instead tried to take it to the great outdoors to solve the question. 

With the help of his trusty phone to help film the process, he used a Demi Lovato vinyl record (broken, of course) and went out to do some initiatives and left it amid the burning sun.

An hour into the experiment, the vinyl was starting to get a bit of a wobble. And by the three-hour mark, the record was beyond any hope for reviving (although the record was never functional anyway).

Despite the process not being exactly the most accurate way, nor is the most scientific way of doing experiments, they did (to some extent) find the answers to their inquiries. At least, he could infer that the high sun and the heatwave would bend their vinyl records.

Even though “Matt” did this experiment all in the name of fun, they were still able to give us a lesson that we should never, ever forget. We don’t need to know what temperature vinyl records can withstand to infer this. All we need to do is never expose our vinyl records to the hot sun!

What Temperature Can Vinyl Records Withstand?

Vinyl records are complex inventions that need precision to work. This intricacy signifies that to ensure the vinyl record’s integrity is to ensure that the records must not be scratched, nor be at any point be dropped or warped. So what exactly makes a vinyl record distorted and warped?

There are many reasons why vinyl records incur such damages, but we must never forget that vinyl records’ number one enemy will always be heat and mishandling. 

For the sake of simplicity and to stay unto the subject matter at hand, we will only be tackling with heat. What is heat, and what temperatures can vinyl records withstand?

Keeping It Below Boiling Point

Let us get this straight: humans can only survive at a heat of a little bit more than 40 degrees Celsius or 110 degrees Fahrenheit at ten percent humidity. Yes, it only takes that amount for us to be “too hot” and experience hyperthermia and even death. Imagine that but double that number, and do that to your vinyl record. (source)

While not known as a very heat-resistant material, vinyl can absorb way better temperatures than us at around a hundred degrees Celsius or a little more than 210 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this does not mean that we should always expose them to such conditions.

Think of it in this way: while eating a little bit over our calorie budget will not harm us extensively in the short term, it will pose a significant threat in the long run. 

As such, we should apply the same mentality to our vinyl records as well. We should not constantly expose them to temperatures even above 50 degrees Celsius, even more so in more extended periods.

If you love your vinyl records, you should not wait until a burst of heat to reconsider your vinyl handling practices. That’s because even a spark of a cigarette can start a wildfire. Let’s not wait until we see a wildfire of damage to vinyl and start disposing of our cigarette butts responsively and store our vinyl appropriately.

Cars Are A Different Story

It is not a secret that cars, especially when left under the heat of the midday sun, can get plenty hot. Many people, especially those living in the Southern United States, can even attest to this and have done their fair share of experiments as well. In the video linked below, we can see a person using a frying pan and an egg and placing it on the hood of his car only to successfully fry it. (source)

So let us go back to the topic at hand, shall we? So, what temperatures can vinyl records withstand? To give you a more physical example, I can confidently say that your car’s temperature is probably too hot for the vinyl.

As said earlier, vinyl records can begin to melt at boiling point or 212 degrees Fahrenheit or a hundred degrees Celsius. Of course, the temperatures within our cars do not reach that zenith of heat. However, by themselves, when left outside, they can reach temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius or 110 degrees Fahrenheit within an hour of exposure. (source)

Of course, 43 degrees Celsius is a far cry from the 100 degrees Celsius boiling point. However, we must note that a hundred degrees Celsius is the temperature where vinyl records melt. Therefore, we can imply that vinyl records warp at much cooler temperatures.

As to such, we have researched specific values as to what temperatures constitute “warping levels” for your vinyl records. With that in mind, we have found out that the answer to the question “What temperature can vinyl records withstand” is much lower than a hundred degrees celsius.

The actual number is that vinyl records themselves can withstand temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit without warping. This lower limit of temperatures implies that the outside temperature must not be warmer than 97 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius to assure a “no warping safe zone” for your vinyl. (source)

Direct Sunlight Is Much Worse

There are many variables as to why your vinyl records may warp due to heat. Of course, the temperatures are the main issue, but the context or the environment themselves play a significant role.

Although we have mentioned the magic numbers for vinyl records: 37 degrees Celsius and the boiling point, there is still a consideration. After all, your vinyl record can still warp even without reaching those peak numbers. 

You may ask what can expedite the process, and the answer is direct sunlight. At this point, the question is more than just what temperatures vinyl records can withstand but more of how long can your vinyl records stay in direct sunlight.

The time it takes for your vinyl records to warp can vary greatly. You may be surprised how a vinyl in direct sunlight with temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) can warp your vinyl faster than exposure to 50 degrees Celsius temperatures (120 degrees Fahrenheit) inside shaded areas.

Just because the temperatures outside are not the hottest does not mean that you can leave your vinyl records outside. Remember that direct sunlight may damage your vinyl records way faster than constant room temperature, and cooler temperatures do not necessarily mean a warp-free environment.

Time Is Of The Matter

As said earlier, the warping of your vinyl records may not only result from a simple temperature rise. After all, it would take scorching temperatures to scathe your vinyl records. However, with the presence of environmental and uncontrollable factors, you may be surprised how fast your vinyl records can warp even without reaching maximum temperature. One of those so-called “factors” is time and duration of exposure.

I was hoping you could think of the situation this way: exposure to a hundred degrees Celsius of heat for five seconds will deal minor damage compared to 40 degrees Celsius of heat for thirty minutes. In this world (and yes, including vinyl records), the number one cause of corrosion is time.

This corrosion has reminded me of the quote by Veronica Roth, “I give you this to take with you: Nothing remains as it was. If you know this, you can begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting.” (source)

Leaving your vinyl records in the heat for extended durations of time will make sure that it will not remain as pristine as it was, as, after all, time and heat are a vinyl record’s main components for “corrosion.” 

Keeping all the imagery aside, here, we have a list for easily giving you a timeframe of how fast it takes for heat to warp your vinyl records

Time It Takes For Vinyl Records To Warp:

1. Inside the car, a vinyl record will take only a little more than an hour to warp when outside temperatures reach above a hundred degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. (source)
2. Leaving vinyl records outside in direct sunlight under temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or 95 degrees Fahrenheit will start to warp your vinyl records in under an hour. (source)
3. Leaving your records under “normal” or below 35 degrees Celsius of heat in cars for less than an hour will not warp your records. (source)

Key Takeaways

To summarize our findings and compress them into digestible bits, we will put them into a list and label them as “Key Takeaways.” So to hasten this process, here is the list of answers to the question: “What temperature can vinyl records withstand?”

What temperature can vinyl records withstand:

1. Vinyl records will melt at the water’s boiling point or a hundred degrees Celsius (210 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. In most situations, keeping Vinyl records in hot conditions with temperatures more than 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in more than an hour will most certainly wrap them.
3. Cars are a vinyl record’s enemy, and leaving them there in more than 40-degree weather will warp them.
4. Direct sunlight, even at cooler temperatures, will be able to warp your vinyl records.

The Warping Situation: What Are The Reasons As To Why My Vinyl Records Will Warp?

Vinyl records, although quickly produced, are not made out of the most durable materials. Because vinyl records need to be light, malleable under processing, and cheap, they are composed of plastic vinyl (as stated in its name). 

Despite the modern standards of vinyl records being considerably more durable than their older iterations, they are still pretty fragile. Even with slight scratches, warping, and dust, their performance will be disturbed, and the vinyl records will not achieve optimal sound.

Because it is so, it is always essential to make sure that your vinyl records are free from possibly damaging agents. 

Aside from trying to answer the question, “What temperature can vinyl records withstand” we will also try to answer what other factors can warp your vinyl records?

Heat Is An Obvious Answer

Of course, making sure that your vinyl record is not subject to extreme temperatures is one crucial variable that will help avoid warping. Since we have discussed this point thoroughly already we shall proceed to the next issue.

The Method of Storing Vinyl Records Is Integral

When the space race first started, we did not know the implications of such an aggressive and lifeless environment to our human bodies. However, once we began to send out astronauts and cosmonauts into space, we noticed something. The people we sent to space when returning to Earth grew taller.

According to NASA, such a phenomenon exists due to the lack of gravity in space. As such, cosmonauts and astronauts grew a tad bit taller. Fascinating how much gravity has affected the shape and form of the human body! (source)

Of course, not only the human body is affected by the gravity of the Earth. Your vinyl records are also affected by gravity. It seems like the temperature vinyl records can withstand is the most crucial variable, but with gravitational force as well! 

Of course, we do not bring our vinyl records to space, so that should not be too much concern. However, one thing we should take note of is the force exerted by other items placed on top of your vinyl records, which will exert pressure upon your vinyl.

There are many ways to achieve this: putting heavy objects on top of your vinyl is one, but a common mistake is stacking your vinyl records together. 

Of course, vinyl records are not the heaviest, but when stacked, they can exert enough pressure to warp your vinyl records!

So aside from finding what temperature can vinyl records withstand, we should also consider what amount of pressure you should put on your vinyl records. And to that, I say, do not stack your vinyl records on top of each other! Store them vertically (upright) or at least stack them in the manner that they do not succumb to external horizontal pressure. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Can I Keep My Vinyl Records Safe?

To keep your vinyl records safe, keep them stored in a cool, dry place. Also, make sure to allot some budget into your vinyl storage system.

One of the main reasons why vinyl records succumb to damage is due to improper handling. We always recommend never to touch the surface of your vinyl records.

2. How Can I Save My Vinyl Records In A Heat Wave?

To keep your vinyl records safe in a heatwave, make sure to store them in a shaded area and keep them within their sleeves. As much as possible, use an air conditioner to cool off your records. Keeping them as cool as possible is serious business!

3. Are Vinyl Records Flammable?

Although they are prone to warping and melting under high temperatures, most of the time, they do not ignite.