Off-center records are all too common and sometimes tricky to spot. It’s a vinyl pressing error and there’s a good chance you’ve got some off-center records lurking in your collection. Below, we explain what an off-center record is, how to spot one visually, and how it affects sound quality. Lastly, we’ll explain what you can do to correct the problem. … Read More
Worst Vinyl Record Collecting Mistakes
As record collectors, we all make mistakes from time-to-time. Particularly when we’re new to the vinyl hobby, there’s a lot to take on and learn. Even the most seasoned of vinyl hoarders would be hard-pressed to say they never make a mistake or skimp over the details. If not, well, you’re a better man than me! We’ve rounded up the … Read More
10 Fun Facts About Vinyl Records For The True Vinyl Geek
Despite the convenience of digital streaming, vinyl records continue to grow in popularity. The world of vinyl is full of interesting facts and details that even the most seasoned collector might not know. To celebrate the lasting returning success of a format once written off as obsolete, we’ve compiled a list of fun facts about vinyl records for the true … Read More
Creative Ways to Display Your Vinyl Records
Besides the great sound, ritual, and process, a huge part of vinyl’s lasting appeal is undoubtedly the aesthetic. Enthusiasts hail the large format artwork and the sense of satisfaction that comes with physically owning the music you love as just part of the reason why vinyl record sales continue to grow year-on-year. Many album covers are pieces of art in … Read More
The Best-Selling Albums of All Time – USA & Worldwide
Crafting the perfect album is a true art form. There’s a certain level of skill required in taking a collection of individual songs and compiling them into a finished body of work. When everything comes together, an otherwise ordinary handful of tracks become something extra special, capturing the heart and minds of music fans for decades to come. So what … Read More
Rough Trade West – Record Store Spotlight
Opened in 1976 by Geoff Travis, the original Rough Trade store based in West London would eventually spawn a series of record stores and a record label responsible for some of the most loved acts to immerge from the British independent music scene. Sound Matters visited the iconic Rough Trade West to explore what makes this place historically important and a … Read More
VMP Announce New Audiophile Pressing Plant
As the industry continues to feel the strain of long production times and frustrations with quality control, could this be a sign of more things to come? In a recent major statement, the leading vinyl record subscription service, VMP (Vinyl Me, Please), announced plans to open its own pressing plant in Denver, Colorado. In the statement, VMP CEO, Cameron Schaefer … Read More
Locked Grooves Vinyl – Endless Fun (Literally)
In a recent feature, we explored the weird and wonderful world of run-out groove messages. From mastering engineer signatures to hidden messages and inside-jokes, there is a whole world of interesting etchings to explore. Closely related to this topic is the world of audible locked grooves. Standard records have a locked groove at the end of each side, usually in … Read More
Jack White to Major Labels: “Build Your Own Pressing Plants”
In a recent video and statement, Jack White calls on major labels to build their own pressing plants once again. His plea comes at a moment in time where demand for vinyl records continues to grow year on year, but the capacity for production remains rudimentary and pushed to the limit. In his statement, he claims, “At least once a … Read More
Vinyl Run-Out Groove Messages – The Weird and The Wonderful
Traditionally, the dead wax between the final grooves and the record label is a relatively benign, uninteresting space. You might find a matrix number, or perhaps a few extra digits referring to the cut or take of a particular record—or maybe, if you’re lucky, the mastering engineer or pressing plant will add their own signature. Look a little closer, though, … Read More
