Physical media has been making a huge comeback in recent years. Whether it be cassettes, CDs, or vinyl records the trends have shifted towards physical copies rather than streaming services. With these new trends comes nerdy merchandise targeted around them. One such example is the Shin Megami Tensei OST vinyl box set, which can be found here. Keeping this in mind physical media and specifically vinyls need a lot of care and attention. As someone who’s been collecting vinyls for the past three years, I’m here to show you some vinyl care basics.
Vinyl Etiquette:
While I could go into a detailed rant about everything that goes into vinyl care (including my almost monthly rant about crapping on Crosley record players) I’ll keep it simple for now. This section is for people who have never touched a vinyl before. If you already know how to handle vinyl, keep scrolling, this part is not for you.
The first thing you’re going to want to take into account is how to handle your vinyls. That said, the first step to handling vinyls is to only touch the edges.
This is me with my vinyl of “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind OST” (that I share custody over with a fellow Game of Nerds Writer). Notice how I am only touching the edges of the vinyl and not the center. Vinyls are extremely delicate and will stop working if you get the oils from your hands on them.
No one wants to pay $89+ for some exclusive video game OST just to watch it cry because you touched it wrong. Keep your fingers on the edges and be careful placing it on the turntable. A delicate touch to everything with vinyl. This is not like a CD where you can throw it in the back of a car and it’s fine. Additionally, keep your vinyls out of the sun. Many vinyl record companies refuse to ship in the summer because the heat will melt the vinyl. Take this into account when purchasing or storing records.
Vinyl Storage:
The little sleeves that vinyl records come in will not last forever. If you truly love your records, buy the protective sleeves on Amazon. You can buy 100 vinyl record sleeves for $20 and they keep your discs in good shape. Here is a link to a pack of 100 of them. Preservation is key to the quality of vinyl records. There’s no sound system in the world better than vinyl records. Take care of them for the work that they do to bring you good music.
Vinyl Cleaning:
Vinyls need to be cleaned every so often. Most of the time you can get away with using a. simple record brush. However, on occasion, cleaning spray and a velvet brush Should be used to clean out the grooves. After cleaning your vinyl you should let it dry fully before attempting to play it. Additionally, the needle of a turntable may also need cleaning. Luckily, there are brushes for that too. Under no circumstances do you get your needle wet. However, you do brush over it with a special needle brush. One of my favorite vinyl cleaning sets can be found here and costs only $20.99.
Conclusion:
Vinyl care is not as intimidating as it looks, especially if you want your OST discs to be in good shape. Knowing the basics goes a long way in preserving your records for years to come. Those reading this article who don’t own vinyls, might ask “Why go through all the trouble to listen to OSTs?”. The best answer I can provide here mirrors why people like physical media in the first place. In the landscape of streaming, the average consumer doesn’t own anything. You can listen to the songs you love from your favorite shows/ movies one day and the next they’re gone. Copyright issues and legal debacles mean that songs are often moved on and off platforms at a whim. By owning the songs you listen to there’s a certain love and preservation involved in owning the songs you like.
I can listen to the whole soundtrack of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5 whenever I want. Thus, I take a certain level of comfort in knowing I own a copy of all these treasured songs. I’m willing to shell out between $23 and $50 dollars on occasion just to be able to know that I own what I love. I like the sound of vinyl, I like the experience of being able to touch something. I can’t find an equivalent level of comfort in streaming. That is why physical media is important to me and other nerds. Stay nerdy, folks.
