Gramophone Records
By: Ilana Taieb Hagerty
A gramophone record (or vinyl record), is an analogue sound storage medium in the form of a flat polyvinyl chloride (type of plastic) disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts near the periphery and ends near the center of the disc. Records are generally described by their diameter in inches (12", 10", 7"), the rotational speed in rpm (rounds per minute) at which they are played (16 2⁄3, 33 1⁄3, 45, 78), and their time capacity resulting from a combination of those parameters (LP – long playing 33 1⁄3 rpm, SP – 78 rpm single, EP – 12-inch single, 33 or 45 rpm).
The vinyl record was themost popular medium used for music reproduction until late in the 20th century, replacing the phonograph cylinder record. Records retained the largest market share even when new formats such as compact cassette were mass-marketed. By the late 1980s, digital media in the form of the compact disc had gained a larger market share, and the vinyl record left the mainstream around 1991. From the 1990s to the 2010s, records continued to be manufactured and sold on a much smaller scale, and were especially used by disc jockeys (DJ)s, released by artists in some genres, and listened to by a much smaller market of audiophiles. The phonograph record has made a resurgence in the early 21st century – 9.2 million records were sold in the U.S. in 2014, a 260% increase since 2009.
Vinyl records do not break easily, but the soft material is easily scratched. The material also readily acquires a static charge, attracting dust that is difficult to remove completely. Dust and scratches cause audio clicks and pops. In extreme cases, they can cause the needle to skip over a series of grooves, or worse yet, cause the needle to skip backwards, creating a "locked groove" that repeats over and over. Locked grooves are not uncommon and as a vinyl user, I can tell you they tend to be very annoying.
Vinyl records can also be warped by heat, improper storage, exposure to sunlight, or manufacturing defects.