top of page
logo_head
vinyl-lexicon.jpg

Vinyl & turntable glossary

Understand every term, from audiophile basics to expert details.

A-D

A

  • Acetate: A type of record used for test pressings or demos, typically less durable than vinyl and often used to check sound quality before mass production.

  • Anti-Skate: A feature on turntables that counteracts the inward force on the tonearm, helping to maintain even pressure of the stylus on the record groove.

  • A-Side/B-Side: The two sides of a vinyl record. The A-side usually contains the primary or most popular track, while the B-side features secondary or additional tracks.

B

  • Belt-Drive: A turntable drive system where a rubber belt connects the motor to the platter, known for providing smooth and stable rotation with minimal noise.

  • Bootleg: An unauthorized or unofficial recording, often of live performances, distributed without the consent of the artist or record label.

  • Bright Sound: A term used to describe sound that has an emphasis on higher frequencies, often perceived as sharp or clear.

C

  • Cartridge: The component of a turntable that holds the stylus and converts the mechanical vibrations from the grooves of a record into an electrical signal.

  • Clamshell: A type of packaging for vinyl records that folds in the middle, resembling a clamshell, often used for box sets or special editions.

  • Cueing Lever: A lever on a turntable that lifts and lowers the tonearm to and from the record, allowing for precise needle placement without scratching the record.

D

  • Dead Wax: The area of a vinyl record between the last track and the label, often containing etched information such as the catalog number, pressing plant code, or mastering engineer’s initials.

  • Direct-Drive: A turntable drive system where the motor is directly connected to the platter, favored by DJs for its quick start-up times and strong torque.

  • Dust Cover: A protective cover, typically made of plastic, used to shield the turntable and record from dust and debris when not in use.

K-P

K

  • Kiss Cut: A method of cutting stickers or labels where only the top layer is cut, leaving the backing intact. Used in vinyl record packaging for promotional purposes.

L

  • Lathe Cut: A method of creating vinyl records by cutting grooves directly into a blank disc using a lathe, often used for small pressings or custom records.

  • LP (Long Play): A 12-inch vinyl record typically played at 33 1/3 RPM, usually containing a full album's worth of music (roughly 20-25 minutes per side).

  • Low-End: The bass frequencies in a recording, often emphasized to create a fuller sound.

M

  • Mastering: The final step in the audio production process, where the recorded audio is balanced, equalized, and prepared for vinyl pressing.

  • Mono (Monophonic): A type of sound reproduction where audio is recorded and played back using a single channel, common in records produced before the stereo era.

  • Matrix Number: A unique identifier etched into the dead wax area of a vinyl record, indicating the specific pressing and version of the record.

N

  • Needle: Another term for the stylus, the component that makes contact with the record groove and reads the encoded audio information.

  • Noise Floor: The background noise level inherent in the playback system, which can be influenced by the quality of the vinyl, the turntable, and other audio equipment.

O

  • Overhang: The distance the stylus tip extends beyond the center of the turntable's spindle when the tonearm is aligned with the spindle. Proper overhang is crucial for accurate tracking.

  • Outer Sleeve: The external cover of a vinyl record, usually made of cardboard, that houses the record and inner sleeve.

P

  • Phono Preamp: An electronic device that amplifies the low-level signal output from a turntable’s cartridge to a level suitable for standard audio equipment.

  • Pitch Control: A feature on some turntables that allows the user to adjust the speed of the platter slightly, often used by DJs to match the tempo of tracks.

  • Platter: The rotating part of a turntable on which the vinyl record sits. Its weight and material can influence the stability and sound quality.

E-J

E

  • EP (Extended Play): A vinyl record that contains more music than a single but less than a full album, typically featuring 4 to 6 tracks.

  • Equalization (EQ): The process of adjusting the balance of frequency components within an audio signal, often used in mastering vinyl records to ensure proper playback.

F

  • Fidelity: The accuracy with which a vinyl record reproduces the original sound, with higher fidelity indicating a closer match to the original recording.

  • Flat: Describes sound that lacks dynamics or variation, often resulting from poor mastering or playback equipment.

G

  • Gatefold: A type of record sleeve that opens like a book, often used for double LPs or special editions to provide additional space for artwork, lyrics, or liner notes.

  • Groove: The spiral indentation on a vinyl record where the audio information is encoded. The stylus travels through the groove to read the sound.

H

  • Headshell: The part of the turntable’s tonearm that holds the cartridge, often detachable for easy cartridge replacement.

  • Hum: A low-frequency noise that can be caused by grounding issues in a turntable’s wiring, affecting playback quality.

I

  • Idler-Wheel Drive: An older type of turntable drive system where a rubber wheel transfers motion from the motor to the platter, known for its durability but also for introducing noise.

  • Inner Sleeve: A paper or plastic sleeve that fits inside the outer cover of a vinyl record, protecting the record from dust and scratches.

J

  • Jacket: Another term for the outer sleeve or cover of a vinyl record, often made of cardboard and featuring the album artwork.

Q-Z

Q

  • Quartz Lock: A feature on some direct-drive turntables that uses a quartz crystal to maintain consistent platter speed, ensuring accurate playback.

R

  • RIAA Curve: A standard equalization curve applied during the mastering of vinyl records, which boosts treble and reduces bass to improve playback quality. Phono preamps reverse this curve for accurate sound reproduction.

  • RPM (Revolutions Per Minute): The speed at which a record spins on the turntable. Common speeds include 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM.

  • Runout Groove: The final groove on a vinyl record where the stylus moves into the dead wax area, signaling the end of the side.

S

  • Shellac: A material used to make 78 RPM records before the advent of vinyl, known for being more brittle and less durable.

  • Sibilance: The hissing sound that can occur on certain high-frequency sounds, often due to improper mastering or playback setup.

  • Sleeve: The protective cover for a vinyl record, including both the inner sleeve (directly protecting the record) and the outer sleeve (featuring artwork).

  • Speed Selector: A control on the turntable that allows the user to select the correct RPM for playing different types of records.

  • Stylus: The needle on a turntable that physically contacts the record groove, reading the encoded audio and converting it into sound.

  • Surface Noise: The crackling, popping, or hissing sounds often heard during vinyl playback, usually due to dust, scratches, or imperfections in the vinyl.

T

  • Tonearm: The part of a turntable that holds the cartridge and stylus, allowing them to move across the record’s grooves.

  • Tracking Force: The downward pressure applied by the tonearm and stylus on the record, critical for accurate playback and preventing record wear.

  • Turntable: A device used to play vinyl records, consisting of a rotating platter, tonearm, cartridge, and stylus.

U

  • Upmixing: The process of converting mono or stereo recordings into a higher channel format, such as from stereo to surround sound.

V

  • Vibrations: Unwanted movements that can affect turntable performance and sound quality, often minimized through isolation platforms or damping materials.

  • Vinyl: A durable plastic material used to make records, prized for its ability to produce high-quality sound with proper care.

  • Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA): The angle at which the stylus sits in the groove of the record. Proper VTA adjustment is crucial for optimal sound reproduction.

W

  • Warping: The bending or distortion of a vinyl record, often caused by heat or improper storage, which can affect playback quality.

  • Wow and Flutter: Pitch variations caused by inconsistencies in the turntable's speed, often noticeable as wavering or warbling sounds during playback.

  • Wobble: Lateral movement of the turntable’s platter that can lead to poor tracking and sound quality issues.

Y

  • Y-Cable: A type of cable used to split or combine stereo signals, often used in audio setups for turntables to connect to other equipment.

sabernass_A_close-up_of_a_high-end_audio_mastering_console_de_0e332f2c-90ce-449c-b5e7-3294
closeup-tonearm-vinyl-turntable.png
bottom of page