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Vinyl & turntable glossary
Understand every term, from audiophile basics to expert details.
A-D
A
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Bootleg: An unauthorized or unofficial recording, often of live performances, distributed without the consent of the artist or record label.
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Bright Sound: A term used to describe sound that has an emphasis on higher frequencies, often perceived as sharp or clear.
C
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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.
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Clamshell: A type of packaging for vinyl records that folds in the middle, resembling a clamshell, often used for box sets or special editions.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Dust Cover: A protective cover, typically made of plastic, used to shield the turntable and record from dust and debris when not in use.
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K
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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
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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.
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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).
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Low-End: The bass frequencies in a recording, often emphasized to create a fuller sound.
M
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Mastering: The final step in the audio production process, where the recorded audio is balanced, equalized, and prepared for vinyl pressing.
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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.
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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
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Needle: Another term for the stylus, the component that makes contact with the record groove and reads the encoded audio information.
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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
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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.
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Outer Sleeve: The external cover of a vinyl record, usually made of cardboard, that houses the record and inner sleeve.
P
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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Fidelity: The accuracy with which a vinyl record reproduces the original sound, with higher fidelity indicating a closer match to the original recording.
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Flat: Describes sound that lacks dynamics or variation, often resulting from poor mastering or playback equipment.
G
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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.
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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
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Headshell: The part of the turntable’s tonearm that holds the cartridge, often detachable for easy cartridge replacement.
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Hum: A low-frequency noise that can be caused by grounding issues in a turntable’s wiring, affecting playback quality.
I
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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.
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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
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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
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Quartz Lock: A feature on some direct-drive turntables that uses a quartz crystal to maintain consistent platter speed, ensuring accurate playback.
R
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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.
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RPM (Revolutions Per Minute): The speed at which a record spins on the turntable. Common speeds include 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM.
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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
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Shellac: A material used to make 78 RPM records before the advent of vinyl, known for being more brittle and less durable.
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Sibilance: The hissing sound that can occur on certain high-frequency sounds, often due to improper mastering or playback setup.
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Sleeve: The protective cover for a vinyl record, including both the inner sleeve (directly protecting the record) and the outer sleeve (featuring artwork).
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Speed Selector: A control on the turntable that allows the user to select the correct RPM for playing different types of records.
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Stylus: The needle on a turntable that physically contacts the record groove, reading the encoded audio and converting it into sound.
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Surface Noise: The crackling, popping, or hissing sounds often heard during vinyl playback, usually due to dust, scratches, or imperfections in the vinyl.
T
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Tonearm: The part of a turntable that holds the cartridge and stylus, allowing them to move across the record’s grooves.
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Tracking Force: The downward pressure applied by the tonearm and stylus on the record, critical for accurate playback and preventing record wear.
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Turntable: A device used to play vinyl records, consisting of a rotating platter, tonearm, cartridge, and stylus.
U
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Upmixing: The process of converting mono or stereo recordings into a higher channel format, such as from stereo to surround sound.
V
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Vibrations: Unwanted movements that can affect turntable performance and sound quality, often minimized through isolation platforms or damping materials.
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Vinyl: A durable plastic material used to make records, prized for its ability to produce high-quality sound with proper care.
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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
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Warping: The bending or distortion of a vinyl record, often caused by heat or improper storage, which can affect playback quality.
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Wow and Flutter: Pitch variations caused by inconsistencies in the turntable's speed, often noticeable as wavering or warbling sounds during playback.
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Wobble: Lateral movement of the turntable’s platter that can lead to poor tracking and sound quality issues.
Y
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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.
