cleaning tunes

[Ghostman]

Hey people,

Just wanna know your thoughts on cleaning records. And it is aimed at those of you out there that are crossing over to digital. Do you clean your records before recording them and I don't mean with an anti static cloth. Do you use soap and water?...I have a friend that uses soap and water and another friend that uses some sort of car polish mixed with water. The records seem ok after the cleaning process but I am not convinced.....What do you think? Is it a waste of time? Should I just use a normal record cleaning cloth?:rainman:

[macc4]

how dirty are they? maybe just get some record cleaner, available at most record shops

[Spicy]

i just give them a proper good wipe with that blue record cleaner spray that smells like mild isopropanol.

depends on how awesome you want it to sound, but 9 times out of 10 you probably wouldn't be able to tell with the clarity of your concordes, technics tonearm, recording soundcard and speakers unless the record is absolutely filthy i.e. you went to practice scratching right after a fish & chips dinner.

e: arrr beaten by macc4!

[louislogic]

you basically need a wetting agent, water, and a mild cleaning agent. there are recipe's on the net that may be worth looking into if ur talking 1000's of records but at 6$~ a bottle for cleaner that you know won't ruin your tunes u might as well just go with that.

but if ur asking is it worth it to clean with a cleaning agent before digitising? yes.

[truba]

i put mine in a dishwasher, you can fit two crates easily

[JDeli]

i put mine in a dishwasher, you can fit two crates easily

This reminds me of something funny i saw on the net once. Wondering if anyone still has a link to it?

Someone's wife thought they would do their husband a favour and took his records into work (Think she worked in a restaurant) and put em in a massive dish washer.

The after photos were funny/painful to see. Those poor melted rekkids {:-(

[Random_Kiwi]

http://digitanalogue.blogspot.com/2008/08/wood-glue-deep-cleaning-vinyl-records.html

Article about cleaning records with wood glue (PVA)

Super extreme and time consuming, but works wonders.

Only really good for old records though unless you've been treating your choons like crap...anything that just dusty from sitting around/playing wouldn't need anything more than record cleaner or warm soapy water (rinsed of after cleaning)

And even if you do the glue thing to an old record, there's not gaurantee it'll help some records which are snap, crackle, poppy due to being played with shitty and fucked stylus which has actually damaged the grooves.

[slackas]

Why dont you just get that blue stuff that all the record shops sell.

Its some form of alcohol, so no residue like soap or glue?

[Random_Kiwi]

but if ur asking is it worth it to clean with a cleaning agent before digitising? yes.

Just record it with the pops and clicks, leave records with lock grooves playing on the turntables while actually DJ with CDs and bob's your auntie who had a sex change, people will think you're cooler than most of the other DJs as you're playing wax!

:thumb:

[ferretrock]

i just give them a proper good wipe with that blue record cleaner spray that smells like mild isopropanol.
Iso is the standard for cleaning records.
Buy a bottle of record cleaner - it'll last you forever, anyway.

Clean your stylii too, before recording (just warm water witha stylus brush).

[Ghostman]

Ok guys cheers...I will get the cleaning solution...sounds good:thumb: