Are You REALLY Listening to Your Vinyl Records?

[@AndyFenstermaker]

Next, here are 5 reasons to consider STARTING a record collection in 2024: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKiumayYrJihgtE

[@domedagskatten]

No guilt involved. If I feel like listening actively, I will. If I get distracted the music is still there, colouring the ambience for me, and why is that not enough? It would feel silly if something I do because i enjoy it would cause me guilt.

[@pgh45rpms]

I don't multi task when I'm listening to my records. I treat it like I'm in a concert hall and absorb the music through speakers or headphones. Okay, I do examine record packaging and sleeves. Sometimes what is sung doesn't match the printed lyrics. One geeky thing I do to amuse myself is watch the record rotate and the gradual inward movement of the tonearm. I'm also fascinated by the patterns that the grooves make while the record rotates. If the record has a slight warp, I'll watch the tonearm "ride the wave." When I was a kid with a portable phonograph, any 10 or 12 inch discs extended over the platter, and I would watch the grooves on the underside rotate backwards.

[@garyocicki4120]

I'm absolutely guilty of working with a record on in the background. When I used to play video games, I'd mute the TV so that the music was almost a soundtrack for the game.

[@AndyFenstermaker]

Working while having a record spin really makes it even more enjoyable!

[@prodigy_xd]

I like to stand right next to the player, enjoying that i have this record and all the cool music on it. It brings back old memories. I can't really sit down when a record plays, because i want to stayin control an be able to flip the record right when the last track ends. Basically listening to vinyl is similar to eating a meal... i like to consume until im full. - then i put it back and do other things and continue to listen to music on my computer. So Vinyl is not my only source of music. It is a different way of celebrating certain records for a short moment (30 minutes on average)

[@AndyFenstermaker]

It’s definitely not my only source either, just one I enjoy immensely. I love your take on it!

[@marcgoecke9401]

I usually make time to listen to my records. I might look something up on my phone from time to time, but mostly I pay attention to the music. Since my listening chair is in the audio sweetspot I also don’t tend to walk around much.

[@AndyFenstermaker]

It seems a lot of my viewers are the same - little to no distractions while listening to records. Good stuff!

[@mrhoffame]

I have ZERO ability to have competing audio lol. I can't listen to the tv or talk on the phone while spinning at all bc I KNOW I will block one out!! I actually have a hard time focusing on what I am reading, if I'm actually trying to retain the info, if the tv or music is on so those two worlds never come together for me So what do I do..... 1. My favorite use to be watching a game (volume turned off) and listening to records 2. Just sitting and listening 3. When I'm working from home and just processing paperwork type stuff I will spin 4. I CONSTANTLY give myself music room projects to do because I love moving around shelves, changing poster, and just interacting with my musical world while listening to music. Probably my favorite actually and my music room kind of shows that lol 5. While doing chores/cleaning. 6. I also put a turntable in my office at work so I spin there when I actually go into the office too.

[@dpingy]

Watching sports on mute while listening to records is a big go to for me. Great video.

[@FinnishSuperSomebody]

I have started again listening my CD's with actually listening doing nothing else except read the album arts. When I get a new strap (or whatever it is in english, the part what makes the spinning possible for the disc tray) to my vinyl player I will also have a plan to do same thing for my vinyls. It is so different experience than just playing music on background (what I also do from my mp3 player or portable cd player), it actually makes me think about the meaning and the story of the song etc. and gives deeper value to that album, at least for me.

[@tzerland]

Just listening most of the time. And listening again and again the same record during days 😮

[@AndyFenstermaker]

Love it! I've been systematically going through and listening to everything in my collection, and I'm creating a queue of stuff that I want to spin again sooner than later and sifting those in as well. Sadly, I'm usually multitasking while they spin.

[@artistikmelon4960]

I just sit back and listen to the music looking out my window and sipping on my coffee, I also sometimes do some light workouts like stretching, weights or hula hoop LOL... and don't get me started on the dancing!! it just for my doggie's entertainment he looks at me like -"this lady crazy" lol... If im listening to vinyl at night I enjoy looking at ambient lighting I have in my room that my son got me for Christmas its very cool its like galaxy's and stars that move around I know very groovy lol... great video as always! Thanks

[@AndyFenstermaker]

Once I get ready in the morning, that's one of my favorite thigns to do: enjoy a cup of coffee while the first record of the day spins. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

I just listen to Diddy albums while secretly recording myself doing unspeakable things.

[@austinhunt4260]

Interesting questions and video. First off, I allow myself to have 80 records in my collection. If I want a new record, I have to find one in my collection to mercilessly sacrifice to the Discgods. This way, I usually listen to my entire collection 2-3x/year. Second, I'm really guilty of just going through my phone sometimes while listening. Usually looking something up or reviewing/updating a review I wrote years ago on Discogs (or others' subsequent reviews) about the album I'm currently listening to. I quit all social media (except KZbin, if that counts) in order to try to be a little more present in my own life and less so in other people's posted lives. And most of the time, when I realize I haven't been actively listening to the record I'm playing, I'll start it over. The whole point is to really dig into and reflect on the collection I've invested so much in and meticulously curate. I also almost NEVER play vinyl in the "background." Vinyl is waaay too much work for that. I'll just stream in that case so I don't have to flip records. After all, I'm obviously not actively listening for detail if it's just playing in the background. Cheers.

[@AndyFenstermaker]

Love this take on it, and I wish I had the motivation for the one in/one out method. But I do enjoy the variety my library / collection contains.

[@austinhunt4260]

@@AndyFenstermaker I get that. The reason I ended up with 80 is because when I first got into vinyl I had the silly notion that I would just get my top 10 all-time records and just enjoy them. I loved those first 10 and vinyl in general that I quickly expanded my ceiling to 25. Then 50. Then 60. After I raised it to 75, I realized this hobby can quickly become an addiction. And then I started noticing collectors like Mike Esposito at The In-Groove who has 50,000-plus records in their collection and, well, that terrified me. What's the point in owning a colelction you can't possibly listen to? It's like a quirky, socially acceptable version of hoarding. I didn't want to let it get to that. So when I raised my limit to 80, I wanted it to be the last time. It makes for a super tight collection and I pull every record at random until I've listened to everything and start over. It definitely doesn't mean I've stopped spending money - not at all, unfortinately. I now just upgrade my collection. For example, I got Art Blakey's MOANIN pressing by Wax Time while building my collection. When I decided it was a keeper, I replaced it with the AAA BNC pressing cut by KPG when it was released at $25. Then I replaced that with a pristine copy of AP's 45rpm cut by KPG for $150. So I can always find ways to spend money, but it's focused on improvong the core collection.

[@meyeboy2]

i spin some records while i watch sports sometimes

[@xfishxmomx8977]

typically if its a new album for me (whether that be a first time listen or just a new pickup) ill sit down and consciously listen to it. but more often than not im putting them on while cooking or working on some project if i have friends over ill throw one on sometimes if it fits the vibe

[@mpw116]

Siamese dream 👀