phonograph record
Enable an agent to recognise a phonograph record, describe its recorded sides and physical state, and decide how it may be identified, handled, played or preserved.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
recalled by Codex without web access - no source was read
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to recognise a phonograph record, describe its recorded sides and physical state, and decide how it may be identified, handled, played or preserved.
A phonograph record is a physical sound carrier, usually a flat disc, that stores an analogue audio signal as modulations of a spiral groove reproduced by a stylus moving relative to the groove.
It can be Identify a disc and its sides from labels, inscriptions and groove observations.; Match an assessed disc to compatible playback equipment and documented settings.; Inspect and map defects before deciding whether playback or cleaning is appropriate.; Select handling, housing and cleaning actions compatible with the identified construction.; Recover audio through a documented playback or specialist transfer process.; Link recorded sides to recordings, releases and preservation copies while retaining carrier identity..
Distinguishing features
Sound is encoded in a physical groove on a disc intended for rotational playback, distinguishing it from optical, magnetic and purely digital carriers.
The object carries recorded sound rather than providing the playback mechanism, distinguishing the record from a phonograph or turntable.
Its recording surface is disc-shaped rather than cylindrical, distinguishing it from a phonograph cylinder.
Groove geometry, modulation and rotation requirements determine playback compatibility; disc diameter or a familiar label alone does not establish compatibility.
The carrier remains a phonograph record across different materials and manufacturing methods; the term is not limited to vinyl pressings.
Scope
+ Grooved sound discs, including pressed records and individually cut recording discs
+ Disc material, construction, dimensions and groove configuration
+ Side-level playback requirements and recorded programme organisation
+ Labels, inscriptions and identifiers physically associated with the disc
+ Physical condition and suitability for handling, cleaning, playback and transfer
- The broader record concept, including documents and database records
- Phonographs, turntables, cartridges, styli and amplification equipment
- Sound recordings as intellectual or creative works independent of their carrier
- Audio cylinders, magnetic tape and optical audio discs
- Sleeves, jackets and inserts as independently described objects
- Release-level commercial history and rights ownership beyond links needed to interpret this disc
Characteristics
- Carrier material and construction
- Material and construction description, including homogeneous disc or coated substrate; unknown permitted Construction affects fragility, cleaning compatibility and deterioration risks.
- Disc diameter and thickness
- mm, with measurement location and uncertainty Dimensions constrain handling, housing and equipment compatibility.
- Manufacturing method
- Pressed, individually cut, other documented method, unknown The method helps distinguish replicated carriers from potentially unique recordings and informs condition assessment.
- Playback rotation
- rpm by side or segment, with direction, evidence and any variation Incorrect speed changes pitch and duration, and some discs require more than one fixed-speed assumption.
- Groove modulation and channel configuration
- Lateral, vertical, combined or unknown modulation; mono, stereo, other documented encoding or unknown The pickup and signal interpretation must match the recorded groove system.
- Groove and stylus compatibility
- Relation to an evidenced groove specification or suitable stylus profile and dimensions in µm A compatible stylus is necessary for useful recovery and limiting playback damage.
- Recorded-side organisation
- Side designation, start location, traversal direction, bands, lead-in, run-out and exceptional groove paths An agent needs to locate the programme and understand how playback progresses.
- Physical identifiers
- Verbatim label, catalogue, matrix and run-out inscriptions, each tied to its location and side These observations support identification without conflating an individual disc with its release or recording.
- Carried recordings
- Links from sides or bands to recording entities, with attribution confidence Recorded content can be related to the carrier without treating both as the same thing.
- Surface and structural condition
- Located observations of contamination, scratches, groove wear, warping, cracks and coating failure; assessment date Condition determines whether handling, cleaning or playback is appropriate.
- Playback readiness
- Unassessed, ready under documented setup, intervention required, playback deferred A decision must reflect both carrier condition and the available playback setup.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 20 findings · 31 questions.
Carrier identity Recognise the grooved sound disc and establish what its markings identify.
A disc, its release and its recorded content require distinct identities even when they share a title.
Disc boundary
Establish membership in this carrier kind.
Grooved sound carrier
Record the evidence that the object is a disc carrying groove-encoded sound, with uncertain or exceptional cases retained for review.
- What observations establish that the disc's groove encodes sound? definition
- Does the object belong here rather than to an audio-cylinder, optical-disc or playback-equipment model? boundary
Side and copy identification
Use physical markings without collapsing carrier, pressing and release identities.
Label and run-out evidence
Capture labels and inscriptions by side, preserving literal text and separating observation from attribution.
- What is written, stamped or etched on each label and run-out area? provenance
- Which markings identify a side, matrix, pressing or release, and what evidence supports each interpretation? boundary
Disc construction Describe the physical structure that supports the recorded groove.
Phonograph records cannot be treated as a single material class when choosing handling or treatment.
Materials and manufacture
Distinguish the recording surface, supporting structure and production method.
Surface and substrate
Record material and manufacturing identifications with their evidence and confidence.
- What evidence identifies the groove-bearing material and any underlying substrate? provenance
- Was this disc pressed, individually cut or made by another documented process? definition
Physical fit
Describe dimensions and support requirements relevant to playback and storage.
Disc and centre geometry
Record disc dimensions, centre-hole configuration and unusual forms affecting support or rotation.
- What are the disc diameter, thickness and centre-hole dimensions in millimetres? measurement
- What platter support or centre adapter does this geometry require? action
Groove playback Establish how the physical groove can be followed and decoded.
A visually familiar disc may still require a different speed, stylus or modulation system.
Rotation and traversal
Identify the movement required to follow each recorded side.
Playback path
Record speed, direction, groove entry and progression by side or segment where necessary.
- What rotation speed and direction are specified or otherwise evidenced for each side? measurement
- Where does playback begin, and does the groove progress inward, outward or through an exceptional path? definition
Pickup and decoding
Relate groove encoding to suitable recovery equipment and signal treatment.
Compatible recovery setup
Record the supported stylus, pickup response, channel interpretation and equalisation, retaining unresolved choices.
- What evidence establishes groove modulation, channel encoding and a suitable stylus profile? provenance
- Which pickup configuration and equalisation should be used, and which settings remain uncertain? action
Recorded programme Map the disc's physical recording regions to the sound they carry.
Physical bands, printed track lists and identifiable recordings may not correspond one to one.
Side layout
Describe the organisation of recorded and non-programme groove regions.
Bands and groove regions
Locate programme bands and special regions without assuming every visible division is a separate track.
- Which visible groove regions appear to contain programme, transitions, lead-in or run-out? definition
- How do these regions correspond to labelled tracks, continuous programmes or locked grooves? boundary
Content attribution
Connect side-level evidence to recording identities.
Carrier-to-recording links
Keep printed claims, audible observations and external catalogue attributions distinguishable.
- Which titles, performers or recording identifiers are supported by the label, audition or catalogue evidence? provenance
- Does the carried audio match the label attribution, and how should any discrepancy be recorded? boundary
Condition and preservation Assess whether the groove and disc structure can tolerate proposed actions.
Playback and cleaning act directly on the sound-bearing surface and must respond to its construction and condition.
Damage and playability
Locate defects and assess their implications for sound recovery.
Groove and structure assessment
Distinguish visible defects, observed playback symptoms and inferred causes.
- Where are contamination, scratches, groove wear, cracks, warping or coating separation present? measurement
- Do the observed defects justify playback, restricted recovery or deferral for specialist assessment? action
Care and transfer
Choose compatible interventions and document sound recovery.
Material-compatible care
Tie cleaning, handling and housing decisions to the identified recording surface and its vulnerabilities.
- Which cleaning method is supported for this construction and condition, including any vulnerable labels or coatings? action
- What handling and housing measures address the disc's observed fragility, deformation or surface risks? action
Documented audio transfer
Link a recovered audio file to its physical source and the settings and interventions used.
- Which side, playback equipment, stylus, speed and signal settings produced this transfer? provenance
- Which defects, incomplete passages or uncertain decoding choices require another recovery attempt? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- These are recalled facts, not findings checked against sources; verify the applicable edition and scope of IEC 60098 before technical use.
- Historical discs include nonstandard speeds, sizes, groove directions and equalization; RIAA equalization should not be assumed for every record.
- The listed kinds overlap: speed, programme length, material and manufacturing method are separate classification dimensions.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Long-playing (LP) records
- 45 rpm singles
- 78 rpm coarse-groove records
- Extended-play (EP) records
- Instantaneous-cut lacquer discs
- Flexible records (flexi discs)
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Record-label catalogue number - Label-specific alphanumeric identifier - Identifies an issued release or edition; it is not globally unique.
- Matrix and runout markings - Letters, numbers and symbols inscribed or stamped near the centre - May identify a recorded side, mastering cut, stamper or pressing plant; interpretation depends on the producer.
- GTIN - Commonly GTIN-12 or GTIN-13 on retail packaging - Identifies a retail product edition where assigned, rather than an individual disc or its recorded performance.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- IEC 60098, issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission, addresses analogue audio disk records and reproducing equipment.
- RIAA recording and playback equalization, established by the Recording Industry Association of America, is widely used for modern analogue records.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Commercial distribution and domestic playback of recorded music
- DJ mixing, cueing and scratching
- Archival preservation of historical music, speech and broadcasts
- Collecting particular releases, pressings and editions
- Test records for adjusting and evaluating playback equipment
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Nominal rotational speed - 33⅓, 45 or 78 - rpm
- Common nominal disc diameter - 7, 10 or 12 - inch
- Playing time per side of a conventional 12-inch LP - Approximately 15-25 - minute
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Scratches and embedded contamination cause clicks, noise or skipping.
- Groove wear from repeated playback, unsuitable styli or incorrect tracking conditions causes lasting distortion.
- Heat and unsuitable storage can warp discs and impair tracking.
- Shellac records are brittle and can crack or shatter when dropped or stressed.
- Lacquer recording layers can crack, shrink or separate from their supporting discs.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- The terms 'phonograph record', 'gramophone record' and 'vinyl record' vary by region and context; vinyl describes only records made from that material.
- Many US 7-inch singles have a large centre hole, while small-hole and removable-centre versions are common in other markets.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- record - Record is a broader, ambiguous term for preserved information or a recording; a phonograph record specifically uses a mechanically readable sound groove.
- phonograph or turntable - The record carries the sound encoding; the phonograph or turntable supplies the mechanism used to play it.
- phonograph cylinder - A cylinder carries its groove on a cylindrical surface rather than on the face of a disc.
- compact disc - A compact disc stores digitally encoded information read optically, rather than an analogue groove read by a stylus.
- sound recording - A sound recording is the recorded content; a phonograph record is one physical carrier on which that content may be issued.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of phonograph record this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Does an existing Vercy world model already cover this carrier, and what does the neighbouring registry entry 'record' own?
- Which authoritative specifications and archival guidance should govern groove terminology, stylus compatibility, speed tolerances and equalisation across historical formats?
- Where should the boundary fall for unrecorded blanks, manufacturing masters, stampers and non-audio grooved discs?
- Which non-destructive identification methods reliably distinguish visually similar disc materials and coatings before cleaning?
- Which condition criteria justify ordinary playback, specialist recovery or deferral for each major construction type?