Radio Edit: Take care of your records.

Prior to the tenth annual CFBX show, program coordinator Steve Marlow gives advice on how to keep the record collection clean and players up-to-date.

It would be easy to save new records and never listen to them. They would stay in perfect condition, but their sound would never be heard.

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This means that cleaning and maintaining your records is important.

When removing your recordings from the covers, make sure you handle them correctly. Always hold your discs by the edges, using the flat part of your hand along the outer edge.

Your fingers should never touch the surface as dirt, grease and oils accumulate in the grooves. The same is true for CDs as the oils in your body can be stained or scratched. If you need to play the recording, just touch the label in the middle.

If you remove a disc or put it back in your pocket, touch the outer edge with your fingertips to avoid touching the surface.

Of course, you should use the covers of your discs to keep them. Do not leave them outside, where dust can accumulate. Use the inner bag supplied with the disc if it is in good condition. If it is broken, replace it.

If you're really concerned about protecting your discs, you can even buy antistatic plastic bags to replace the paper bags that came with the disc.

While the recordings are being read horizontally, you never want to save your recordings in this way. The stored records are deformed and compressed over time. Your documents must be vertical. In the pockets you can store plastic bags for your discs, which protect the covers of the cover from discoloration or damage.

Remember to keep your documents in a cool place, away from the sun and excessive moisture.

To clean up your records, you need to invest in some key tools. First, you'll need a carbon fiber brush to cover the surface of your hard drive when you turn on the turntable to remove dust.

If you need to remove the dirt from your discs, use an isopropyl alcohol solution for 1/4 to 3/4 of distilled water and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Water the solution on your disc, then gently wipe with a microfibre cloth over your discs counterclockwise.

There are also devices like an antistatic cleaner that cleans up your files when you insert them into the device.

To clean your turntable, use a microfibre cloth to remove dust from the surface.

Also keep your pen or needle clean. Do not let dust or lint build up on your pencil. Clean it regularly and replace the pen when worn. Your pen should spin tightly in the slots of your disc.

If you find that the sound of your discs is muffled, you lose quality or volume, or there is another problem with the sound, it may be time to replace your pen.

When the pen on your disc jumps or moves, replace the needle. If your speakers are statically charged, this may be the time to check your connections, replace the speaker cords, or clean the keys and sensors on your amplifier. Dust and dirt can penetrate your connections and interfere with your connections with the rest of your platform's configuration.

Steve Marlow is Program Coordinator at CFBX, an independent radio station in Kamloops. Use the data dial to set 92.5 FM or connect online to thex.ca.

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