Editing Phonograph record (section)

==Preservation==
[[File:45rpm.jpg|thumbnail|right|45&nbsp;rpm records, like this [[single (music)|single]] from 1956, usually had a chosen A-side, for radio promotion as a possible hit, with a flip side or [[B-side]] by the same artist—though some had two A-sides.]]
As the playing of gramophone records causes gradual degradation of the recording, they are best preserved by transferring them onto other media and playing the records as rarely as possible. They need to be stored on edge, and do best under environmental conditions that most humans would find comfortable.<ref>"Disc Recording and Playback". In Glen Ballou (editor), ''Handbook for Sound Engineers: The New Audio Cyclopedia'': Howard W. Sams & Company. p. 1037 §27.9.4. {{ISBN|0-672-21983-2}}</ref> The longevity and optimal performance of vinyl records can be improved through certain accessories and cleaning supplies. Slipmats provide a soft and cushioned surface between the record and the turntable platter, minimizing friction and preventing potential scratches or damage to the vinyl surface.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ECL|date=2024-04-07|title=The Resurgence of Vinyl Records: Why They're Making a Comeback and How to Start Your Collection|url=https://eclectico.com.au/blogs/news/the-resurgence-of-vinyl-records-why-theyre-making-a-comeback-and-how-to-start-your-collection|access-date=2024-04-27|website=Eclectico|language=en-US}}</ref>

Where old disc recordings are considered to be of artistic or historic interest, from before the era of tape or where no tape master exists, archivists play back the disc on suitable equipment and record the result, typically onto a digital format, which can be copied and manipulated to remove analog flaws without any further damage to the source recording. For example, [[Nimbus Records]] uses a specially built horn record player to transfer 78s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wyastone.co.uk/nrl/pv_transfer.html |title=The Transfer Session |access-date=18 September 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051120060122/http://www.wyastone.co.uk/nrl/pv_transfer.html |archive-date=20 November 2005 }}</ref> Anyone can do this using a standard record player with a suitable pickup, a phono-preamp (pre-amplifier) and a typical personal computer. However, for accurate transfer, professional archivists carefully choose the correct stylus shape and diameter, tracking weight, equalisation curve and other playback parameters and use high-quality analogue-to-digital converters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iasa-web.org/tc04/audio-preservation |title=''Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of Digital Audio Objects'' (IASA TC04) |publisher=Iasa-web.org |date=21 September 2012 |access-date=26 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508171039/http://www.iasa-web.org/tc04/audio-preservation |archive-date=8 May 2015 }}</ref>

As an alternative to playback with a stylus, a recording can be read optically, processed with software that calculates the velocity that the stylus would be moving in the mapped grooves and converted to a [[digital recording]] format. This does no further damage to the disc and generally produces a better sound than normal playback. This technique also has the potential to allow for reconstruction of broken or otherwise damaged discs.<ref>{{Cite journal | author1=Fadeyev, V. | author2=C. Haber | title=Reconstruction of mechanically recorded sound by image processing | journal=[[Audio Engineering Society]] | volume=51 | issue=December | year=2003 | page=1172 | url=http://www-cdf.lbl.gov/~av/JAES-paper-LBNL.pdf | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050525185435/http://www-cdf.lbl.gov/~av/JAES-paper-LBNL.pdf | archive-date=25 May 2005 }}</ref>