Ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning

I guess you’ve done the old HK$ / US$ thing.

So it's now 10 times that price?

I took it upon myself to complete the dialog. I expect all the oscars. https://soundcloud.com/michael-hillard/techmoanblanca/s-MH45ToptaOm?si=545bf104bbc9469cb3b72ebf3c9fcee4

I got a Discwasher Kit for Christmas one year and used it pretty regularly. The anti-static gun (mine was red) worked wonders for getting a record ready to make a tape, at least in my use.

Oh no, Arlene Dahl just passed at 96. https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-movies-jules-verne-pat-boone-ce3043289747b6b68a0535932dc1ad7c?utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwAR2OH0EFldn0BpC8bdQgKjaXFdwrQHBiYufjiKhGhRp_QDkL_5JrnVHyF14

What a coincidence -- it looks as if Arlene Dahl passed away just today aged 96: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Dahl

Vintage Orrtronic Continuous Tape Player P300 - another BG system?! https://www.ebay.com/itm/Orrtronic-Continuous-Tape-Player-P300-Magnetic-Tape-Recorder-Tapette-VTG-/334235829721?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

Only just got round to seeing this, though thought I'd reply here, seeing we're all, as you say so yourself, a bit more "normal"! It seems a nice device, but I'm assuming us pacemaker users can't get near it? I can't have a sonic clean at the dentist, for example. I've no idea if even your anti-static gun would be problematic!

I can see why no soap. I use soap/degreaser (I use either liquinox or simple green) and ultrasonic cleaning to clean parts at work and it is VERY aggressive. I have stripped anodizing off of parts. That said, if you ever need to clean welding soot residue off of parts, that's how you do it.

Can’t edit on stupid phone but he’s still in YouTube as Monobaby! In fact he’s even got a tribute channel from some dude who we don’t know called Monobaby Scorchers 😂🤔🤷🏻‍♀️

May every record collector (including my husband!) kill me but I used to use baby wipes to clean the muck out, does work, though not sure if they are the best thing to use! My hubby was a northern soul n rnb dj so as he still has a vast collection of maybe rare records, I’m gonna show him this. Btw he likes your northern soul cd box set that he saw on one of your vids 😁

I'm not an aficionado of vinyl(s) so I'm curious about what people who play them are expecting to hear. I wonder if they're _expecting_ to not hear any clicks or pops; ie, if everything's in good order and the disc has been handled with reasonable respect during its life, _should_ the sound be free from this stuff? It's just so hard for me to imagine.

Mat, I know this sort of thing is not in your bailiwick - but I think this machine appeals to some of your sensibilities? Just had to show you... (Removed dead photo links)

I was waiting for a remake of the tape cleaning advert, that was hilarious 😂

Techmoan at 17:26 "You might remember this . . ." so close to "You must remember this" which is, of course, the opening words of "As time goes by" from . . . Casablanca! It just hit me. :-)

Great review as always. Been looking at vinyl cleaning products. and this is well within budget, Considering the silly cost of LPs now its a valid investment. Keep an eye out for the postman Matt LOL

Come on, own up, Mat. You had a go at a Bogart impression at some point during the making of this video! It’s great to see machines like this come within financial reach of ‘ordinary’ vinyl lovers. I was most impressed with the anti-static device. I had a Zerostat back in the 1970s or 80s and was never sure whether it was snake oil or not, but your demonstration showed it having a positive effect. I’m with those who suggest adding detergent or IPA to the bath as water won’t dissolve all contaminants. I appreciate you needed to demonstrate using the device according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Have a great weekend - it’s snowing here in the Midlands!

Hi Mat. Thanks for another great Video. Might be worth trying it with the "knosti disco antistat mixture". I'm using this stuff for years now and I'm still quite pleased by its logterm antistatic and cleaning effect.

I'm curious Mat- would it be possible to line up the recordings in something like Audacity and then subtract the second waveform to get a track of the noise only?

Hey Mat. What is that multi-colored hexagon above your "on-air" sign? I don't recognize it

I was half way expecting you to taste test that water to verify the cleaning process.

With older LPs which are noisy throughout I suspect they've been played in the past with an old / worn / heavy stylus, and the damage is done. People often weren't that precious about vinyl in the 60s.. 70s...

I wonder if the unit might do a better job if some sort of detergent was added to the distilled water. The record cleaner I use comes with a cleaning fluid you add to water, and other ultrasonic cleaners I've seen used for other types of things all used some sort of cleaning liquid instead of straight water

I was looking at one of these (and other RCM options) just last week. I will be very interested to see the outcome when I watch this one later!

Great video. Isn't it likely that the remaining crackles are caused by tiny scratches to the vinyl, rather than dust?

Hi Mat another great video. One thing I learned over the years of record cleaning is the way that some dust specs get melted into the groove if a dusty record is played. This is because the actual force at the microscopic tip of the stylus is actually enough to melt and soften the vinyl as it is playing. Any dust present at that point can then stick to the melted vinyl and therefore be impossible to subsequently clean off. The vinyl itself is resilient enough to withstand this melting and instantly returns to the shape it was in before the stylus passed over it. This is why it is really important not to play a dusty record. I have to say though that this machine does seem to do a good job but I was wondering what was the point of the filters if you are using distilled water and then only once? I use a Pure Vinyl Vivac machine which is based on the principle of the Keith Monks suction machine - expensive but it too does make a difference. I even clean new vinyl as I have had records delivered new that still have mould release in the grooves from the pressing plant. The Vivac also does a good job of removing the static but those static guns are fantastic and, as you have shown, really do work.

Random question: what is a reverberation amplifier and is it any different than a regular amp? https://ibb.co/zR0WdG9 Edit: other than the interesting visualizations, that is... https://ibb.co/ph3XDnx

Of all the record cleaners in all the Kickstarters in all the world, you chose this one. 😄 And very interesting it was, too. I wonder if your high quality stylus did most of the cleaning work, though.

How do you clean your stylus?

Nicely done. Shock news; a kickstart that arrived and works! Using headphones, which I don't usually do for this, I noticed a slight buzzing in the left channel on the product shots such as the unboxing. p.s. I hope you YT gives you a pound for every time wood glue will be mentioned in the comments with this.

I did consider buying a record cleaning device a few years ago, including buying a good quality ultrasonic tank of eBay and making my own. Ultimately I decided to give up vinyl altogether and settle for high quality SACDs instead. My friend is quite happy to take my Technics SP10 Mk 2 off my hands and some of my brand new vinyl a well. Thanks for the review Mat.

Great video , just expect lots of "you should have used cleaner x with this homemade solution y" type comments on you tube. In my experience "Audiophile" has to be the hobby with the most Snake oil, wild claims and opinions about the items sold. I listen to records and I like the sound I get from my cleaning and playing set up, and that is all that matters to me.

I have to say I'm a little disappointed you didn't even once read the missing dialogue... ;) I think the results were pretty good. Of course you can't wash away physical damage and if the damage is in the groove you can't see it. The results would probably be better if the record was sucked dry and not just air blown at it. Many cleaning devices do that - with a lot more noise. But just with air there is probably dirt that got loose while cleaning and sticks on the record again when it dries. With suction the dirt is removed with the water.

Superb video this. I'd heard of these devices but not seen one in use. Was a bit worried about label damage and so I'm glad to see that this has been thought about!

The high-energy announcer and the low-energy Ilsa from that Casablanca record has had me laughing through the whole video.

But is it a circle? I am assuming if you moan about streaming you are told "Get a Victrola"

Going to be honest, I was super impressed with the anti-static gun! The difference that made was amazing. Didn't even know that existed but will definitely be getting one. Also, when I see all the bother it takes to clean records, set everything up etc. I just find myself thinking "What a ball ache". But then, I remember that thats how people feel when I make them coffee at my place and I have multiple Moka pots set up, special barista oatmilk, foaming wands and expensive coffee. They must be thinking "What the hell is this idiot doing? Just get a tassimo" or whatever. We tend to enjoy overcomplicating things for the hobbies we love.

Ultrasonic baths are noisy, we use them in the lab, I need to wear ear protection or go away when one is running... My eye was actually distracted by that coloury light thingy on your shelf, are you going to make a video about that?

Great video; this was particularly interesting for me, since I own a considerable amount of second-hand records (and buy random lots occasionally). I often considered the ultrasonic cleaners, but my Spin Clean does a sufficient job and it's fun to use on large batches of records. It also recommends using distilled water, but to keep out impurities from marring the record surface. And believe me, the water is so dirty after cleaning a handful of records - I don't know where all that dirt comes from! That anti-static gun intrigued me, I may have to look for one. It reminded me of this hair dryer pistol I saw on auction. 😅 https://ibb.co/YZCcx1t Oh, please don't edit the video if us damn Yankees can't be bothered to learn what 'chemist' is. Majority of said Yankees are probably hungover or engaging in Black Friday sales ATM.