How to Loop Vinyl Records

If you record sounds at home, you likely purchase and create digital music loops to incorporate into your compositions.

Although you can purchase premade loops with commercial distribution rights, it often feels and sounds better to create something 100% unique for people to enjoy.

If you have a turntable or record player at home, you can turn vinyl sounds into usable loops. This option works well for DJing and other live-play needs.

You don’t need to be an audiophile to appreciate what is possible when you know how to loop vinyl records at home.

How to Loop Vinyl Records

You must create a skip on a vinyl record for it to make a loop. The easiest way to accomplish this goal is to place tape at the point where you want the recording to stop. This action forces the needle to return to its previous ring instead of continuing along the recorded spiral.

The problem with the tape methodology for looping vinyl records is that it creates a popping sound with the needle strike.

Once you reach the end of the spiral, the sound system reacts to the flat surface with distortion and feedback until it returns to the start of the audio.

If you want that popping sound as part of your loop, you’ll capture the audio with a standard microphone or wired connection to your DAW’s system.

You can always edit the recording to eliminate the popping sound or needle distortion, but it won’t create that smooth loop you need for some compositions.

It is also possible to cut grooves in vinyl records to return the needle stylus to the same point in each revolution.

Most albums use this technique at the end of the spiral to prevent damage to turntables that spin indefinitely instead of raising the tonearm to start at the beginning.

You could manually create the same outcome by adjusting the spiral at the looped point to return to the beginning for another loop.

If you choose the latter option, you will damage the horizontal grooves so that the rest of the record won’t play without manual intervention.

You can also record a new vinyl record that presses in a circle instead of a spiral to create a looping effect.

5 Reasons Why Vinyl Remains the Gold Standard

Analog waveforms indeed have a warmer tone and smoother curvature than a digital bounce, but you must remember that music is a multisensory experience.

A vinyl record is more than something that plays a song. It provides cover art, liner notes, and that “new album smell” that a CD, cassette, or MP3 cannot duplicate.

You can even use a vinyl record as a musical instrument on a scratch table. It is the epitome of this art form from a composer’s view.

If you’ve ever thought about looping vinyl records, you are looking at one reason why it can be a lot of fun to use this medium for a modern recording.

Here are five more reasons why vinyl records are still the gold standard for music today.

1. Vinyl Records Provide Locked Grooves.

When you have a locked groove, you get a single loop that endlessly repeats itself.

When a turntable doesn’t recognize that it’s time to reset, this final recording area lets the needle stay in the same place until you can get to the equipment.

On the older records, it was a silent, static loop without any audio on it.

If you can press new audio into a vinyl record, you can create a new loop in this area.

Some artists, such as Plastikman, have taken that concept to a new level. They produce records with only locked grooves to let you use premade loops that take advantage of vinyl’s quality.

2. You Can Scratch Rhythms into a Locked Groove.

If you want to produce your own vinyl loops at home, you can scratch different rhythms into pre-recorded grooves to let it sound like you’re providing a custom experience.

When you use this technique, the scratches embed into the audio pressing to create the sound you want for DJing, recording, or other needs.

This technique even lets you measure the time signatures to maximize their benefits for your composing work.

Some artists take the vinyl looping technique to another level.

Nick Zammuto offers an innovative way to use individualized beats within the center label by scratching out areas of a locked groove for the needle to impact.

Since most turntables offer endless play, you can hit this locked groove to create an analog beat with minimal difficulty.

3. Records Can Play in Different Rotations.

The band Half Japanese released a unique vinyl record that contains six sides. It’s a unique concept that incorporates three lathe cuts on the album’s two physical sides.

You’ll also see three rotational holes in the center of the product.

The individual lathe cuts never intersect with each other. When you reach the end of one “side,” you’ll adjust the record’s center rotation spot to the next one.

It’s one of the most unique listening experiences for an audiophile available today.

You can use a similar technique for looping vinyl records. By creating lathe cuts that don’t intersect, it is possible to record extended loops for your recording or performance.

4. You Can Print Pictures on Vinyl Records.

The picture vinyl record from the Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of the best examples of what is called “playable art.”

Instead of having separate album graphics, everything gets put onto the vinyl so that it spins on the turntable.

Although the sound quality is slightly different, you could put on quite the show by using this technique as a DJ.

This option can include artistic changes to the round shape of a vinyl record. You can find printings in the form of a circular saw blade, hexagon, pentagon, and squares.

5. It Can Link with Other Turntables to Generate Unique Mixes.

The first DJing efforts appeared in the South Bronx in the late 1970s. It was part of the overall hip-hop movement.

If you play a looped record with the lyrical track of another one, the new mix becomes a fun way to experiment with music without needing to be a traditional composer.

Scratching and cutting techniques have continued evolving over the years to create improved sounds on numerous platforms.

6. You Can Use Used Equipment.

Vinyl records don’t need to be pristine to create musical loops. If your preference is to add scratching, almost anything will work.

You can even add tape to certain tracks to customize the experience while getting some of the original sounds. One of the best places to find used albums is at your local thrift store.

You also have the option to buy vinyl records in bulk online to meet your compositional needs.

Equipment You’ll Need to Be a DJ Today

When you know how to loop vinyl records, you can create incredible audio experiences.

Although you can manually manipulate a vinyl record, the easiest way to create loops is to record the specific segments you want to save to a digital file.

Once you open that content in your DAW, it can get edited with the precision you need for your recording.

If you want to perform live with this skill, you’ll need some DJ equipment to manage the performance.

Here are the items you’ll want to have in your collection.

Pioneer Pro DJ Package	• This platform gives you a way to mix and change your vinyl audio loops digitally. • It works with Windows or macOS and comes with all of the standard equipment you need to get busy. • That includes desktop monitors and headphones to enjoy monitoring without distortion.
Pioneer DJ Direct Drive Turntable	• You’ll need a reliable turntable to create vinyl record loops. • Although anything is technically usable, this Pioneer model provides a high-torque direct drive to offer exceptional control and rotation. • It uses a multiple tempo controller to speed up or slow tracks up to 16% while delivering a reset button for instant reversion.
Chauvet DJ LED Lighting System	• When you have a live performance, you’ll want to hype the atmosphere by creating lighting changes. • This affordable system delivers a 4-in-1 light with strobes and pars to create more mixing effects. • You can cover the entire stage with one installation or produce something for the club with two.
Dell Inspiron DJing Computer	• It would be best if you had a computer to manage your recording work and vinyl loops. Although you could opt for something with macOS, this Dell system provides more versatility. • You can take it with you to control your equipment, record with DAW software at home, and even start another side hustle selling looped files on sites like Pond5. • This model comes with 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD.
Pyle 1000W Disco Jam DJ Speakers	• When you want to turn the dial up to 11, you’ll need speakers to work with your setup. That means you need something that delivers even more atmosphere for your performance! • If you use 3-5 of these speakers, you’ll create an amplified set with PA capabilities. • It provides full-range surround sound while offering six inputs to maximize your creativity.
ProX XF-Mesa DJ Table Station	• Although you could use any table or stand to drop some beats, it helps to have a full DJ station available to manage your equipment. • When you select this product for working with your vinyl loops, you’ll have space to hang more lights, storage areas for your equipment, and a TV mount that handles up to a 65-inch LED television.

Should I Try to Make My Own Vinyl Loops at Home?

If you want to make vinyl loops at home, you’ll find that manually recording each piece is the easiest and most affordable solution.

Although you’ll digitize the sound through a DAW, it’ll let you get to work on your compositions almost immediately.

When you’re ready to take your DJing or compositional work to the next level, I highly recommend creating a setup with the products included in this guide.

It might not let you press vinyl records to create 100% unique loops, but you will get the chance to improvise and produce loops with more authenticity.

If you decide to start performing with your loops and music, don’t forget about having a stand, table, or workstation for your equipment to use!

Vinyl records will always be one of the most flexible and forgiving creative mediums for musicians. When you start making loops, you’re only touching on a small part of what is possible!