Crate digging is the practice of searching through vinyl records, often in second-hand stores or record shops, to discover hidden gems and rare finds.

For many collectors, it's more than just shopping—it's a treasure hunt that involves sifting through piles of records to uncover something unique or valuable. This hands-on process allows music enthusiasts to explore deep cuts, obscure releases, and sometimes forgotten artists that aren't available on mainstream platforms.

Whether you're hunting for a first pressing of a classic album or discovering an unknown band, crate digging is an adventure into music history and culture. The thrill comes from not knowing what you'll find, but knowing that the perfect record might just be hidden in the next crate.

Take a dig through our crates here.

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Vinyl records are more than just music—they’re a full sensory experience, starting with the album cover. Artists and designers carefully craft covers to visually represent the music inside, turning album sleeves into works of art.

From iconic images like The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band to the minimalist design of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, covers create a visual identity for the music. Inside the sleeve, listeners often find lyric sheets, liner notes, and artwork that provide context and insight into the album’s creation.

These elements offer a tangible connection to the music that’s often lost in digital streaming. In the world of streaming, album art is reduced to a small thumbnail, and the immersive experience of flipping through lyrics or liner notes is missing.

At SoundCircle, we bring back this connection by offering in-depth information about each album’s artwork, production, and the stories behind the music. By curating albums with rich backgrounds, we aim to give listeners the context that enhances their appreciation of the music—bridging the gap between the digital age and the vinyl experience.
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Making a vinyl record starts with creating a master disc, which captures the sound of the music as grooves. This is done by engraving a lacquer disc with tiny grooves that represent the soundwaves.

Once the master is ready, it’s coated in metal to create a mold, called a stamper, which is used to press the actual vinyl.

In the pressing stage, small pieces of vinyl, called "biscuits," are heated and pressed between two stampers, imprinting the grooves from the master onto the record.

After the record is pressed, it’s cooled down, trimmed to size, and checked for quality. The finished record is then placed into its cover and sleeve, ready to be played on a turntable.

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