As recording technology evolved, more specific terms for various types of phonograph records were used in order to describe some aspect of the record: either its correct rotational speed ("16⅔ R.P.M.", "33⅓ R.P.M.", "45 R.P.M.", "78 R.P.M.") or the material used (particularly "vinyl" to refer to records made of polyvinyl chloride, or the earlier "shellac records" generally the main ingredient in 78s). Other terms such as "Long Play" or L.P. and "Extended Play" or E.P. were coined to describe multi-song records which were capable of playing for far longer than the single song per side records, which typically didn't go much past 4 minutes per side. An L.P. can play for about thirty minutes per side. The 7" 45rpm format normally contained one song per side but a 7" EP could achieve recording times of 10 to 15 minutes at the expense of attenuating and compressing the sound to reduce the width required by the groove. EP discs were generally used to make available songs not on singles including songs on LPs albums in a smaller, less expensive format for those who had only 45 rpm players. The large center hole on 7" 45rpm records allows for easier handling by jukebox mechanisms. In modern times it is common for a band to release an EP of 4 or 5 songs to build buzz before the full album, or LP, is released. The use of the term "album" no longer has any relation to the physical format (typically compact disc), but rather the length of the album and the number of songs.
Conforme iba evolucionando la industria aparecieron varios formatos y varias medidas para describir cada tipo de disco, aunque todo esto era en referencia de las velocidad ("16⅔ R.P.M.", "33⅓ R.P.M.", "45 R.P.M.", "78 R.P.M.") o al material usado, generalmente vinil. Otros terminos como Long Play o Larga Duracion (LP) o Extended Play (EP) fueron utilizados para nombrar discos de muchas canciones, un LP puede tocar 30 minutos por cada lado, un EP de 10 a 15 mins por lado y un 7" unicamente 4 minutos por lado, lo que normalmente era solo una canción. |