LP-01 · Record night
Sing along to your records.
No more pausing the song to look up the words. Put on a record, tap once, and the lyrics scroll in sync with the needle. The singer stays on the record; you sing right over the top, track after track, the whole side.
Side A — Why it exists
I just wanted to sing along.
I'm Shannon. I play records, and sometimes I sing along, to the great regret of my family. That used to mean putting the needle down, grabbing my phone, typing the song into a search bar and scrolling a lyrics site while the record kept going without me. By the time I found my place, I'd missed the chorus.
I've written software for twenty-five years, so I built the thing I wanted: an app that hears the record, knows the song and keeps the words on the right line. Then it follows the side, so I don't have to touch it again until the flip.
It runs on my own rig: an Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB into a Dayton tube amp, a pair of Klipsch monitors and a Polk sub. The Cure, Type O Negative, Megadeth, My Chemical Romance, or whatever.
Side B — On the turntable
Three steps. Then just sing.
- 01
Drop the needle.
Any turntable, any rig. Nothing to wire in: lyricspin listens through your phone or laptop mic, like you do.
- 02
Tap listen.
It names the track in a few seconds and pulls up the lyrics, synced to the record when the song has them.
- 03
Sing the side.
It loads the album's tracklist and rolls to the next song on its own. At the end of the side, it waits for you to flip.
Quiet intro, bass-heavy room, or a record with some crackle? The setup tips cover where to put your phone and what to do when it won't lock on.
Bonus track — The crate
Records to sing front to back.
- RumoursFleetwood Mac · 1977Breakup record. Every harmony a group project.
- Abbey RoadThe Beatles · 1969Side B is one long sing-along. Don't lift the needle.
- ThrillerMichael Jackson · 1982Nine tracks. The kids know more of them than you think.
- Back in BlackAC/DC · 1980Loud enough to sing over. That's the point.
- EscapeJourney · 1981Opens with the biggest sing-along ever pressed. Keep going.
- DisintegrationThe Cure · 1989Long intros, then every word. Lights low.
- Rust in PeaceMegadeth · 1990Thrash you can actually sing. Fast lines, so watch the screen.
- The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romance · 2006A rock opera on four sides. Everybody gets a part.
- 1989Taylor Swift · 2014Four sides, no skips. The kids already know it.
Liner notes — Questions
Records and lyrics.
Can I see lyrics for the record I'm playing?
Yes. Open lyricspin in your browser, tap Start listening and hold your phone or laptop near the speakers. It identifies the song from the record and scrolls the lyrics in time with it, then follows the album side track to track.
Do I need to connect anything to my turntable?
No. There are no cables and no special hardware. lyricspin listens through your device's microphone, so it works with any turntable, amp or speakers.
What happens when the side ends?
lyricspin hears the silence, shows "Flip to side B" and keeps listening. Drop the needle on the other side and the lyrics come right back.
The words are a little early or late. Can I fix that?
Yes. Tap any line to sync it to where the record is, or nudge the timing. lyricspin also rechecks the record as it plays to stay on the right line.
Can the whole room read along?
Yes. Big Type mode puts the lyrics in huge letters, made for casting to a TV, so everybody on the couch can sing.
Run-out groove
Put a record on.
Free, no login, right in your browser. Drop the needle and tap listen.
Start listening