Welcome to the
Yale Record Exchange
The Yale Record Exchange (YRX) is a way to find music you like and people who like the music you like. Sharing CDs and other whole albums is an improvement over trading mp3's for a few reasons: it's legal, the sound quality is more reliable, the album is preserved as an artistic unit, and in the borrowing process, you get to meet people who like what you're interested in. Click a name below to browse a collection, or search through all collections. If you're a member, you can email any other member to set up a way of sharing music. Be sure to check out the rules, and enjoy responsibly.
Note to non-Yale folks: Feel free to use this page's code to create your own record exchange wherever you are, just be sure to email me first.
Search by keyword (album, artist, etc.):
Browse by collection:
Meral Agish
Val Barbon
Tim Barrett
Sarah Chihaya
Colin Dawson
Lindsay Elliott
Andrea Giese-Sweat
Tynan Granberg
Hilary Hammell
Teo Kaye
Sophie Perl
Jeremy Schmidt
Matthew Schneider-Mayerson
Matt Schneier
Chad Sell
Christy Sholes
Tim Smith
Andy Stout
Rachel Wetts
Rules and Etiquette:
1. You must be affiliated with Yale to become a member of YRX.
2. You become a member by making a list of the albums you own and sending it to me. Once I post the list, you can contact other members about their collections. It doesn't take that long to make a list, and once it's done, you can update it easily by emailing me the changes.
3. Everyone can browse and search the lists, but only members can contact other members about listening to their music. In other words, don't let just anyone borrow your stuff; members-only exchange = more members = bigger selection = everyone wins.
4. It's up to the members to negotiate the terms of borrowing.
5. Don't be a loser. If someone emails with a request, respond in a reasonable period of time (say, a week). If you're borrowing someone's CDs, don't scratch them up. If you become problematic, your name and offense will be listed on the Wall of Shame. YRX is (i.e., I am) not responsible for anything bad that happens, unless I'm the one scratching up discs.
6. Any album format is OK, but be sure to specify in your list. For example:
Slayer - Reign in Blood - (no format listed) original CD
Slayer - Reign in Blood [b] - burned CD copy, identical quality
" - " " [m] - made of collected mp3s (to be avoided if possible)
" - " " [v] - vinyl
" - " " [c] - cassette
" - " " [8] - eight-track (OK, no one really wants to hear your 8-tracks.)
7. List everything you have, even if you think it sucks; someone else might be looking for it. List every format, even slightly damaged discs, so long as you're upfront about what you're offering. It's up to you, of course, but the only things you shouldn't list are what you don't want to lend out, in which case refer to rule 5.
8. If you burn CDs, use a program (e.g., the Roxio suite) that will create an exact copy, not one (e.g., Windows Media Player) that will compress, distort, or otherwise lower sound quality. DISCLAIMER: Burning or downloading a copy of a CD you have not purchased is illegal. YRX won't punish you for burning, as there's no way to tell how or what you're burning. Know, however, that the RIAA cares more about this sort of thing than I do, so if you choose to burn, you do so at your own risk. YRX is not responsible for your possible violations of copyright law, stupid as it may be.
9. Feel free to include a short and relevant note on your page, e.g., about your location on the network, AIM name, band, radio show, whatever. As always, brief is beautiful.
10. It is to be considered deeply uncool to insist on exclusively even trades (3-for-3, 4-for-4, etc.). If a YRX member wants to borrow from you to expand his/her musical experience, he/she should be encouraged, not penalized for having a collection that is small or full of things that you are not interested in.
Wall of Shame:
No one yet. Don't be that guy.
Links of possible interest:
WYBC 1340 AM
WNHU 88.7 FM
New Plastic Music
Pitchfork Media
AllMusic
Aquarius Records
Metacritic
Playlouder
Email questions, comments, and album lists to rachel.wetts@yale.edu. Last modified on March 24, 2005.