Eli5: What is the crackling/popping sound you hear in old music and what causes it?

Question

Eli5: What is the crackling/popping sound you hear in old music and what causes it?

In: Technology

Answer 1

Scratches and other defects in the record. The record needle is hitting a scratch. I remember my parents telling me to make sure and pick up the needle and not drag it on the record. They are easy to damage.