Press vinyl
Introduction
CDs are great but vinyl really is the one.
It's not cheap and not many places do it but this section gives you the basics on pressing vinyl.
Read on for:
Acetates
Costs
Limits of what you can cut
Test pressings
If you're getting records mass produced, you may need a license from the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS). Have a look at Radio 1's OneMusic for more on how it affects you.
"I'd advise anyone to go to a reputable plant or agent, not just the cheapest option as it could cost you more in the long run."
Tony Wybrow
Director
Planet Phat Productions
Acetates
An acetate is a one-off disk which is playable on a turntable.
Any company which can master vinyl can also cut acetates. The equipment and process is the same.
You can find your local vinyl duplication company by looking in a music directory (see list) or by having a look through the 'Yellow Pages' or the classified ads of music magazines.
Acetates are softer than vinyl so they're only good for about 50 plays or so before the sound on them decays noticeably.
But if you want to test your track in a club or on a pirate station, they're something a deejay can drop into a mix.
They cost £30-£60 per dub depending on the cutting house you use.
You may have to pay additional costs if you have any mastering done to your music in the studio before the engineer commits your tune to the dubplate.
Dub plates are often a cheap way for producers and urban artists to test the dance floor reaction to a new track they're working on or to try out experimental ideas that won't always make it onto the "finished" vinyl.
"Dubplates or acetates are the cheapest way to a tune played on a turntable."
Tony Wybrow
Director
Planet Phat Productions
Vinyl Costs
There's a high start-up cost with vinyl, because you need to make a metal mould from which to produce the disks.
At the moment, 300 double-sided, white label 12s in plain black sleeves will cost you around £600 to produce from a DAT or CD master.
Add more if you want artwork on the label or sleeve.
Many duplication companies will arrange the whole process for you, including artwork if you want it.
At this point, it's usually a good idea to get on some message boards and see if anyone can recommend a good mastering house and/or pressing plant for your disks.
You may even find that it's cheaper to go abroad.
Limits
Vinyl works by wobbling the needle of your turntable from side to side as it tracks around the groove.
For loud passages, the groove needs to move from side to side a lot. This is what limits the loudness of a record.
If you try and wobble the groove too much, it runs into its neighbours. This is known as an 'intercut' and means that the record will be unplayable.
"If you're doing dub or garage, you'll want loads of bass. But if you put too much on, it limits how loud you can cut the disk. That means that the other parts of the music - vocals or whatever - will sound too quiet, so you have to tune some of the bass out to bring them up again."
Ray Staff
Mastering Engineer
Sony Music
Test Pressings
Before the main pressing starts, a short run of test pressings (TPs) is done and sent to the person who ordered the records to check for sound quality.
You can ask for more if you like.
Some people use TPs as promotional copies but it's not necessarily too wise.
If the TPs aren't playable, your promotional schedule goes out of the window.
On the other hand, if your TPs are no good, it can mean that you need to re-cut the lacquers so all your release plans are going to end up in tatters anyway.
"Test Presses are used to check that the mastering engineer has done his job properly and that everything sounds fine before the main run is pressed."
Tony Wybrow
Director
Planet Phat Productions
More... from How to...
Use distributors
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/distribution/distributorsp01.shtml
Approach the media
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/mediap01.shtml
Send out white labels/demos
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/whitep01.shtml
Promote your releases
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/promotep01.shtml
More... from the web
Radio 1 OneMusic: MCPS
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/management/mcpsownp01.shtml
Music Directories...
The Unsigned Guide
Although concentrating on North West England, this directory contains extensive national listings for record companies, publishing companies, venues, management, media and training. It's priced at £30 and tailored towards unsigned artists.
It can be ordered online from:
www.theunsignedguide.com
Or by calling 0161 907 0029
Music Industry Manual
Specialising in dance music and DJing, this directory lists nightclub venues, equipment, labels, shops, distributors, promotors studios and more. It covers the UK and international. It is the bible for DJs and dance producers.
It costs £45 from:
www.musicindustrymanual.net
Music Week Directory
Music Week is the trade publication for the UK Music Industry. Each year it publishes a directory listing thousands of useful contacts in every area of the business. It's free to subscribers, so your local library may have a copy.
It costs £55 and can be ordered online at:
www.subscription.co.uk/products/mwdir
Or by calling 01858 438893
Showcase International Music Book
This is a phone directory for the music industry, listing thousands of record, publishing and other companies. You may find that your library has a copy.
Or buy it for £55 from:
www.showcase-music.com/order.htm
Phone: 020 8977 7711
E-mail: orders@showcase-music.com
(c) BBC 1Xtra 1XMusic 2006