Getting some albums pressed on vinyl and need some tips

[walding]

Hi all, Been working on some albums of an post-rock experimental nature and I'm going to get a limited run pressed on vinyl, Thoughts on where to get it pressed that is decent quality and should I get it mastered then send the files or get it mastered in-house where I'm getting it pressed.


As always thanks for any advice

[OPP]

If you want a run under 150 some friends have got a bunch of stuff pressed through here and it's all been pretty decent.
https://www.mobineko.com/short-run-vinyl/
I suspect they're an agent for GZ.
Records were fine - in the past the sleeves have been a little crappy quality.

Def get your mastering guy to do a vinyl master while he's at it - don't leave that to the plant

[wez]

And whatever you do, make sure it's a mastering guy, not a record/mix/master guy. There's a bit more to preparing a vinyl master than just making it quieter - you want someone who's done plenty of vinyl and knows the process.

Rick is of course one of those guys, as is Adam Dempsey here in Melbourne.

[waitup]

Ehem, unless of course the record/mix/master guy successfuly makes vinyl masters all the time, has the tools to do so and knows what they're doing...

And whatever you do, make sure it's a mastering guy, not a record/mix/master guy. There's a bit more to preparing a vinyl master than just making it quieter - you want someone who's done plenty of vinyl and knows the process.

Rick is of course one of those guys, as is Adam Dempsey here in Melbourne.

[a.beck]

100%. Vinyl mastering (and pressing) isn't, despite what a lot of "proper mastering guys" will tell you, the arcane art it maybe once was. There are few things to be aware of, but it's a pretty straightforward undertaking.

Ehem, unless of course the record/mix/master guy successfuly makes vinyl masters all the time, has the tools to do so and knows what they're doing...

And whatever you do, make sure it's a mastering guy, not a record/mix/master guy. There's a bit more to preparing a vinyl master than just making it quieter - you want someone who's done plenty of vinyl and knows the process.

Rick is of course one of those guys, as is Adam Dempsey here in Melbourne.

[wez]

Arcane? Sure, insofar as there are few "mysteries" anymore. But demystification is not knowledge, and knowledge is not experience.

I'm pretty sure it's the same "art" as it's always been. I suspect it's our standards that have changed. Many people just want to "do vinyl" - they don't actually care that much about the sonic result, just as long as it looks good on the merch stand.

Ehem, unless of course the record/mix/master guy successfuly makes vinyl masters all the time, has the tools to do so and knows what they're doing...

Exactly as I said... someone who's done it a lot and knows what they are doing. But I'm wary of the multitude of jack-of-all-trades types desperate to cling on to a client for as much of the process as they can, even when it's not in the client's best interest. Genuine audio polymaths are a very rare breed. Those who "specialise" in everything are - by definition - not specialists. And I stand by my assertion that mastering for vinyl is a specialist skill, whilst acknowledging that not everyone has the same standards or expectations.

It's very easy to know a few things, and not too hard to work out what you don't know. It's what you don't know you don't know that will trip you up.

[Chris H]

The jack of all trades attitude is getting bad in the workplace of production. Any day on the ABC you will hear news interviews where there is no HPF on the remote interview audio and on a full range playback system is full of low end rumble.
I'm thinking with the cutbacks they tell journalists to do their own audio processing on the computer after a short audio course! Just one of many examples. I've encountered several in my workplace, enough to be looking for another job!

[walding]

If you want a run under 150 some friends have got a bunch of stuff pressed through here and it's all been pretty decent.
https://www.mobineko.com/short-run-vinyl/
I suspect they're an agent for GZ.
Records were fine - in the past the sleeves have been a little crappy quality.

Def get your mastering guy to do a vinyl master while he's at it - don't leave that to the plant

Great Info and thanks.

[walding]

Thanks to all that have posted, Yea I was always going to get it mastered locally but just needed to hear others thoughts on the matter.

Any other suggestions for larger runs say in the 300 range?

Thanks

[OPP]

Any other suggestions for larger runs say in the 300 range?

Thanks

WIth the exchange rate not so hot Zenith in Melbourne's been a pretty viable option. Just make sure you get a test pressing