Lacquer Cutting

Lacquer cutting is a critical step in the vinyl record manufacturing process where the audio is physically transferred onto a lacquer-coated aluminum disc, creating the master from which all vinyl records are eventually produced. This process is also known as cutting a master or mastering for vinyl.

How Lacquer Cutting Works:

Preparation of the Audio Master
- The audio is carefully mastered specifically for vinyl to ensure optimal playback quality. Vinyl mastering takes into account the format’s limitations, such as frequency response, stereo imaging, and groove spacing.
Cutting the Lacquer Disc
- A lathe cutting machine (such as a Neumann VMS 70 or a Scully lathe) is used to engrave the audio signal into the lacquer disc.
- A cutting stylus, typically made of sapphire or ruby, vibrates in response to the audio signal, carving microscopic grooves into the soft lacquer surface.
Adjusting for Vinyl-Specific Factors
- Engineers adjust for groove spacing, ensuring that louder sections don’t cause grooves to overlap.
- High frequencies are controlled to avoid distortion.
- Bass frequencies may be summed to mono to prevent excessive lateral groove movement, which could cause tracking issues on turntables.
Quality Check
- The freshly cut lacquer disc is inspected for defects or inconsistencies.
- Test playback may be performed using a reference turntable.
Plating & Stamper Creation
- The lacquer disc is then sent to an electroplating facility, where it undergoes a process to create metal stampers that will be used to press the final vinyl records.

Why Lacquer Cutting Matters

It directly impacts the sound quality of the final record.
A skilled lacquer-cutting engineer ensures that the music is cut in a way that translates well to vinyl, preserving dynamic range and warmth.
Any errors at this stage (e.g., groove misalignment, distortion) will carry over to every vinyl copy pressed from the stamper.

Metal Work

The process of producing the stampers required for pressing vinyl records involves several steps via either the newer DMM or older lacquer processing technologies. The final result of the two technologies is the stamper, which is formed and prepared for pressing.

DMM Plates Processing

DMM (Direct Metal Mastering) technology founded by the German company Teldec. This technology involves the production of steel plates which are coated by a layer of copper through a special galvanic process. The advantage of manufacturing our own copper plates is the possibility to control their quality and adapt the number of plates produced according to the pressing requirements. After cutting the audio grooves into the copper layer (see page Mastering) and engraving them with information necessary for identification, the plates are then immersed as a cathode in an electroforming bath. An electric current flowing throughout the bath from the nickel anode to the cathode creates a deposit of nickel atoms onto the copper layer. We then get a mirrored image (negative) of the plate after separating the accrued nickel layer, therefore yielding an unformed stamper. DMM technology allows for several sonically accurate stampers to be directly produced from 1 DMM plate.

Lacquers Processing

The traditional technology of pressing records from lacquers typically requires a triple electroforming process – which is complicated and expensive. The lacquers are silvered and act as a cathode immersed in an electroforming bath. An electric current flowing throughout the bath from the nickel anode to the cathode creates a separable layer of metallic nickel called the father, which is a mirror image of the lacquer. Another electroforming process is needed using the father to create a second nickel layer – which is called the mother. The mother is the positive and can reproduce the sound in the grooves. It is therefore possible to play the mother on a turntable to check the quality after the electroforming process. In the third process, the mother is used to produce a nickel stamper. The father and mother may be used for making new stampers again, but the original lacquer can only be processed once.

Preparation of Stampers

An unformed stamper is the result of the electroforming process after either of the technologies (DMM or lacquer) implemented. After the stamper is produced, it is necessary to prepare it for the pressing machines. This process is carried out in several steps. The back side of the stamper is grinded and smoothed. Afterwards, it needs to be precisely centred (according to the sound grooves) before the central hole is cut. The edges of the stamper are trimmed and the area around central hole is resurfaced. Afterwards, the edges of the stamper are formed and adapted for mounting on to the pressing moulds.

Pressing

Vinyl record pressing is the stage in vinyl manufacturing where the final records are physically produced using high-pressure hydraulic presses. This process involves transforming raw vinyl pellets into high-quality records that capture the warmth and authenticity of analog sound.

The Pressing Process:

Vinyl Pellet Preparation
- The process begins with raw polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pellets, which are melted down and formed into a puck-like shape called a biscuit or puck.
- Colored vinyl or custom blends can be used for unique aesthetics.
Placing the Biscuit in the Press
- The biscuit is placed between two metal stampers, which contain the inverse grooves of the record (created from the original lacquer master through electroplating).
- Labels are added to both sides of the biscuit before pressing.
High-Pressure Pressing
- A hydraulic press applies extreme heat (around 300°F) and pressure to flatten the biscuit, imprinting the grooves from the stampers into the vinyl.
- The excess vinyl is trimmed off the edges, ensuring a clean, round record.
Cooling and Hardening
- The newly pressed record is cooled using water or air to solidify the grooves and prevent warping.
Quality Control & Finishing
- Each record undergoes visual and audio inspection to check for defects like warping, surface noise, or skips.
- Test pressings are often created to confirm audio quality before mass production.
Final Packaging
- Once approved, records are sleeved, jacketed, shrink-wrapped (if required), and prepared for distribution.

Why Pressing Quality Matters

Precise pressing ensures groove integrity, reducing skips and unwanted noise.
Proper cooling and trimming prevent warping and off-center holes that affect playback.
High-quality PVC and precision pressing result in a record that sounds as warm and dynamic as the original master.

FAQ's

We understand the intricate world of vinyl production can sometimes leave you scratching your head. Fear not! Here are some FAQs covering everything from our products to our ordering process. If your query isn’t covered here, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help!

How do I place an order?

Looking for a quote, or have an order ready to rock’n’roll? Tap here

What product options do you offer?

Dig deeper into our vinyl offerings at our Vinyl Records, and Deluxe Packaging pages.

How accurate are quotes?

While our quotes are pretty spot-on, they don’t cover shipping, production tolerance, or taxes. We’ll nail down those specifics with you at the end of the ordering process.

What is the production tolerance?

Due to the nature of vinyl production, there’s a variance of +/- 10% in materials. So, you might receive slightly more or fewer records than what you ordered. If you get less, you’ll be reimbursed; if you get more, we’ll send an additional invoice. Please be sure and speak to your customer service representative for more details.

How do I pay for my order?

You’ve got options for payment: we can shoot you a PayPal invoice, or you can ring us up and pay by credit card.
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Prefer the old-school route? We gladly accept checks mailed to:
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Memphis Record Pressing
3015 Brother Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38133

Just remember, unless we’ve made special arrangements beforehand, full payment is due before we kickstart the vinyl-making magic.

How do i submit my artwork?

Once you’ve hashed out the details with your friendly customer service rep, it’s time to send in your art files via email. Please send us your art files via a file-sharing service such as Dropbox, Hightail, WeTransfer, etc. We also accept transfers via FTP, so please reach out to your customer service rep for that info. Before we kickstart the printing process, you’ll get proofs of your art files to double-check.

For tips on file prep, head over to our Art File Prep page. Need a deeper dive? Check out our Advanced File Prep here.

How do I submit my audio files?

Once your order is all squared away with your customer service rep (CSR), please send us your audio files via a file-sharing service such as Dropbox, Hightail, WeTransfer, etc. We also accept transfers via FTP, so please reach out to your customer service rep for that info. Note that the preferred format for audio files is high-resolution WAV, which can often be pretty large files, and thus unsuitable for email.

For handy tips on file prep, hop over to our Audio File Prep page.

Do you issue UPC barcodes?

Absolutely! For just $35, we can hook you up with a custom barcode for your project. Just give us a heads-up if you need a UPC when placing your order.

Can i re-order?

Certainly! You’re welcome to reorder as frequently as necessary. Plus, the turnaround time tends to be turbocharged, thanks to MRP maintaining the audio and art for your project on file.

When licensing samples, what do I need to do?

For MRP to move forward, a paper trail via an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) form is paramount. This document demonstrates your authority to produce licensed content. MRP mandates this IPR form to maintain the sanctity of copyright materials and other intellectual property rights. Access the form here. It’s the verifiable voucher of your recording ownership; without it, MRP’s presses remain paused.

How much music can I fit on a 12`` record?

Heed this advice: stick to 22 minutes per side for a 33 ⅓ RPM record, and for 12” LPs spinning at 45 RPM, cap it at 16 minutes per side. We suggest you place your most powerful tracks upfront on each side. Remember, as the vinyl diameter shrinks towards the center, playback quality declines. For more information, head over to the Audio File Prep page.

Are there any minimums?

Given the intricate process of vinyl pressing, MRP kindly requests a minimum order quantity of 300 records. However, we now offer a special program called “Short-Run” where we can press as little as 100 records. CLICK HERE to learn more about short-run vinyl pressing.

Why do you have a lacquer mastering process when I already had the audio mastered?

Audio mastering and lacquer mastering are two different processes. It’s imperative your audio is expertly mastered specifically for vinyl and meets your satisfaction before forwarding the files to MRP. Once MRP has your audio files, we “cut” a lacquer master that is then processed through a series of steps to prepare it for manufacturing. For more information about this process, please check out our Vinyl 101 page.

What is the matrix number and catalog number?

The ‘matrix’ (or catalog) number is a unique identification number that is etched into the inner ‘matrix’ area of the record. This number is normally assigned by the person placing the order, and identifies the audio for any given record according to the customer’s organizational system. When it comes time to press the records, MRP etches the matrix/catalog number in the blank space between the label and the audio grooves (the ‘matrix’ area). This number is then pressed into every subsequent record, allowing for easy identification.

How will my records be shipped?

MRP’s got your back when it comes to getting your records to your distributor. And hey, if you need them sent somewhere else too, no sweat, we can handle that. We take extra care to double-box your records for a smooth ride. Usually, about 25 single-jacket LPs cozy up in one box, but that number varies. We like to roll with FedEx, but if you’ve got a different carrier in mind, just submit a request with your customer service rep!

Will you store my products?

MRP’s in high gear, hustling to get vinyl records from a bunch of labels and musicians into the hands of eager fans pronto. Our warehouse is always buzzing and filled to the brim, leaving zero space for storage.

Do you ship internationally?

Sure thing! If your distributor is based internationally, we’ll ship your records straight to them without any hassle.

How Vinyl Records Are Made