- Do you still make records?
- What is your turn-around time?
- Why do all components for my job need to be at RTI before you will schedule the record to press?
- Is a lacquer master necessary?
- Do you have package deals?
- Why do I need extra stampers, above and beyond those that are included in the two or three step processing charges to complete my order?
- My record sounds like it is distorted, especially on the "S" sounds in the vocals and the high-hat of the cymbals. This was not on my master tape. What is this and what can I do about it?
- Why don't my records sound as loud as my CDs and DAT master?
- I have a question about my test pressing and would like RTI to check it out. How do I tell you where to look / listen?
- How much music can I get onto an LP?
- What is the difference between 2-step and 3-step processing?
- What can I do to prepare my master tapes for vinyl mastering?
- I'd like to press just a few records. Can I do that?
We know that making Vinyl Records can be a very complicated experience. We want to do whatever we can to make your experience as easy as possible. So, we asked a few of our key personnel for their answers to some of the questions that we hear most often.
Please
contact us for any questions you may have.Our #1 Most Frequently asked question is:
Do you still
make records?
The answer is a resounding, YES !!!
What is your turn-around
time?
Approximately 15 working days from receipt
of all components. Components include a test approval, labels,
jackets, stickers, inserts, etc. Whatever is required to compete
your order. We have a first come, first served philosophy, but we
try very hard to work with our customers and to meet their
needs.
Why do all components for my job need to be at
RTI before you will schedule the record to
press?
It is critical for the efficiency of the
packaging department that records get packaged within 24 hours of
being pressed. If components are not available, the flow of
operations is interrupted and your records are exposed to additional
hazards, such as dust. We cannot rely 100 % that components will be
here on a certain date, so we do not schedule the pressing until we
are in full receipt of everything needed for your order.
Is a lacquer master
necessary?
Absolutely. A lacquer is an aluminum-based
disc, covered with a plastic material that is cut by an engineer
from your master tapes. It is the medium by which your music is
transferred to disc to produce metal parts, which produces
phonograph records. It is a vital part of record pressing.
Do you have package deals?
No. We outline all individual prices so that
the customer knows that there are no hidden charges. We customize
your order to meet your needs, and you are billed for only those
services and materials that you specifically require. We want to
gain you as a customer who is looking for a quality product with
top-notch service. We do not want to attract your attention with
loud, attention-grabbing supermarket sales prices. We do not play
that way.
Why do I need extra stampers, above and beyond
those that are included in the two or three step processing charges
to complete my order?
Pressing vinyl records over and over again
is hard on metal stampers. Causing them to wear out, split, become
scratched, etc. For a regular weight LP, we can press approximately
1000 records per set of stampers before we start to lose sound
quality. For HQ-180 records, the general rule of thumb is one set of
stamper per 500 records, due to the longer cycle time and added
pressure needed to make the thicker record. Therefore, if you have
larger orders, more stampers are needed to complete that order with
the highest quality surface integrity. For instance, no one wants an
LP from a stamper where the grooves have been damaged due to
overuse.
My record sounds like it is distorted,
especially on the "S" sounds in the vocals and the
high-hat of the cymbals. This was not on my master tape. What is
this and what can I do about it?
This distortion on the "S" sound
is called sibilance. Some of these hottest and most dynamic sounds
cannot be translated directly to vinyl without compression. See
Producing Great
Sounding Phonograph Records for a complete explanation.
Why don't my records sound as loud as my
CDs and DAT master?
Digital levels do not bare any relationship
to analog levels. We're talking apples and oranges here. The
analog output level of a CD player or DAT deck can be anything the
manufacturer wants it to be, but it is generally higher than a phono
preamp output. There are two reasons for this. First the digital
equipment manufacturers want CDs and DATs to sound
better ( translate Louder) than records. If the DAT or CD has fairly
wide dynamic range, a record can be as loud. See a complete
explanation in Kevin Gray's article Producing Great
Sounding Phonograph Records.
I have a question
about my test pressing and would like RTI to check it out. How do I
tell you where to look / listen?
Please be as specific as possible about the
problem. If it is only a noise, the best way to pinpoint it is to
time it from the beginning of the track. If it is visual, what we do
is to hold the record so that the side designation of the matrix
number scribing in the lead out is pointing straight up - 12
o'clock. From there it is easy to communicate to us where a problem
area is. For instance, " one half inch into band 3 at 9
o'clock" would be a great description with very little guess
work.
How much music can I get onto an
LP?
The amount of music that can be cut onto a
12" lacquer is a function of the level and the compression /
equalization. Again, see Producing Great Sounding Phonograph Records for a
more complete explanation.
Speed (RPM) |
Optimum Time |
Recommended Maximum Time* |
45 |
10 minutes |
12 minutes |
33 1/3 |
16 to 18 minutes |
24 minutes |
45 (Dance Levels) |
6 to 8 minutes |
9 minutes |
33 1/3 (Dance Levels) |
8 to 10 minutes |
12 minutes |
* longer times may require compromise in level and/or equalization.
What is the difference between 2-step and 3-step
processing?
In
both cases, 2-step and 3-step start with a lacquer:
For
2-step processing, the lacquer is silvered, pre-plated at low
temperature, then moved to a rotary tank to complete the plating
cycle. The 2-step nickel master must meet stringent weight and taper
guidelines to be used for pressing. After making the 2-step nickel
master, the master is used to make a mother. The mother, once
approved, can then be used for subsequent stampers, if needed. After
the mother is approved, the nickel master can then be converted into
a stamper. 2-step is usually for small LP quantities.
3-step
processing is usually for large LP quantities and/or high quality,
such as HQ-180. The lacquer is silvered and pre-plated at low
temperature/low amperage, but instead of being moved to the rotary
tank the lacquer is left to plate at low temperature/low amperage
for about 14 hours before reaching the desired thickness. The nickel
master is then used to make a mother, which is then used to make
stampers for test and/or production.
The
major quality difference between 2 and 3-step processing is the
3-step lacquer is not exposed to the higher plating bath
temperature/higher plating amperage that comes with being plated in
a rotary tank.
I'd
like to press just a few records. Can I do that?
Thanks for the inquiry and I'm sure that we can do what you need, but.......
First you need to be sure you have the legal rights to the music you want to duplicate. You also need to understand a little bit about the process.
To make a record you need to cut 2 lacquers (one for each side, about $200 each). Then you need to make mothers and stampers from them ($97.00 each side). At this point you would get a test pressing ($50.00 for 5 copies, addition copies with our test pressing or blank labels are charged at $1.50 each). That would be a total of
$644.00 for 5 records. Then, if you wanted your own printed labels on the records that is another expense. Also, printed jackets can be costly, although plain black or white jackets with or without a center hole are often used. A custom printed sticker on the jacket can be added for a minimal cost. All that is in addition to the
$.84 each you would pay per record (the price does drop for higher quantities. I know this doesn't seem to make it worthwhile to press a small quantity, but the good thing is that you only have to have it mastered once, stampers usually last for 1000 or so pressings and are only $49.00 each after you've had the initial (2-step or 3-step) processing done. If you decide we can help, we are here.
Viva la vinyl!
02/05/02