Mastering for vinyl.
Vinyl has physical limits a digital master never runs into. I master specifically for vinyl and deliver files ready for your cutting engineer, so the record sounds as good as the files did.
The details
Why vinyl needs its own master
A digital master can be loud, wide and bright. On vinyl, too much low end width can make the stylus jump, harsh high frequencies distort, and very loud masters force shorter sides. A vinyl master deals with each of these before the record goes to the lathe.
What changes for vinyl
- Low end kept mono, so the groove stays stable
- Sibilance and harsh highs controlled, especially toward the inner groove
- Level set for the side length, not for streaming loudness
- Track order and side length checked, since longer sides cut quieter
From master to lathe
I don't cut lacquers myself. I master for vinyl and deliver to whichever cutting engineer or plant you're pressing with, so you keep your choice of cutting house and get a master built for the format.
Side length
The longer a side, the tighter the grooves have to be, which means less level and less low end. A common rule of thumb is to keep a 12 inch side at 33 rpm under roughly 18 minutes for full level and bass. Shorter is louder.
The full process is in the vinyl mastering process.
Questions
Where can I get vinyl mastering done in Germany?
Right here in Berlin. I master for vinyl for artists across Germany and abroad, in the studio or remotely, and deliver a vinyl ready master to your cutting engineer or pressing plant.
Do you cut the lacquers yourself?
No. I do the mastering, prepared specifically for vinyl, and deliver it to the cutting engineer or pressing plant you're working with. The cutting itself happens on their lathe.
Do I need a separate master for vinyl?
Usually, yes. A streaming master is often too loud and too wide in the low end for a clean cut.
Can vinyl be as loud as a digital master?
No, and it doesn't need to be. Records are played at whatever level the listener sets, so there's no loudness race to win.
How long can a side be?
As a rough guide, up to around 18 minutes on a 12 inch at 33 rpm before you start trading off level and bass. Tell me your tracklist and I'll check it.