SERVICES
Lacquer Cutting
The first step in making a vinyl record.
Send us your music, we take care of the rest.
The first step in making a vinyl record.
Send us your music, we take care of the rest.
Before we can press your records, we need to create lacquers, which is the first step in the vinyl pressing process here at Gold Rush Vinyl.
Lacquers are enamel-coated aluminum discs that are very specific to the vinyl pressing process. Each lacquer is carved on a machine called a lathe, which transforms the sound waves of your music into the grooves that eventually become your record, using a tiny diamond or ruby stylus needle.
Our cutting engineer will prepare a side A and side B lacquer for every record. This is an extremely unique process, and it still blows our minds that it's a process that's been used for over 100 years!
Our lacquer cutting process happens on site at Waterloo Sound, a division of our sister company, Waterloo Records. The lacquer cutting engineer, Ray, is also who reviews your test presses and makes sure your music is prepared to be reproduced on our pressing machines. Ray's been working in quality control at pressing plants for almost a decade before becoming a cutting engineer, so your records are in great hands.
Even if you choose to press your record elsewhere, Gold Rush Vinyl can handle this process of lacquer cutting for you so that you can focus on what really matters: releasing your music to fans.
Submit 24-bit WAV files mastered for vinyl. A vinyl master is not the same as a streaming master — it typically allows less compression and better playback. We do not master audio in-house, so your files should be professionally mastered for vinyl and ready for cutting before you upload them. Uneven levels, channel imbalance and sibilance have to be addressed in mastering; they cannot be fixed during pressing.
Submit a PQ or track list sheet with your audio showing which tracks are on each side and in what order. This tells the lacquer cutter where to place visual track markers, and we cannot begin cutting without it. Your mastering engineer can usually provide one.
For the best-sounding 12-inch record at 33 1/3 RPM, aim for 18 to 221 minutes per side, with 22 minutes as the maximum. Longer sides mean the grooves are cut closer together, which impacts volume and low end (and raises the risk of tracking issues). Sequencing matters too: place louder, more dynamic tracks toward the beginning of a side and quieter tracks toward the end.
Whether you're pressing at Gold Rush Vinyl or not, we can help with lacquers for your vinyl. Get in touch with our cutting engineers today.
