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LATHE CUT VINYL RECODS - CUSTOM VINYL CUTTING SERVICES
We offer custom lathe cut vinyl records that are diamond embossed using our Westrex stereo cutter head, no minimum 2 days.
The Best Sounding Custom Hi-Fi Vinyl Records No Minimums
I specialize in creating high-quality custom lathe cut vinyl records, specifically 7" polycarbonate versions. To achieve sound quality that rivals traditional lacquer dubplates, I develop unique sapphire embossing styli. My journey began in 1972 with Walter Gibbons, where I started cutting lacquers before the era of polycarbonate records; at that time, I was crafting lacquer acetate discs. Today, my lathe cut records feature my exclusive diamond stylus. Although my cutting system operates in stereo, it’s essential to note that these embossed polycarbonate records must be recorded in mono to minimize playback tracking errors. However, if cut in stereo, they will still play back in mono. This highlights the nuanced differences when considering lathe cut vs pressed vinyl.
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THE BEST SOUNDING CUSTOM LATHE CUT VINYL RECORDS
Since 2 years ago, All Our Custom Lathe Cut Vinyl Are Diamond Embossed.
What is a lathe cut vinyl record?
Pressed vinyl records are mass-produced. In contrast, lathe cut records are crafted from clear or black polycarbonate plastic and are individually cut one at a time. Pressed vinyl records, on the other hand, are created using hydraulic presses with two heated nickel metal stampers.
What is lathe record cutting?
Lathe record cutting involves using a lathe to carve grooves on a lacquer-coated disc for producing vinyl records, specifically LPs. They are then pressed from soft vinyl between two steam-heated nickel stampers.
Lacquer Acetate Disc:
The aluminum lacquer-coated discs are produced one at a time using stereo or mono cutting methods. This technique has been a long-standing approach for creating lacquer masters, which are subsequently transformed into metal stampers for vinyl pressing.
Dubplate one-offs 7" inch 45 vinyl records:
These are recorded or cut one at a time on the same lathe used for creating lacquer masters that will eventually become metal stampers.
Pressing plants require minimums of 200 plus:
Each custom lathe cut vinyl record is crafted in real-time with a sapphire embossing stylus mounted on our Scully stereo cutting lathe. Each record undergoes strict inspection, and with over 50 years of experience, I ensure you receive the best sounding record every time.
How do they sound:
The sound reproduction from lathe cut vinyl records is comparable to Hi-Fi pressed mono vinyl records, thanks to my exclusive sapphire embossing stylus. However, if the embossed recorded level is set similarly to that of pressed vinyl and acetates, skipping may occur!
Vinyl And Polycarbonate:
These materials are quite different and should not be confused.
Records embossed with a sapphire cone stylus:
My embossed lathe cut records feature silent grooves, devoid of background noise, delivering a full frequency range from 20Hz to 14kHz. High frequencies between 15kHz and 20kHz may be filtered out depending on the music provided.
Never A Setup Fee For Custom Lathe Cut Vinyl 45 Records:
Each custom lathe cut record starts as a square and is meticulously trimmed into a 7-inch disc post-recording. Some choose to use round blanks for convenience, resulting in a higher cost per disc. I manufacture my own blanks and sapphire embossing styli, passing the savings on to you.
Lathe Cut Vs Pressed Vinyl:
While many refer to my products as vinyl pressings, they are actually embossed records. Unlike pressed vinyl, which is made with two hot, steam-heated metal stampers in a hydraulic pressing machine, I specialize in embossing 7-inch discs from clear or black polycarbonate plastic.
12" inch LP's:
Due to economic factors and the time involved in production, I do not stock 12" blanks. Instead, my focus is on the more practical 7-inch records, particularly lathe cut vinyls.
12" inch lathe cut vinyl records:
I'm generally RELUCTANT to produce these, as audio files may have varying EQ or vocal sibilance issues. Creating a 12-inch record requires careful listening of all audio files before adjusting levels and lines per inch for the cutting lathe. Additionally, I do not stock sleeves or covers for these records. A 12-inch record must be cut from a large 4' x 8' sheet of polycarbonate, then trimmed to 13.5-inch squares, and finally shaped into a round disc after recording.
Lathe Cut Pros:
These records are less expensive than lacquer or diamond cuts, offering excellent audio quality around 20Hz-14kHz, low surface noise at -40dB, and silent grooves. They are suitable for jazz and classical music and ideal for one-off short runs.
Lathe Cut Record Cons:
Please note that embossed short-run lathe cut records must be recorded in mono, and not stereo. They won't be as loud as a 45 vinyl record; otherwise, they may skip if recorded louder or in stereo. Embossed records are not recommended for DJ use or scratching, as they can be tricky to cue and will not play backward. A worn-out stylus may also cause skipping.
Lacquer & Diamond Cuts - Pros:
These cuts offer stable groove tracking, excellent audio quality, louder cuts, good stereo separation, and lower surface noise at -65dB, making them capable of being cued and played backward. However, lacquer discs are manufactured only in Japan and are significantly more expensive.
Jukeboxes:
I advise against playing embossed records in a jukebox, as they may not function correctly.
Scully Machine Company:
Most Scully lathes used for this purpose were produced before 1960. These machines played a vital role in manufacturing processes for vinyl records, cutting lacquer master discs that were electroplated to create the metal stampers used by pressing plants.
The Difference Between Plexi, Polycarbonate And Lacquer Acetate:
Polycarbonate plastic is not to be mistaken for Plexi Glass. Plexi cannot be cut or embossed with a sapphire or diamond stylus. In contrast, lacquer discs can only be cut with a sapphire stylus; they cannot be embossed.
Can stereo lathe cut vinyl be played in stereo or mono:
Lacquer processed with a stereo cutter head will yield great stereo playback. However, embossing polycarbonate records with a stereo cutter head will result in MONO playback with minimal stereo separation, risking skipping during playback.
De-Essing:
Sibilant vocal tracks require de-essing to reduce or eliminate excessive highs resulting from sibilant consonants (like 's' and 'sh') during recording. This is especially crucial for human voice recordings.
Recommended cartridges:
Stanton, Audio-Technica, Shure, ADC, Ortofon, etc. Experiment with different turntables if you encounter skipping issues, ensuring you set the anti-skating for optimal results. Lower-end turntables like Crosley may not work effectively with embossed records.
A magnetic cartridge is preferable. Records recorded at louder levels are inclined to skip more. Ensure playback stylus pressure does not exceed 3.5 grams.
There is a trade-off - Your Choice:
LOUDER CUT @ +4 dB level, standard for 45's - this carries a risk of SKIPPING; NORMAL @ "0" dB NAB standard reference level @ 1Khz, 7cm per second – no skipping risk.
If your record skips, try different turntables. NO DO OVERS and no refunds. Records exceeding 4 minutes in length at 45 RPM may skip during playback, so I might reduce the audio level to mitigate this or use 33 RPM instead.
Sending Audio:
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Two Audio Files Per Order Only!
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Not Accepting Orders 5 Days Before a Major Holiday.
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Never A Set Up Fee - Place You Order When Ready - Send 2 Audio Files Per Order Only
33 RPM EP Lathe Cuts
Clear Lathe Cuts Both Sides Small And Large Hole
Lathe Cuts Shipped In Clear Poly Sleeves
7" Lathe Cuts Large Hole Limit 2 - Clerar Or Black
All Record Cutting Done On Our Scully Lathe
Scully Lathe, a custom lathe built by Bridgeport Machine Co. in 1957, has played a significant role in the production of lathe cut vinyl records, showcasing the difference between lathe cut vs pressed vinyl.
Embossing Styli For Polycarbonate Blanks
For the past 10 years, I've been manufacturing 'The Sapphire Embossing Stylus,' which is sold exclusively through: https://www.recordlatheparts.com/collections/styli. Two years ago, I designed a DIAMOND embossing stylus that I now use for my work, producing lathe cut records with high audio quality. This custom lathe cut vinyl technology allows me to create lathe cut vinyl records that stand out, especially when comparing lathe cut vs pressed vinyl.
Sapphire Embossing Styli