What you should know about lathe cut records?

AT NY LATHECUTS - RECORDCUT.COM

Before cutting can begin, the audio needs to be mastered specifically for vinyl records. Mastering for vinyl involves making adjustments to the audio to ensure it doesn't have excessive high frequencies. This  includes equalization to prevent excessive highs, bass which can cause the needle to skip, and using a limiter to ensure the audio doesn't distort when played back.

The cutting process for pressed vinyl:

1. Lacquer Preparation: A blank lacquer disc, usually made of aluminum coated with a layer of lacquer, is placed on a turntable.
2. Cutting Lathe: A cutting lathe is used to cut the audio grooves into the lacquer. This lathe is equipped with a cutting head that holds a stylus, usually made from sapphire or diamond, which vibrates in response to the audio signal.
3. Making Grooves: As the turntable spins the lacquer, the cutting head moves across the surface. The vibrating stylus cuts grooves on the lacquer, vibrating the stylus based on the audio signal. These grooves contain all the audio needed to reproduce the sound when played back.
4. Process: This process is continuous and happens in real-time as the audio signal is fed to the cutting head. The entire side of a record is cut in one pass.

There are two main types of record cutting:

1. Lathe-Cutting: This method involves cutting individual blank discs, often done for small runs or custom records. Each record is cut one at a time, but is time-consuming. This is the best way to make your own vinyl record if you only need one or a few copies, here at NY LATHE CUTS  we specialize in 7 inch custom lathe cut records, with my experience for over 50 years cutting lacquers!
2. Pressing: For larger production runs, the lacquer master is used to make metal stampers. These stampers are then used in a pressing plant to mass-produce records.

After the grooves are cut, the lacquer master undergoes several additional steps if it’s being used for pressing records:

1. Electroplating: The lacquer is electroplated to make a metal negative, known as the father, which can be used to make multiple positive molds (mothers) and then multiple stampers.
2. Pressing: These stampers are then used to press the grooves on vinyl that is heated and molded for the final vinyl records.

The difference between lathe-cutting and pressed records is the methods used to create the grooves that store the audio information. Here's a detailed comparison:

Process:

• Individual Cutting: Each record is cut one at a time. A stylus (typically diamond or sapphire) vibrates in response to an audio signal, carving or embossing grooves directly into a blank vinyl disc or materials like polycarbonate.
• Real-Time: The audio is played in real-time as the lathe cuts the grooves into the disc.

Advantages:

• Customization: Each record can be highly customized with unique track lists, special messages, ect..
• Small Runs: Ideal for producing small quantities, even a single copy, without the need for expensive setup processes.
• Quick Turnaround: Faster to produce since there’s no need to create and prepare stampers.

Disadvantages:

• Sound Quality: People have often said "they are lower fidelity compared to pressed records", that was in 2015, today with my embossing process this is NOT true anymore, they often said "they may have more surface noise and inconsistencies because the process is manual and can vary from record to record", not at all, with our semi automated Scully lathe every record is identical.
• Durability:  especially those made from materials other than traditional vinyl, they have said, "might be less durable", NOT true, polycarbonate is as durable and not prone to wear and warping over time.
• Cost per Unit: More expensive per unit when producing larger quantities compared to pressed records.

Advantages:

• Sound Quality Pressed Vinyl: Generally higher fidelity with more consistent sound across all copies. Pressed records have less surface noise depending the quality of the vinyl used such as re-cycled vinyl.
• Economies of Scale: Cost-effective for large runs. The initial setup cost is high, but the cost per unit decreases significantly with higher quantities.

Disadvantages:

• Setup Cost: High initial costs for creating stampers and setting up the pressing process make it impractical for small runs.
• Turnaround Time: Typically takes months to produce due to the complexity of the setup and the potential for bottlenecks in the pressing plant.
• Less Customization: While still customization in terms of artwork and labels, every copy in a pressing run will be identical.