Lacquer Mastering
"Lacquer mastering" refers to the process of cutting the grooves onto a specialized aluminum disc coated with a lacquer material, essentially creating a physical "master" that is then used to produce the metal stampers needed to press the final vinyl records; it's a crucial step in vinyl production where the audio signal is translated into physical grooves on the lacquer disc, allowing for the creation of multiple copies of the record.
The Mastering process for Digital audio files and Vinyl audio files are different. The key difference between mastering for vinyl and digital formats lies in the physical limitations of the vinyl medium, requiring a focus on managing dynamic range, reducing extreme low and high frequencies, and prioritizing overall level consistency across the record, while a digital master can be pushed harder with more dynamic compression and wider frequency response due to its lack of physical constraints. At Smith Hill Mastering we use the Mid-Side mastering technique when mastering audio files for vinyl, as it allows us to precisely manipulate the stereo image by separately adjusting the center (mid) and side information, which can be particularly useful for enhancing the width and clarity of a mix while maintaining focus on the central elements like vocals and bass.
Plating Options: (in drop down menu)
1. One Step Plating (220.00)
2. Two Step Plating (280.00)
One-step plating
The first metal part is used as the stamper
If the stamper is damaged, a new lacquer cut is required to make a new stamper
This method is rarely used because it can result in audio loss and noisy records
Two-step plating
The first metal part is re-plated to create a mother, which is then used to create the stamper
The mother can be used to create additional stampers
However, if the mother is damaged, the lacquer will need to be recut
"Lacquer mastering" refers to the process of cutting the grooves onto a specialized aluminum disc coated with a lacquer material, essentially creating a physical "master" that is then used to produce the metal stampers needed to press the final vinyl records; it's a crucial step in vinyl production where the audio signal is translated into physical grooves on the lacquer disc, allowing for the creation of multiple copies of the record.
The Mastering process for Digital audio files and Vinyl audio files are different. The key difference between mastering for vinyl and digital formats lies in the physical limitations of the vinyl medium, requiring a focus on managing dynamic range, reducing extreme low and high frequencies, and prioritizing overall level consistency across the record, while a digital master can be pushed harder with more dynamic compression and wider frequency response due to its lack of physical constraints. At Smith Hill Mastering we use the Mid-Side mastering technique when mastering audio files for vinyl, as it allows us to precisely manipulate the stereo image by separately adjusting the center (mid) and side information, which can be particularly useful for enhancing the width and clarity of a mix while maintaining focus on the central elements like vocals and bass.
Plating Options: (in drop down menu)
1. One Step Plating (220.00)
2. Two Step Plating (280.00)
One-step plating
The first metal part is used as the stamper
If the stamper is damaged, a new lacquer cut is required to make a new stamper
This method is rarely used because it can result in audio loss and noisy records
Two-step plating
The first metal part is re-plated to create a mother, which is then used to create the stamper
The mother can be used to create additional stampers
However, if the mother is damaged, the lacquer will need to be recut
"Lacquer mastering" refers to the process of cutting the grooves onto a specialized aluminum disc coated with a lacquer material, essentially creating a physical "master" that is then used to produce the metal stampers needed to press the final vinyl records; it's a crucial step in vinyl production where the audio signal is translated into physical grooves on the lacquer disc, allowing for the creation of multiple copies of the record.
The Mastering process for Digital audio files and Vinyl audio files are different. The key difference between mastering for vinyl and digital formats lies in the physical limitations of the vinyl medium, requiring a focus on managing dynamic range, reducing extreme low and high frequencies, and prioritizing overall level consistency across the record, while a digital master can be pushed harder with more dynamic compression and wider frequency response due to its lack of physical constraints. At Smith Hill Mastering we use the Mid-Side mastering technique when mastering audio files for vinyl, as it allows us to precisely manipulate the stereo image by separately adjusting the center (mid) and side information, which can be particularly useful for enhancing the width and clarity of a mix while maintaining focus on the central elements like vocals and bass.
Plating Options: (in drop down menu)
1. One Step Plating (220.00)
2. Two Step Plating (280.00)
One-step plating
The first metal part is used as the stamper
If the stamper is damaged, a new lacquer cut is required to make a new stamper
This method is rarely used because it can result in audio loss and noisy records
Two-step plating
The first metal part is re-plated to create a mother, which is then used to create the stamper
The mother can be used to create additional stampers
However, if the mother is damaged, the lacquer will need to be recut