Propeller Head Plaza

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vinyl LP production

Posted by mls-stl on May 19, 2009 at 14:26:40:
>> Depending on the metal mold material which is being cut the argument remains essentially unchanged.

This makes the presumption that a metal mold transfers its impression perfectly to the blob of vinyl to be molded. As with physical analog copies of anything, there is always some deterioration between generations.

In LP production, there are actually several generations involved. The cutting head is typically used on a delicate lacquer disk master. This disk is then silvered and subsequently electroplated with nickel. This makes a negative master. This is typically electroplated again to make several "mothers". At this point, the mothers are used to make "stampers" which are then chromed.

Only at this point can you start stamping vinyl records. You're four generations away from the original lacquer made by the cutter.

You also have the issue that the metal mold itself wears as it is used. It makes a big difference whether you get a LP stamped from the start of the production run or the end.

The process certainly helps explain the wide variability in quality of LPs one gets.