Yes, it is legal. As of June 1st, 2014, UK copyright law has changed, permitting you to back up or copy media on to other media sources and formats as long as you have purchased the original CD, MP3, WAV or Record. You are legally allowed to transfer the content between devices. For more detailed information, please visit the UK Government’s Intellectual Property Office website.

The key difference between acetate dubplates (also known as lacquers) and PVC lathe cuts lies in the materials used. Despite the name, acetate is actually a metal disc coated with nitrocellulose lacquer. The music is etched into this lacquer on a lathe using a sapphire cutting head. Due to the softness of the lacquer, acetate dubplates typically have a short lifespan.

On the other hand, lathe cut vinyl records are not the same as pressed vinyl records. They are made from a highly durable plastic compound, offering a lifespan comparable to that of pressed records. The music is engraved into the plastic on a lathe using a diamond cutting head. With proper care, they can last as long as a pressed record.

There are physical constraints when cutting records, so your vinyl may not sound 1 for 1 like the digital file(s) you provided. Other factors, such as your stylus or turntable, can also affect the sound quality. The sound quality is very close to what you’d expect from a pressed vinyl record, and can sometimes come louder or quieter depending on the source of audio.

Here are some key considerations when preparing your track for cutting:

• De-ess High Frequencies: To minimize distortion from the cutter head.
• Stereo Image: Keep the stereo image (Sides) lower than the mono signal, as the cutting needle cannot be in two places simultaneously.
• Low Frequencies: Ensure frequencies below 150Hz are in mono to keep your low end central

While our engineer will do their best to ensure your track(s) translate to vinyl with the highest quality, some limitations are inherent due to the laws of physics.

45 RPM offers higher fidelity because more information passes through the cutting stylus per second, resulting in clearer high frequencies and less surface noise, especially towards the end of the record. For longer durations, a slower speed 33 RPM allows more music per revolution but at a trade of less higher frequency and in some cases higher surface noise.

Yes, all tracks need to be optimized for the cutting machine. This optimization prepares the track(s) for cutting but is not a full mastering.

Yes, we have been mixing and mastering for over 20+ years for major labels, artistes right through to bedroom beginners. Please head over to our Compound Audio Site for more details.

We also cater for artists, bands and record labels looking to manufacture their music in small limited edition runs. We have a different pricing scheme in place for this and is quoted on a per project basis.

We offer a selection of Black, White & Transparent blanks along with full colour printed labels and stickers.

 Please note – we are not a pressing plant, but if you’re looking for a small batch run of 10-50 copies of your record, please get in touch via our contact page, we will give you our best rates and estimated completion date.

Cutting records is a meticulous process that must be done in real time, with no shortcuts available. Typically, orders take 7-10 business days to process once we have received all the necessary materials. During busy periods or for orders of 10 or more records, processing time may be longer.