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Is It Possible to Make Your Own Vinyl Record?

inlet13inlet13 Posts: 1,979
edited November 2010 in Musicians and Gearheads
I just read this article...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/fashion/23Gimlet.html

My band is finished with the recording of our debut album. We're in the process of getting CDs (CD baby) made and obviously electronic downloads are painless... but, I was curious if I could get a vinyl made too. Even if it didn't sell it would be cool to just have.

Is there anywhere you can go to get someone to make your vinyl record for you? Anyone got any ideas?
Here's a new demo called "in the fire":

<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt; <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href=" - In the Fire (demo)</a> by <a href="
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Comments

  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Lots of outfits out there. Just google search for "vinyl record press" or talk to your CD supplier about recommendations. It would be best if you had the album re-mastered for vinyl release, but you can just send them your CD master as well.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • mfc2006mfc2006 Posts: 37,447
    it's possible....but it's also really expensive. Chris (2-feign-reluctance) & I looked into this for our album. maybe someday we'll have them pressed, but it is not cheap. it seems like most of the places that do it are in Europe---if you find a place here in the states that does it for a reasonable rate, PLEASE let us know!

    by the way---congrats on your record!
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • ScrapeMySkyScrapeMySky Posts: 426
    Yeah. Even over here in europe it doesn't really make sense financially to have records made if you want to sell them for a reasonable price and especially if you have to pay for it in advance yourself. We looked into it for our album and as disappointing as it was, we really couldn't afford it. Even most record labels refuse to do it for smaller bands nowadays. Unfortunately it's much more expensive than having cds made. But if you have the funds and the will to do it, it's possible.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Link to a company that will do smaller runs for indie releases (with prices):

    http://cravedog.com/pages/vinyl.php (note the client list at the bottom of the page)

    You can get 300 LP's on 140-gram for $5.73 per copy, or 300 LP's on 180-gram for $6.40 per copy. You'd probably sell 140-gram for $10 each, or 180-gram for $12. That makes your break-even around 150-175 copies, depending on which you go with.

    You might consider picking the two best songs and releasing a 7" 45-rpm. Much cheaper, still cool, and then you can say you released a Single. Heck, you could even pick the best song from the album, and then record a B-side. They have 300 copies at $2.82 a copy, which you would probably sell for $5-6 each. At $6 per, your break-even would be 141 copies.

    The hard part with making a vinyl record is the process for creating the soft master, mother, and then the presses. That's why the re-press prices (having the same album made a second time) is cheaper; they don't have to do the whole pre-press process again. CD's require much less work to reproduce, and CD-R's don't require any pre-press at all (I believe CD Baby is a CD-R operation).
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • inlet13inlet13 Posts: 1,979
    Some awesome info in here, PJ fans never cease to amaze me. Thanks everyone!
    Here's a new demo called "in the fire":

    <object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt; <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href=" - In the Fire (demo)</a> by <a href="
  • GardenpartyGardenparty Posts: 1,910
    Our label has used these folks for a good while and i can speak very highly of their work.

    http://www.piratespress.com/home/?v=vinyl

    I know they've done runs as low as 100 so you may want to check with them. Just let them know what you would like to do.
    “I know this song so well, I can smoke a cigarette, have a drink, brush my teeth, take a shit, and mow the lawn while singing it. But I'll only be doing a couple of those things during this version.”
  • Hugh Freaking DillonHugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
    awesome. I'm about to start recording my first solo album, and I want to do it on vinyl. I just don't know if I'd be able to sell that many.
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
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